Used car guide

2004 Volvo V70: common problems and what to check

What gets flagged at MOT on 2004 Volvo V70s, from 2,507 tests in 2025, plus known faults and what to look at before you buy one.

2,507MOT tests in 2025
55%pass first time (all 2004 cars: 58%)
7,400typical miles a year
2.3×the usual rate for suspension arm bushes and joints

What stands out

Parts flagged at MOT more often on 2004 Volvo V70s than on all cars registered in 2004.

  • Suspension arm bushes and joints2.3× usual
    Volvo V70
    21.5% All 2004 cars
    9.5%

    Failed outright at MOT: 3.4%, against 2% of all 2004 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.

  • Sidelights1.9× usual
    Volvo V70
    12.2% All 2004 cars
    6.5%

    Failed outright at MOT: 10.4%, against 5.6% of all 2004 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.

  • Anti-roll bar bushes and joints4.1× usual
    Volvo V70
    6.9% All 2004 cars
    1.7%

    Failed outright at MOT: 1.2%, against 0.4% of all 2004 cars. The rest were advisories or minor defects.

    Rough price £100–£280 (pair of drop links) Checkatrade

    At the viewing: Drive slowly over bumps and listen for a knock or rattle from the front. Worn anti-roll bar links are a cheap fix.

  • Side repeaters2.4× usual
    Volvo V70
    4.7% All 2004 cars
    2%

    Failed outright at MOT: 1.6%, against 1% of all 2004 cars. The rest were advisories or minor defects.

    Rough price £10–£80 our estimate

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

Better than most

Rigid brake pipes: 1.7% here, against 17.1% of all 2004 cars. Rust around suspension or steering mountings: 1.8% here, against 6.6% of all 2004 cars.

By area

The share of 2004 Volvo V70 MOT tests where testers flagged each area, as a fail or an advisory. Rough prices are typical independent-garage costs.

  • Suspension
    50% 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
    43% 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
    35% 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
    35% 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.

  • Oil and fluid leaks
    15% 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.

  • Wipers, windscreen and mirrors
    12% of testsRough price £15–£250

    At the viewing: Check for chips in the driver's view, and test the wipers and washers.

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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%
20032,153Suspension 52%
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 2004 Volvo V70s registered in 2004. "Flagged" includes advisories, so it isn't the same as a fail rate. How we score