2010 Volvo V70 MOT pass rate, common failures & what to check

In 2025, 67.4% of Volvo V70s first used in 2010 passed their MOT first time, against 59.3% for all cars first used in 2010. Across 8,513 V70 first tests from 2023 to 2025, the most common failure areas were lamps and electrical equipment, suspension and tyres.

This page analyses first MOT tests for Volvo V70s first used in 2010 (all trims grouped): 2021 to 2025 for the pass-rate trend, and 2023 to 2025 for the failure and advisory analysis — plus what is worth checking before you buy one.

Data: DVSA anonymised MOT tests to December 2025 · Calculated by SortedCars · Updated October 2026

Passed first time, 2025
67.4%
of 2,745 first tests; all cars first used in 2010: 59.3%. Fixed-at-the-test counts as a fail
Tests analysed
8,513
first tests, 2023–2025; 2,745 in 2025
Clean pass, 2025
26.3%
of 2,745 first tests in 2025, passed with no advisory and no minor defect recorded
Typical mileage, tested in 2025
139,500
middle half: 108,500–171,500 miles; all cars first used in 2010: 100,000

How the 2010 Volvo V70 MOT pass rate has changed

Share of first tests passed in each year, V70s first used in 2010 against all cars first used in 2010 (any make or fuel; not adjusted for mileage, fuel or use). In 2025 the V70 figure was 8.1 points higher.

2010 V70All cars first used in 2010
50%60%70%80%20212022202320242025Test year (first tests)All cars first used in 2010, test year 2021: 62.6%All cars first used in 2010, test year 2022: 61.7%All cars first used in 2010, test year 2023: 60.5%All cars first used in 2010, test year 2024: 59.6%All cars first used in 2010, test year 2025: 59.3%2010 V70, test year 2021: 72.1%2010 V70, test year 2022: 69.7%2010 V70, test year 2023: 70.5%2010 V70, test year 2024: 67.9%2010 V70, test year 2025: 67.4%67.4%59.3%
View this chart as a table
Test year2010 V70All cars first used 2010V70 first tests
202172.1%62.6%3,065
202269.7%61.7%3,032
202370.5%60.5%2,926
202467.9%59.6%2,842
202567.4%59.3%2,745

Common 2010 Volvo V70 MOT failures

Share of the 2,673 failed first tests (2023–2025) with at least one failure in each area. A test can fail in more than one area, so the shares add up to more than 100%.

Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment45.1%
Suspension25.3%
Tyres24.9%
Brakes15.7%
Visibility15.1%
Steering13.6%
Body, chassis, structure8.6%
Noise, emissions and leaks7.1%

Most common failure items

DVSA failure itemShare of failed first testsTests
Position lamp: not working16.3%435
Tyre condition: has ply or cords exposed9.3%248
Brake pads: less than 1.5 mm thick9.0%241
Headlamp aim: too low7.1%191
Tread depth: below requirements of 1.6mm7.0%188

Item names are DVSA’s own wording. 2023–2025 combined.

What to check on a 2010 Volvo V70 before buying

The three areas where failed first tests most often had a fault, 2023–2025.

  1. Lamps and electrics. Ask someone to watch while you work the brake lights, indicators, sidelights, dipped and main beam, and the number-plate lamps.
  2. Suspension. Worth looking behind the front wheels with a torch at the coil springs, and listening for knocks over bumps on the test drive.
  3. Tyres. Worth checking the tread depth across the whole width of each tyre, and the sidewalls for cuts, cracks and bulges.

Common 2010 Volvo V70 MOT advisories

Advisories are points the tester noted that did not fail the car. Most common on 2010 V70s, as a share of all 8,513 first tests, 2023–2025.

DVSA advisory itemShare of first testsTests
Tread depth: worn close to legal limit/worn on edge21.4%1,825
Brake pads: wearing thin10.5%891
Coil spring: corroded9.7%830
Brake discs: worn, pitted or scored, but not seriously weakened9.5%810
Suspension arm pins and bushes: pin or bush worn but not resulting in excessive movement8.5%724

Questions about the 2010 Volvo V70 MOT

What is the MOT pass rate of a 2010 Volvo V70?

In 2025, 67.4% of V70s first used in 2010 passed their MOT first time, against 59.3% for all cars first used in 2010. A car fixed during the test counts as a fail.

What does a 2010 V70 most often fail its MOT on?

Lamps and electrical equipment (in 45.1% of failed first tests, 2023–2025), suspension (25.3%) and tyres (24.9%). The single most common item was “Position lamp: not working” (16.3%).

How often does a 2010 Volvo V70 fail its MOT?

In 2025, 32.6% of first tests on V70s first used in 2010 did not pass first time: 25.7% failed, and a further 7.0% had a fault fixed during the test (counted as a fail here). Across 2023–2025, 2,673 of 8,513 first tests did not pass first time.

What are the most common 2010 Volvo V70 MOT advisories?

“Tread depth: worn close to legal limit/worn on edge” (on 21.4% of first tests, 2023–2025), “Brake pads: wearing thin” (10.5%), “Coil spring: corroded” (9.7%), “Brake discs: worn, pitted or scored, but not seriously weakened” (9.5%) and “Suspension arm pins and bushes: pin or bush worn but not resulting in excessive movement” (8.5%).

Is a 2010 Volvo V70 reliable?

An MOT pass rate shows what failed at the test, not how reliable a car is. For this group of cars the first-time pass rate went from 72.1% in 2021 to 67.4% in 2025. For one particular car, its own MOT history matters more than the average.

Other cars first used in 2010

The most-tested cars from the same year. Each page uses the same method.

2010 Ford Fiesta MOT statistics · 2010 Ford Focus MOT statistics · 2010 Vauxhall Corsa MOT statistics · 2010 Vauxhall Astra MOT statistics · 2010 Volkswagen Golf MOT statistics

How the 2010 Volvo V70 MOT data is calculated

Every number on this page is calculated by SortedCars from DVSA’s anonymised MOT test data for Great Britain, 2021–2025. “2010 V70” means a Volvo V70 whose date of first use falls in 2010 (59, 10 and 60 plates), all trims grouped. Class 4 vehicles, first tests only — retests are not counted. Pass rate = passed ÷ all first tests; a car with a fault fixed during the test (PRS) counts as a fail. Our national first-test pass rate matches DVSA’s published figure (table DVSA/MOT/01) to within 0.04 points in every year. Clean pass = passed with no advisory and no minor defect recorded. Mileage is the reading recorded at the test. Comparisons are with all cars first used in 2010, any make or fuel, and are not adjusted for mileage, fuel or use. Failure and advisory item names are DVSA’s own wording. No figure is shown for fewer than 500 tests; an item is shown only if it appears on at least 50 tests and 1% of the base. Pass rates describe a group of cars, not one car: a well-kept example can pass and a neglected one can fail. This page is general information, not advice about any particular vehicle; always have a used car inspected before you buy. SortedCars is not affiliated with or endorsed by DVSA. You can check any car’s MOT history free on the official service: gov.uk/check-mot-history. Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0.