Volvo 240 MOT pass rate & common failures
The Volvo 240 appears in 8,665 MOT tests spanning model years 1980–2020, and 74.0% of them passed. Against all cars of a similar age (21.9% fail rate), the 240 comes out 4.2pp worse. Its most common failure areas are lighting & signalling, suspension and brakes.
Best and worst 240 years
Ranked across 240 years with at least 1,000 tests. Older cars fail more simply because they are older — compare years close together in age before drawing conclusions.
What the MOT record shows
Not every year is equal — 75.2% of 1989 examples pass against 69.5% of 1993 ones.
One area stands out: lighting & signalling, recorded in 16.5% of tests against 9.5% for the next-worst category.
At component level the recurring items are component mounting prescribed areas, headlamp aim and position lamp — component mounting prescribed areas alone was recorded 601 times.
Condition tracks the odometer closely. Failures run at 14.5% in the 0-30k band and 29.6% in the 150k+ band, a 15.1-point spread — more than double.
Suspension is the most common advisory, noted on 32.5% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
The trend is improving — the fail rate fell from 27.3% in 2021 to 24.6% in 2025, as the worst-kept examples leave the fleet.
How it compares
By model year
Every 240 model year with a usable sample. Years with their own detailed report are linked.
| Year | Tests | Pass rate | Fail rate | Most common failure |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1980 | 40 | 82.5% | 17.5% | Lighting & signalling |
| 1981 | 57 | 84.2% | 15.8% | Visibility |
| 1982 | 86 | 80.2% | 19.8% | Lighting & signalling |
| 1983 | 139 | 73.4% | 26.6% | Visibility |
| 1984 | 199 | 72.9% | 27.1% | Lighting & signalling |
| 1985 | 152 | 78.3% | 21.7% | Lighting & signalling |
| 1986 | 259 | 72.6% | 27.4% | Lighting & signalling |
| 1987 | 432 | 75.5% | 24.5% | Lighting & signalling |
| 1988 | 940 | 74.3% | 25.7% | Lighting & signalling |
| 1989 | 1,401 | 75.2% | 24.8% | Lighting & signalling |
| 1990 | 1,229 | 74.9% | 25.1% | Lighting & signalling |
| 1991 | 838 | 75.3% | 24.7% | Lighting & signalling |
| 1992 | 1,254 | 73.9% | 26.1% | Lighting & signalling |
| 1993 | 1,474 | 69.5% | 30.5% | Lighting & signalling |
| 2002 | 39 | 66.7% | 33.3% | Lighting & signalling |
| 2004 | 31 | 77.4% | 22.6% | Brakes |
Most common failures (all years)
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 16.5% | 1,433 |
| 2 | Suspension | 9.5% | 823 |
| 3 | Brakes | 9.1% | 790 |
| 4 | Body, structure & corrosion | 7.7% | 666 |
| 5 | Visibility | 7.2% | 624 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 5.7% | 495 |
| 7 | Steering | 3.9% | 336 |
| 8 | Seat belts & restraints | 3.2% | 275 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Component mounting prescribed areas | 601 |
| 2 | Headlamp aim | 478 |
| 3 | Position lamp | 424 |
| 4 | Stop lamp | 419 |
| 5 | Washers | 417 |
| 6 | Service brake performance | 384 |
| 7 | Prescribed areas | 383 |
| 8 | Wipers | 332 |
Top advisory categories
Advisories aren't failures, but they flag work likely needed soon — useful when budgeting.
| # | Category | % of tests with advisory | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Suspension | 32.5% | 2,818 |
| 2 | Brakes | 23.6% | 2,046 |
| 3 | Body, structure & corrosion | 16.5% | 1,431 |
| 4 | Emissions & environmental | 16.3% | 1,416 |
| 5 | Tyres | 15.5% | 1,345 |
| 6 | Other defects | 15.1% | 1,308 |
Failure rate by mileage
Higher-mileage cars tend to fail more — often the most useful guide to real condition.
| Mileage band | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 0-30k | 117 | 14.5% |
| 30-60k | 434 | 22.4% |
| 60-90k | 922 | 19.9% |
| 90-120k | 1,567 | 23.0% |
| 120-150k | 1,831 | 26.0% |
| 150k+ | 3,785 | 29.6% |
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Petrol | 8,579 | 26.1% |
| Diesel | 86 | 22.1% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 2,052 | 27.3% |
| 2022 | 1,859 | 26.3% |
| 2023 | 1,702 | 25.5% |
| 2024 | 1,589 | 26.1% |
| 2025 | 1,463 | 24.6% |
What to check before buying a Volvo 240
- Lighting & signalling (16.5% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Suspension (9.5% of tests): Worn drop links, bushes, springs or shocks — listen for knocks over bumps and check for uneven tyre wear. Typical repair: £150–£450 per corner.
- Brakes (9.1% of tests): Pads/discs are routine wear; binding, imbalance or corroded pipes are more serious — test for pulling under braking. Typical repair: £100–£350 per axle.
Repair costs are rough UK ballpark ranges to set expectations, not quotes — actual prices vary widely by car, parts and garage.
Frequently asked questions
What is the MOT pass rate for the Volvo 240?
74.0% of the 8,665 Volvo 240 MOT tests in this dataset passed, a 26.1% fail rate, across model years 1980–2020.
What does the Volvo 240 most often fail its MOT on?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 16.5% of tests, then suspension (9.5%).
Which 240 years are best and worst for MOT results?
1989 has the best pass rate at 75.2% and 1993 the weakest at 69.5%, from 1,401 and 1,474 tests respectively.
How much does mileage affect 240 MOT results?
Fail rates run at 14.5% for cars in the 0-30k band and 29.6% for 150k+, a 15.1-point difference.
Methodology & source. Based on 8,665 MOT tests. Dataset: DVSA MOT testing data (2021,2022,2023,2024,2025). Data last updated 2026-07-27. Figures reflect MOT-testable defects only — read the methodology for how these are calculated and what they don't measure.