1991 Volvo 700 Series — MOT failures & pass rate
Across 327 MOT tests, the 1991 Volvo 700 Series recorded a 73.1% pass rate. All cars of a similar age fail 22.4% of the time, so this is 4.5pp worse than the group it competes with. Failures cluster in lighting & signalling, brakes and suspension.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — lighting & signalling (13.8%) and brakes (11.3%) are close, so failures are spread across several systems rather than one weak point.
At component level the recurring items are service brake performance, position lamp and component mounting prescribed areas — service brake performance alone was recorded 22 times.
Mileage is the strongest signal on the record: 25.0% of 90-120k cars fail, rising to 32.4% once past 150k.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: brakes was flagged on 34.3% of tests without failing them.
The trend is worsening — 27.2% of tests failed in 2021 against 30.9% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 13.8% | 45 |
| 2 | Brakes | 11.3% | 37 |
| 3 | Suspension | 7.6% | 25 |
| 4 | Steering | 7.6% | 25 |
| 5 | Visibility | 7.0% | 23 |
| 6 | Body, structure & corrosion | 6.4% | 21 |
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 | 22 |
| 2 | Position lamp | 19 |
| 3 | Component mounting prescribed areas | 18 |
| 4 | Stop lamp | 17 |
| 5 | Exhaust system | 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 | Brakes | 34.3% | 112 |
| 2 | Body, structure & corrosion | 26.3% | 86 |
| 3 | Emissions & environmental | 24.2% | 79 |
| 4 | Suspension | 22.6% | 74 |
| 5 | Tyres | 22.0% | 72 |
| 6 | Other defects | 20.2% | 66 |
Failure rate by mileage
Higher-mileage cars tend to fail more — often the most useful guide to real condition.
| Mileage band | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 90-120k | 40 | 25.0% |
| 120-150k | 56 | 21.4% |
| 150k+ | 185 | 32.4% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 81 | 27.2% |
| 2022 | 75 | 22.7% |
| 2023 | 64 | 23.4% |
| 2024 | 52 | 32.7% |
| 2025 | 55 | 30.9% |
What to check before buying a 1991 700 Series
On a 1991 700 Series, lighting & signalling is what the MOT record says goes wrong most — it appeared in 13.8% of tests. Check these areas before you commit.
- Lighting & signalling (13.8% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Brakes (11.3% 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 (7.6% 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 1991 Volvo 700 Seriess pass their MOT?
73.1% of the 327 1991 Volvo 700 Series MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 26.9% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 1991 Volvo 700 Series?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 13.8% of tests, followed by brakes (11.3%).
Does the 1991 700 Series get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 25.0% in the 90-120k band to 32.4% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 327 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.