Diesel Volvo C70: MOT pass rate

64% of diesel Volvo C70s pass the MOT first time, measured across 3,673 DVSA tests on that fuel type alone. Average mileage at test was 97,959.

Diesel against the other Volvo C70 versions

Why the fuel type changes the number

Diesels carry DPFs, EGR valves and stricter smoke limits, so emissions and exhaust faults account for failures petrol cars never see.

On the Volvo C70 specifically, petrol is the strongest at 65.6%, and this diesel version sits 0.8 points below the 64.8% model average.

What it means if you are buying one

There is little to choose between fuel types on this model, so decide on running costs and mileage rather than MOT record. Buying a damaged one? run it through the analyzer, check the exact car, decode the VIN and check the mileage before you bid.

Mileage is part of the answer

The average diesel Volvo C70 had covered 97,959 miles at test, against 96,550 for the petrol. That is above average and into the range where cambelts and water pumps are due if they have not already been done, so ask for the service history rather than take the mileage on trust.

Fuel type and mileage are tangled together: diesels are usually bought by higher-mileage drivers, so some of any gap between fuels is the miles rather than the engine. The per-year figures on the Volvo C70 page separate age from fuel if you want to isolate one.

Most common MOT failures on a diesel Volvo C70

1. A transmission shaft constant velocity joint boot missing or no longer prevents the ingress of dirt etc, 9.1% of tests (5.94x the national rate for this defect)
2. Steering rack gaiter or ball joint dust cover missing or no longer prevents the ingress of dirt etc, 3.2% of tests (4.33x the national rate for this defect)
3. A shock absorber damaged to the extent that it does not function or showing signs of severe leakage, 4% of tests (4.22x the national rate for this defect)
4. A tyre cords visible or damaged, 6.7% of tests (3.98x the national rate for this defect)
5. A spring or spring component fractured or seriously weakened, 8.4% of tests (3.68x the national rate for this defect)
6. Parking brake efficiency below minimum requirement, 3.1% of tests (2.35x the national rate for this defect)
7. A lamp missing, inoperative or in the case of a multiple light source more than 1/2 not functioning, 4% of tests (1.77x the national rate for this defect)
8. A suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn, 8.3% of tests (1.65x the national rate for this defect)
9. A tyre seriously damaged, 4.5% of tests (1.63x the national rate for this defect)
10. Significant brake effort recorded with no brake applied indicating a binding brake, 1.7% of tests (1.62x the national rate for this defect)

From 3,696 DVSA-tracked diesel Volvo C70 tests, 2024, split out from the Volvo C70's other fuel types. DVSA testers marked 6.22% of these flagged defects as "dangerous", against 5.11% nationally. See which fuel type fails on the most dangerous defects nationally for how that compares across the whole fleet.

Most common MOT advisories on a diesel Volvo C70

Flagged but doesn't fail the car, a different list from the failures above.

1. A wheel badly distorted or wear between wheel and hub at spigot mounting, 4.8% of tests (4.51x the national rate for this defect)
2. Excessive fluctuation in brake effort through each wheel revolution., 2.8% of tests (3.26x the national rate for this defect)
3. Lamp emitted colour, position or intensity not in accordance with the requirements, 3.7% of tests (2.67x the national rate for this defect)
4. A suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn, 28.9% of tests (2.16x the national rate for this defect), also fails
5. A spring or spring component fractured or seriously weakened, 7.6% of tests (1.61x the national rate for this defect), also fails
6. Tyre tread depth not in accordance with the requirements, 38.3% of tests (1.44x the national rate for this defect)
7. A suspension component excessively damaged or corroded, 6.7% of tests (1.29x the national rate for this defect)
8. A shock absorber damaged to the extent that it does not function or showing signs of severe leakage, 4.9% of tests (1.25x the national rate for this defect), also fails
9. Brake disc or drum excessively weakened, insecure or fractured, 14.9% of tests (1.21x the national rate for this defect)
10. A tyre seriously damaged, 14.1% of tests, also fails

From 3,696 DVSA-tracked diesel Volvo C70 tests, 2024.

Other Volvo C70 fuel types

• Petrol Volvo C70 - 65.6%

All Volvo C70 MOT data · Every model