Volvo 240 Reliability, MOT Pass Rate & Common Faults
Free Volvo 240 car check
Is the Volvo 240 reliable? We analysed 134,955 real MOT tests across 18,976 vehicles to find out.
Got a specific Volvo 240? Enter the reg for a free check:
The Volvo 240 is about average for reliability based on real UK MOT data. Common problems include tyre tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm, suspension component mounting prescribed area is excessively corroded and stop lamp not working. Here's everything you need to know before buying a used Volvo 240.
Volvo 240 Number Plates
Number plates registered to a Volvo 240. Click on any registration for full vehicle details — including MOT history, mileage records, previous owners and damage history.
Volvo 240 MOT Pass Rate by Year
How likely is a Volvo 240 to pass its MOT? Here's the pass rate for each registration year, newest first.
Volvo 240 Problems — What Goes Wrong?
The most common reasons a Volvo 240 fails its MOT, ranked by how often they occur. Check for these problems before you buy.
Volvo 240 Mileage — What's Normal?
How many miles does a typical Volvo 240 owner drive per year? Use this to check if a car you're looking at has suspiciously low or high mileage.
Volvo 240 MOT Data by Registration Year
Full breakdown of pass rate and mileage for each year. Use this to compare the Volvo 240 year you're looking at.
| Year | Tests | Pass Rate | Low Mi. | Typical Mi. | High Mi. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2005 | 87 | 75.9% | 78,192 | 104,340 | 137,174 |
| 2004 | 341 | 68.6% | 70,433 | 107,812 | 150,104 |
| 2003 | 235 | 75.7% | 53,181 | 77,270 | 120,242 |
| 2002 | 395 | 66.3% | 69,881 | 105,396 | 148,047 |
| 2001 | 129 | 62.8% | 56,255 | 80,800 | 113,015 |
| 1998 | 50 | 58.0% | 64,585 | 85,568 | 106,609 |
| 1997 | 87 | 62.1% | 138,485 | 184,326 | 237,338 |
| 1994 | 214 | 63.6% | 127,624 | 151,602 | 189,120 |
| 1993 | 16,441 | 66.4% | 110,303 | 139,510 | 171,334 |
| 1992 | 15,466 | 67.6% | 113,629 | 142,984 | 174,259 |
| 1991 | 11,670 | 68.1% | 107,834 | 137,593 | 171,370 |
| 1990 | 19,753 | 66.7% | 110,886 | 140,536 | 171,081 |
| 1989 | 22,299 | 67.3% | 104,914 | 138,264 | 170,494 |
| 1988 | 14,937 | 67.0% | 108,262 | 140,867 | 176,266 |
| 1987 | 10,645 | 66.0% | 100,595 | 135,068 | 168,055 |
| 1986 | 5,272 | 63.6% | 91,948 | 123,638 | 153,866 |
| 1985 | 2,180 | 65.9% | 82,863 | 110,394 | 145,858 |
| 1984 | 3,895 | 67.8% | 84,789 | 114,799 | 146,190 |
| 1983 | 2,519 | 67.1% | 80,926 | 106,646 | 143,558 |
| 1982 | 1,759 | 70.4% | 76,477 | 100,686 | 136,355 |
How Long Does a Volvo 240 Last?
Based on 18,976 Volvo 240 vehicles on UK roads.
Volvo 240 Mileage Distribution
Total mileage recorded across all Volvo 240 MOT tests. If the car you're looking at is above the 75th percentile, it's done more miles than most.
Best Year to Buy a Used Volvo 240
Based on MOT pass rates across all registration years with sufficient test data.
75.9% MOT pass rate from 87 tests
58.0% MOT pass rate from 50 tests
The best year to buy a used Volvo 240 is 2005, which has the highest MOT pass rate at 75.9% across 87 tests. The 1998 model year has the lowest pass rate at 58.0% — if you're looking at one from that year, budget for potential repairs and get a thorough pre-purchase inspection.
How Does the Volvo 240 Compare?
MOT pass rates compared to similar models. Click any model for the full breakdown.
| Model | Pass Rate | Tests | Typical Mileage | Lifespan |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Volvo 240 THIS CAR | 67.1% | 134,955 | 134,880 mi | 47 yrs |
| Volvo V70 | 71% | 1,930,508 | 113,181 mi | 29 yrs |
| Volvo V40 | 73.7% | 1,865,374 | 76,415 mi | 30 yrs |
| Volvo S40 | 69.9% | 1,390,271 | 84,701 mi | 30 yrs |
| Honda S2000 | 81.9% | 158,239 | 58,538 mi | 27 yrs |
Compared to the Volvo V70 (71.0% pass rate) and the Volvo V40 (73.7% pass rate), the Volvo 240 trails behind on MOT reliability.
Found a Volvo 240 you like?
Run a full vehicle history check on the specific car. See finance, stolen, write-off, mileage and MOT data for that exact vehicle.
Check a specific Volvo 240Should you buy a used Volvo 240?
The Volvo 240 has an overall MOT pass rate of 67.1% across 134,955 real MOT tests — roughly in line with the UK average.
The most common problems on the Volvo 240 are tyre tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm (6,198 recorded failures), suspension component mounting prescribed area is excessively corroded (5,759), and stop lamp not working (5,132). These are the faults most likely to cause an MOT failure on this model, so check for them carefully on any test drive or pre-purchase inspection. Many are wear-and-tear items that can be budgeted for, but a car that's already failing on multiple fronts may signal neglected maintenance.
A typical Volvo 240 owner drives around 2,823 miles per year. If the car you're looking at is significantly above this, expect more wear on suspension, brakes and tyres. If it's well below, the vehicle may have been sitting unused — check for perished rubber, corroded discs and stale fluids.
In terms of longevity, most Volvo 240 models stay on UK roads for around 47 years — a strong showing that suggests solid build quality and readily available parts. If you're buying one that's already approaching that window, the data suggests it has plenty of life left provided it's been maintained.
Before committing to a purchase, we recommend running a full vehicle history check on the specific car. This will reveal any outstanding finance, stolen markers, write-off history and mileage discrepancies that the seller may not disclose — and that the MOT data alone can't tell you.