1996 Volvo 850 — MOT History by Age

How cars manufactured in 1996 perform at MOT as they age

30 years

Current Age

57.0%

Latest Pass Rate

48,264

Total Tests (All Years)

145,519 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 1996 Volvo 850 as it ages.

13 yrs47.1%

→ ↓2.6%

14 yrs44.5%

→ ↑0.7%

15 yrs45.2%

→ ↓1.9%

16 yrs43.3%

→ ↑1.2%

17 yrs44.5%

→ ↑1.0%

18 yrs45.5%

→ ↑3.9%

19 yrs49.4%

→ ↓0.6%

20 yrs48.8%

→ ↑2.8%

21 yrs51.6%

→ ↑2.1%

22 yrs53.7%

→ ↑0.8%

23 yrs54.5%

→ ↑2.5%

24 yrs57.0%

📊 View as table

Age	Pass Rate	Tests
13 yrs	47.1%	9,275
14 yrs	44.5%	8,099
15 yrs	45.2%	6,990
16 yrs	43.3%	5,590
17 yrs	44.5%	4,476
18 yrs	45.5%	3,619
19 yrs	49.4%	2,924
20 yrs	48.8%	2,380
21 yrs	51.6%	1,936
22 yrs	53.7%	1,115
23 yrs	54.5%	983
24 yrs	57.0%	877

Pass Rate Trend

How the 1996 Volvo 850 pass rate changes as it ages, from first MOT to most recent.

📊 View as table

Built	Pass Rate	Tests
2020 (24 yrs)	57%	877
2019 (23 yrs)	54.5%	983
2018 (22 yrs)	53.7%	1,115
2017 (21 yrs)	51.6%	1,936
2016 (20 yrs)	48.8%	2,380
2015 (19 yrs)	49.4%	2,924
2014 (18 yrs)	45.5%	3,619
2013 (17 yrs)	44.5%	4,476
2012 (16 yrs)	43.3%	5,590
2011 (15 yrs)	45.2%	6,990
2010 (14 yrs)	44.5%	8,099
2009 (13 yrs)	47.1%	9,275

Year-by-Year MOT Results

2009High Fail Rate

47.1%

Age (yrs) 13Tests 9,275Avg Mileage 140,419Top Failure Suspension — 30.1%

2010High Fail Rate

44.5%

Age (yrs) 14Tests 8,099Avg Mileage 144,848Top Failure Suspension — 32.4%

2011High Fail Rate

45.2%

Age (yrs) 15Tests 6,990Avg Mileage 147,745Top Failure Suspension — 33.7%

2012High Fail Rate

43.3%

Age (yrs) 16Tests 5,590Avg Mileage 149,196Top Failure Suspension — 39.6%

2013High Fail Rate

44.5%

Age (yrs) 17Tests 4,476Avg Mileage 150,819Top Failure Suspension — 73.1%

2014High Fail Rate

45.5%

Age (yrs) 18Tests 3,619Avg Mileage 151,242Top Failure Suspension — 68.0%

2015High Fail Rate

49.4%

Age (yrs) 19Tests 2,924Avg Mileage 150,618Top Failure Suspension — 61.6%

2016High Fail Rate

48.8%

Age (yrs) 20Tests 2,380Avg Mileage 150,094Top Failure Suspension — 63.9%

2017High Fail Rate

51.6%

Age (yrs) 21Tests 1,936Avg Mileage 149,270Top Failure Suspension — 59.6%

2018High Fail Rate

53.7%

Age (yrs) 22Tests 1,115Avg Mileage 147,314Top Failure Brakes — 49.5%

2019High Fail Rate

54.5%

Age (yrs) 23Tests 983Avg Mileage 146,861Top Failure Suspension — 48.8%

2020High Fail Rate

57.0%

Age (yrs) 24Tests 877Avg Mileage 145,519Top Failure Suspension — 43.2%

MOT results for 1996 Volvo 850 by test year
Test Year▲	Age (yrs)▲▼	Pass Rate▲▼	Tests▲▼	Avg Mileage▲▼	Top Failure▲▼
2009	13	47.1%	9,275	140,419	Suspension — 30.1%
2010	14	44.5%	8,099	144,848	Suspension — 32.4%
2011	15	45.2%	6,990	147,745	Suspension — 33.7%
2012	16	43.3%	5,590	149,196	Suspension — 39.6%
2013	17	44.5%	4,476	150,819	Suspension — 73.1%
2014	18	45.5%	3,619	151,242	Suspension — 68.0%
2015	19	49.4%	2,924	150,618	Suspension — 61.6%
2016	20	48.8%	2,380	150,094	Suspension — 63.9%
2017	21	51.6%	1,936	149,270	Suspension — 59.6%
2018	22	53.7%	1,115	147,314	Brakes — 49.5%
2019	23	54.5%	983	146,861	Suspension — 48.8%
2020	24	57.0%	877	145,519	Suspension — 43.2%

Common MOT Failures

Top failure categories across all test years for 1996 Volvo 850, with age trends.

Suspension

50.2%

↑ Increases with age

Brakes

47.0%

↑ Increases with age

Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment

37.1%

↑ Increases with age

Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment

33.9%

↑ Increases with age

Body, chassis, structure

24.8%

↑ 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
Tyres	17.1% (13 yrs)	32.0% (24 yrs)	+14.9%	🔴 ↑
Suspension	30.1% (13 yrs)	43.2% (24 yrs)	+13.1%	🔴 ↑
Brakes	29.6% (13 yrs)	42.2% (24 yrs)	+12.6%	🔴 ↑

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 1996 perform at MOT as they age. Data spans from 2009 to 2020, covering 48,264 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.