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MOT reliability

Volvo 400 series

64,478 vehicles · 322,458 completed MOT tests analysed
64%
MOT pass rate

Based on 64,478 Volvo 400 series vehicles and 322,458 completed MOT tests, the Volvo 400 series has an overall 64% pass rate, with an average recorded mileage of 105,062 miles.

64,478
Vehicles
322,458
MOT tests
6,069
Avg miles / year
2.5
Faults per test
0%
Dangerous-fault share

Volvo 400 series problem areas

Where faults occur most across all Volvo 400 series MOT tests:

  • Other111%
  • Seatbelts & equipment5%
  • Emissions & nuisance4%
  • Tyres, wheels & suspension2%
  • Brakes2%
  • Steering2%
  • Lamps & electrical0%
  • Body & structure0%

Volvo 400 series pass rate by age

How the Volvo 400 series's MOT pass rate changes as it ages (buckets with 20+ tests).

Age (years)TestsPass rate
11100%
2560%
3667%
41267%
51258%
62060%
72556%
816170%
93,40168%
1016,19167%
1133,59866%
1246,35365%
1350,08563%
1445,56163%
1536,69662%
1626,93462%
1718,49162%
1812,49762%
198,42862%
205,83363%

Fuel types: Petrol (60,811), Diesel (3,641), LPG (25), Electric (1)

Most common Volvo 400 series MOT faults

These are the faults and advisories recorded most often across Volvo 400 series MOT tests:

  1. Parking brake: efficiency below requirements (3.7.B.7) (24,045 times)
  2. Oil leak (14,920 times)
  3. Parking brake lever has no reserve travel (3.1.6b) (14,687 times)
  4. Nearside Front Tyre worn close to the legal limit (4.1.E.1) (12,893 times)
  5. Offside Front Tyre worn close to the legal limit (4.1.E.1) (11,578 times)
  6. Nearside Front Suspension arm rubber bush deteriorated but not resulting in excessive movement (2.4.G.2) (10,871 times)
  7. Offside Front Suspension arm rubber bush deteriorated but not resulting in excessive movement (2.4.G.2) (9,452 times)
  8. Nearside Rear Tyre worn close to the legal limit (4.1.E.1) (8,543 times)
  9. Nearside Front Tyre tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm (4.1.E.1) (8,109 times)
  10. Offside Rear Tyre worn close to the legal limit (4.1.E.1) (7,356 times)
  11. Offside Front Brake pipe slightly corroded (3.6.B.2c) (7,209 times)
  12. Exhaust has a minor leak of exhaust gases (7.1.2) (6,945 times)
  13. Offside Front Tyre tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm (4.1.E.1) (6,748 times)
  14. Nearside Front Brake pipe slightly corroded (3.6.B.2c) (6,463 times)
  15. Nearside Front position lamp(s) not working (1.1.A.3b) (6,438 times)

Volvo 400 series pass rate by registration year

YearVehiclesTestsPass rateAvg mileage
2011 1 16 75% 129,522
2006 2 3 67% 125,054
2004 3 7 71% 81,010
2003 1 4 50% 117,130
2002 2 22 68% 65,620
2001 5 25 68% 108,872
2000 7 41 59% 112,689
1999 6 25 56% 108,109
1998 10 40 65% 92,654
1997 490 3,509 65% 102,662
1996 7,665 47,069 64% 105,195
1995 13,622 75,871 64% 107,487
1994 14,042 70,601 63% 105,950
1993 11,847 54,376 63% 102,111
1992 7,981 35,310 63% 105,734
1991 4,561 18,744 64% 105,316
1990 2,756 10,675 62% 101,616
1989 1,142 4,496 62% 101,416
1988 198 927 60% 95,502
1987 78 340 63% 93,603
1985 1 2 50% 120,226
1984 1 2 100% 129,334
1971 55 336 65% 100,607
1969 1 5 100% 41,221
1964 1 12 67% 82,686

Volvo 400 series reliability FAQ

Across 64,478 Volvo 400 series vehicles in our MOT data, 64% pass the MOT (a 36% failure rate), with about 2.5 faults or advisories recorded per test.

The most frequently recorded Volvo 400 series MOT issues are: Parking brake: efficiency below requirements (3.7.B.7); Oil leak; Parking brake lever has no reserve travel (3.1.6b).

The typical Volvo 400 series in our data has covered around 105,062 miles.

Compare the Volvo 400 series

See how the Volvo 400 series stacks up against other Volvo models on MOT reliability:

400 series vs Unknown 400 series vs V40 400 series vs V70 400 series vs S40

Check a specific Volvo 400 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