1995 Volvo 800 Series — MOT failures & pass rate
3,665 MOT tests on the 1995 Volvo 800 Series are in this dataset, and 75.0% of them passed. That is effectively the same as all cars of a similar age (24.3% 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
No single area dominates — lighting & signalling (11.7%) and brakes (11.0%) are close, so failures are spread across several systems rather than one weak point.
At component level the recurring items are joints, wipers and catalyst emissions — joints alone was recorded 182 times.
Mileage is the strongest signal on the record: 12.8% of 0-30k cars fail, rising to 25.7% once past 150k — 2.0× the risk.
Suspension is the most common advisory, noted on 27.6% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
The trend is improving — the fail rate fell from 26.6% in 2021 to 23.8% in 2025, as the worst-kept examples leave the fleet.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 11.7% | 429 |
| 2 | Brakes | 11.0% | 402 |
| 3 | Suspension | 9.5% | 349 |
| 4 | Body, structure & corrosion | 8.0% | 294 |
| 5 | Visibility | 5.9% | 215 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 4.8% | 175 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Joints | 182 |
| 2 | Wipers | 180 |
| 3 | Catalyst emissions | 168 |
| 4 | Ball joint | 145 |
| 5 | Headlamp aim | 142 |
| 6 | Service brake performance | 142 |
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 | 27.6% | 1,013 |
| 2 | Brakes | 22.5% | 826 |
| 3 | Tyres | 22.2% | 813 |
| 4 | Emissions & environmental | 18.8% | 689 |
| 5 | Body, structure & corrosion | 18.6% | 682 |
| 6 | Other defects | 13.0% | 478 |
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 | 39 | 12.8% |
| 30-60k | 98 | 21.4% |
| 60-90k | 397 | 21.9% |
| 90-120k | 649 | 24.0% |
| 120-150k | 889 | 27.0% |
| 150k+ | 1,590 | 25.7% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 840 | 26.6% |
| 2022 | 797 | 25.5% |
| 2023 | 729 | 24.4% |
| 2024 | 669 | 24.5% |
| 2025 | 630 | 23.8% |
What to check before buying a 1995 800 Series
The failure pattern for this year is specific enough to inspect against: lighting & signalling accounted for 11.7% of tests. Start there.
- Lighting & signalling (11.7% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Brakes (11.0% 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 (9.5% 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
How many 1995 Volvo 800 Seriess pass their MOT?
75.0% of the 3,665 1995 Volvo 800 Series MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 25.1% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 1995 Volvo 800 Series?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 11.7% of tests, followed by brakes (11.0%).
Does the 1995 800 Series get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 12.8% in the 0-30k band to 25.7% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 3,665 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.