1986 Volvo 240 — MOT failures & pass rate
The 1986 Volvo 240 passed 72.6% of its 259 recorded MOT tests. Against all cars of a similar age (20.4% fail rate), the 1986 240 comes out 7.0pp worse. Failures cluster in lighting & signalling, visibility and body, structure & corrosion.
What the MOT record shows
One area stands out: lighting & signalling, recorded in 17.0% of tests against 10.0% for the next-worst category.
At component level the recurring items are prescribed areas, chassis condition and position lamp — prescribed areas alone was recorded 23 times.
Mileage matters less than usual here: the 1986 240 fails 33.3% of the time in the 30-60k band and 34.4% at 150k+, a spread of only 1.1 points.
Suspension is the most common advisory, noted on 24.3% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
The trend is improving — the fail rate fell from 27.7% in 2021 to 26.1% in 2025, as the worst-kept examples leave the fleet.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 17.0% | 44 |
| 2 | Visibility | 10.0% | 26 |
| 3 | Body, structure & corrosion | 10.0% | 26 |
| 4 | Brakes | 8.9% | 23 |
| 5 | Suspension | 8.5% | 22 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 6.2% | 16 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Prescribed areas | 23 |
| 2 | Chassis condition | 17 |
| 3 | Position lamp | 16 |
| 4 | Integral vehicle structure condition | 16 |
| 5 | Wipers | 15 |
| 6 | Washers | 15 |
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 | 24.3% | 63 |
| 2 | Brakes | 21.2% | 55 |
| 3 | Tyres | 18.9% | 49 |
| 4 | Steering | 15.4% | 40 |
| 5 | Body, structure & corrosion | 15.1% | 39 |
| 6 | Other defects | 15.1% | 39 |
Failure rate by mileage
Higher-mileage cars tend to fail more — often the most useful guide to real condition.
| Mileage band | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 30-60k | 48 | 33.3% |
| 60-90k | 33 | 12.1% |
| 90-120k | 68 | 23.5% |
| 120-150k | 44 | 27.3% |
| 150k+ | 64 | 34.4% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 65 | 27.7% |
| 2022 | 58 | 32.8% |
| 2023 | 51 | 25.5% |
| 2024 | 39 | 23.1% |
| 2025 | 46 | 26.1% |
What to check before buying a 1986 240
The failure pattern for this year is specific enough to inspect against: lighting & signalling accounted for 17.0% of tests. Start there.
- Lighting & signalling (17.0% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Visibility (10.0% of tests): Wipers, washers, mirrors and screen damage — usually inexpensive, but check for chips in the driver's line of sight. Typical repair: £15–£150.
- Body, structure & corrosion (10.0% of tests): The one to take seriously on older cars — corrosion to structural areas can be costly and is an MOT failure. Typical repair: £200–£1,500+.
Repair costs are rough UK ballpark ranges to set expectations, not quotes — actual prices vary widely by car, parts and garage.
Frequently asked questions
How many 1986 Volvo 240s pass their MOT?
72.6% of the 259 1986 Volvo 240 MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 27.4% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 1986 Volvo 240?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 17.0% of tests, followed by visibility (10.0%).
Does the 1986 240 get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 33.3% in the 30-60k band to 34.4% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 259 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.