Volvo 240: MOT pass rate and reliability data
The Volvo 240 fails its first MOT more often than the average UK car, by 9 percentage points. These figures come from the DVSA's full year of anonymised MOT results, covering 1,324 individual Volvo 240 tests. Nothing here is an estimate or a survey.
The numbers
| First-time pass rate | 67.7% |
| UK national average | 76.7% |
| Difference | -9 points |
| Tests analysed | 1,324 |
| Average mileage at test | 144,340 miles |
| Average year of manufacture | 1990 |
| Reliability rank | 1,813 of 2,005 models |
What this means if you are buying one
A 67.7% first-time pass rate means roughly 32 in every 100 Volvo 240s presented for MOT fail on the first attempt. That is worse than average, so budget for remedial work and treat a fresh 12-month MOT as a genuine selling point rather than a given. The average Volvo 240 tested had covered 144,340 miles and was built around 1990.
What this means at salvage auction
Pass rate is a proxy for what a car costs to keep on the road. On a Volvo 240 bought as a repairable salvage, assume the mechanical side needs more than the visible accident damage, and pad your repair estimate accordingly.
Before you bid: run the lot through the analyzer, check the car's own record, check the mileage, decode the VIN, and if it carries a marker use the write-off value calculator. Or compare it against another model.
Looking at a specific Volvo 240 rather than the model in general? The free check covers its MOT and mileage history, and the full HPI report confirms the insurance write-off category, outstanding finance and whether it is recorded stolen, from licensed data for 5 credits. Already own one that has been damaged? Work out whether fixing it beats selling it with the repair or scrap calculator, and see what damaged Volvo 240s actually sold for at UK salvage auction.
Most common MOT failures on a Volvo 240
- The strength or continuity of the load bearing structure within 30cm of any seat belt anchorage (a 'prescribed area') is significantly reduced or inadequately repaired, 4.7% of tests (20.62x the national rate for this defect)
- Vehicle structure corroded to the extent that the rigidity of the assembly is seriously reduced, 3.9% of tests (10.85x the national rate for this defect)
- Body, cab or chassis excessively corroded at a mounting point, 2.2% of tests (10.8x the national rate for this defect)
- The strength or continuity of the load bearing structure within 30cm of any sub-frame, spring or suspension component mounting (a 'prescribed area') is significantly reduced or inadequately repaired, 7.6% of tests (9.15x the national rate for this defect)
- Emissions levels exceed default limits, 2.7% of tests (9.14x the national rate for this defect)
- An obligatory rear fog lamp missing, or a front or rear fog lamp inoperative or in the case of a multiple light source more than 1/2 not functioning, 2.4% of tests (7.03x the national rate for this defect)
- A rear registration plate lamp or light source missing or inoperative in the case of a single lamp or all lamps, 3% of tests (4.67x the national rate for this defect)
- Exhaust system leaking or insecure, 3.4% of tests (4.41x the national rate for this defect)
- Significant brake effort recorded with no brake applied indicating a binding brake, 2.3% of tests (2.94x the national rate for this defect)
- Windscreen washers not working or not providing sufficient fluid to clear the windscreen, 3.5% of tests (2.86x the national rate for this defect)
From 3,371 DVSA-tracked Volvo 240 tests, 2024. DVSA testers marked 2.49% of these flagged Volvo 240 defects as "dangerous", meaning the tester judged the car unsafe to drive away, against 4.97% nationally.
Other Volvo models
- Volvo V40 - 76.1%
- Volvo Xc60 - 81.2%
- Volvo Xc90 - 75.2%
- Volvo Xc40 - 90.5%
- Volvo V70 - 69%
- Volvo V60 - 79%
- Volvo V50 - 60.4%
- Volvo C30 - 65.2%
Models with a similar pass rate
- Rover 214 - 67.9%
- Iveco Daily - 67.8%
- Vauxhall Agila - 67.7%
- Ford Transit - 67.6%
- Mercedes-Benz Clk - 67.5%
- Chevrolet Trax - 67.5%
If this car is a salvage or write-off
- What does Cat N mean? Category N explained
- What does Cat S mean? Category S explained
- Cat S vs Cat N: the real differences
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