Volvo 900 Series
Registered from 1990 to 2000.
About this model
The Volvo 900 Series is a range of executive cars produced by the Swedish manufacturer Volvo Cars from 1990 to 1998. The 900 Series was introduced in 1990 to replace the 700 Series from which it derived. Prior to the end of its production, the 960 was renamed as the Volvo S90 (saloon) and Volvo V90 (estate), and the 940 was renamed 940 Classic, becoming the last rear-wheel-drive cars from Volvo, until the 2023 Volvo XC40 Recharge Pure Electric.
From the Wikipedia article Volvo 900 Series, licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0.
What fails its inspection
Great Britain's MOT record for the 1997 2.3 petrol. 231 of 909 tests failed, 25%.
Better than 54% of 1997 cars. The typical one fails 26%, across 225 models with enough tests behind them to say.
| Where | Share of failures | Failed tests |
|---|---|---|
| Lights and electrics | 43% | 100 |
| Brakes | 34% | 79 |
| Body and structure | 32% | 75 |
| Exhaust and emissions | 30% | 70 |
| Suspension | 30% | 70 |
| Visibility | 17% | 39 |
The defects inspectors cite
- Exhaust system leaking or insecure
- A suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn
- Emissions levels exceed default limits
- The strength or continuity of the load bearing structure within 30cm of any sub-frame, spring or suspension component mounting (a 'prescribed area') is significantly reduced or inadequately repaired
- Audible warning inoperative
- Parking brake efficiency below minimum requirement
Before you buy one
Built from what this car fails on, not from general knowledge of the model.
- Brakes — 34% of its failures
- Parking brake efficiency below minimum requirement
- Exhaust and emissions — 30% of its failures
- Exhaust system leaking or insecure
- Emissions levels exceed default limits
- Suspension — 30% of its failures
- A suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn
- The strength or continuity of the load bearing structure within 30cm of any sub-frame, spring or suspension component mounting (a 'prescribed area') is significantly reduced or inadequately repaired
- Lights and electrics — 43% of its failures
- A lamp missing, inoperative or in the case of a multiple light source more than 1/2 not functioning
- Body and structure — 32% of its failures
- The strength or continuity of the load bearing structure within 30cm of any sub-frame, spring or suspension component mounting (a 'prescribed area') is significantly reduced or inadequately repaired
- Visibility — 17% of its failures
- Wiper blade missing or obviously not clearing the windscreen
When it starts failing
At 140–160k miles this one fails 28% of its inspections, about what an ordinary car of the same age does.
| Odometer | Failure rate | Rate | Its age | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 60–80k miles | 11% | 24% | 35 | |
| 80–100k miles | 23% | 26% | 57 | |
| 100–120k miles | 17% | 26% | 76 | |
| 120–140k miles | 25% | 27% | 145 | |
| 140–160k miles | 28% | 28% | 147 | |
| 160–180k miles | 26% | — | 141 | |
| 180–200k miles | 26% | — | 115 | |
| 200k+ miles | 31% | — | 170 |
886 British inspections, grouped by the odometer reading recorded at the test.
Half of these have more than 140k miles on them. That is how far people drive this car, not how long it lasts.