1989 Volvo 240 — MOT History by Age

How cars manufactured in 1989 perform at MOT as they age

37 years

Current Age

60.2%

Latest Pass Rate

7,534

Total Tests (All Years)

140,028 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 1989 Volvo 240 as it ages.

20 yrs50.0%

→ ↓1.0%

21 yrs49.0%

→ ↑4.1%

22 yrs53.1%

→ ↓1.6%

23 yrs51.5%

→ ↑2.6%

24 yrs54.1%

→ ↓1.7%

25 yrs52.4%

→ ↑4.2%

26 yrs56.6%

→ ↓2.5%

27 yrs54.1%

→ ↑6.0%

28 yrs60.1%

→ ↑6.4%

29 yrs66.5%

→ ↓4.5%

30 yrs62.0%

→ ↓0.3%

31 yrs61.7%

→ ↑1.1%

32 yrs62.8%

→ ↑3.9%

33 yrs66.7%

→ ↓0.2%

34 yrs66.5%

→ ↓6.3%

35 yrs60.2%

📊 View as table

Age	Pass Rate	Tests
20 yrs	50.0%	1,231
21 yrs	49.0%	963
22 yrs	53.1%	789
23 yrs	51.5%	629
24 yrs	54.1%	514
25 yrs	52.4%	464
26 yrs	56.6%	417
27 yrs	54.1%	390
28 yrs	60.1%	353
29 yrs	66.5%	230
30 yrs	62.0%	234
31 yrs	61.7%	209
32 yrs	62.8%	261
33 yrs	66.7%	204
34 yrs	66.5%	221
35 yrs	60.2%	425

Pass Rate Trend

How the 1989 Volvo 240 pass rate changes as it ages, from first MOT to most recent.

📊 View as table

Built	Pass Rate	Tests
2024 (35 yrs)	60.2%	425
2023 (34 yrs)	66.5%	221
2022 (33 yrs)	66.7%	204
2021 (32 yrs)	62.8%	261
2020 (31 yrs)	61.7%	209
2019 (30 yrs)	62%	234
2018 (29 yrs)	66.5%	230
2017 (28 yrs)	60.1%	353
2016 (27 yrs)	54.1%	390
2015 (26 yrs)	56.6%	417
2014 (25 yrs)	52.4%	464
2013 (24 yrs)	54.1%	514
2012 (23 yrs)	51.5%	629
2011 (22 yrs)	53.1%	789
2010 (21 yrs)	49%	963
2009 (20 yrs)	50%	1,231

Year-by-Year MOT Results

2009High Fail Rate

50.0%

Age (yrs) 20Tests 1,231Avg Mileage 136,784Top Failure Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 29.4%

2010High Fail Rate

49.0%

Age (yrs) 21Tests 963Avg Mileage 137,858Top Failure Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 31.9%

2011High Fail Rate

53.1%

Age (yrs) 22Tests 789Avg Mileage 139,355Top Failure Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 29.5%

2012High Fail Rate

51.5%

Age (yrs) 23Tests 629Avg Mileage 137,376Top Failure Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 30.7%

2013High Fail Rate

54.1%

Age (yrs) 24Tests 514Avg Mileage 137,894Top Failure Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 64.0%

2014High Fail Rate

52.4%

Age (yrs) 25Tests 464Avg Mileage 140,416Top Failure Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 65.3%

2015High Fail Rate

56.6%

Age (yrs) 26Tests 417Avg Mileage 138,976Top Failure Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 54.7%

2016High Fail Rate

54.1%

Age (yrs) 27Tests 390Avg Mileage 142,164Top Failure Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 60.0%

2017High Fail Rate

60.1%

Age (yrs) 28Tests 353Avg Mileage 143,964Top Failure Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 61.2%

2018

66.5%

Age (yrs) 29Tests 230Avg Mileage 132,295Top Failure Suspension — 40.9%

2019High Fail Rate

62.0%

Age (yrs) 30Tests 234Avg Mileage 141,411Top Failure Suspension — 58.1%

2020High Fail Rate

61.7%

Age (yrs) 31Tests 209Avg Mileage 144,266Top Failure Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment — 53.6%

2021High Fail Rate

62.8%

Age (yrs) 32Tests 261Avg Mileage 141,840Top Failure Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment — 62.1%

2022

66.7%

Age (yrs) 33Tests 204Avg Mileage 142,869Top Failure Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment — 43.6%

2023

66.5%

Age (yrs) 34Tests 221Avg Mileage 140,955Top Failure Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment — 53.4%

2024High Fail Rate

60.2%

Age (yrs) 35Tests 425Avg Mileage 140,028Top Failure Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment — 43.8%

MOT results for 1989 Volvo 240 by test year
Test Year▲	Age (yrs)▲▼	Pass Rate▲▼	Tests▲▼	Avg Mileage▲▼	Top Failure▲▼
2009	20	50.0%	1,231	136,784	Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 29.4%
2010	21	49.0%	963	137,858	Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 31.9%
2011	22	53.1%	789	139,355	Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 29.5%
2012	23	51.5%	629	137,376	Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 30.7%
2013	24	54.1%	514	137,894	Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 64.0%
2014	25	52.4%	464	140,416	Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 65.3%
2015	26	56.6%	417	138,976	Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 54.7%
2016	27	54.1%	390	142,164	Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 60.0%
2017	28	60.1%	353	143,964	Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 61.2%
2018	29	66.5%	230	132,295	Suspension — 40.9%
2019	30	62.0%	234	141,411	Suspension — 58.1%
2020	31	61.7%	209	144,266	Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment — 53.6%
2021	32	62.8%	261	141,840	Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment — 62.1%
2022	33	66.7%	204	142,869	Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment — 43.6%
2023	34	66.5%	221	140,955	Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment — 53.4%
2024	35	60.2%	425	140,028	Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment — 43.8%

Common MOT Failures

Top failure categories across all test years for 1989 Volvo 240, with age trends.

Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment

47.0%

↑ Increases with age

Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment

44.7%

↓ Decreases with age

Suspension

40.2%

↑ Increases with age

Brakes

31.9%

↑ Increases with age

Body, chassis, structure

22.3%

— Consistent

How Failures Change With Age

Comparing failure rates between the youngest and oldest test years.

Category	At Youngest	At Oldest	Change	Trend
Suspension	21.9% (20 yrs)	38.1% (35 yrs)	+16.2%	🔴 ↑
Brakes	22.9% (20 yrs)	27.5% (35 yrs)	+4.6%	🔴 ↑

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 1989 perform at MOT as they age. Data spans from 2009 to 2024, covering 7,534 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.