Volvo 400 Series
From 1,112 MOT tests. Below average for its class.
Common MOT failure categories
Pass rate by registration year
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, the aim of a headlamp is not within limits laid down in the requirements, a suspension pin and bush or joint excessively worn. 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 84 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 | 84 |
| the aim of a headlamp is not within limits laid down in the requirements | 73 |
| a suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn | 52 |
| parking brake efficiency below minimum requirement | 47 |
| windscreen washers not working or not providing sufficient fluid to clear the windscreen | 44 |
| emissions levels exceed the manufacturer's specified limits | 41 |
| significant brake effort recorded with no brake applied indicating a binding brake | 40 |
| brakes imbalance across an axle such that the braking effort from any wheel is less than 70% of the maximum effort recorded from the other wheel on the same axle. | 35 |
| exhaust system leaking or insecure | 34 |
| wiper blade missing or obviously not clearing the windscreen | 34 |
How serious are these failures?
Not all MOT failures are equal. 24.4% of 400 Series failures could actually strand you: fractured springs, engine faults, exhaust problems. Another 36% are safety issues where the car still drives but shouldn't, such as worn brakes, corroded brake pipes, and steering wear. When it does fail, the average repair bill is around £144.
By registration year
| Year | Pass rate | Top failures |
|---|---|---|
| 1995 | 68.8% | the aim of a headlamp is not within limits laid down in the requirements, a lamp missing, inoperative or in the case of a multiple light source more than 1/2 not functioning |
| 1994 | 73.6% | brakes imbalance across an axle such that the braking effort from any wheel is less than 70% of the maximum effort recorded from the other wheel on the same axle., 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 |
| 1993 | 64.2% | 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, the aim of a headlamp is not within limits laid down in the requirements |
| 1992 | 62.6% | the aim of a headlamp is not within limits laid down in the requirements, 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 |
Typical mileage
Half of all 400 Seriess tested had between 49,430 and 104,581 miles on the clock. A significant number are high-mileage vehicles.
At 79,029 median miles, the 400 Series has 0.04 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 400 Series MOT pass rate?
The Volvo 400 Series has a 68.2% MOT pass rate based on 1,112 real MOT tests. This is below the national average.
What are common MOT failures on a Volvo 400 Series?
The most common MOT failure on the Volvo 400 Series 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 84 failures. Other common issues include the aim of a headlamp is not within limits laid down in the requirements.
What is the typical mileage of a Volvo 400 Series at MOT?
The median mileage at MOT for a Volvo 400 Series is 79,029 miles. The middle 50% of vehicles tested have between 49,430 and 104,581 miles.
Buying a used 400 Series?
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 68.2% pass rate and an average repair bill of £144 when things go wrong, budget accordingly.
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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.