Used car guide

2012 Volvo XC70: common problems and what to check

What gets flagged at MOT on 2012 Volvo XC70s, from 1,298 tests in 2025, plus known faults and what to look at before you buy one.

1,298MOT tests in 2025
71%pass first time (all 2012 cars: 63%)
9,200typical miles a year
2×the usual rate for individual direction indicators

What stands out

Parts flagged at MOT more often on 2012 Volvo XC70s than on all cars registered in 2012.

  • Individual direction indicators2× usual
    Volvo XC70
    5.9% All 2012 cars
    3%

    Failed outright at MOT: 2.1%, against 1.2% of all 2012 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.

  • Power steering pipes and hoses23× usual
    Volvo XC70
    2.3% All 2012 cars
    0.1%

    Failed outright at MOT: 0%, against 0% of all 2012 cars. The rest were advisories or minor defects.

    Rough price £100–£400 our estimate

    At the viewing: Ask to see underneath, or check the MOT advisories: corroded brake or fuel pipes get worse every year and fail the MOT when they do.

  • Side repeaters2.7× usual
    Volvo XC70
    3.2% All 2012 cars
    1.2%

    Failed outright at MOT: 1.8%, against 0.8% of all 2012 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

Ball joint: 1.8% here, against 5.6% of all 2012 cars. Sub-frame: 2.5% here, against 5% of all 2012 cars.

By area

The share of 2012 Volvo XC70 MOT tests where testers flagged each area, as a fail or an advisory. Rough prices are typical independent-garage costs.

  • Suspension
    32% 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.

  • Tyres
    27% 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.

  • Lights and electrics
    23% 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
    22% 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.

  • Driveshafts and joints
    8% of testsRough price £60–£350

    At the viewing: On full steering lock, drive slowly and listen for clicking from the front wheels.

  • Oil and fluid leaks
    6% 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 XC70?

Check the actual car: its own MOT history, mileage and what to ask the seller. Free, no sign-up.

Other years

YearMOT testsMost flagged
20161,020Tyres 29%
20151,611Tyres 25%
20141,741Tyres 26%
20131,574Tyres 28%
20111,799Suspension 36%
20101,365Suspension 35%
2009978Suspension 38%
2008937Suspension 46%
20071,155Suspension 52%
20061,029Suspension 54%
20051,102Suspension 56%
2004612Suspension 58%

Where this comes from: the DVSA's anonymised results for every MOT test in Great Britain in 2025, counting tests of 2012 Volvo XC70s registered in 2012. "Flagged" includes advisories, so it isn't the same as a fail rate. How we score