1995 Volvo 400 Series — MOT failures & pass rate
Across 760 MOT tests analysed for the 1995 Volvo 400 Series, the most common recorded failure areas were brakes, lighting & signalling and suspension. Its pass rate of 71.5% was below the average for cars of a similar age (77.1%). Higher-mileage examples failed more often — 26.8% in the 120-150k group versus 16.0% in the 0-30k group.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Brakes | 16.6% | 126 |
| 2 | Lighting & signalling | 15.5% | 118 |
| 3 | Suspension | 10.3% | 78 |
| 4 | Body, structure & corrosion | 8.3% | 63 |
| 5 | Emissions & environmental | 8.0% | 61 |
| 6 | Visibility | 6.8% | 52 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Catalyst emissions | 81 |
| 2 | Rbt (sp) | 60 |
| 3 | Service brake performance | 55 |
| 4 | Headlamp | 46 |
| 5 | Component mounting prescribed areas | 45 |
| 6 | Headlamp aim | 42 |
Top advisory categories
Advisories aren't failures, but they flag work likely needed soon — useful when budgeting.
| # | Category | % of tests with advisory | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Brakes | 35.9% | 273 |
| 2 | Suspension | 34.0% | 258 |
| 3 | Emissions & environmental | 22.5% | 171 |
| 4 | Body, structure & corrosion | 18.2% | 138 |
| 5 | Lighting & signalling | 17.6% | 134 |
| 6 | Tyres | 16.2% | 123 |
Failure rate by mileage
Higher-mileage cars tend to fail more — often the most useful guide to real condition.
| Mileage band | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 0-30k | 50 | 16.0% |
| 30-60k | 175 | 22.9% |
| 60-90k | 268 | 33.6% |
| 90-120k | 164 | 31.7% |
| 120-150k | 82 | 26.8% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 192 | 26.0% |
| 2022 | 174 | 32.8% |
| 2023 | 154 | 27.9% |
| 2024 | 127 | 29.9% |
| 2025 | 113 | 25.7% |
What to check before buying a 1995 400 Series
Before buying a 1995 Volvo 400 Series, focus on the areas it most often fails on. Brakes accounted for 16.6% of tests for this year.
- Brakes (16.6% 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 (15.5% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Suspension (10.3% 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 1995 Volvo 400 Seriess pass their MOT?
71.5% of the 760 1995 Volvo 400 Series MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 28.5% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 1995 Volvo 400 Series?
Brakes, recorded in 16.6% of tests, followed by lighting & signalling (15.5%).
Does the 1995 400 Series get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 16.0% in the 0-30k band to 26.8% in the 120-150k band.
Methodology & source. Based on 760 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.