2005 Volvo XC70 MOT pass rate: 64.0% (3,694 tests)
Is the 2005 XC70 getting worse?
Pass rate of 2005-registered cars across recent test years:
| Test year | Pass rate | |
|---|---|---|
| 2023 | 64.1% -0.1 vs same-age |
|
| 2024 | 63.6% -0.6 vs same-age |
|
| 2025 | 64.4% -1.0 vs same-age |
The raw rate normally falls as cars age. The “vs same-age” figure compares this cohort with all UK cars registered in the same year, so normal ageing is not mistaken for a bad model year.
What fails on a 2005 XC70
| # | System | Defects recorded | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment | 1,474 | 32.3% |
| 2 | Brakes | 997 | 21.9% |
| 3 | Suspension | 968 | 21.2% |
| 4 | Steering | 293 | 6.4% |
| 5 | Tyres | 281 | 6.2% |
| 6 | Body, chassis, structure | 217 | 4.8% |
All XC70 years compared
| Registration year | Tests | Pass rate | Vs same-age | Median mileage |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2004 | 2,150 | 62.3% | -2.1 pts | 164,099 |
| 2005 (this page) | 3,694 | 64.0% | -0.5 pts | 161,573 |
| 2006 | 3,419 | 64.4% | -0.0 pts | 148,495 |
| 2007 | 3,746 | 66.8% | +1.7 pts | 145,314 |
| 2008 | 2,905 | 74.6% | +9.5 pts | 143,131 |
| 2009 | 2,996 | 75.8% | +9.4 pts | 133,428 |
| 2010 | 4,161 | 75.7% | +8.4 pts | 132,364 |
| 2011 | 5,394 | 75.5% | +6.3 pts | 120,858 |
| 2012 | 3,938 | 75.8% | +4.6 pts | 111,865 |
| 2013 | 4,662 | 79.3% | +6.0 pts | 102,850 |
| 2014 | 5,162 | 80.3% | +4.5 pts | 93,524 |
| 2015 | 4,785 | 82.3% | +3.6 pts | 82,306 |
| 2016 | 3,040 | 81.4% | +0.1 pts | 74,000 |
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FAQs
Is a 2005 Volvo XC70 reliable?
2005-registered examples passed 64.0% of their MOT tests (3,694 tests, 2023–2025), -0.5 points versus all UK cars registered in the same year. At roughly 21 years old with a median 161,573 miles, condition now varies car by car — always check the individual MOT history.
What mileage is too high for a 2005 XC70?
The median tested example shows 161,573 miles. Anything far beyond that isn't automatically bad — a motorway-mile car with consistent service records often beats a low-mileage school-run car — but price accordingly and scrutinise the mileage trail for gaps or drops.
Source: DVSA Anonymised MOT tests and results, 2023–2025 extracts (96 million Class 4 initial tests; retests excluded). Only vehicles old enough for a routine first MOT are included. Age-adjusted figures compare the model-year cohort with all vehicles of the same registration year tested in the same calendar year. Contains public sector information licensed under OGL v3.0.