Volvo C70 2003: MOT failure rate for its age
38.3% of 3,488 MOT tests of the Volvo C70 first registered in 2003 failed at the first attempt (2019–2024; retests excluded). Against this model's own normal rate at the same ages the index is 93.3 (95% CI 88.3–98.3; 100 = normal for this model at that age): the 2003 Volvo C70 fails less often than other build years of the same model at the same age. This is a rough estimate from a smaller sample.
| Measure | Value | Unit | Compared with | Years | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Failed first time | 38.3 | % | all ages tested | 2019–2024 | 3488 |
| Index against this model at the same age (95% CI 88.3–98.3) | 93.3 | index | 100 = normal for this model at that age | 2019–2024 | 3488 |
| Rank among this model's 14 build years | 4 | of 14 | 1 = fails least for its age | 2019–2024 | 3488 |
| Tested in 2024 | 394 | tests | median 89,805 miles | 2024 | 394 |
Data release dvsa-2024-v2 (24 Sep 2026) · page updated 30 Sep 2026 · full dataset (v5).
How does the 2003 Volvo C70 fail at each age?
Cars built in 2003 were tested at ages 16 to 21 between 2019 and 2024. Each row compares their first-time failure share with what this model normally shows at that age, after allowing for the overall failure level of each test year.
| Age | Tests | Failed, % | 95% interval | Normal for this model at that age, % | Index (100 = normal) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 16 | 1,005 | 39.6 | 36.6–42.7 | 45.3 | 87.4 |
| 17 | 725 | 37.1 | 33.7–40.7 | 42 | 88.4 |
| 18 | 680 | 39.6 | 36–43.3 | 40.8 | 97 |
| 19 | 595 | 38.5 | 34.7–42.5 | 37.3 | 103.1 |
| 20 | 483 (rough estimate) | 35.2 | 31.1–39.6 | 35.5 | 99.1 |
| 21 | 394 (rough estimate) | 30.7 | 26.4–35.4 | not available | not available |
Source: DVSA MOT bulk data · Window: 2019–2024 · n = 3,882 (initial tests) · Method: normal rate = this model's first-time failure share at that age across its build years (cells of 400+ tests), adjusted for each test year's overall level; cells of 30+ tests, under 500 marked rough · Updated: 30 Sep 2026 · Release: dvsa-2024-v2 · CSV
What fails most on the 2003 Volvo C70?
The most common failure group on cars built in 2003 is suspension: 27.5 items per 100 first tests, against 26.8 across all build years of the Volvo C70. These counts are not age-adjusted: cars built in 2003 were tested at ages 16 to 21.
| Failure group | Built 2003, per 100 | All build years, per 100 | Items |
|---|---|---|---|
| Suspension | 27.5 | 26.8 | 1,066 |
| Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment | 25.7 | 25.1 | 997 |
| Brakes | 20.2 | 16.8 | 786 |
| Tyres | 12.4 | 15 | 481 |
| Visibility | 10.5 | 8 | 408 |
Source: DVSA MOT bulk data · Window: 2019–2024 · n = 3,882 (initial tests of this build year) · Method: failure items grouped by DVSA's top-level defect groups, per 100 initial tests; groups with 30+ items · Updated: 30 Sep 2026 · Release: dvsa-2024-v2 · CSV
How does 2003 compare with the years around it?
Among the 14 published build years of the Volvo C70, 2003 ranks 4 (1 = fails least for its age). 2002: index 95.1. 2004: index 96.1.
| Build year | Index (100 = normal) | 95% interval | Verdict | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000 | 96.0 | 83.2–108.8 | no different (rough estimate) | 566 |
| 2001 | 96.7 | 88.2–105.2 | no different (rough estimate) | 1,273 |
| 2002 | 95.1 | 88.3–101.9 | no different (rough estimate) | 1,927 |
| 2003 | 93.3 | 88.3–98.3 | better (rough estimate) | 3,488 |
| 2004 | 96.1 | 91.4–100.7 | no different | 4,153 |
| 2005 | 91.7 | 86.6–96.8 | better (rough estimate) | 3,239 |
| 2006 | 104.2 | 100.8–107.7 | worse | 7,933 |
| 2007 | 100.5 | 97.2–103.8 | no different | 8,464 |
| 2008 | 103.8 | 100.3–107.4 | worse | 7,594 |
| 2009 | 102.3 | 98.3–106.4 | no different | 5,820 |
| 2010 | 96.1 | 91.6–100.6 | no different | 4,643 |
| 2011 | 95.1 | 89.5–100.8 | no different (rough estimate) | 3,027 |
| 2012 | 85.1 | 77.1–93.1 | better (rough estimate) | 1,417 |
| 2013 | 79.3 | 69.8–88.9 | better (rough estimate) | 962 |
Source: DVSA MOT bulk data · Window: 2019–2024 · n = 54,506 (initial tests) · Method: observed failures against those expected for the same model at the same ages, test-year level adjusted; verdict follows the printed one-decimal bound · Updated: 30 Sep 2026 · Release: dvsa-2024-v2 · CSV
How to cite this page
MOT Risk Index (2026). Volvo C70 2003 MOT statistics (data release dvsa-2024-v2; full dataset motriskindex-families-2024-v5, DOI 10.5281/zenodo.22975051), updated 30 September 2026. motriskindex.co.uk/cars/volvo-c70/2003/
How every figure is calculated: methodology. Age, test year and build year are tied together (age = test year − build year), so the test-year level is taken as observed, not estimated.
Other pages for this model
Volvo C70 2000 · Volvo C70 2001 · Volvo C70 2002 · Volvo C70 2004 · Volvo C70 2005 · Volvo C70 2006 · Volvo C70 2007 · Volvo C70 2008 · Volvo C70 2009 · Volvo C70 2010 · Volvo C70 2011 · Volvo C70 2012 · Volvo C70 2013 · Volvo C70 in the Netherlands · Volvo C70 by postcode area · Volvo C70 body, chassis and structure failures · Volvo C70 brakes failures · Volvo C70 vehicle identification failures · Volvo C70 lamps, reflectors and electrics failures · Volvo C70 noise, emissions and leaks failures · Volvo C70 road wheels failures · Volvo C70 seat belts and airbags failures · Volvo C70 steering failures · Volvo C70 suspension failures · Volvo C70 tyres failures · Volvo C70 visibility failures