Should I check the MOT history before buying a 2013 Volvo C70?

Yes. Look for recurring advisories — slow-building issues like corrosion or brake wear patterns show up years before they become failures. A full MOT history analysis will highlight patterns that a single test result won't reveal.

What corrosion should I look for when inspecting a 2013 Volvo C70?

Check brake pipes, sills, subframes, and chassis legs. Surface rust is normal at this age; structural rust is a serious problem that is expensive to fix and can fail an MOT.

How are tyres and brakes typically on a 2013 Volvo C70?

Tyres and brakes are the most common advisory items on vehicles of this age. Budget for replacement if they are near the limit, and factor this into your offer price.

How many 2013 Volvo C70 vehicles have had dangerous defects recorded?

49% of these vehicles have had a dangerous defect recorded. Search the registration on CarHunch — the full MOT history will show exactly what was flagged and whether it was resolved.

Is the 2013 Volvo C70 reliable?

Based on MOT data from 249 vehicles, the 2013 Volvo C70 has a first-time MOT pass rate of 81.5%, indicating generally reliable for its class. Always check the full MOT history of any specific vehicle before buying.

What are common problems with the 2013 Volvo C70?

The most frequently recorded MOT issues on the 2013 Volvo C70 are: Nearside Front Tyre worn close to legal limit/worn on edge (41.3% of vehicles), Offside Front Tyre worn close to legal limit/worn on edge (38.9% of vehicles), Nearside Rear Anti-roll bar linkage ball joint has slight play (34.4% of vehicles). These figures are based on actual MOT test records — search a specific registration on CarHunch to see its individual history.

Do I need an HPI check when buying a 2013 Volvo C70?

Yes. The MOT history will not show outstanding finance, insurance write-offs, or stolen status. An HPI check covers these areas and should be part of any used car purchase.

CarHunch

Get Started

Volvo C70 (2013)

249 real MOT outcomes analysed • 81.5% first-time pass rate

2013 Volvo C70

CarHunch analysed 249 real MOT records for the 2013 Volvo C70. Real test outcomes — pass rates, defect profiles, mileage data — from verified DVLA records. Updated as new MOTs are recorded.
Which year to buy? →

On this page

AI Analysis Reliability Overview Common Issues Check a Specific Reg Buyer's Checklist Pass Rate by Fuel Mileage Distribution Still on the Road MOT Averages Colour Breakdown Compare Models

The 2013 Volvo C70 barely matches the UK average with an 81.5% pass rate, but the real concern is that nearly half of these cars have suffered a dangerous defect at some point—well above acceptable levels and a genuine red flag for prospective buyers. The diesel variant (which accounts for virtually all examples) shows no meaningful advantage, passing at 81.4%.

At just under 49,000 miles median, these C70s are relatively low-mileage for their age, yet they're racking up an average of 2.48 failures and 13.1 advisories per test, suggesting latent reliability issues rather than wear from heavy use. Before committing to one, insist on a full service history and an independent inspection focusing on the electrical and hydraulic systems where this model tends to develop expensive problems.

We have limited data for the 2013 Volvo C70 — treat the figures below as indicative rather than definitive.

⚠️ Over 1 in 5 of these vehicles have had a dangerous MOT failure at some point — usually tyres or brakes, and often a one-off issue rather than a persistent problem. The group stats won't tell you which one you're looking at.

First-time pass

81.5%

UK average ~80%

Around average

Dangerous (ever)

49.4%

At least once in MOT history

Check this vehicle

Avg failures / car

2.48

Over 12.2 tests on record

High

Typical mileage

49k

Middle half: 35k–66k

For context

These stats describe 249 vehicles as a group. The specific vehicle you're looking at could be the one good example or the one outlier. Run its registration to find out.

Watch for defects — worth knowing

What tends to go wrong

Across 249 vehicles — figures show how many had each issue flagged at least once in their MOT history.

