Volvo 400 Series MOT pass rate & common failures
The Volvo 400 Series appears in 2,797 MOT tests spanning model years 1987–2012, and 71.5% of them passed. That is 4.9 percentage points worse than all cars of a similar age, which fail at 23.6%. Its most common failure areas are brakes, lighting & signalling and suspension.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — brakes (16.8%) and lighting & signalling (15.2%) are close, so failures are spread across several systems rather than one weak point.
At component level the recurring items are component mounting prescribed areas, rbt (sp) and service brake performance — component mounting prescribed areas alone was recorded 236 times.
Mileage is the strongest signal on the record: 19.1% of 0-30k cars fail, rising to 26.5% once past 150k.
Suspension is the most common advisory, noted on 32.6% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
The trend is improving — the fail rate fell from 27.9% in 2021 to 26.3% in 2025, as the worst-kept examples leave the fleet.
How it compares
By model year
Every 400 Series model year with a usable sample. Years with their own detailed report are linked.
| Year | Tests | Pass rate | Fail rate | Most common failure |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1988 | 44 | 65.9% | 34.1% | Lighting & signalling |
| 1989 | 91 | 68.1% | 31.9% | Brakes |
| 1990 | 113 | 82.3% | 17.7% | Brakes |
| 1991 | 186 | 75.3% | 24.7% | Brakes |
| 1992 | 345 | 71.0% | 29.0% | Brakes |
| 1993 | 473 | 70.4% | 29.6% | Brakes |
| 1994 | 502 | 69.1% | 30.9% | Brakes |
| 1995 | 760 | 71.5% | 28.5% | Brakes |
| 1996 | 198 | 73.7% | 26.3% | Brakes |
| 1997 | 51 | 68.6% | 31.4% | Brakes |
Most common failures (all years)
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Brakes | 16.8% | 471 |
| 2 | Lighting & signalling | 15.2% | 424 |
| 3 | Suspension | 10.5% | 293 |
| 4 | Body, structure & corrosion | 8.2% | 229 |
| 5 | Visibility | 7.2% | 202 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 7.0% | 196 |
| 7 | Tyres | 3.0% | 85 |
| 8 | Seat belts & restraints | 2.7% | 75 |
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 | 236 |
| 2 | Rbt (sp) | 228 |
| 3 | Service brake performance | 206 |
| 4 | Catalyst emissions | 190 |
| 5 | Headlamp aim | 181 |
| 6 | Position lamp | 144 |
| 7 | Wipers | 132 |
| 8 | Headlamp | 128 |
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 | 32.6% | 913 |
| 2 | Brakes | 31.4% | 879 |
| 3 | Emissions & environmental | 23.5% | 658 |
| 4 | Body, structure & corrosion | 20.8% | 582 |
| 5 | Tyres | 17.0% | 475 |
| 6 | Lighting & signalling | 15.4% | 431 |
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 | 183 | 19.1% |
| 30-60k | 769 | 28.0% |
| 60-90k | 952 | 28.1% |
| 90-120k | 566 | 31.4% |
| 120-150k | 225 | 32.0% |
| 150k+ | 98 | 26.5% |
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Petrol | 2,753 | 28.6% |
| Diesel | 44 | 18.2% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 732 | 27.9% |
| 2022 | 625 | 27.7% |
| 2023 | 570 | 30.5% |
| 2024 | 474 | 29.8% |
| 2025 | 396 | 26.3% |
What to check before buying a Volvo 400 Series
- Brakes (16.8% 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.
- Lighting & signalling (15.2% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Suspension (10.5% 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.
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 400 Series?
71.5% of the 2,797 Volvo 400 Series MOT tests in this dataset passed, a 28.5% fail rate, across model years 1987–2012.
What does the Volvo 400 Series most often fail its MOT on?
Brakes, recorded in 16.8% of tests, then lighting & signalling (15.2%).
How much does mileage affect 400 Series MOT results?
Fail rates run at 19.1% for cars in the 0-30k band and 26.5% for 150k+, a 7.4-point difference.
Methodology & source. Based on 2,797 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.