MOT Risk Index.co.uk

Does the Volvo S70 fail the MOT on steering more than it should?

The Volvo S70 records 6.67 steering failure items per 100 initial MOT tests (2019–2024), against 7.10 expected for a car of the same age mix: about as expected for its class and age (the difference is within its interval or under 0.5 items per 100 tests) (−0.43, 95% interval −1.28 to +0.42). It ranks 282 of 640 models on steering (1 = most failures above expected).

Data release dvsa-2024-v2 (24 Sep 2026) · page updated 30 Sep 2026 · all models on steering · check a Volvo S70 by registration

What exactly fails on steering?

The most frequent DVSA defect wording in this group on the Volvo S70 is “A steering ball joint with excessive wear or free play”, recorded 93 times in 2019–2024.

Volvo S70: most frequent steering defect wordings, 2019–2024 (30+ items each)
DVSA defect wordingItemsPer 100 tests
A steering ball joint with excessive wear or free play932.48
Steering rack gaiter or ball joint dust cover missing or no longer prevents the ingress of dirt etc741.97
Steering rack gaiter or ball joint dust cover damaged or deteriorated350.93

Source: DVSA MOT bulk data (OGL v3.0) · Window: 2019–2024 · n = 3,748 (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 S70 in the Netherlands · Volvo S70 by postcode area · Volvo S70 body, chassis and structure failures · Volvo S70 brakes failures · Volvo S70 vehicle identification failures · Volvo S70 lamps, reflectors and electrics failures · Volvo S70 noise, emissions and leaks failures · Volvo S70 road wheels failures · Volvo S70 suspension failures · Volvo S70 tyres failures · Volvo S70 visibility failures