1985 Volvo 240 — MOT History by Age

How cars manufactured in 1985 perform at MOT as they age

41 years

Current Age

54.3%

Latest Pass Rate

544

Total Tests (All Years)

115,199 mi

Avg Mileage (Latest)

Data from official DVSA MOT testing records

Insufficient data for same-age comparison.

How This Car Ages

Pass rate progression for the 1985 Volvo 240 as it ages.

24 yrs51.0%

→ ↑12.3%

25 yrs63.3%

→ ↓8.1%

26 yrs55.2%

→ ↓6.1%

27 yrs49.1%

→ ↓7.1%

28 yrs42.0%

→ ↑19.0%

29 yrs61.0%

→ ↑8.2%

30 yrs69.2%

→ ↓9.2%

31 yrs60.0%

→ ↓3.7%

32 yrs56.3%

→ ↓2.0%

39 yrs54.3%

📊 View as table

Age	Pass Rate	Tests
24 yrs	51.0%	100
25 yrs	63.3%	79
26 yrs	55.2%	67
27 yrs	49.1%	55
28 yrs	42.0%	50
29 yrs	61.0%	41
30 yrs	69.2%	39
31 yrs	60.0%	35
32 yrs	56.3%	32
39 yrs	54.3%	46

Pass Rate Trend

How the 1985 Volvo 240 pass rate changes as it ages, from first MOT to most recent.

📊 View as table

Built	Pass Rate	Tests
2024 (39 yrs)	54.3%	46
2017 (32 yrs)	56.3%	32
2016 (31 yrs)	60%	35
2015 (30 yrs)	69.2%	39
2014 (29 yrs)	61%	41
2013 (28 yrs)	42%	50
2012 (27 yrs)	49.1%	55
2011 (26 yrs)	55.2%	67
2010 (25 yrs)	63.3%	79
2009 (24 yrs)	51%	100

Year-by-Year MOT Results

2009High Fail Rate

51.0%

Age (yrs) 24Tests 100Avg Mileage 111,012Top Failure Brakes — 26.0%

2010High Fail Rate

63.3%

Age (yrs) 25Tests 79Avg Mileage 112,288Top Failure Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 21.5%

2011High Fail Rate

55.2%

Age (yrs) 26Tests 67Avg Mileage 108,551Top Failure Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 20.9%

2012High Fail Rate

49.1%

Age (yrs) 27Tests 55Avg Mileage 110,597Top Failure Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 29.1%

2013High Fail Rate

42.0%

Age (yrs) 28Tests 50Avg Mileage 113,017Top Failure Suspension — 78.0%

2014High Fail Rate

61.0%

Age (yrs) 29Tests 41Avg Mileage 110,602Top Failure Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 46.3%

2015

69.2%

Age (yrs) 30Tests 39Avg Mileage 111,593Top Failure Suspension — 41.0%

2016High Fail Rate

60.0%

Age (yrs) 31Tests 35Avg Mileage 114,530Top Failure Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 34.3%

2017High Fail Rate

56.3%

Age (yrs) 32Tests 32Avg Mileage 123,602Top Failure Brakes — 53.1%

2024High Fail Rate

54.3%

Age (yrs) 39Tests 46Avg Mileage 115,199Top Failure Brakes — 67.4%

MOT results for 1985 Volvo 240 by test year
Test Year▲	Age (yrs)▲▼	Pass Rate▲▼	Tests▲▼	Avg Mileage▲▼	Top Failure▲▼
2009	24	51.0%	100	111,012	Brakes — 26.0%
2010	25	63.3%	79	112,288	Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 21.5%
2011	26	55.2%	67	108,551	Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 20.9%
2012	27	49.1%	55	110,597	Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 29.1%
2013	28	42.0%	50	113,017	Suspension — 78.0%
2014	29	61.0%	41	110,602	Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 46.3%
2015	30	69.2%	39	111,593	Suspension — 41.0%
2016	31	60.0%	35	114,530	Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 34.3%
2017	32	56.3%	32	123,602	Brakes — 53.1%
2024	39	54.3%	46	115,199	Brakes — 67.4%

Common MOT Failures

Top failure categories across all test years for 1985 Volvo 240, with age trends.

Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment

52.2%

— Consistent

Body, chassis, structure

34.8%

— Consistent

Suspension

34.1%

↑ Increases with age

Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment

31.1%

↑ Increases with age

Brakes

28.9%

↑ Increases with age

How Failures Change With Age

Comparing failure rates between the youngest and oldest test years.

Category	At Youngest	At Oldest	Change	Trend
Brakes	26.0% (24 yrs)	67.4% (39 yrs)	+41.4%	🔴 ↑
Suspension	26.0% (24 yrs)	52.2% (39 yrs)	+26.2%	🔴 ↑

Other Manufacture Years

1982 1983 1984 1985 1986 1987 1988 1989 1990 1991 1992 1993

← Back to Volvo 240 overview

Looking for the best year to buy? See the full comparison on the Volvo 240 page →

About This Data

This page shows how Volvo 240 cars manufactured in 1985 perform at MOT as they age. Data spans from 2009 to 2024, covering 544 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.