1992 Volvo 400 Series — MOT failures & pass rate
Across 345 MOT tests analysed for the 1992 Volvo 400 Series, the most common recorded failure areas were brakes, lighting & signalling and suspension. Its pass rate of 71.0% was below the average for cars of a similar age (78.0%).
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Brakes | 16.5% | 57 |
| 2 | Lighting & signalling | 16.2% | 56 |
| 3 | Suspension | 13.0% | 45 |
| 4 | Body, structure & corrosion | 7.8% | 27 |
| 5 | Visibility | 7.8% | 27 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 5.8% | 20 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Service brake performance | 31 |
| 2 | Component mounting prescribed areas | 30 |
| 3 | Rbt (sp) | 25 |
| 4 | Headlamp aim | 24 |
| 5 | Position lamp | 20 |
| 6 | Prescribed areas | 18 |
Top advisory categories
Advisories aren't failures, but they flag work likely needed soon — useful when budgeting.
| # | Category | % of tests with advisory | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Suspension | 38.0% | 131 |
| 2 | Brakes | 29.0% | 100 |
| 3 | Emissions & environmental | 27.0% | 93 |
| 4 | Body, structure & corrosion | 25.5% | 88 |
| 5 | Tyres | 21.7% | 75 |
| 6 | Other defects | 11.6% | 40 |
Failure rate by mileage
Higher-mileage cars tend to fail more — often the most useful guide to real condition.
| Mileage band | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 30-60k | 95 | 30.5% |
| 60-90k | 130 | 26.9% |
| 90-120k | 64 | 31.3% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 90 | 32.2% |
| 2022 | 79 | 22.8% |
| 2023 | 71 | 31.0% |
| 2024 | 58 | 32.8% |
| 2025 | 47 | 25.5% |
What to check before buying a 1992 400 Series
Before buying a 1992 Volvo 400 Series, focus on the areas it most often fails on. Brakes accounted for 16.5% of tests for this year.
- Brakes (16.5% of tests): Pads/discs are routine wear; binding, imbalance or corroded pipes are more serious — test for pulling under braking. Typical repair: £100–£350 per axle.
- Lighting & signalling (16.2% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Suspension (13.0% of tests): Worn drop links, bushes, springs or shocks — listen for knocks over bumps and check for uneven tyre wear. Typical repair: £150–£450 per corner.
Repair costs are rough UK ballpark ranges to set expectations, not quotes — actual prices vary widely by car, parts and garage.
Frequently asked questions
How many 1992 Volvo 400 Seriess pass their MOT?
71.0% of the 345 1992 Volvo 400 Series MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 29.0% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 1992 Volvo 400 Series?
Brakes, recorded in 16.5% of tests, followed by lighting & signalling (16.2%).
Does the 1992 400 Series get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 30.5% in the 30-60k band to 31.3% in the 90-120k band.
Methodology & source. Based on 345 MOT tests. Dataset: DVSA MOT testing data (2021,2022,2023,2024,2025). Data last updated 2026-07-01. Figures reflect MOT-testable defects only — read the methodology for how these are calculated and what they don't measure.