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Volvo XC70 body and structure problems

DVSA MOT tests 2022–2025 · 6,557 MOT tests · Updated

At 11 years, 1.7 in 100 MOT tests of the Volvo XC70 failed on body and structure, against 3.5 for all class 4 vehicles the same age (all test years; 6,557 MOT tests) [1].

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  • Against all class 4 vehicles the same age: fails less often than all class 4 vehicles the same age (0.4–0.6×) (all test years), 109 MOT tests with a fail
  • By age: seen at 16 ages from 6 to 21 years, 70,628 MOT tests
  • Most common fail: Driveshaft CV boot split, 1.2 per 100 MOT tests

Figures are for the model as a whole, not for one car.

What the MOT tests show

What we know

1.7 fails per 100 MOT tests at 11 years, against 3.5 for all class 4 vehicles tested at 11 (all test years). The Volvo XC70 fails less often here.

Why it matters

A body and structure fail stops the car passing until it is fixed; the most common one is rated major by DVSA.

What to check

Look under the sills, jacking points and rear subframe for rot, bubbling or fresh underseal over a repair, and check every door, bonnet and boot shuts properly.

Volvo XC70 body and structure fails by age

Volvo XC70 body and structure fails per 100 MOT tests by ageSolid line: the Volvo XC70. Dashed line: all cars the same age. The table below lists every value.05106 years: 0.4 per 100 (all cars 0.8), 1,031 MOT tests67 years: 0.3 per 100 (all cars 1.3), 2,678 MOT tests8 years: 0.5 per 100 (all cars 1.8), 4,401 MOT tests89 years: 0.7 per 100 (all cars 2.3), 5,977 MOT tests10 years: 1.0 per 100 (all cars 2.9), 6,322 MOT tests1011 years: 1.7 per 100 (all cars 3.5), 6,557 MOT tests12 years: 2.2 per 100 (all cars 4.3), 6,215 MOT tests1213 years: 3.0 per 100 (all cars 5.0), 5,642 MOT tests14 years: 2.5 per 100 (all cars 5.9), 5,329 MOT tests1415 years: 3.5 per 100 (all cars 6.7), 4,853 MOT tests16 years: 4.5 per 100 (all cars 7.6), 4,667 MOT tests1617 years: 4.3 per 100 (all cars 8.3), 4,983 MOT tests18 years: 5.3 per 100 (all cars 8.7), 4,622 MOT tests1819 years: 6.3 per 100 (all cars 9.0), 3,722 MOT tests20 years: 5.7 per 100 (all cars 9.2), 2,473 MOT tests2021 years: 6.1 per 100 (all cars 9.3), 1,156 MOT tests
Fails per 100 MOT tests by age, all first-use years pooled. Volvo XC70 All class 4 vehicles the same age Shaded: over 18 years, survivors only.
AgeMOT testsFails per 100All class 4 vehicles the same age
61,0310.40.8
72,6780.31.3
84,4010.51.8
95,9770.72.3
106,3221.02.9
116,5571.73.5
126,2152.24.3
135,6423.05.0
145,3292.55.9
154,8533.56.7
164,6674.57.6
174,9834.38.3
184,6225.38.7
19*3,7226.39.0
20*2,4735.79.2
21*1,1566.19.3

All first-use years of the Volvo XC70 pooled at each age, against all class 4 vehicles at that age over all 2022–2025 test years. * Only survivors are still tested at this age.

What fails in the body and structure at 11 years

Fails

Advisories (not fails)

Replace CV joint boot cost

Repair figures are estimates, not quotes: how we estimate repair costs.

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  • Model risks for this year and fuel
  • What similar cars did at their next MOT
  • Repairs ahead
  • Viewing checklist

See a sample report

How to check on a test drive

Look under the sills, jacking points and rear subframe for rot, bubbling or fresh underseal over a repair, and check every door, bonnet and boot shuts properly.

The most common advisory here in MOT records: Drive shaft joints: constant velocity boot severely deteriorated.

Check one Volvo XC70, not the average

The figures here describe Volvo XC70 cars as a group. These free tools answer for one car. Each line says what the tool reads.

Other Volvo XC70 problems

Body and structure on rival models

Questions people ask

Does the Volvo XC70 have more body and structure problems than other cars?

0.4 to 0.6 times the body and structure fail rate of all class 4 vehicles the same age at 11 years (all test years), from 6,557 MOT tests. The interval is clear of 0.8 in the same direction at 8 of the 16 ages seen (ages up to 18 with at least 100 MOT tests with a fail).

How common are Volvo XC70 body and structure problems?

1.7 in 100 MOT tests at 11 years failed on body and structure, against 3.5 for all class 4 vehicles the same age (all test years; 6,557 MOT tests).

What is the most common Volvo XC70 body and structure fail?

1.2 in 100 MOT tests at 11 years: Driveshaft CV boot split (79 MOT tests with it).

Sources

  1. Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency, Anonymised MOT tests and results, 2022 to 2025. DVSA MOT data, Open Government Licence v3.0, 70,628 MOT tests. Accessed 7 Oct 2026.
  2. Office for National Statistics, Consumer price inflation, local price quotes (car repair items). ONS price quotes, series 610236. Accessed 7 Oct 2026.

Parts: against all class 4 vehicles at the same age, all 2022–2025 test years pooled, not adjusted for mileage. Breakdowns and non-MOT faults are not in this data. How we compare