1986 Volvo 700 Series — MOT failures & pass rate
Across 296 MOT tests, the 1986 Volvo 700 Series recorded a 74.7% pass rate. That is 4.9 percentage points worse than all cars of a similar age, which fail at 20.4%. Failures cluster in lighting & signalling, suspension and brakes.
What the MOT record shows
Lighting & signalling dominates the failure mix at 14.2% of all tests — 3.7 points clear of suspension, so it is the first thing to check.
At component level the recurring items are component mounting prescribed areas, service brake performance and exhaust system — component mounting prescribed areas alone was recorded 36 times.
A 150k+ example is materially riskier than a 60-90k one: 29.1% versus 14.3%.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: suspension was flagged on 30.4% of tests without failing them.
The trend is improving — the fail rate fell from 31.3% in 2021 to 24.5% in 2025, as the worst-kept examples leave the fleet.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 14.2% | 42 |
| 2 | Suspension | 10.5% | 31 |
| 3 | Brakes | 9.1% | 27 |
| 4 | Visibility | 7.4% | 22 |
| 5 | Body, structure & corrosion | 6.8% | 20 |
| 6 | Tyres | 4.4% | 13 |
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 | 36 |
| 2 | Service brake performance | 27 |
| 3 | Exhaust system | 16 |
| 4 | Position lamp | 15 |
| 5 | Wipers | 14 |
| 6 | Washers | 14 |
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 | 30.4% | 90 |
| 2 | Brakes | 27.7% | 82 |
| 3 | Body, structure & corrosion | 21.6% | 64 |
| 4 | Emissions & environmental | 21.3% | 63 |
| 5 | Tyres | 19.6% | 58 |
| 6 | Other defects | 19.3% | 57 |
Failure rate by mileage
Higher-mileage cars tend to fail more — often the most useful guide to real condition.
| Mileage band | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 60-90k | 35 | 14.3% |
| 90-120k | 60 | 23.3% |
| 120-150k | 51 | 33.3% |
| 150k+ | 127 | 29.1% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 80 | 31.3% |
| 2022 | 55 | 20.0% |
| 2023 | 61 | 27.9% |
| 2024 | 51 | 19.6% |
| 2025 | 49 | 24.5% |
What to check before buying a 1986 700 Series
On a 1986 700 Series, lighting & signalling is what the MOT record says goes wrong most — it appeared in 14.2% of tests. Check these areas before you commit.
- Lighting & signalling (14.2% 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.
- 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
How many 1986 Volvo 700 Seriess pass their MOT?
74.7% of the 296 1986 Volvo 700 Series MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 25.3% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 1986 Volvo 700 Series?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 14.2% of tests, followed by suspension (10.5%).
Does the 1986 700 Series get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 14.3% in the 60-90k band to 29.1% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 296 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.