Used car guide

2003 Volvo V70: common problems and what to check

What gets flagged at MOT on 2003 Volvo V70s, from 2,153 tests in 2025, plus known faults and what to look at before you buy one.

2,153MOT tests in 2025
54%pass first time (all 2003 cars: 59%)
7,000typical miles a year
2.6×the usual rate for suspension arm bushes and joints

What stands out

Parts flagged at MOT more often on 2003 Volvo V70s than on all cars registered in 2003.

  • Suspension arm bushes and joints2.6× usual
    Volvo V70
    22.5% All 2003 cars
    8.7%

    Failed outright at MOT: 3.7%, against 1.8% of all 2003 cars. The rest were advisories or minor defects.

    Rough price £120–£180 (one arm) ClickMechanic

    At the viewing: Listen for clunks over bumps and feel for the steering wandering. Worn arm bushes show as cracked rubber near the wheels.

  • Steering rack inner joints3.4× usual
    Volvo V70
    11.9% All 2003 cars
    3.5%

    Failed outright at MOT: 0%, against 0% of all 2003 cars. The rest were advisories or minor defects.

    Rough price £100–£450 our estimate

    At the viewing: On a straight road the steering wheel should sit straight. Listen for knocks when turning, and check the steering feels even.

  • Sidelights2.2× usual
    Volvo V70
    13.7% All 2003 cars
    6.1%

    Failed outright at MOT: 11.5%, against 5.4% of all 2003 cars. The rest were advisories or minor defects.

    Rough price £10–£80 our estimate

    At the viewing: Ask a friend to check every light while you work the switches: indicators, brake lights, fog lights and reversing lights.

  • Individual direction indicators2.3× usual
    Volvo V70
    7.2% All 2003 cars
    3.1%

    Failed outright at MOT: 2.7%, against 1.4% of all 2003 cars. The rest were advisories or minor defects.

    Rough price £10–£80 our estimate

    At the viewing: Ask a friend to check every light while you work the switches: indicators, brake lights, fog lights and reversing lights.

Better than most

Rigid brake pipes: 2% here, against 18.3% of all 2003 cars. Headlights: 5.1% here, against 12.1% of all 2003 cars.

By area

The share of 2003 Volvo V70 MOT tests where testers flagged each area, as a fail or an advisory. Rough prices are typical independent-garage costs.

  • Suspension
    52% of testsRough price £120–£400

    At the viewing: Listen for knocks over speed bumps, and look behind each front wheel for a snapped coil spring.

  • Lights and electrics
    41% of testsRough price £10–£80

    At the viewing: Ask a friend to check every light, including brake lights and indicators, while you operate them.

  • Brakes
    36% of testsRough price £150–£350

    At the viewing: Look for a lip on the disc edges and feel for judder or pulling when braking firmly from about 40mph.

  • Tyres
    34% of testsRough price £70–£150

    At the viewing: Check the tread on all four tyres, including the inside edges, and look for cracks or bulges.

  • Steering
    16% of testsRough price £100–£450

    At the viewing: On a straight road the steering wheel should sit straight. Feel for play or knocking when turning.

  • Oil and fluid leaks
    13% of testsRough price £80–£600

    At the viewing: Look under the engine and on the ground where the car is usually parked for fresh oil or fluid.

Looking at a Volvo V70?

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Other years

YearMOT testsMost flagged
2016756Tyres 29%
20152,001Tyres 30%
20141,957Tyres 32%
20131,725Tyres 32%
20121,539Suspension 35%
20112,037Tyres 35%
20102,749Suspension 39%
20093,454Suspension 42%
20083,116Suspension 46%
20072,429Suspension 48%
20062,386Suspension 47%
20052,999Suspension 48%
20042,507Suspension 50%
20021,911Suspension 53%
20011,293Suspension 49%
20001,079Suspension 52%

Where this comes from: the DVSA's anonymised results for every MOT test in Great Britain in 2025, counting tests of 2003 Volvo V70s registered in 2003. "Flagged" includes advisories, so it isn't the same as a fail rate. How we score