Reliability report
Volvo 240 reliability and common faults
Based on 1,526 roadworthiness tests, led by the UK MOT. Each country is compared only with its own average for cars of the same age.
🇬🇧 United Kingdom · MOT
29.7%
fail rate · average 31.4%
better than average
1,201 MOT tests (DVSA)
🇳🇱 Netherlands · APK
67.4%
with defects · average 68.4%
about average
325 APK inspections (RDW)
Testing regimes differ from country to country – don’t compare the figures between countries; compare each one only with its own average. MOT data: contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0.
Weak spots
What goes wrong on the Volvo 240
How often each area fails compared with the average car of the same age (vertical line = average, 100%). Red – more often than average.
Wheels
Body and structure
Exhaust and emissions
Steering
Seat belts and airbags
Visibilityconfirmed in 2 countries
Brakes
Lights and electrics
Plates and identification
Suspension
Tyres
Most common test failures
- 1Excessive leakage of other fluids
- 2Exhaust system not gas-tight / unsafe exhaust gas discharge
- 3Number plate light doesn't work (properly) / missing
- 4Tyre(s) with tread depth of 1.6 to 2.5 mm
- 5Low beam incorrectly adjusted
- 6Steering or steering knuckle ball joint with wear of 1.0 mm or less
- 7Sidelight not working (properly)
- 8Tie rod end has too much play
- 9Tyre insufficient tread
- 10Tyre pressure not at correct value
- 11Rust damage of 1.5 to 2.0E or more than 15% thickness loss
- 12Brake difference on 1 axle too large
Results by vehicle age
| Age | 🇬🇧 MOT fail rate | 🇳🇱 APK defects |
|---|---|---|
| 21+ years | 29.7% avg 31.4% | 67.4% avg 68.4% |
Volvo 240 – FAQs
How reliable is the Volvo 240?+
In the UK the Volvo 240 fails 29.7% of MOT tests, against an average of 31.4% for cars of the same age – better than average. In the Netherlands, inspectors found defects at 67.4% of APK inspections (average there 68.4%) – about average.
What goes wrong most often on the Volvo 240?+
Compared with the average car of the same age, testers find faults more often in these areas: wheels, body and structure, exhaust and emissions, steering.
What should I check when buying a used Volvo 240?+
The most common inspection failures: Excessive leakage of other fluids; Exhaust system not gas-tight / unsafe exhaust gas discharge; Number plate light doesn't work (properly) / missing; Tyre(s) with tread depth of 1.6 to 2.5 mm; Low beam incorrectly adjusted. Before you buy, also check the free MOT history on GOV.UK and the car’s history by reg or VIN (mileage, damage, theft).
More Volvo models
Sources: anonymised MOT test results (DVSA) – contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0; APK inspection defects (RDW, open data); Lithuanian roadworthiness test results (data.gov.lt). Initial tests only; retests are not counted. Photo: OSX, Public domain, Wikimedia Commons.