1997 Volvo 940 — MOT History by Age

How cars manufactured in 1997 perform at MOT as they age

29 years

Current Age

59.9%

Latest Pass Rate

22,142

Total Tests (All Years)

155,214 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 940 as it ages.

12 yrs56.3%

→ ↓0.6%

13 yrs55.7%

→ ↓2.0%

14 yrs53.7%

→ ↑0.7%

15 yrs54.4%

→ ↓0.7%

16 yrs53.7%

→ ↓0.8%

17 yrs52.9%

→ ↑3.2%

18 yrs56.1%

→ ↓1.3%

19 yrs54.8%

→ ↑1.9%

20 yrs56.7%

→ ↑3.4%

21 yrs60.1%

→ ↑0.8%

22 yrs60.9%

→ ↓1.0%

23 yrs59.9%

📊 View as table

Age	Pass Rate	Tests
12 yrs	56.3%	3,229
13 yrs	55.7%	2,916
14 yrs	53.7%	2,664
15 yrs	54.4%	2,376
16 yrs	53.7%	2,099
17 yrs	52.9%	1,881
18 yrs	56.1%	1,653
19 yrs	54.8%	1,541
20 yrs	56.7%	1,343
21 yrs	60.1%	867
22 yrs	60.9%	818
23 yrs	59.9%	755

Pass Rate Trend

How the 1997 Volvo 940 pass rate changes as it ages, from first MOT to most recent.

📊 View as table

Built	Pass Rate	Tests
2020 (23 yrs)	59.9%	755
2019 (22 yrs)	60.9%	818
2018 (21 yrs)	60.1%	867
2017 (20 yrs)	56.7%	1,343
2016 (19 yrs)	54.8%	1,541
2015 (18 yrs)	56.1%	1,653
2014 (17 yrs)	52.9%	1,881
2013 (16 yrs)	53.7%	2,099
2012 (15 yrs)	54.4%	2,376
2011 (14 yrs)	53.7%	2,664
2010 (13 yrs)	55.7%	2,916
2009 (12 yrs)	56.3%	3,229

Year-by-Year MOT Results

2009High Fail Rate

56.3%

Age (yrs) 12Tests 3,229Avg Mileage 124,799Top Failure Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 28.1%

2010High Fail Rate

55.7%

Age (yrs) 13Tests 2,916Avg Mileage 130,050Top Failure Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 28.0%

2011High Fail Rate

53.7%

Age (yrs) 14Tests 2,664Avg Mileage 133,569Top Failure Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 27.7%

2012High Fail Rate

54.4%

Age (yrs) 15Tests 2,376Avg Mileage 136,263Top Failure Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 29.2%

2013High Fail Rate

53.7%

Age (yrs) 16Tests 2,099Avg Mileage 138,747Top Failure Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 56.3%

2014High Fail Rate

52.9%

Age (yrs) 17Tests 1,881Avg Mileage 140,193Top Failure Brakes — 59.9%

2015High Fail Rate

56.1%

Age (yrs) 18Tests 1,653Avg Mileage 143,905Top Failure Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 53.0%

2016High Fail Rate

54.8%

Age (yrs) 19Tests 1,541Avg Mileage 147,512Top Failure Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 51.0%

2017High Fail Rate

56.7%

Age (yrs) 20Tests 1,343Avg Mileage 150,131Top Failure Brakes — 51.1%

2018High Fail Rate

60.1%

Age (yrs) 21Tests 867Avg Mileage 150,674Top Failure Brakes — 46.0%

2019High Fail Rate

60.9%

Age (yrs) 22Tests 818Avg Mileage 155,610Top Failure Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment — 46.5%

2020High Fail Rate

59.9%

Age (yrs) 23Tests 755Avg Mileage 155,214Top Failure Brakes — 45.0%

MOT results for 1997 Volvo 940 by test year
Test Year▲	Age (yrs)▲▼	Pass Rate▲▼	Tests▲▼	Avg Mileage▲▼	Top Failure▲▼
2009	12	56.3%	3,229	124,799	Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 28.1%
2010	13	55.7%	2,916	130,050	Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 28.0%
2011	14	53.7%	2,664	133,569	Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 27.7%
2012	15	54.4%	2,376	136,263	Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 29.2%
2013	16	53.7%	2,099	138,747	Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 56.3%
2014	17	52.9%	1,881	140,193	Brakes — 59.9%
2015	18	56.1%	1,653	143,905	Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 53.0%
2016	19	54.8%	1,541	147,512	Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 51.0%
2017	20	56.7%	1,343	150,131	Brakes — 51.1%
2018	21	60.1%	867	150,674	Brakes — 46.0%
2019	22	60.9%	818	155,610	Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment — 46.5%
2020	23	59.9%	755	155,214	Brakes — 45.0%

Common MOT Failures

Top failure categories across all test years for 1997 Volvo 940, with age trends.

Brakes

40.6%

↑ Increases with age

Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment

39.6%

↓ Decreases with age

Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment

37.9%

↑ Increases with age

Suspension

27.9%

↑ Increases with age

Body, chassis, structure

22.8%

— Consistent

How Failures Change With Age

Comparing failure rates between the youngest and oldest test years.

Category	At Youngest	At Oldest	Change	Trend
Brakes	21.2% (12 yrs)	45.0% (23 yrs)	+23.8%	🔴 ↑
Tyres	14.0% (12 yrs)	24.9% (23 yrs)	+10.9%	🔴 ↑

Other Manufacture Years

1971 1990 1991 1992 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998

← Back to Volvo 940 overview

Looking for the best year to buy? See the full comparison on the Volvo 940 page →

About This Data

This page shows how Volvo 940 cars manufactured in 1997 perform at MOT as they age. Data spans from 2009 to 2020, covering 22,142 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.