1997 Volvo S70 — MOT History by Age

How cars manufactured in 1997 perform at MOT as they age

29 years

Current Age

68.0%

Latest Pass Rate

14,046

Total Tests (All Years)

134,546 mi

Avg Mileage (Latest)

Data from official DVSA MOT testing records

Best vintage for S70

Insufficient data for same-age comparison.

How This Car Ages

Pass rate progression for the 1997 Volvo S70 as it ages.

12 yrs51.6%

→ ↓1.1%

13 yrs50.5%

→ ↓0.5%

14 yrs50.0%

→ ↓0.1%

15 yrs49.9%

→ ↓1.8%

16 yrs48.1%

→ ↑2.7%

17 yrs50.8%

→ ↑5.0%

18 yrs55.8%

→ ↓0.5%

19 yrs55.3%

→ ↑1.8%

20 yrs57.1%

→ ↑1.8%

21 yrs58.9%

→ ↑2.7%

22 yrs61.6%

→ ↑1.9%

23 yrs63.5%

→ ↑1.6%

24 yrs65.1%

→ ↑3.7%

25 yrs68.8%

→ ↓2.8%

26 yrs66.0%

→ ↑2.0%

27 yrs68.0%

📊 View as table

Age	Pass Rate	Tests
12 yrs	51.6%	2,469
13 yrs	50.5%	2,186
14 yrs	50.0%	1,884
15 yrs	49.9%	1,495
16 yrs	48.1%	1,206
17 yrs	50.8%	999
18 yrs	55.8%	801
19 yrs	55.3%	671
20 yrs	57.1%	517
21 yrs	58.9%	319
22 yrs	61.6%	276
23 yrs	63.5%	244
24 yrs	65.1%	261
25 yrs	68.8%	189
26 yrs	66.0%	188
27 yrs	68.0%	341

Pass Rate Trend

How the 1997 Volvo S70 pass rate changes as it ages, from first MOT to most recent.

📊 View as table

Built	Pass Rate	Tests
2024 (27 yrs)	68%	341
2023 (26 yrs)	66%	188
2022 (25 yrs)	68.8%	189
2021 (24 yrs)	65.1%	261
2020 (23 yrs)	63.5%	244
2019 (22 yrs)	61.6%	276
2018 (21 yrs)	58.9%	319
2017 (20 yrs)	57.1%	517
2016 (19 yrs)	55.3%	671
2015 (18 yrs)	55.8%	801
2014 (17 yrs)	50.8%	999
2013 (16 yrs)	48.1%	1,206
2012 (15 yrs)	49.9%	1,495
2011 (14 yrs)	50%	1,884
2010 (13 yrs)	50.5%	2,186
2009 (12 yrs)	51.6%	2,469

Year-by-Year MOT Results

2009High Fail Rate

51.6%

Age (yrs) 12Tests 2,469Avg Mileage 118,331Top Failure Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 29.4%

2010High Fail Rate

50.5%

Age (yrs) 13Tests 2,186Avg Mileage 123,077Top Failure Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 29.1%

2011High Fail Rate

50.0%

Age (yrs) 14Tests 1,884Avg Mileage 124,396Top Failure Suspension — 29.5%

2012High Fail Rate

49.9%

Age (yrs) 15Tests 1,495Avg Mileage 126,951Top Failure Suspension — 32.4%

2013High Fail Rate

48.1%

Age (yrs) 16Tests 1,206Avg Mileage 128,427Top Failure Brakes — 66.3%

2014High Fail Rate

50.8%

Age (yrs) 17Tests 999Avg Mileage 127,582Top Failure Brakes — 67.1%

2015High Fail Rate

55.8%

Age (yrs) 18Tests 801Avg Mileage 128,312Top Failure Brakes — 60.2%

2016High Fail Rate

55.3%

Age (yrs) 19Tests 671Avg Mileage 129,205Top Failure Brakes — 53.9%

2017High Fail Rate

57.1%

Age (yrs) 20Tests 517Avg Mileage 130,342Top Failure Brakes — 55.5%

2018High Fail Rate

58.9%

Age (yrs) 21Tests 319Avg Mileage 131,962Top Failure Brakes — 53.6%

2019High Fail Rate

61.6%

Age (yrs) 22Tests 276Avg Mileage 133,159Top Failure Brakes — 46.4%

2020High Fail Rate

63.5%

Age (yrs) 23Tests 244Avg Mileage 135,910Top Failure Brakes — 41.4%

2021

65.1%

Age (yrs) 24Tests 261Avg Mileage 136,929Top Failure Brakes — 45.6%

2022

68.8%

Age (yrs) 25Tests 189Avg Mileage 135,798Top Failure Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment — 37.6%

2023

66.0%

Age (yrs) 26Tests 188Avg Mileage 134,271Top Failure Brakes — 40.4%

2024

68.0%

Age (yrs) 27Tests 341Avg Mileage 134,546Top Failure Suspension — 40.5%

MOT results for 1997 Volvo S70 by test year
Test Year▲	Age (yrs)▲▼	Pass Rate▲▼	Tests▲▼	Avg Mileage▲▼	Top Failure▲▼
2009	12	51.6%	2,469	118,331	Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 29.4%
2010	13	50.5%	2,186	123,077	Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 29.1%
2011	14	50.0%	1,884	124,396	Suspension — 29.5%
2012	15	49.9%	1,495	126,951	Suspension — 32.4%
2013	16	48.1%	1,206	128,427	Brakes — 66.3%
2014	17	50.8%	999	127,582	Brakes — 67.1%
2015	18	55.8%	801	128,312	Brakes — 60.2%
2016	19	55.3%	671	129,205	Brakes — 53.9%
2017	20	57.1%	517	130,342	Brakes — 55.5%
2018	21	58.9%	319	131,962	Brakes — 53.6%
2019	22	61.6%	276	133,159	Brakes — 46.4%
2020	23	63.5%	244	135,910	Brakes — 41.4%
2021	24	65.1%	261	136,929	Brakes — 45.6%
2022	25	68.8%	189	135,798	Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment — 37.6%
2023	26	66.0%	188	134,271	Brakes — 40.4%
2024	27	68.0%	341	134,546	Suspension — 40.5%

Common MOT Failures

Top failure categories across all test years for 1997 Volvo S70, with age trends.

Brakes

44.6%

↑ Increases with age

Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment

39.5%

↓ Decreases with age

Suspension

39.3%

↑ Increases with age

Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment

35.3%

↑ Increases with age

Body, chassis, structure

20.1%

— Consistent

How Failures Change With Age

Comparing failure rates between the youngest and oldest test years.

Category	At Youngest	At Oldest	Change	Trend
Suspension	23.1% (12 yrs)	40.5% (27 yrs)	+17.4%	🔴 ↑
Brakes	27.6% (12 yrs)	38.1% (27 yrs)	+10.5%	🔴 ↑
Tyres	14.3% (12 yrs)	19.9% (27 yrs)	+5.6%	🔴 ↑

Other Manufacture Years

1997 1998 1999 2000

← Back to Volvo S70 overview

Looking for the best year to buy? See the full comparison on the Volvo S70 page →

About This Data

This page shows how Volvo S70 cars manufactured in 1997 perform at MOT as they age. Data spans from 2009 to 2024, covering 14,046 tests. Pass rates naturally decline with age as components wear.

Based on DVSA anonymised MOT test data (2005–2024). Crown copyright, Open Government Licence v3.0.