1994 Volvo 850 — MOT History by Age

How cars manufactured in 1994 perform at MOT as they age

32 years

Current Age

59.0%

Latest Pass Rate

19,745

Total Tests (All Years)

139,676 mi

Avg Mileage (Latest)

Data from official DVSA MOT testing records

Best vintage for 850

Insufficient data for same-age comparison.

How This Car Ages

Pass rate progression for the 1994 Volvo 850 as it ages.

15 yrs46.9%

→ ↓0.8%

16 yrs46.1%

→ ↑1.7%

17 yrs47.8%

→ ↓5.4%

18 yrs42.4%

→ ↑2.5%

19 yrs44.9%

→ ↑2.0%

20 yrs46.9%

→ ↑7.5%

21 yrs54.4%

→ ↑0.2%

22 yrs54.6%

→ ↑0.7%

23 yrs55.3%

→ ↑4.3%

24 yrs59.6%

→ ↑0.5%

25 yrs60.1%

→ ↓1.1%

26 yrs59.0%

📊 View as table

Age	Pass Rate	Tests
15 yrs	46.9%	4,946
16 yrs	46.1%	3,878
17 yrs	47.8%	2,908
18 yrs	42.4%	2,118
19 yrs	44.9%	1,560
20 yrs	46.9%	1,181
21 yrs	54.4%	950
22 yrs	54.6%	740
23 yrs	55.3%	586
24 yrs	59.6%	329
25 yrs	60.1%	298
26 yrs	59.0%	251

Pass Rate Trend

How the 1994 Volvo 850 pass rate changes as it ages, from first MOT to most recent.

📊 View as table

Built	Pass Rate	Tests
2020 (26 yrs)	59%	251
2019 (25 yrs)	60.1%	298
2018 (24 yrs)	59.6%	329
2017 (23 yrs)	55.3%	586
2016 (22 yrs)	54.6%	740
2015 (21 yrs)	54.4%	950
2014 (20 yrs)	46.9%	1,181
2013 (19 yrs)	44.9%	1,560
2012 (18 yrs)	42.4%	2,118
2011 (17 yrs)	47.8%	2,908
2010 (16 yrs)	46.1%	3,878
2009 (15 yrs)	46.9%	4,946

Year-by-Year MOT Results

2009High Fail Rate

46.9%

Age (yrs) 15Tests 4,946Avg Mileage 141,276Top Failure Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 31.7%

2010High Fail Rate

46.1%

Age (yrs) 16Tests 3,878Avg Mileage 143,135Top Failure Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 31.7%

2011High Fail Rate

47.8%

Age (yrs) 17Tests 2,908Avg Mileage 143,294Top Failure Suspension — 31.2%

2012High Fail Rate

42.4%

Age (yrs) 18Tests 2,118Avg Mileage 142,816Top Failure Suspension — 40.7%

2013High Fail Rate

44.9%

Age (yrs) 19Tests 1,560Avg Mileage 143,028Top Failure Suspension — 72.8%

2014High Fail Rate

46.9%

Age (yrs) 20Tests 1,181Avg Mileage 142,595Top Failure Suspension — 67.7%

2015High Fail Rate

54.4%

Age (yrs) 21Tests 950Avg Mileage 141,921Top Failure Suspension — 55.7%

2016High Fail Rate

54.6%

Age (yrs) 22Tests 740Avg Mileage 141,689Top Failure Suspension — 58.6%

2017High Fail Rate

55.3%

Age (yrs) 23Tests 586Avg Mileage 140,674Top Failure Suspension — 60.8%

2018High Fail Rate

59.6%

Age (yrs) 24Tests 329Avg Mileage 139,162Top Failure Suspension — 43.8%

2019High Fail Rate

60.1%

Age (yrs) 25Tests 298Avg Mileage 136,640Top Failure Brakes — 44.3%

2020High Fail Rate

59.0%

Age (yrs) 26Tests 251Avg Mileage 139,676Top Failure Suspension — 43.8%

MOT results for 1994 Volvo 850 by test year
Test Year▲	Age (yrs)▲▼	Pass Rate▲▼	Tests▲▼	Avg Mileage▲▼	Top Failure▲▼
2009	15	46.9%	4,946	141,276	Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 31.7%
2010	16	46.1%	3,878	143,135	Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 31.7%
2011	17	47.8%	2,908	143,294	Suspension — 31.2%
2012	18	42.4%	2,118	142,816	Suspension — 40.7%
2013	19	44.9%	1,560	143,028	Suspension — 72.8%
2014	20	46.9%	1,181	142,595	Suspension — 67.7%
2015	21	54.4%	950	141,921	Suspension — 55.7%
2016	22	54.6%	740	141,689	Suspension — 58.6%
2017	23	55.3%	586	140,674	Suspension — 60.8%
2018	24	59.6%	329	139,162	Suspension — 43.8%
2019	25	60.1%	298	136,640	Brakes — 44.3%
2020	26	59.0%	251	139,676	Suspension — 43.8%

Common MOT Failures

Top failure categories across all test years for 1994 Volvo 850, with age trends.

Suspension

48.2%

↑ Increases with age

Brakes

40.4%

↑ Increases with age

Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment

39.6%

↑ Increases with age

Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment

27.7%

↑ Increases with age

Body, chassis, structure

23.2%

— Consistent

How Failures Change With Age

Comparing failure rates between the youngest and oldest test years.

Category	At Youngest	At Oldest	Change	Trend
Suspension	29.1% (15 yrs)	43.8% (26 yrs)	+14.7%	🔴 ↑
Brakes	27.5% (15 yrs)	41.4% (26 yrs)	+13.9%	🔴 ↑
Tyres	18.3% (15 yrs)	25.5% (26 yrs)	+7.2%	🔴 ↑

Other Manufacture Years

1971 1992 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997

← Back to Volvo 850 overview

Looking for the best year to buy? See the full comparison on the Volvo 850 page →

About This Data

This page shows how Volvo 850 cars manufactured in 1994 perform at MOT as they age. Data spans from 2009 to 2020, covering 19,745 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.