Volvo C70 Reliability: Common Problems and Years to Avoid
What the Volvo C70 fails its MOT on, with rough repair costs, and how each model year's MOT pass rate compares with other cars of the same age. Based on 16,800 MOT tests across 16 model years (DVSA data for tests carried out in 2024, retests included).
Segment: premium | Fuel: Diesel, Petrol
75%
Volvo C70 pass rate
87%
Volvo average
82%
All-model average
The Volvo C70 has an average MOT pass rate of 75%, which is 12 points below the Volvo average and 7 points below the average across all models in our data. The Volvo C70 has maintained consistent MOT pass rates across model years, varying by only 3 percentage points.
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What the Volvo C70 Fails Its MOT On
Of the 2,741 MOT tests on the Volvo C70 that failed at the first attempt in 2025, the share that failed on each part of the test, next to the share for all cars and vans of the same ages. A test that failed on two areas counts in both.
Lights and electrics
38%Cars and vans the same age: 48% (the C70 fails on this less often) · Typical repair £15-£200
Suspension
37%Cars and vans the same age: 40% · Typical repair £150-£600
Brakes
27%Cars and vans the same age: 27% · Typical repair £80-£450
Tyres
24%Cars and vans the same age: 17% (the C70 fails on this more often) · Typical repair £50-£300
Body, chassis and structure
21%Cars and vans the same age: 18% · Typical repair £200-£1200
The 3 single faults it failed on most
- Drive shaft CV boot split or insecure (17% of failed tests, body, chassis and structure)
- Coil spring: fractured or broken (15% of failed tests, suspension)
- Position lamp: not working (11% of failed tests, lights and electrics)
Source: CarCostCheck analysis of DVSA anonymised MOT test results and failure items for 2025: first attempt at each MOT, fail and pass-after-repair defects, DVSA's defect categories (names shortened). Repair costs are rough UK ranges, not quotes. Method and national figures: MOT failure reasons 2025.
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Volvo C70 Years to Avoid
Every car in the 2024 MOT data was tested at the same age as the other cars first registered that year, so each C70 year is compared with all cars from the same year. Years with 1,000+ tests that were at least three years old are included.
Failed more often than cars their age
- 2011: 73% passed, against 77% for all 2011 cars (4 points lower, 1,098 tests)
Passed more often than cars their age
- 2004: 79% passed, against 72% for all 2004 cars (7 points higher, 1,050 tests)
A lower pass rate means that year failed its MOT more often in 2024; it does not mean every car from that year is bad. Old cars still on the road are often the best-kept ones, which can lift the pass rates of the oldest years. How a car has been looked after matters more, so check the MOT history of the car you are looking at.
Volvo C70 Reliability by Year
MOT pass rate for each model year, from DVSA data for tests carried out in 2024 (retests included). Newer cars usually pass more often simply because they are younger. All Cars is the pass rate of every car first registered that year, with the gap in points. Highest and lowest are marked among years with 100+ tests that were at least three years old when tested. Fuel and engine size are a guide only.
| Year | Fuel | Engine | Pass Rate | Fail Rate | All Cars |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2013 | Diesel | 2.0L | 79% | 21% | - |
| 2012 | Diesel | 2.0L | 80% | 20% | - |
| 2011 | Petrol | 2.3L | 73% | 27% | 77% (-4) |
| 2010 | Diesel | 2.0L | 75% | 23% | 75% (0) |
| 2009 | Diesel | 2.0L | 74% | 26% | 75% (-1) |
| 2008 | Petrol | 2.3L | 75% | 24% | 74% (+1) |
| 2007 | Petrol | 2.4L | 74% | 25% | 73% (+1) |
| 2006 | Petrol | 2.4L | 71% | 28% | 73% (-2) |
| 2005 | Petrol | 2.3L | 75% | 25% | - |
| 2004 | Petrol | 2.3L | 79% | 21% | 72% (+7) |
| 2003 | Petrol | 2.3L | 78% | 22% | - |
| 2002 | Petrol | 2.4L | 77% | 22% | - |
| 2001 | Petrol | 2.3L | 77% | 23% | - |
| 2000 | Petrol | 2.3L | 80% | 20% | - |
| 1999 | Petrol | 2.3L | 79% | 20% | - |
| 1998 | Petrol | 2.3L | 78% | 22% | - |
Volvo C70 Running Costs
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Volvo C70 FAQ
What are the most common Volvo C70 problems?
In 2025, MOT tests on the Volvo C70 that failed at the first attempt most often failed on lights and electrics (38% of the 2,741 failed tests), suspension (37%) and brakes (27%). The single most common fault was "Drive shaft CV boot split or insecure" (17%). Across 16,800 MOT tests (DVSA MOT data for tests in 2024, retests included), 75% ended in a pass.
Is the Volvo C70 reliable?
The Volvo C70 has an average MOT pass rate of 75%, from 16,800 MOT tests (DVSA MOT data for tests in 2024, retests included). Comparing each model year with all cars first registered the same year, so that age is allowed for, it passed about as often as other cars of the same age.
Which Volvo C70 years should I avoid?
Compared with all cars first registered the same year (DVSA MOT data for tests in 2024, retests included), the 2011 (73% of 1,098 tests passed, against 77% for all 2011 cars) failed their MOT most often for their age. The years that passed most often for their age were the 2004 (79% of 1,050 tests passed, against 72% for all 2004 cars). A year's pass rate does not tell you about one car, so check the MOT history of the car you are buying.
How much does it cost to fix common Volvo C70 faults?
As a rough guide, brake work on a Volvo C70 typically costs £80-£450 and suspension repairs £150-£600, while exhaust and emissions fixes can cost £80-£800. Lighting and wiper fixes are usually under £200.
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Other Volvo Models
Common problems pages for other Volvo models