2003 · 21 years old at test · Diesel mostly

2003 Volvo XC70 MOT pass rate and common faults

409 MOT tests in 2024. 54.0% passed first time, compared with 57.3% for all cars the same age.

94Below average
Passed first time54.0%
Failed or needed repairs46.0%
Typical mileage at test161,000

Most common reasons for failing

Share of all 409 tests where this item caused a failure.

  1. Position lamp: not working7.6%
  2. Track rod end: ball joint has excessive play4.9%
  3. Parking brake performance: inoperative on one side4.6%
  4. Suspension arms - ball joint: ball joint excessively worn4.4%
  5. Rbt (sp): efficiency less than 50% of the required value3.9%
    20 marked dangerous
  6. Suspension arms - pins and bushes: pin or bush excessively worn3.9%
  7. Headlamp aim: projected beam image is obviously incorrect3.9%
  8. Linkage ball joints: ball joint excessively worn3.7%
  9. Rbt (sp): efficiency below requirements3.4%
  10. Stop lamp: not working3.4%

Problem areas

Failure items found per 100 tests, by part of the car.

  1. Lights & electrics35.9%
  2. Brakes32.8%
  3. Suspension30.6%
  4. Steering8.3%
  5. Body & chassis8.1%
  6. Tyres5.6%
  7. Emissions & leaks4.4%
  8. Visibility (wipers, screen, mirrors)3.4%

Most common advisories

Not failures yet, but things the tester warned about.

  1. Suspension arms - pins and bushes: pin or bush excessively worn23.0%
  2. Tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm19.6%
  3. Engine oil leaks: leaking excessively from engine18.3%
  4. Brake discs: in such a condition that it is seriously weakened16.4%
  5. Non-component advisories: Play in steering rack inner joint(s)13.4%

What this means if you are buying one

This model year fails more often than most cars its age, so budget for repairs and check the history carefully. Before buying, check the area that fails most: position lamp: not working. Then look up the car's own MOT history on GOV.UK with its number plate, and look for repeat advisories.

All XC70 years2004 XC70 →

Questions

What is the MOT pass rate for a 2003 Volvo XC70?

In 2024, 54.0% of 2003 Volvo XC70 cars passed their MOT first time, across 409 tests. The average for all 21-year-old cars was 57.3%.

What are the most common MOT failures on a 2003 Volvo XC70?

The most common failure reasons were position lamp: not working; track rod end: ball joint has excessive play; parking brake performance: inoperative on one side. The biggest problem area was lights & electrics.

Is the 2003 Volvo XC70 reliable at MOT time?

Its MOT Rank score is 94, which is below average for a car of its age (100 means exactly average).