Volvo 800 Series MOT Check

MOT pass rates, common failures, and reliability data for the Volvo 800 Series. Check any 800 Series by registration number below.

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71.7%

Avg Pass Rate

-16.1%

vs Volvo Avg

Year Ranges

Average

Reliability

Volvo 800 Series — MOT Reliability Overview

The Volvo 800 Series has an average MOT pass rate of 71.7%, which is 16.1 percentage points below the Volvo brand average of 87.7%. This is a reasonable result that reflects typical UK reliability standards. Regular servicing and addressing advisories promptly will help keep your 800 Series on the road.

The most common reasons a Volvo 800 Series fails its MOT are wiper blade missing or obviously not clearing the windscreen, a suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn, a transmission shaft constant velocity joint boot missing or no longer prevents the ingress of dirt etc. If you are preparing your 800 Series for its MOT, checking these areas first could save you a retest fee. Our detailed fault analysis includes estimated repair costs for each failure type.

Before buying a used Volvo 800 Series, we recommend checking the full MOT history, write-off status, outstanding finance, and stolen vehicle status. These checks can be done for free using the registration number.

MOT Pass Rate by Year

How the Volvo 800 Series performs at MOT across different model years.

1997

Based on 552 vehicles

65.6%Average

Volvo average: 87.7%

Dangerous Defects

5.3%

Retest Rate

26.1%

1996

Based on 3,117 vehicles

68.2%Average

Volvo average: 87.7%

Dangerous Defects

2.6%

Retest Rate

25.6%

1995

Based on 1,932 vehicles

70.1%Average

Volvo average: 87.7%

Dangerous Defects

3.6%

Retest Rate

25.8%

1994

Based on 675 vehicles

70.8%Average

Volvo average: 87.7%

Dangerous Defects

2.1%

Retest Rate

22.2%

1993

Based on 212 vehicles

68.4%Average

Volvo average: 87.7%

Dangerous Defects

2.6%

Retest Rate

26.1%

1992

Based on 38 vehicles

84.2%Good

Volvo average: 87.7%

Dangerous Defects

0.0%

Retest Rate

13.3%

0

Based on 2,449 vehicles

74.3%Average

Volvo average: 87.7%

Mileage at 5yr

144k mi

Top MOT Failures — Volvo 800 Series

The most common reasons a Volvo 800 Series fails its MOT, aggregated across all year ranges.

Wiper blade missing or obviously not clearing the windscreen

4.1%

A suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn

3.1%

A transmission shaft constant velocity joint boot missing or no longer prevents the ingress of dirt etc

2.9%

A lamp missing, inoperative or in the case of a multiple light source more than 1/2 not functioning

2.8%

Parking brake efficiency below minimum requirement

2.5%

Volvo 800 Series Common Faults & Repair Costs

Where Failures Occur

The areas of the vehicle most commonly flagged during MOT inspections.

Front Offside

9.4%

Front Nearside

9.2%

Nearside

5.4%

Other Volvo Models

Compare MOT reliability across Volvo models.

Volvo V90 R-design T6 Recharge Awd A

80.8% pass rate

Volvo V60 Momentum + D3 Auto

86.8% pass rate

Volvo V60

82.5% pass rate

Volvo Xc60 Rdesign Pro B4 Mhev Awd A

92.4% pass rate

Volvo C30 1,6

91.8% pass rate

Volvo 850

92.4% pass rate

Useful MOT Guides

Common MOT Failures

The most common reasons UK vehicles fail their MOT — and how to prepare.

MOT Checklist

Pre-MOT checklist to improve your chances of passing first time.

Advisory vs Failure

Understanding the difference between MOT advisories and failures.

See detailed fault analysis for Volvo 800 Series

Volvo 800 Series — Frequently Asked Questions

Common questions about the Volvo 800 Series MOT and reliability.

What is the MOT pass rate for the Volvo 800 Series?

The average MOT pass rate for the Volvo 800 Series is 71.7% compared to the Volvo average of 87.7%. Pass rates vary by year — check the year-by-year breakdown on this page for details.

What are the most common MOT failures on a Volvo 800 Series?

The most common MOT failures on the Volvo 800 Series are: Wiper blade missing or obviously not clearing the windscreen (4.1%), A suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn (3.1%), A transmission shaft constant velocity joint boot missing or no longer prevents the ingress of dirt etc (2.9%). These are the components most likely to cause an MOT failure.

Is the Volvo 800 Series reliable?

With an average MOT pass rate of 71.7%, the Volvo 800 Series is rated as "Average" for reliability. This is around average — regular maintenance is recommended to avoid common failure points.

How do I check the MOT history of a Volvo 800 Series?

Enter the vehicle's registration number in the search box at the top of this page. You will instantly see the complete MOT history including every test result, mileage readings, advisories, and dangerous defects — completely free.

What mileage should I expect on a Volvo 800 Series?

Typical mileage for the Volvo 800 Series: 144,496 miles at 5 years. Use these benchmarks when evaluating a used 800 Series to spot vehicles with unusually high or low mileage.

Check Your Volvo 800 Series's MOT History

Enter the registration number for the full MOT history — free and instant.