1987 Volvo 700 Series — MOT failures & pass rate
The 1987 Volvo 700 Series passed 79.9% of its 547 recorded MOT tests. That is effectively the same as all cars of a similar age (20.6% fail rate), so the MOT record here is unremarkable in either direction. Failures cluster in lighting & signalling, brakes and suspension.
What the MOT record shows
One area stands out: lighting & signalling, recorded in 13.7% of tests against 7.0% for the next-worst category.
At component level the recurring items are position lamp, component mounting prescribed areas and stop lamp — position lamp alone was recorded 34 times.
Mileage matters less than usual here: the 1987 700 Series fails 16.9% of the time in the 60-90k band and 19.4% at 150k+, a spread of only 2.5 points.
Brakes is the most common advisory, noted on 26.0% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 13.7% | 75 |
| 2 | Brakes | 7.0% | 38 |
| 3 | Suspension | 6.2% | 34 |
| 4 | Body, structure & corrosion | 6.2% | 34 |
| 5 | Steering | 4.6% | 25 |
| 6 | Visibility | 4.4% | 24 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Position lamp | 34 |
| 2 | Component mounting prescribed areas | 31 |
| 3 | Stop lamp | 25 |
| 4 | Service brake performance | 22 |
| 5 | Washers | 19 |
| 6 | Non catalyst emissions | 19 |
Top advisory categories
Advisories aren't failures, but they flag work likely needed soon — useful when budgeting.
| # | Category | % of tests with advisory | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Brakes | 26.0% | 142 |
| 2 | Suspension | 22.9% | 125 |
| 3 | Emissions & environmental | 21.0% | 115 |
| 4 | Tyres | 18.5% | 101 |
| 5 | Body, structure & corrosion | 17.7% | 97 |
| 6 | Other defects | 14.3% | 78 |
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 | 71 | 16.9% |
| 90-120k | 114 | 20.2% |
| 120-150k | 110 | 25.4% |
| 150k+ | 232 | 19.4% |
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Petrol | 517 | 20.7% |
| Diesel | 30 | 10.0% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 125 | 18.4% |
| 2022 | 123 | 26.0% |
| 2023 | 112 | 21.4% |
| 2024 | 97 | 14.4% |
| 2025 | 90 | 18.9% |
What to check before buying a 1987 700 Series
The failure pattern for this year is specific enough to inspect against: lighting & signalling accounted for 13.7% of tests. Start there.
- Lighting & signalling (13.7% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Brakes (7.0% 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.
- Suspension (6.2% 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 1987 Volvo 700 Seriess pass their MOT?
79.9% of the 547 1987 Volvo 700 Series MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 20.1% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 1987 Volvo 700 Series?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 13.7% of tests, followed by brakes (7.0%).
Does the 1987 700 Series get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 16.9% in the 60-90k band to 19.4% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 547 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.