Used car guide

2011 Volvo V70: common problems and what to check

What gets flagged at MOT on 2011 Volvo V70s, from 2,037 tests in 2025, plus known faults and what to look at before you buy one.

2,037MOT tests in 2025
70%pass first time (all 2011 cars: 61%)
9,500typical miles a year
1.9×the usual rate for individual direction indicators

What stands out

Parts flagged at MOT more often on 2011 Volvo V70s than on all cars registered in 2011.

  • Individual direction indicators1.9× usual
    Volvo V70
    5.9% All 2011 cars
    3.1%

    Failed outright at MOT: 1.4%, against 1.2% of all 2011 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.

  • Steering rack inner joints1.8× usual
    Volvo V70
    4.8% All 2011 cars
    2.6%

    Failed outright at MOT: 0%, against 0% of all 2011 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.

Better than most

Engine oil leaks: 4.2% here, against 8.9% of all 2011 cars. Headlights: 2.5% here, against 5.8% of all 2011 cars.

By area

The share of 2011 Volvo V70 MOT tests where testers flagged each area, as a fail or an advisory. Rough prices are typical independent-garage costs.

  • 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.

  • Suspension
    33% 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
    25% 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
    23% 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.

  • Exhaust and emissions
    10% of testsRough price £100–£1,200

    At the viewing: Look for black soot in the tailpipe, listen for blowing from the exhaust and check for engine or DPF warning lights.

  • Wipers, windscreen and mirrors
    8% of testsRough price £15–£250

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

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%
20102,749Suspension 39%
20093,454Suspension 42%
20083,116Suspension 46%
20072,429Suspension 48%
20062,386Suspension 47%
20052,999Suspension 48%
20042,507Suspension 50%
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 2011 Volvo V70s registered in 2011. "Flagged" includes advisories, so it isn't the same as a fail rate. How we score