1992 Volvo 400 Series — MOT failures & pass rate
345 MOT tests on the 1992 Volvo 400 Series are in this dataset, and 71.0% of them passed. Against all cars of a similar age (23.0% fail rate), the 1992 400 Series comes out 5.9pp worse. Failures cluster in brakes, lighting & signalling and suspension.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — brakes (16.5%) and lighting & signalling (16.2%) are close, so failures are spread across several systems rather than one weak point.
At component level the recurring items are service brake performance, component mounting prescribed areas and rbt (sp) — service brake performance alone was recorded 31 times.
Mileage matters less than usual here: the 1992 400 Series fails 30.5% of the time in the 30-60k band and 31.3% at 90-120k, a spread of only 0.7 points.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: suspension was flagged on 38.0% of tests without failing them.
The trend is improving — the fail rate fell from 32.2% in 2021 to 25.5% in 2025, as the worst-kept examples leave the fleet.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Brakes | 16.5% | 57 |
| 2 | Lighting & signalling | 16.2% | 56 |
| 3 | Suspension | 13.0% | 45 |
| 4 | Visibility | 7.8% | 27 |
| 5 | Body, structure & corrosion | 7.8% | 27 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 5.8% | 20 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Service brake performance | 31 |
| 2 | Component mounting prescribed areas | 30 |
| 3 | Rbt (sp) | 25 |
| 4 | Headlamp aim | 24 |
| 5 | Position lamp | 20 |
| 6 | Prescribed areas | 18 |
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 | 38.0% | 131 |
| 2 | Brakes | 29.0% | 100 |
| 3 | Emissions & environmental | 27.0% | 93 |
| 4 | Body, structure & corrosion | 25.5% | 88 |
| 5 | Tyres | 21.7% | 75 |
| 6 | Other defects | 11.6% | 40 |
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 | 95 | 30.5% |
| 60-90k | 130 | 26.9% |
| 90-120k | 64 | 31.3% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 90 | 32.2% |
| 2022 | 79 | 22.8% |
| 2023 | 71 | 31.0% |
| 2024 | 58 | 32.8% |
| 2025 | 47 | 25.5% |
What to check before buying a 1992 400 Series
On a 1992 400 Series, brakes is what the MOT record says goes wrong most — it appeared in 16.5% of tests. Check these areas before you commit.
- Brakes (16.5% 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 (16.2% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Suspension (13.0% 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
How many 1992 Volvo 400 Seriess pass their MOT?
71.0% of the 345 1992 Volvo 400 Series MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 29.0% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 1992 Volvo 400 Series?
Brakes, recorded in 16.5% of tests, followed by lighting & signalling (16.2%).
Does the 1992 400 Series get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 30.5% in the 30-60k band to 31.3% in the 90-120k band.
Methodology & source. Based on 345 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.