Volvo 221 MOT Pass Rate
Overall pass rate across all manufacture years, based on 237 real MOT test results. Failure rate: 35.0%.
Data from official DVSA MOT testing records
Volvo 221 MOT Reliability Overview
The Volvo 221 is a rare vehicle in the UK, with 237 MOT test results recorded in our database spanning 3 manufacture years. It has an overall MOT pass rate of 65.0% and a failure rate of 35.0%, which is around the UK average of approximately 37%.
Based on this data, the Volvo 221 earns a "Average" reliability rating. The average Volvo 221 presents for MOT with approximately 61,435 miles on the clock. Manufacture year matters: 1968 models achieve the highest pass rate at 70.3%, while 1967 models have the lowest at 61.0%. This 9.3 percentage point difference suggests notable variation in build quality or component durability across production years.
The most common MOT failure for the Volvo 221 is Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment, affecting 35.0% of all tests. Lighting failures cover all external lights: headlights, tail lights, brake lights, indicators, fog lights, and reflectors. A single blown bulb will cause an MOT fail. This is one of the most preventable failure categories. The second most common issue is Brakes at 29.1%. Suspension rounds out the top three at 17.7%. Together, these top 3 failure categories account for a significant portion of all MOT failures for this model.
Top failures across all manufacture years combined. Individual year pages may show different top failures.
What Fails Most
Pass Rate by Manufacture Year
* High Fail Rate badge indicates an MOT pass rate below 65% (failure rate above 35%).
What Fails on This Car?
Click a category to see specific failure items.
View as table
| Rank | Failure Category | Rate (%) | Count |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lamps, Reflectors And Electrical Equipment | 43.9% | 104 |
| 2 | Brakes | 32.9% | 78 |
| 3 | Suspension | 27.4% | 65 |
| 4 | Body, Structure And General Items | 13.9% | 33 |
| 5 | Steering | 10.1% | 24 |
| 6 | Driver's View Of The Road | 8.4% | 20 |
| 7 | Exhaust, Fuel And Emissions | 7.6% | 18 |
| 8 | Seat Belts And Supplementary Restraint Systems | 3.8% | 9 |
| 9 | Tyres | 2.5% | 6 |
| 10 | Noise, Emissions And Leaks | 1.7% | 4 |
| 11 | Body, Chassis, Structure | 1.3% | 3 |
| 12 | Towbars | 0.8% | 2 |
| 13 | Registration Plates And Vin | 0.8% | 2 |
| 14 | Visibility | 0.4% | 1 |
Failures per 10,000 Miles
avg. 61,435 miFor every 10,000 miles driven, this shows what percentage of MOT tests fail for each category. This accounts for how far cars are actually driven, not just raw pass/fail counts.
View as table
| Category | Rate / 10K mi | Raw % | Count |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lamps & Electrical | 7.14 | 43.9% | 104 |
| Brakes | 5.36 | 32.9% | 78 |
| Suspension | 4.46 | 27.4% | 65 |
| Body & Structure | 2.48 | 15.2% | 36 |
| Steering | 1.65 | 10.1% | 24 |
| Visibility | 1.44 | 8.8% | 21 |
| Emissions & Exhaust | 1.24 | 7.6% | 18 |
| Seat Belts | 0.62 | 3.8% | 9 |
| Tyres | 0.41 | 2.5% | 6 |
| Noise, emissions and leaks | 0.27 | 1.7% | 4 |
| Towbars | 0.14 | 0.8% | 2 |
| Registration Plates and VIN | 0.14 | 0.8% | 2 |
🚗 Similar Cars to Consider
Mileage at MOT
The average Volvo 221 has 61,435 miles when tested for MOT.
📊 Mileage-Adjusted Failure Rate
How often this car fails MOT relative to how much it's driven — a fairer comparison than raw pass rate.
The Volvo 221 has a mileage-adjusted failure rate of 5.70% per 10,000 miles driven. The average across all makes is 5.38%, so this model is worse than average.
About Volvo 221 MOT Data
The Volvo 221 is a rare vehicle in the UK, with 237 MOT test results recorded in our database spanning 3 manufacture years. It has an overall MOT pass rate of 65.0% and a failure rate of 35.0%, which is around the UK average of approximately 37%.
For Volvo 221 owners, these results suggest average reliability — some preparation before MOT can improve pass chances. Focus your pre-MOT checks on lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment and brakes for the best chance of a first-time pass. Use our detailed year-by-year breakdown and failure analysis below to understand how your specific 221 is likely to perform.
Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 35.0% of failures
Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment issues account for 35.0% of MOT failures on the Volvo 221. Lighting failures cover all external lights: headlights, tail lights, brake lights, indicators, fog lights, and reflectors. A single blown bulb will cause an MOT fail. This is one of the most preventable failure categories. Typical repair costs: £5–50. Pre-MOT check: Walk around the car and check every light — headlights (dipped and main beam), side lights, tail lights, brake lights, indicators, hazard lights, reverse light, rear fog light, and number plate lights. Replace any blown bulbs before the test.
Brakes — 29.1% of failures
Brakes issues account for 29.1% of MOT failures on the Volvo 221. Brake-related failures include worn brake pads, corroded brake discs, leaking brake lines, and faulty brake servos. These are safety-critical components — any brake deficiency will result in an MOT fail. Typical repair costs: £150–400. Pre-MOT check: Listen for squealing or grinding noises. Check brake pedal feel — if it feels spongy or goes to the floor, have the system inspected immediately. Look at brake pad thickness through the wheel spokes (minimum 3mm).
Suspension — 17.7% of failures
Suspension issues account for 17.7% of MOT failures on the Volvo 221. Suspension failures typically involve worn bushes, leaking shock absorbers, broken coil springs, and damaged suspension arms. These affect ride quality, tyre wear, and road holding. Typical repair costs: £200–500. Pre-MOT check: Look for uneven tyre wear, listen for clunking over bumps, and check if the car pulls to one side. A bouncy ride suggests worn shock absorbers. Visually inspect coil springs for cracks.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the MOT pass rate for the Volvo 221?
Based on 237 MOT tests in our database, the Volvo 221 has an overall pass rate of 65.0% (35.0% fail rate).
What are the most common MOT failures on a Volvo 221?
The top 3 reasons a Volvo 221 fails its MOT are: 1. Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment (35.0%), 2. Brakes (29.1%), 3. Suspension (17.7%). Check these areas before booking your MOT.
Is the Volvo 221 reliable?
With a 35.0% MOT failure rate, the 221 is about average compared to the UK average of ~40%.
What should I check before an MOT on my Volvo 221?
Based on failure data, focus on: Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment (35.0%); Brakes (29.1%); Suspension (17.7%). These are the areas most likely to cause a fail. Also check all lights, tyres (minimum 1.6mm tread), and windscreen condition — these are quick wins that apply to all cars.
Based on DVSA anonymised MOT test data (2005–2024). Crown copyright, Open Government Licence v3.0.