Volvo 240
From 3,771 MOT tests. Average for its class.
Common MOT failure categories
Pass rate by registration year
Older 240s fare better: 1993 models pass at 65.9% vs 69.2% for 1989.
What goes wrong?
The most common MOT failure reasons are 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, a suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn and 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. The top issue, 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, caused 241 failures in 2024. If you need repairs before retesting, sites like BookMyGarage let you compare local prices.
| 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 | 241 |
| a suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn | 138 |
| 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 | 134 |
| vehicle structure corroded to the extent that the rigidity of the assembly is seriously reduced | 126 |
| the aim of a headlamp is not within limits laid down in the requirements | 123 |
| windscreen washers not working or not providing sufficient fluid to clear the windscreen | 109 |
| exhaust system leaking or insecure | 105 |
| a lamp missing, inoperative or in the case of a multiple light source more than 1/2 not functioning | 92 |
| a rear registration plate lamp or light source missing or inoperative in the case of a single lamp or all lamps | 90 |
| emissions levels exceed default limits | 85 |
How serious are these failures?
Not all MOT failures are equal. 48.8% of 240 failures could actually strand you: fractured springs, engine faults, exhaust problems. Another 11.1% are safety issues where the car still drives but shouldn't, such as worn brakes, corroded brake pipes, and steering wear. Breakdown cover may be worth considering for this model. When it does fail, the average repair bill is around £185.
Volvo 240 on UK roads
The fleet is shrinking: 83 scrapped or exported in the past year with only 1 newly registered, a net loss of 82. At this rate, roughly 37.5 years until none remain. Now at 3.6% of its peak (83,238 in 1994 Q4).
Quarterly breakdown
| Quarter | On road | SORN | New | Gone | Net |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 Q3 | 1,088 | 1,909 | +1 | -8 | -7 |
| 2025 Q2 | 1,074 | 1,930 | +0 | -4 | -4 |
| 2025 Q1 | 1,028 | 1,980 | +0 | -35 | -35 |
| 2024 Q4 | 1,046 | 1,997 | +0 | -36 | -36 |
| 2024 Q3 | 1,115 | 1,964 | +0 | -14 | -14 |
| 2024 Q2 | 1,128 | 1,965 | +1 | -0 | +25 |
| 2024 Q1 | 1,089 | 1,979 | +0 | -42 | -42 |
| 2023 Q4 | 1,110 | 2,000 | +0 | -16 | -16 |
7 variants on the road
| Variant | Fuel | Licensed | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| 240 Gl | Diesel | 263 | 27% |
| 240 Se | Petrol | 170 | 18% |
| 240 Torslanda | Petrol | 141 | 15% |
| 240 Glt | Petrol | 131 | 14% |
| 240 Gl Auto | Diesel | 115 | 12% |
| 240 Dl | Diesel | 85 | 9% |
| 240 Glt Auto | Petrol | 62 | 6% |
Source: DfT vehicle licensing statistics, 2025 Q3. Crown copyright, OGL v3.0.
By registration year
| Year | Pass rate | Top failures |
|---|---|---|
| 1993 | 65.9% | 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, stop lamp missing, inoperative or in the case of a multiple light source more than 1/2 not functioning |
| 1992 | 70.4% | 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, tyre tread depth not in accordance with the requirements |
| 1991 | 69.8% | a suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn, the aim of a headlamp is not within limits laid down in the requirements |
| 1990 | 75.6% | 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, vehicle structure corroded to the extent that the rigidity of the assembly is seriously reduced |
3 earlier years
| 1989 | 69.2% | body, cab or chassis excessively corroded at a mounting point, 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 |
| 1988 | 69.4% | 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, a suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn |
| 1987 | 73.9% | a suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn, the aim of a headlamp is not within limits laid down in the requirements |
Typical mileage
Half of all 240s tested had between 95,510 and 185,562 miles on the clock. A significant number are high-mileage vehicles.
At 132,521 median miles, the 240 has 0.022 failures per 10,000 miles driven.
Other Volvo models
| Volvo Xc60 | 82.7% |
| Volvo V40 | 79% |
| Volvo Xc90 | 78% |
| Volvo Xc40 | 91.2% |
| Volvo V70 | 72% |
Common questions
What is the Volvo 240 MOT pass rate?
The Volvo 240 has a 70.5% MOT pass rate based on 3,771 real MOT tests. This is around the national average.
What are common MOT failures on a Volvo 240?
The most common MOT failure on the Volvo 240 is 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, which caused 241 failures. Other common issues include a suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn.
How many Volvo 240s are on UK roads?
There are 1,088 Volvo 240s currently licensed on UK roads, with 1,909 on SORN.
What is the typical mileage of a Volvo 240 at MOT?
The median mileage at MOT for a Volvo 240 is 132,521 miles. The middle 50% of vehicles tested have between 95,510 and 185,562 miles.
Buying a used 240?
Start with the free tools. Look up the specific vehicle's MOT history on GOV.UK The mileage at each test will show if it's been wound back, and the advisory history tells you what's wearing. Cross-reference that against the typical failures above to see if anything looks unusual for this model.
The free data won't tell you about outstanding finance, theft markers, or write-off history. For that, you need a vehicle history check This is especially important on a private sale where you have fewer legal protections.
With a 70.5% pass rate and an average repair bill of £185 when things go wrong, budget accordingly. 48.8% of failures on this model could actually strand you, so breakdown cover may be worth considering.
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MOT data from DVSA anonymised test results, 2024 test year. Fleet data from DfT vehicle licensing statistics. Crown copyright, OGL v3.0. MOT pass rates are statistical summaries of test outcomes, not assessments of individual vehicle safety or condition. Always inspect a vehicle and check its full MOT history before purchasing. See terms of use.