Used car guide

2004 Volvo XC70 petrol: common problems and MOT failures

What MOT testers find on the petrol Volvo XC70 first registered in 2004 (petrol cars only): we looked at the 300 MOTs these cars had during 2023–2025. Plus known faults and what to look at before you buy one.

Small sample: there were only 300 MOTs of these cars during 2023–2025, so treat the percentages as rough. The known faults below don't depend on it.

300MOTs of 2004 petrol cars, done in 2023–2025
61%pass first time (all 2004 cars: 57%)
7,400typical miles a year
1.9×the usual rate for suspension arm bushes and joints

What goes wrong more than usual on a 2004 Volvo XC70 petrol?

Parts flagged at MOT more often on the 2004 Volvo XC70 petrol than on all cars registered in 2004.

  • Suspension arm bushes and joints1.9× usual
    Volvo XC70
    18% All 2004 cars
    9.4%

    Failed outright at MOT: 3%, against 2.1% of all 2004 cars. The rest were advisories or minor defects.

    Rough price £120–£180 (one arm) ClickMechanic

    At the viewing: Listen for clunks over bumps and feel for the steering wandering. Worn arm bushes show as cracked rubber near the wheels.

Common 2004 Volvo XC70 petrol MOT failures and advisories

The share of 2004 Volvo XC70 petrol MOT tests where testers flagged each area, as a fail or an advisory. Rough prices are typical independent-garage costs.

  • Suspension
    51% 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.

  • Lights and electrics
    36% of testsRough price £10–£80

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

  • Brakes
    27% 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.

  • Tyres
    27% 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.

  • Exhaust and emissions
    15% of testsRough price £100–£1,200

    At the viewing: Look for black soot in the tailpipe, listen for blowing from the exhaust and check for an engine warning light.

  • Oil and fluid leaks
    14% of testsRough price £80–£600

    At the viewing: Look under the engine and on the ground where the car is usually parked for fresh oil or fluid.

Questions to ask the seller before buying a 2004 Volvo XC70 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 suspension arm bushes and joints? (Flagged at MOT 1.9× as often on the 2004 Volvo XC70 petrol as on other cars the same age.)
  2. Can I see the service history and receipts for any big jobs?

Looking at a Volvo XC70?

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 XC70 compared

YearMOT testsMost flagged
2026–Too new for MOT data
2017–Too few tests
20163,042Tyres 29%
20154,791Tyres 25%
20145,186Tyres 27%
20134,685Tyres 27%
20123,959Suspension 29%
20115,423Suspension 32%
20104,180Suspension 31%
20093,015Suspension 35%
20082,921Suspension 43%
20073,767Suspension 51%
20063,443Suspension 53%
20053,719Suspension 54%
20031,334Suspension 57%
2002260Suspension 52%

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 XC70 cars first registered in 2004. "Flagged" includes advisories, so it isn't the same as a fail rate. How we score