Volvo 400 Series
Registered from 1990 to 1996.
What fails its inspection
Great Britain's MOT record for the 1995 2.0 petrol. 27 of 89 tests failed, 30%.
Better than 17% of 1995 cars. The typical one fails 25%, across 145 models with enough tests behind them to say.
| Where | Share of failures | Failed tests |
|---|---|---|
| Brakes | 67% | 18 |
| Lights and electrics | 59% | 16 |
| Exhaust and emissions | 37% | 10 |
| Suspension | 33% | 9 |
| Visibility | 26% | 7 |
| Body and structure | 22% | 6 |
The defects inspectors cite
- A headlamp or light source missing, inoperative or more than ½ not functioning in the case of LED
- Emissions levels exceed default limits
- Parking brake efficiency below minimum requirement
- Lambda coefficient outside the default limits or the range specified by the manufacturer
- Windscreen washers not working or not providing sufficient fluid to clear the windscreen
- A lamp missing, inoperative or in the case of a multiple light source more than 1/2 not functioning
Where it stands out against its peers
- Brakes: failed more often than 95% of 1995 cars — 67% of its 27 failed tests, where an ordinary 1995 car has 40%.
- Lights and electrics: failed more often than 93% of 1995 cars — 59% of its 27 failed tests, where an ordinary 1995 car has 39%.
Same model year only, at least 30 peer cars, zeros included. Every car has a worst part; this shows which, and how far from ordinary it is. A high share means more to check, not a verdict.
NHTSA's investigations are American; no European regulator publishes an equivalent record, so this section has nothing to draw on for a European car. There is no European equivalent of the service-bulletin register either.
Before you buy one
Built from what this car fails on, not from general knowledge of the model.
- Brakes — 67% of its failures
- Parking brake efficiency below minimum requirement
- Exhaust and emissions — 37% of its failures
- Emissions levels exceed default limits
- Lambda coefficient outside the default limits or the range specified by the manufacturer
- Suspension — 33% of its failures
- A spring or spring component fractured or seriously weakened
- Lights and electrics — 59% of its failures
- A headlamp or light source missing, inoperative or more than ½ not functioning in the case of LED
- A lamp missing, inoperative or in the case of a multiple light source more than 1/2 not functioning
- Visibility — 26% of its failures
- Windscreen washers not working or not providing sufficient fluid to clear the windscreen
- Body and structure — 22% of its failures