Volvo 240 - 1990
351.4 faults per 100 tests
Year average for all cars of 1990 is 257.0 faults per 100 tests
Dataset: MOT tests in Great Britain (period: 2024-01-01 to 2025-09-10) for Volvo 240, model year 1990.
Sample size: 211 cars, 436 tests and 1,532 recorded faults.
0%
More faults compared to the average car of same model year
More faults compared to the average car of same model year
Quick summary
Total: 211 cars
The 1990 Volvo 240 has an overall defect rate of 351.38 defects per 100 vehicles, which is 37% higher than the average car of the same year, which stands at 256.42. Particularly concerning are the categories of steering, visibility, and lights and electrics, where the Volvo 240 shows significantly higher defect rates compared to the average. Notably, the defect rate increases with mileage, especially in the middle mileage ranges (31,000 to 93,000 miles), indicating potential reliability issues as the vehicle ages. Despite some common tire wear issues, this model's performance in several specific defect categories raises concerns about its long-term dependability compared to its peers.
Cars by mileage segment
Total: 211 cars
Categories
Brakes
▼ 6.8% worse
108.7 faults / 100 tests
Year avg: 101.8 / 100 tests
- Flexible brake hose: excessively damaged, deteriorated, chafed, twisted or stretched
- Brake hose ferrules: excessively corroded
- Brakes imbalance across an axle such that: the braking effort from any wheel is less than 70% of the maximum effort recorded from the other wheel on the same axle. Or in the case of testing on the road, the vehicle deviates excessively from a straight lin
- Brake disc or drum: insecure, fractured or otherwise likely to fail
- Brake lining or pad: worn below 1.5mm
Steering
▼ 19.9% worse
30.7 faults / 100 tests
Year avg: 25.6 / 100 tests
- A steering ball joint: with excessive wear or free play
- Steering rack gaiter or ball joint dust cover: missing or no longer prevents the ingress of dirt etc.
- Free play in the steering, measured at the rim of the steering wheel is: excessive
- Steering rack gaiter or ball joint dust cover: damaged or deteriorated
- A steering ball joint: with excessive wear or free play
Visibility
▼ 55.7% worse
33.0 faults / 100 tests
Year avg: 21.2 / 100 tests
- Windscreen or window damaged or seriously discoloured: but not adversely affecting driver’s view
- Wiper not operating or missing
- Windscreen washers not working or not providing sufficient fluid to clear the windscreen
- Wiper blade: missing or obviously not clearing the windscreen
- Wiper blade: defective
Lights & Electrics
▼ 65.6% worse
97.2 faults / 100 tests
Year avg: 58.7 / 100 tests
- Headlamp reflector or lens: slightly defective
- Lamp: missing, inoperative or in the case of a multiple light source more than a half not functioning
- A direction indicator: lamp missing, inoperative or in the case of a multiple light source more than 1/2 not functioning
- A rear registration plate lamp or light source missing or inoperative: when rear registration plate has 2 or more lamps or light sources
- A battery insecure: but not likely to fall from carrier
Wheels & Suspension
▼ 67.4% worse
296.3 faults / 100 tests
Year avg: 177.0 / 100 tests
- A suspension pin, bush, joint or bearing: excessively worn
- A wheel bearing: with excessive play
- A tyre: with a lump, bulge or tear … or with cords exposed or damaged
- A suspension component: excessively damaged or corroded
- Tyre tread depth not in accordance with the requirements
Body/Structure
▼ 9.6% worse
68.3 faults / 100 tests
Year avg: 62.3 / 100 tests
- Exhaust system has a major leak or is insecure
- Exhaust system has a major leak or is insecure
- Body, cab or chassis: excessively corroded at mounting points
- Vehicle structure corroded to the extent that: the rigidity of the assembly is significantly reduced
- Vehicle structure corroded to the extent that: the rigidity of the assembly is significantly reduced
Equipment
▼ 37.6% worse
21.6 faults / 100 tests
Year avg: 15.7 / 100 tests
- is significantly reduced or The strength or continuity of the load bearing structure within 30cm of any seat belt anchorage (a ’prescribed area’): inadequately repaired
- A seat belt: webbing or flexible stalk significantly stretched or weakened
- Audible warning:
- is significantly reduced or The strength or continuity of the load bearing structure within 30cm of any seat belt anchorage (a ’prescribed area’): inadequately repaired
- Seat belt buckle missing, damaged or not functioning as intended
Other
▲ 9.5% better
46.8 faults / 100 tests
Year avg: 51.7 / 100 tests
- Fluid: leaking excessively and likely to harm the environment or to pose a safety risk to other road users
- Emissions test unable to be completed
- Emissions test unable to be completed
- Emissions levels exceed default limits
- Any part of the noise suppression system: insecure
Fault rate by mileage segment
Model
Year average
* Metric: faults per 100 tests.
Most common faults (Top 10)
A suspension pin, bush, joint or bearing: excessively worn
ADVISORY
Occurrences: 147
A suspension component: excessively damaged or corroded
ADVISORY
Occurrences: 94
Fluid: leaking excessively and likely to harm the environment or to pose a safety risk to other road users
ADVISORY
Occurrences: 88
A wheel bearing: with excessive play
ADVISORY
Occurrences: 76
Tyre tread depth not in accordance with the requirements
ADVISORY
Occurrences: 64
A tyre: with a lump, bulge or tear … or with cords exposed or damaged
ADVISORY
Occurrences: 56
A spring: or spring component fractured or seriously weakened
ADVISORY
Occurrences: 51
Exhaust system has a major leak or is insecure
ADVISORY
Occurrences: 47
Vehicle structure corroded to the extent that: the rigidity of the assembly is significantly reduced
ADVISORY
Occurrences: 42
Flexible brake hose: excessively damaged, deteriorated, chafed, twisted or stretched
ADVISORY
Occurrences: 39
Serious faults (Top 10)
Windscreen washers not working or not providing sufficient fluid to clear the windscreen
FAIL
Occurrences: 21
The strength or continuity of the load bearing structure within 30cm … is significantly reduced or inadequately repaired
FAIL
Occurrences: 19
Exhaust system has a major leak or is insecure
FAIL
Occurrences: 17
is significantly reduced or The strength or continuity of the load bearing structure within 30cm of any seat belt anchorage (a ’prescribed area’): inadequately repaired
FAIL
Occurrences: 16
Vehicle structure corroded to the extent that: the rigidity of the assembly is significantly reduced
FAIL
Occurrences: 15
Wiper blade: missing or obviously not clearing the windscreen
FAIL
Occurrences: 14
Brakes imbalance across an axle such that: the braking effort from any wheel is less than 70% of the maximum effort recorded from the other wheel on the same axle. Or in the case of testing on the road, the vehicle deviates excessively from a straight lin
FAIL
Occurrences: 13
Lamp: missing, inoperative or in the case of a multiple light source more than a half not functioning
FAIL
Occurrences: 12
A direction indicator: lamp missing, inoperative or in the case of a multiple light source more than 1/2 not functioning
FAIL
Occurrences: 11
An obligatory rear fog lamp missing, or a front or rear fog lamp inoperative or in the case of a multiple light source more than 1/2 not functioning
FAIL
Occurrences: 9