1966 Volvo 121 — MOT History by Age

How cars manufactured in 1966 perform at MOT as they age

60 years

Current Age

73.5%

Latest Pass Rate

433

Total Tests (All Years)

47,653 mi

Avg Mileage (Latest)

Data from official DVSA MOT testing records

Best vintage for 121

Insufficient data for same-age comparison.

How This Car Ages

Pass rate progression for the 1966 Volvo 121 as it ages.

43 yrs55.3%

→ ↓4.2%

44 yrs51.1%

→ ↓0.0%

45 yrs51.1%

→ ↑6.9%

46 yrs58.0%

→ ↑11.4%

47 yrs69.4%

→ ↓11.5%

48 yrs57.9%

→ ↑13.8%

49 yrs71.7%

→ ↑8.8%

50 yrs80.5%

→ ↓7.0%

51 yrs73.5%

📊 View as table

Age	Pass Rate	Tests
43 yrs	55.3%	47
44 yrs	51.1%	47
45 yrs	51.1%	47
46 yrs	58.0%	50
47 yrs	69.4%	49
48 yrs	57.9%	57
49 yrs	71.7%	46
50 yrs	80.5%	41
51 yrs	73.5%	49

Pass Rate Trend

How the 1966 Volvo 121 pass rate changes as it ages, from first MOT to most recent.

📊 View as table

Built	Pass Rate	Tests
2017 (51 yrs)	73.5%	49
2016 (50 yrs)	80.5%	41
2015 (49 yrs)	71.7%	46
2014 (48 yrs)	57.9%	57
2013 (47 yrs)	69.4%	49
2012 (46 yrs)	58%	50
2011 (45 yrs)	51.1%	47
2010 (44 yrs)	51.1%	47
2009 (43 yrs)	55.3%	47

Year-by-Year MOT Results

2009High Fail Rate

55.3%

Age (yrs) 43Tests 47Avg Mileage 47,722Top Failure Suspension — 27.7%

2010High Fail Rate

51.1%

Age (yrs) 44Tests 47Avg Mileage 44,997Top Failure Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 36.2%

2011High Fail Rate

51.1%

Age (yrs) 45Tests 47Avg Mileage 49,314Top Failure Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 36.2%

2012High Fail Rate

58.0%

Age (yrs) 46Tests 50Avg Mileage 48,631Top Failure Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 28.0%

2013

69.4%

Age (yrs) 47Tests 49Avg Mileage 47,409Top Failure Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 44.9%

2014High Fail Rate

57.9%

Age (yrs) 48Tests 57Avg Mileage 56,694Top Failure Brakes — 73.7%

2015

71.7%

Age (yrs) 49Tests 46Avg Mileage 48,771Top Failure Brakes — 43.5%

2016

80.5%

Age (yrs) 50Tests 41Avg Mileage 46,814Top Failure Brakes — 19.5%

2017

73.5%

Age (yrs) 51Tests 49Avg Mileage 47,653Top Failure Brakes — 38.8%

MOT results for 1966 Volvo 121 by test year
Test Year▲	Age (yrs)▲▼	Pass Rate▲▼	Tests▲▼	Avg Mileage▲▼	Top Failure▲▼
2009	43	55.3%	47	47,722	Suspension — 27.7%
2010	44	51.1%	47	44,997	Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 36.2%
2011	45	51.1%	47	49,314	Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 36.2%
2012	46	58.0%	50	48,631	Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 28.0%
2013	47	69.4%	49	47,409	Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 44.9%
2014	48	57.9%	57	56,694	Brakes — 73.7%
2015	49	71.7%	46	48,771	Brakes — 43.5%
2016	50	80.5%	41	46,814	Brakes — 19.5%
2017	51	73.5%	49	47,653	Brakes — 38.8%

Common MOT Failures

Top failure categories across all test years for 1966 Volvo 121, with age trends.

Brakes

33.8%

↑ Increases with age

Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment

31.9%

↓ Decreases with age

Suspension

25.5%

— Consistent

Body, Structure and General Items

14.7%

— Consistent

Steering

14.2%

— Consistent

How Failures Change With Age

Comparing failure rates between the youngest and oldest test years.

Category	At Youngest	At Oldest	Change	Trend
Brakes	27.7% (43 yrs)	38.8% (51 yrs)	+11.1%	🔴 ↑
Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment	25.5% (43 yrs)	20.4% (51 yrs)	-5.1%	🟢 ↓
Driver's View of the Road	14.9% (43 yrs)	10.2% (51 yrs)	-4.7%	🟢 ↓
Suspension	27.7% (43 yrs)	28.6% (51 yrs)	+0.9%	⚪ —

Other Manufacture Years

1966

← Back to Volvo 121 overview

Looking for the best year to buy? See the full comparison on the Volvo 121 page →

About This Data

This page shows how Volvo 121 cars manufactured in 1966 perform at MOT as they age. Data spans from 2009 to 2017, covering 433 tests. Pass rates naturally decline with age as components wear.

Based on DVSA anonymised MOT test data (2005–2024). Crown copyright, Open Government Licence v3.0.