MOT Risk Index.co.uk

Does the Volvo XC70 fail the MOT on lamps, reflectors and electrics more than it should?

The Volvo XC70 records 23.83 lamps, reflectors and electrics failure items per 100 initial MOT tests (2019–2024), against 23.05 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) (+0.78, 95% interval +0.50 to +1.07). It ranks 250 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 XC70 by registration

What exactly fails on lamps, reflectors and electrics?

The most frequent DVSA defect wording in this group on the Volvo XC70 is “The aim of a headlamp is not within limits laid down in the requirements”, recorded 4,625 times in 2019–2024.

Volvo XC70: most frequent lamps, reflectors and electrics defect wordings, 2019–2024 (30+ items each)
DVSA defect wordingItemsPer 100 tests
The aim of a headlamp is not within limits laid down in the requirements4,6254.10
A rear registration plate lamp or light source missing or inoperative in the case of multiple lamps or light sources4,4163.91
A lamp missing, inoperative or in the case of a multiple light source more than 1/2 not functioning3,8323.40
Headlamp reflector or lens slightly defective3,1992.84
Lamp emitted colour, position or intensity not in accordance with the requirements1,4081.25

Source: DVSA MOT bulk data (OGL v3.0) · Window: 2019–2024 · n = 112,839 (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

If a Volvo XC70 gets a lamps, reflectors and electrics advisory, how often does it fail next time?

28.0% of Volvo XC70 MOTs with a lamps, reflectors and electrics advisory were followed by a fail in the same group at the next MOT, typically 12 months and 7,124 miles later (3,242 advisories followed).

Source: DVSA MOT bulk data (OGL v3.0) · Window: 2019–2024 · n = 3,242 (advisories followed) · Method: the same vehicles followed to their next ordinary MOT · Updated: 30 Sep 2026 · Release: dvsa-2024-v2 · CSV

Other pages for this model

Volvo XC70 2002 · Volvo XC70 2003 · Volvo XC70 2004 · Volvo XC70 2005 · Volvo XC70 2006 · Volvo XC70 2007 · Volvo XC70 2008 · Volvo XC70 2009 · Volvo XC70 2010 · Volvo XC70 2011 · Volvo XC70 2012 · Volvo XC70 2013 · Volvo XC70 2014 · Volvo XC70 2015 · Volvo XC70 2016 · Volvo XC70 in Norway · Volvo XC70 in Finland · Volvo XC70 in the Netherlands · Volvo XC70 by postcode area · Volvo XC70 body, chassis and structure failures · Volvo XC70 brakes failures · Volvo XC70 vehicle identification failures · Volvo XC70 noise, emissions and leaks failures · Volvo XC70 road wheels failures · Volvo XC70 seat belts and airbags failures · Volvo XC70 steering failures · Volvo XC70 suspension failures · Volvo XC70 tyres failures · Volvo XC70 visibility failures