1987 Volvo 740 — MOT History by Age

How cars manufactured in 1987 perform at MOT as they age

39 years

Current Age

61.2%

Latest Pass Rate

3,781

Total Tests (All Years)

154,814 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 1987 Volvo 740 as it ages.

22 yrs47.8%

→ ↑6.7%

23 yrs54.5%

→ ↓1.0%

24 yrs53.5%

→ ↓0.9%

25 yrs52.6%

→ ↓1.0%

26 yrs51.6%

→ ↓2.6%

27 yrs49.0%

→ ↑7.5%

28 yrs56.5%

→ ↑2.3%

29 yrs58.8%

→ ↓1.3%

30 yrs57.5%

→ ↓0.6%

31 yrs56.9%

→ ↑6.0%

32 yrs62.9%

→ ↓1.7%

33 yrs61.2%

📊 View as table

Age	Pass Rate	Tests
22 yrs	47.8%	894
23 yrs	54.5%	648
24 yrs	53.5%	499
25 yrs	52.6%	390
26 yrs	51.6%	306
27 yrs	49.0%	249
28 yrs	56.5%	207
29 yrs	58.8%	177
30 yrs	57.5%	153
31 yrs	56.9%	102
32 yrs	62.9%	89
33 yrs	61.2%	67

Pass Rate Trend

How the 1987 Volvo 740 pass rate changes as it ages, from first MOT to most recent.

📊 View as table

Built	Pass Rate	Tests
2020 (33 yrs)	61.2%	67
2019 (32 yrs)	62.9%	89
2018 (31 yrs)	56.9%	102
2017 (30 yrs)	57.5%	153
2016 (29 yrs)	58.8%	177
2015 (28 yrs)	56.5%	207
2014 (27 yrs)	49%	249
2013 (26 yrs)	51.6%	306
2012 (25 yrs)	52.6%	390
2011 (24 yrs)	53.5%	499
2010 (23 yrs)	54.5%	648
2009 (22 yrs)	47.8%	894

Year-by-Year MOT Results

2009High Fail Rate

47.8%

Age (yrs) 22Tests 894Avg Mileage 153,132Top Failure Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 26.8%

2010High Fail Rate

54.5%

Age (yrs) 23Tests 648Avg Mileage 152,325Top Failure Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 25.8%

2011High Fail Rate

53.5%

Age (yrs) 24Tests 499Avg Mileage 152,676Top Failure Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 25.7%

2012High Fail Rate

52.6%

Age (yrs) 25Tests 390Avg Mileage 152,403Top Failure Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 26.2%

2013High Fail Rate

51.6%

Age (yrs) 26Tests 306Avg Mileage 149,452Top Failure Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 47.1%

2014High Fail Rate

49.0%

Age (yrs) 27Tests 249Avg Mileage 150,638Top Failure Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 65.5%

2015High Fail Rate

56.5%

Age (yrs) 28Tests 207Avg Mileage 149,459Top Failure Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 51.2%

2016High Fail Rate

58.8%

Age (yrs) 29Tests 177Avg Mileage 153,445Top Failure Brakes — 43.5%

2017High Fail Rate

57.5%

Age (yrs) 30Tests 153Avg Mileage 148,164Top Failure Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 41.2%

2018High Fail Rate

56.9%

Age (yrs) 31Tests 102Avg Mileage 149,587Top Failure Brakes — 47.1%

2019High Fail Rate

62.9%

Age (yrs) 32Tests 89Avg Mileage 146,927Top Failure Suspension — 42.7%

2020High Fail Rate

61.2%

Age (yrs) 33Tests 67Avg Mileage 154,814Top Failure Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment — 47.8%

MOT results for 1987 Volvo 740 by test year
Test Year▲	Age (yrs)▲▼	Pass Rate▲▼	Tests▲▼	Avg Mileage▲▼	Top Failure▲▼
2009	22	47.8%	894	153,132	Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 26.8%
2010	23	54.5%	648	152,325	Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 25.8%
2011	24	53.5%	499	152,676	Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 25.7%
2012	25	52.6%	390	152,403	Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 26.2%
2013	26	51.6%	306	149,452	Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 47.1%
2014	27	49.0%	249	150,638	Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 65.5%
2015	28	56.5%	207	149,459	Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 51.2%
2016	29	58.8%	177	153,445	Brakes — 43.5%
2017	30	57.5%	153	148,164	Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 41.2%
2018	31	56.9%	102	149,587	Brakes — 47.1%
2019	32	62.9%	89	146,927	Suspension — 42.7%
2020	33	61.2%	67	154,814	Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment — 47.8%

Common MOT Failures

Top failure categories across all test years for 1987 Volvo 740, with age trends.

Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment

37.3%

↓ Decreases with age

Suspension

35.1%

↑ Increases with age

Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment

34.5%

↑ Increases with age

Brakes

33.6%

↑ Increases with age

Body, chassis, structure

23.3%

↑ 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	23.0% (22 yrs)	46.3% (33 yrs)	+23.3%	🔴 ↑
Suspension	24.7% (22 yrs)	40.3% (33 yrs)	+15.6%	🔴 ↑

Other Manufacture Years

1985 1986 1987 1988 1989 1990 1991

← Back to Volvo 740 overview

Looking for the best year to buy? See the full comparison on the Volvo 740 page →

About This Data

This page shows how Volvo 740 cars manufactured in 1987 perform at MOT as they age. Data spans from 2009 to 2020, covering 3,781 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.