Tyre wear 41.3%

Nearside Front Tyre worn close to legal limit/worn on edge · Offside Front Tyre worn close to legal limit/worn on edge · Offside Rear Tyre worn close to legal limit/worn on edge · …

Budget for a full set — on a vehicle this age, tyres are expected consumables. An inspection will confirm how much is left.

Suspension & steering 34.4%

Nearside Rear Anti-roll bar linkage ball joint has slight play · Offside Rear Anti-roll bar linkage ball joint has slight play

Harder to spot without a ramp — this is a good reason to book a pre-purchase inspection.

Brake wear 27.9%

Front Brake pad(s) wearing thin · Rear Brake pad(s) wearing thin

Ask the seller when brakes were last serviced. If they don't know, factor in the cost.

Lighting 21.1%

Nearside Front Position lamp not working · Offside Registration plate lamp inoperative in the case of multiple lamps or light sources · Nearside Front Road wheel slightly distorted · …

Usually cheap to fix. Worth confirming all lights work before collecting.

Data covers a 3-year window centred on 2013.

See this vehicle's full MOT history & AI hunches

Spot recurring advisories, hidden issues, and how it compares to 249 Volvo C70 cars.

Before you buy a 2013 Volvo C70

Based on MOT data from 249 vehicles — here's what to check.

📋 Check the full MOT history. 49.4% of these vehicles have had a dangerous defect recorded - recurring advisories often signal problems years before they become failures.
Search the reg on CarHunch for the full MOT history, reliability stats and a free AI-powered analysis of that exact vehicle.
🔍 Brake pipes, sills and subframes are the key areas on a vehicle this age — structural rust is hard to spot without getting underneath. A mechanic will check all of this before you commit, and give you a concrete basis to negotiate on price. Inspection →
📄 Outstanding finance, insurance write-offs and clocking won't appear in the MOT records — a dedicated history check covers all of this. Our link gets you 20% off automatically. History Get 20% off via CarHunch

Pass Rate by Fuel Type

Fuel type	Vehicles	Pass rate	Avg failures
Diesel (98%)	244	81.4%	2.49

Colour Breakdown

Based on 21,362 Volvo C70 vehicles registered in the UK — across all years. From DVLA registration records.

Blue 26.9%

5,752

Silver 26.2%

5,602

Black 17.1%

3,658

Red 10%

2,132

Grey 4.8%

1,024

Turquoise 3.6%

765

White 3.5%

749

Orange 2.6%

566

Gold 1.9%

408

Purple 1.5%

313

Green 1.4%

305

Cream 0.4%

Mileage Distribution

Most 2013 Volvo C70 vehicles sit in the blue band. If the vehicle you're looking at is outside it, it's either unusually low or high mileage for its age.

48,879

typical

34,513

low mileage

65,917

high mileage

Half of all 2013 Volvo C70 vehicles fall between 34,513 and 65,917 miles.

Is the mileage you're seeing normal?

✓ Under 34,513 miles — lower than most. Could be great, or could be a vehicle that rarely moved. Check test frequency and mileage progression in the MOT history.

✓ 34,513–65,917 miles — normal for age. This is where most 2013 Volvo C70s sit.

⚠ Over 88,987 miles — higher than typical. Not necessarily a problem, but check service history and look out for advisory build-up on tyres and brakes.

2013 Volvo C70 — Still on the Road

Almost all 2013 Volvo C70s are still on the road.

Strong survival — 224 vehicles still getting MOTs in 2025, 93% of the peak.

Based on vehicles from this manufacture year that had at least one MOT test in each calendar year. Data from 2016–2025.
* The 2020 dip reflects the government's COVID-19 MOT exemption, which allowed certificates to be extended by six months — fewer tests were conducted that year.

MOT History Averages

12.2

Avg MOT tests per vehicle

2.48

Avg failures per vehicle

13.1

Avg advisories per vehicle

Other model years — Volvo C70: All C70 years → Which year to buy? →

1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012

Or browse all models: Volvo →

Compare with another model

See how the 2013 Volvo C70 stacks up against a rival.

Watch for defects — worth knowing