1997 Volvo 850 — MOT History by Age

How cars manufactured in 1997 perform at MOT as they age

29 years

Current Age

47.9%

Latest Pass Rate

8,745

Total Tests (All Years)

147,215 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 1997 Volvo 850 as it ages.

12 yrs46.9%

→ ↓1.4%

13 yrs45.5%

→ ↓0.3%

14 yrs45.2%

→ ↓3.6%

15 yrs41.6%

→ ↑2.6%

16 yrs44.2%

→ ↑1.0%

17 yrs45.2%

→ ↑2.8%

18 yrs48.0%

→ ↑4.1%

19 yrs52.1%

→ ↓1.1%

20 yrs51.0%

→ ↑3.3%

21 yrs54.3%

→ ↓8.6%

22 yrs45.7%

→ ↑2.2%

23 yrs47.9%

📊 View as table

Age	Pass Rate	Tests
12 yrs	46.9%	1,588
13 yrs	45.5%	1,403
14 yrs	45.2%	1,240
15 yrs	41.6%	999
16 yrs	44.2%	815
17 yrs	45.2%	688
18 yrs	48.0%	567
19 yrs	52.1%	468
20 yrs	51.0%	394
21 yrs	54.3%	223
22 yrs	45.7%	197
23 yrs	47.9%	163

Pass Rate Trend

How the 1997 Volvo 850 pass rate changes as it ages, from first MOT to most recent.

📊 View as table

Built	Pass Rate	Tests
2020 (23 yrs)	47.9%	163
2019 (22 yrs)	45.7%	197
2018 (21 yrs)	54.3%	223
2017 (20 yrs)	51%	394
2016 (19 yrs)	52.1%	468
2015 (18 yrs)	48%	567
2014 (17 yrs)	45.2%	688
2013 (16 yrs)	44.2%	815
2012 (15 yrs)	41.6%	999
2011 (14 yrs)	45.2%	1,240
2010 (13 yrs)	45.5%	1,403
2009 (12 yrs)	46.9%	1,588

Year-by-Year MOT Results

2009High Fail Rate

46.9%

Age (yrs) 12Tests 1,588Avg Mileage 133,746Top Failure Brakes — 29.0%

2010High Fail Rate

45.5%

Age (yrs) 13Tests 1,403Avg Mileage 140,111Top Failure Suspension — 31.7%

2011High Fail Rate

45.2%

Age (yrs) 14Tests 1,240Avg Mileage 142,124Top Failure Suspension — 34.0%

2012High Fail Rate

41.6%

Age (yrs) 15Tests 999Avg Mileage 145,371Top Failure Suspension — 37.4%

2013High Fail Rate

44.2%

Age (yrs) 16Tests 815Avg Mileage 146,359Top Failure Suspension — 70.8%

2014High Fail Rate

45.2%

Age (yrs) 17Tests 688Avg Mileage 148,289Top Failure Suspension — 69.6%

2015High Fail Rate

48.0%

Age (yrs) 18Tests 567Avg Mileage 147,436Top Failure Suspension — 54.5%

2016High Fail Rate

52.1%

Age (yrs) 19Tests 468Avg Mileage 149,972Top Failure Brakes — 59.8%

2017High Fail Rate

51.0%

Age (yrs) 20Tests 394Avg Mileage 146,350Top Failure Suspension — 62.4%

2018High Fail Rate

54.3%

Age (yrs) 21Tests 223Avg Mileage 144,645Top Failure Brakes — 50.2%

2019High Fail Rate

45.7%

Age (yrs) 22Tests 197Avg Mileage 150,155Top Failure Brakes — 62.4%

2020High Fail Rate

47.9%

Age (yrs) 23Tests 163Avg Mileage 147,215Top Failure Brakes — 60.1%

MOT results for 1997 Volvo 850 by test year
Test Year▲	Age (yrs)▲▼	Pass Rate▲▼	Tests▲▼	Avg Mileage▲▼	Top Failure▲▼
2009	12	46.9%	1,588	133,746	Brakes — 29.0%
2010	13	45.5%	1,403	140,111	Suspension — 31.7%
2011	14	45.2%	1,240	142,124	Suspension — 34.0%
2012	15	41.6%	999	145,371	Suspension — 37.4%
2013	16	44.2%	815	146,359	Suspension — 70.8%
2014	17	45.2%	688	148,289	Suspension — 69.6%
2015	18	48.0%	567	147,436	Suspension — 54.5%
2016	19	52.1%	468	149,972	Brakes — 59.8%
2017	20	51.0%	394	146,350	Suspension — 62.4%
2018	21	54.3%	223	144,645	Brakes — 50.2%
2019	22	45.7%	197	150,155	Brakes — 62.4%
2020	23	47.9%	163	147,215	Brakes — 60.1%

Common MOT Failures

Top failure categories across all test years for 1997 Volvo 850, with age trends.

Brakes

49.1%

↑ Increases with age

Suspension

48.9%

↑ Increases with age

Body, chassis, structure

44.2%

— Consistent

Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment

37.5%

↑ Increases with age

Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment

36.5%

↓ Decreases 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	29.0% (12 yrs)	60.1% (23 yrs)	+31.1%	🔴 ↑
Suspension	28.5% (12 yrs)	44.2% (23 yrs)	+15.7%	🔴 ↑

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 1997 perform at MOT as they age. Data spans from 2009 to 2020, covering 8,745 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.