1988 Volvo 240 — MOT History by Age

How cars manufactured in 1988 perform at MOT as they age

38 years

Current Age

67.2%

Latest Pass Rate

5,011

Total Tests (All Years)

140,928 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 1988 Volvo 240 as it ages.

21 yrs49.3%

→ ↑3.9%

22 yrs53.2%

→ ↓1.8%

23 yrs51.4%

→ ↓1.7%

24 yrs49.7%

→ ↑3.9%

25 yrs53.6%

→ ↓5.0%

26 yrs48.6%

→ ↑5.6%

27 yrs54.2%

→ ↑4.6%

28 yrs58.8%

→ ↓2.7%

29 yrs56.1%

→ ↑3.6%

30 yrs59.7%

→ ↑2.9%

31 yrs62.6%

→ ↓0.8%

32 yrs61.8%

→ ↓5.9%

33 yrs55.9%

→ ↑10.0%

34 yrs65.9%

→ ↓3.6%

35 yrs62.3%

→ ↑4.9%

36 yrs67.2%

📊 View as table

Age	Pass Rate	Tests
21 yrs	49.3%	802
22 yrs	53.2%	633
23 yrs	51.4%	539
24 yrs	49.7%	445
25 yrs	53.6%	360
26 yrs	48.6%	315
27 yrs	54.2%	264
28 yrs	58.8%	255
29 yrs	56.1%	237
30 yrs	59.7%	154
31 yrs	62.6%	155
32 yrs	61.8%	131
33 yrs	55.9%	170
34 yrs	65.9%	126
35 yrs	62.3%	151
36 yrs	67.2%	274

Pass Rate Trend

How the 1988 Volvo 240 pass rate changes as it ages, from first MOT to most recent.

📊 View as table

Built	Pass Rate	Tests
2024 (36 yrs)	67.2%	274
2023 (35 yrs)	62.3%	151
2022 (34 yrs)	65.9%	126
2021 (33 yrs)	55.9%	170
2020 (32 yrs)	61.8%	131
2019 (31 yrs)	62.6%	155
2018 (30 yrs)	59.7%	154
2017 (29 yrs)	56.1%	237
2016 (28 yrs)	58.8%	255
2015 (27 yrs)	54.2%	264
2014 (26 yrs)	48.6%	315
2013 (25 yrs)	53.6%	360
2012 (24 yrs)	49.7%	445
2011 (23 yrs)	51.4%	539
2010 (22 yrs)	53.2%	633
2009 (21 yrs)	49.3%	802

Year-by-Year MOT Results

2009High Fail Rate

49.3%

Age (yrs) 21Tests 802Avg Mileage 139,466Top Failure Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 29.6%

2010High Fail Rate

53.2%

Age (yrs) 22Tests 633Avg Mileage 140,849Top Failure Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 28.1%

2011High Fail Rate

51.4%

Age (yrs) 23Tests 539Avg Mileage 142,801Top Failure Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 26.3%

2012High Fail Rate

49.7%

Age (yrs) 24Tests 445Avg Mileage 143,583Top Failure Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 31.2%

2013High Fail Rate

53.6%

Age (yrs) 25Tests 360Avg Mileage 145,299Top Failure Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 64.4%

2014High Fail Rate

48.6%

Age (yrs) 26Tests 315Avg Mileage 143,527Top Failure Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 61.9%

2015High Fail Rate

54.2%

Age (yrs) 27Tests 264Avg Mileage 144,012Top Failure Suspension — 62.5%

2016High Fail Rate

58.8%

Age (yrs) 28Tests 255Avg Mileage 145,314Top Failure Suspension — 58.0%

2017High Fail Rate

56.1%

Age (yrs) 29Tests 237Avg Mileage 145,354Top Failure Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 55.7%

2018High Fail Rate

59.7%

Age (yrs) 30Tests 154Avg Mileage 136,478Top Failure Suspension — 62.3%

2019High Fail Rate

62.6%

Age (yrs) 31Tests 155Avg Mileage 143,769Top Failure Suspension — 41.3%

2020High Fail Rate

61.8%

Age (yrs) 32Tests 131Avg Mileage 140,466Top Failure Suspension — 42.7%

2021High Fail Rate

55.9%

Age (yrs) 33Tests 170Avg Mileage 146,140Top Failure Suspension — 52.4%

2022

65.9%

Age (yrs) 34Tests 126Avg Mileage 145,141Top Failure Suspension — 54.0%

2023High Fail Rate

62.3%

Age (yrs) 35Tests 151Avg Mileage 141,955Top Failure Suspension — 51.0%

2024

67.2%

Age (yrs) 36Tests 274Avg Mileage 140,928Top Failure Suspension — 50.7%

MOT results for 1988 Volvo 240 by test year
Test Year▲	Age (yrs)▲▼	Pass Rate▲▼	Tests▲▼	Avg Mileage▲▼	Top Failure▲▼
2009	21	49.3%	802	139,466	Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 29.6%
2010	22	53.2%	633	140,849	Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 28.1%
2011	23	51.4%	539	142,801	Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 26.3%
2012	24	49.7%	445	143,583	Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 31.2%
2013	25	53.6%	360	145,299	Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 64.4%
2014	26	48.6%	315	143,527	Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 61.9%
2015	27	54.2%	264	144,012	Suspension — 62.5%
2016	28	58.8%	255	145,314	Suspension — 58.0%
2017	29	56.1%	237	145,354	Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 55.7%
2018	30	59.7%	154	136,478	Suspension — 62.3%
2019	31	62.6%	155	143,769	Suspension — 41.3%
2020	32	61.8%	131	140,466	Suspension — 42.7%
2021	33	55.9%	170	146,140	Suspension — 52.4%
2022	34	65.9%	126	145,141	Suspension — 54.0%
2023	35	62.3%	151	141,955	Suspension — 51.0%
2024	36	67.2%	274	140,928	Suspension — 50.7%

Common MOT Failures

Top failure categories across all test years for 1988 Volvo 240, with age trends.

Suspension

46.8%

↑ Increases with age

Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment

41.2%

↓ Decreases with age

Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment

36.4%

↑ Increases with age

Brakes

35.4%

↑ Increases with age

Visibility

22.9%

— Consistent

How Failures Change With Age

Comparing failure rates between the youngest and oldest test years.

Category	At Youngest	At Oldest	Change	Trend
Suspension	21.8% (21 yrs)	50.7% (36 yrs)	+28.9%	🔴 ↑
Brakes	22.2% (21 yrs)	29.9% (36 yrs)	+7.7%	🔴 ↑

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 1988 perform at MOT as they age. Data spans from 2009 to 2024, covering 5,011 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.