MOT reliability

Volvo 100 series

Q: Is the Volvo 100 series reliable?

Across 508 Volvo 100 series vehicles in our MOT data, 75% pass the MOT (a 25% failure rate), with about 1.7 faults or advisories recorded per test.

508 vehicles · 3,800 completed MOT tests analysed

75%

MOT pass rate

Based on 508 Volvo 100 series vehicles and 3,800 completed MOT tests, the Volvo 100 series has an overall 75% pass rate, with an average recorded mileage of 113,917 miles.

508

Vehicles

3,800

MOT tests

1,684

Avg miles / year

1.7

Faults per test

Dangerous-fault share

Volvo 100 series problem areas

Where faults occur most across all Volvo 100 series MOT tests:

Other106%
Brakes5%
Tyres, wheels & suspension5%
Seatbelts & equipment5%
Emissions & nuisance4%
Steering4%
Body & structure1%
Lamps & electrical1%

Volvo 100 series pass rate by age

How the Volvo 100 series's MOT pass rate changes as it ages (buckets with 20+ tests).

Age (years)	Tests	Pass rate
1	6	67%
2	2	100%
3	9	78%
4	31	77%
5	28	71%
6	37	59%
7	37	57%
8	34	62%
9	33	64%
10	35	60%
11	26	65%
12	25	60%
13	18	72%
14	13	85%
15	11	64%
16	3	100%
17	3	67%
18	7	71%
19	2	100%
20	3	67%

Fuel types: Petrol (490), Diesel (16), LPG (2)

Most common Volvo 100 series MOT faults

These are the faults and advisories recorded most often across Volvo 100 series MOT tests:

Oil leak (119 times)
Parking brake: efficiency below requirements (3.7.B.7) (78 times)
Service brake: efficiency below requirements (3.7.B.7) (70 times)
Steering system has slight free play detected at steering wheel (2.2.A.1a) (62 times)
Brakes imbalanced across an axle (3.7.B.5b) (60 times)
Nearside Front Tyre worn close to the legal limit (4.1.E.1) (59 times)
Rear Exhaust has a minor leak of exhaust gases (7.1.2) (58 times)
Windscreen washer provides insufficient washer liquid (8.2.3) (56 times)
Offside Rear Suspension component mounting prescribed area is excessively corroded (2.4.A.3) (52 times)
Battery insecure (1.9.1) (49 times)
Nearside Rear Suspension component mounting prescribed area is excessively corroded (2.4.A.3) (47 times)
Exhaust has a minor leak of exhaust gases (7.1.2) (47 times)
Nearside Front wheel bearing has slight play (2.5.A.3c) (43 times)
Windscreen has damage to an area less than a 40mm circle outside zone 'A' (8.3.1d) (43 times)
Brake pipe slightly corroded (3.6.B.2c) (41 times)

Volvo 100 series pass rate by registration year

Year	Vehicles	Tests	Pass rate	Avg mileage
2019	1	1	100%	—
2017	1	2	100%	51,438
2016	1	2	100%	87,492
2015	1	1	100%	386,073
2013	1	3	67%	105,160
2012	1	2	50%	62,185
2008	1	25	64%	68,415
2004	4	64	62%	170,587
2003	2	23	65%	133,342
2002	15	196	67%	188,531
2000	3	5	60%	575,014
1999	2	11	45%	121,276
1998	1	13	92%	199,767
1996	1	15	60%	169,687
1994	1	7	86%	—
1992	1	5	60%	90,606
1988	1	2	50%	44,884
1984	2	11	73%	152,147
1983	1	1	0%	158,037
1982	2	2	100%	128,162
1980	1	10	100%	138,516
1979	1	6	83%	202,140
1976	2	5	100%	89,409
1975	6	66	86%	99,889
1974	40	320	79%	98,367
1973	75	530	77%	101,784
1972	99	807	74%	106,634
1971	99	739	75%	113,652
1970	61	388	75%	111,964
1969	39	287	76%	97,316
1968	27	174	74%	147,081
1967	15	78	82%	84,069

Volvo 100 series reliability FAQ

Across 508 Volvo 100 series vehicles in our MOT data, 75% pass the MOT (a 25% failure rate), with about 1.7 faults or advisories recorded per test.

The most frequently recorded Volvo 100 series MOT issues are: Oil leak; Parking brake: efficiency below requirements (3.7.B.7); Service brake: efficiency below requirements (3.7.B.7).

The typical Volvo 100 series in our data has covered around 113,917 miles.

Compare the Volvo 100 series

See how the Volvo 100 series stacks up against other Volvo models on MOT reliability:

100 series vs Unknown 100 series vs V40 100 series vs V70 100 series vs S40

Check a specific Volvo 100 series

Enter a registration to see that exact vehicle's full MOT history, advisories and recurring faults.

See all Volvo models · Learn about common MOT failures · what an MOT checks