How reliable is the Volvo 240 compared with other cars?

We do not publish a comparison for the Volvo 240, because the cars of this model that have been tested do not cover a wide enough range of ages and mileages. Its raw pass rate is 65.8% across 1,212 tests, but comparing a raw rate between models mostly ranks them by how new they are rather than how good they are. The failure and advisory patterns further down the page are still drawn from real tests and are worth reading.

What do testers most often warn about on a Volvo 240?

The most common advisory is "Fluid leaking excessively and likely to harm the environment or to pose a safety risk to other road users", noted on 16.1% of all Volvo 240 tests. An advisory is not a failure: it flags something that will likely need attention before the next test.

What mileage does a Volvo 240 usually have at its MOT?

The average odometer reading recorded at test is 144,437 miles. This is the mileage across all tested examples of every age, not an annual figure, so treat it as a description of the fleet rather than a target for one car.

Are most Volvo 240 models petrol or diesel?

Of the Volvo 240 cars tested, 99% are petrol, 1% are diesel. Fuel type affects which items tend to fail, particularly emissions and exhaust components.

Model reliability file

Volvo 240 MOT pass rate & common failures

From 1,212 recorded MOT tests of the Volvo 240, published by DVSA.

Data updated 29 July 2026

Quick answer

Across 1,212 MOT tests, 65.8% of Volvo 240 tests ended in a pass. This figure is not adjusted for age or mileage, so it is not a reliability ranking: the Volvo 240 fleet does not yet cover a wide enough spread of ages and distances to compare it fairly against other models. Its most commonly recorded failure is strength or continuity of the load bearing structure within 30cm of any sub-frame, spring or suspension component mounting (a 'prescribed area') is significantly reduced or inadequately repaired, which appears in 19.8% of failed tests. Cars of this model average 144,437 miles on the odometer when tested.

At a glance

Recorded pass rate

65.8%unadjusted, not comparable1,212 tests

We are not publishing a ranking for the 240. The examples tested do not cover a wide enough spread of ages and mileages to compare it fairly, and an unadjusted pass rate mostly sorts models by how recently they were bought rather than how well they were built. The failure and advisory patterns below come from the same 1,212 tests and are worth reading on their own terms.

DVSA recorded wording

Most common failure items

Share of failed Volvo 240 tests in which each item was recorded. One failed test often lists several items, so these do not sum to 100%.

1.The strength or continuity of the load bearing structure within 30cm of any sub-frame, spring or suspension component mounting (a 'prescribed area') is significantly reduced or inadequately repaired19.8%
71 occurrencesSuspension mounting corroded or insecure explained
2.A lamp missing, inoperative or in the case of a multiple light source more than 1/2 not functioning15.0%
54 occurrencesLamp not working explained
3.The strength or continuity of the load bearing structure within 30cm of any seat belt anchorage (a 'prescribed area') is significantly reduced or inadequately repaired12.0%
43 occurrencesSeat belt anchorage corroded or weakened explained
4.Stop lamp missing, inoperative or in the case of a multiple light source more than 1/2 not functioning10.6%
38 occurrencesStop lamp not working explained
5.Windscreen washers not working or not providing sufficient fluid to clear the windscreen9.5%
34 occurrencesWiper or washer not working properly explained
6.A rear registration plate lamp or light source missing or inoperative in the case of a single lamp or all lamps8.9%
32 occurrencesLamp not working explained
7.Exhaust system leaking or insecure8.1%
29 occurrencesExhaust leaking or insecure explained
8.Wiper blade missing or obviously not clearing the windscreen7.8%
28 occurrencesWiper or washer not working properly explained
9.Emissions levels exceed default limits7.8%
28 occurrencesEmissions above the permitted limit explained
10.Vehicle structure corroded to the extent that the rigidity of the assembly is seriously reduced7.8%
28 occurrencesCorrosion in a structural area explained

Warnings without a failure

Most common advisories

Share of all Volvo 240 tests carrying each advisory. The denominator differs from the failure list above because an advisory can be issued on a car that passed.

1.Fluid leaking excessively and likely to harm the environment or to pose a safety risk to other road users16.1%
195 tests
2.A tyre seriously damaged12.6%
153 testsTyre damaged or deteriorated explained
3.A suspension component excessively damaged or corroded12.1%
147 testsSuspension mounting corroded or insecure explained
4.A flexible brake hose excessively damaged, deteriorated, chafed, twisted or stretched11.4%
138 testsBrake hose deteriorated, damaged or chafing explained
5.Exhaust system leaking or insecure10.8%
131 testsExhaust leaking or insecure explained
6.Tyre tread depth not in accordance with the requirements10.4%
126 testsTyre worn close to the legal limit explained
7.Brake disc or drum excessively weakened, insecure or fractured10.0%
121 testsBrake disc worn, pitted or scored explained
8.A wheel bearing with excessive play9.6%
116 testsWheel bearing has excessive play or is rough explained

What gets tested

The 240 fleet

Average mileage recorded at test: 144,437
Fuel mix of tested cars: Petrol99.1%
Diesel0.7%

Check a specific Volvo 240

A model average tells you the pattern. Its own MOT record tells you the car.

Compare within the range

Other Volvo models

Volvo XC60 — 79.1% adjusted
Volvo V40 — 67.4% adjusted
Volvo XC40 — 90.0% unadjusted
Volvo XC90 — 77.6% adjusted
Volvo V60 — 78.3% adjusted
Volvo V70 — 63.8% unadjusted
All Volvo models

Common questions

How reliable is the Volvo 240 compared with other cars?: We do not publish a comparison for the Volvo 240, because the cars of this model that have been tested do not cover a wide enough range of ages and mileages. Its raw pass rate is 65.8% across 1,212 tests, but comparing a raw rate between models mostly ranks them by how new they are rather than how good they are. The failure and advisory patterns further down the page are still drawn from real tests and are worth reading.
What is the most common MOT failure on a Volvo 240?: The item recorded most often is "The strength or continuity of the load bearing structure within 30cm of any sub-frame, spring or suspension component mounting (a 'prescribed area') is significantly reduced or inadequately repaired", which appears in 19.8% of failed Volvo 240 tests. Because one failed test can list several items, these shares do not add up to 100%.
What do testers most often warn about on a Volvo 240?: The most common advisory is "Fluid leaking excessively and likely to harm the environment or to pose a safety risk to other road users", noted on 16.1% of all Volvo 240 tests. An advisory is not a failure: it flags something that will likely need attention before the next test.
What mileage does a Volvo 240 usually have at its MOT?: The average odometer reading recorded at test is 144,437 miles. This is the mileage across all tested examples of every age, not an annual figure, so treat it as a description of the fleet rather than a target for one car.
Are most Volvo 240 models petrol or diesel?: Of the Volvo 240 cars tested, 99% are petrol, 1% are diesel. Fuel type affects which items tend to fail, particularly emissions and exhaust components.

How this was worked out

Method and limits

Figures come from the DVSA anonymised MOT testing dataset, published under the Open Government Licence. Only class 4 initial tests are counted: retests are excluded so a car appears once, and abandoned tests are excluded entirely. No adjusted rate is shown because this model's tested examples do not cover enough of the national age and mileage range for standardisation to mean anything.

An MOT measures whether a car met a legal standard on the day. It is not a breakdown record, a service history or a running-cost estimate, and a pass rate is a property of a fleet rather than a prediction about one car.