Used car guide

2008 Volvo C70 petrol: common problems and MOT failures

What MOT testers find on the petrol Volvo C70 first registered in 2008 (petrol cars only): we looked at the 932 MOTs these cars had during 2023–2025. Plus known faults and what to look at before you buy one.

932MOTs of 2008 petrol cars, done in 2023–2025
59%pass first time (all 2008 cars: 57%)
5,800typical miles a year
2.1×the usual rate for drive shaft (cv) joints

What goes wrong more than usual on a 2008 Volvo C70 petrol?

Parts flagged at MOT more often on the 2008 Volvo C70 petrol than on all cars registered in 2008.

  • Drive shaft (CV) joints2.1× usual
    Volvo C70
    14.2% All 2008 cars
    6.7%

    Failed outright at MOT: 7.5%, against 3% of all 2008 cars. The rest were advisories or minor defects.

    Rough price £60–£350 our estimate

    At the viewing: Drive slowly on full steering lock in both directions and listen for clicking. Look for split rubber boots behind the front wheels.

  • Individual direction indicators2.5× usual
    Volvo C70
    7.8% All 2008 cars
    3.1%

    Failed outright at MOT: 3.3%, against 1.4% of all 2008 cars. The rest were advisories or minor defects.

    Rough price £10–£80 our estimate

    At the viewing: Ask a friend to check every light while you work the switches: indicators, brake lights, fog lights and reversing lights.

Better than most

Engine oil leaks: 2.1% here, against 11.3% of all 2008 cars. Number plates: 2.6% here, against 5.3% of all 2008 cars.

Common 2008 Volvo C70 petrol MOT failures and advisories

The share of 2008 Volvo C70 petrol MOT tests where testers flagged each area, as a fail or an advisory. Rough prices are typical independent-garage costs.

  • Suspension
    42% of testsRough price £120–£400

    At the viewing: Listen for knocks over speed bumps, and look behind each front wheel for a snapped coil spring.

  • Tyres
    37% of testsRough price £70–£150

    At the viewing: Check the tread on all four tyres, including the inside edges, and look for cracks or bulges.

  • Brakes
    31% of testsRough price £150–£350

    At the viewing: Look for a lip on the disc edges and feel for judder or pulling when braking firmly from about 40mph.

  • Lights and electrics
    30% of testsRough price £10–£80

    At the viewing: Ask a friend to check every light, including brake lights and indicators, while you operate them.

  • Driveshafts and joints
    14% of testsRough price £60–£350

    At the viewing: On full steering lock, drive slowly and listen for clicking from the front wheels.

  • Wipers, windscreen and mirrors
    7% of testsRough price £15–£250

    At the viewing: Check for chips in the driver's view, and test the wipers and washers.

Questions to ask the seller before buying a 2008 Volvo C70 petrol

Ask before you travel to see it. A seller who knows the car will have answers, and receipts.

  1. Any recent work on the drive shaft (cv) joints? (Flagged at MOT 2.1× as often on the 2008 Volvo C70 petrol as on other cars the same age.)
  2. Any recent work on the individual direction indicators? (Flagged at MOT 2.5× as often on the 2008 Volvo C70 petrol as on other cars the same age.)
  3. Can I see the service history and receipts for any big jobs?

Looking at a Volvo C70?

Check the actual car: its own MOT history, mileage and what to ask the seller. Free, no sign-up.

Other years

Every year of the Volvo C70 compared

YearMOT testsMost flagged
2013689Tyres 37%
2012809Tyres 37%
20111,427Suspension 39%
20102,130Suspension 39%
20092,439Suspension 45%
20073,448Suspension 46%
20063,063Suspension 44%
20051,191Suspension 39%
20041,442Suspension 42%
20031,218Suspension 40%
2002753Suspension 37%
2001598Suspension 35%
2000398Suspension 40%
1999271Suspension 37%
1998151Suspension 36%

Where this comes from: the DVSA's anonymised results for every MOT test done in Great Britain during 2023–2025, counting the MOTs of Volvo C70 cars first registered in 2008. "Flagged" includes advisories, so it isn't the same as a fail rate. How we score