Does the Volvo 700 Series fail the MOT on lamps, reflectors and electrics more than it should?
The Volvo 700 Series records 37.96 lamps, reflectors and electrics failure items per 100 initial MOT tests (2019–2024), against 29.47 expected for a car of the same age mix: more than expected for its class and age (+8.49, 95% interval +6.60 to +10.38). It ranks 92 of 729 models on lamps, reflectors and electrics (1 = most failures above expected).
Data release dvsa-2024-v2 (24 Sep 2026) · page updated 30 Sep 2026 · all models on lamps, reflectors and electrics · check a Volvo 700 Series by registration
What exactly fails on lamps, reflectors and electrics?
The most frequent DVSA defect wording in this group on the Volvo 700 Series is “A rear registration plate lamp or light source missing or inoperative in the case of multiple lamps or light sources”, recorded 241 times in 2019–2024.
| DVSA defect wording | Items | Per 100 tests |
|---|---|---|
| A rear registration plate lamp or light source missing or inoperative in the case of multiple lamps or light sources | 241 | 5.92 |
| A lamp missing, inoperative or in the case of a multiple light source more than 1/2 not functioning | 172 | 4.23 |
| A battery insecure but not likely to fall from carrier | 154 | 3.78 |
| A direction indicator lamp missing, inoperative or in the case of a multiple light source more than 1/2 not functioning | 143 | 3.51 |
| Stop lamp missing, inoperative or in the case of a multiple light source more than 1/2 not functioning | 140 | 3.44 |
Source: DVSA MOT bulk data (OGL v3.0) · Window: 2019–2024 · n = 4,070 (initial tests) · Method: failure items (major and minor) grouped by DVSA's defect tree; wordings with 30+ items · Updated: 30 Sep 2026 · Release: dvsa-2024-v2 · CSV
Other pages for this model
Volvo 700 Series by postcode area · Volvo 700 Series body, chassis and structure failures · Volvo 700 Series brakes failures · Volvo 700 Series vehicle identification failures · Volvo 700 Series noise, emissions and leaks failures · Volvo 700 Series seat belts and airbags failures · Volvo 700 Series steering failures · Volvo 700 Series suspension failures · Volvo 700 Series tyres failures · Volvo 700 Series visibility failures