Should I check the MOT history before buying a 1981 Volvo 240?

Yes. Look for recurring advisories — slow-building issues like corrosion or brake wear patterns show up years before they become failures. A full MOT history analysis will highlight patterns that a single test result won't reveal.

What corrosion should I look for when inspecting a 1981 Volvo 240?

Check brake pipes, sills, subframes, and chassis legs. Surface rust is normal at this age; structural rust is a serious problem that is expensive to fix and can fail an MOT.

How are tyres and brakes typically on a 1981 Volvo 240?

Tyres and brakes are the most common advisory items on vehicles of this age. Budget for replacement if they are near the limit, and factor this into your offer price.

Is the 1981 Volvo 240 reliable?

Based on MOT data from 235 vehicles, the 1981 Volvo 240 has a first-time MOT pass rate of 68%, indicating average reliability for its class. Always check the full MOT history of any specific vehicle before buying.

What are common problems with the 1981 Volvo 240?

The most frequently recorded MOT issues on the 1981 Volvo 240 are: Exhaust emissions carbon monoxide content excessive (36.7% of vehicles), Oil leak (26.6% of vehicles), Nearside Front Tyre worn close to the legal limit (14.2% of vehicles). These figures are based on actual MOT test records — search a specific registration on CarHunch to see its individual history.

Do I need an HPI check when buying a 1981 Volvo 240?

Yes. The MOT history will not show outstanding finance, insurance write-offs, or stolen status. An HPI check covers these areas and should be part of any used car purchase.

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Volvo 240 (1981)

235 real MOT outcomes analysed • 68% first-time pass rate

1981 Volvo 240

CarHunch analysed 235 real MOT records for the 1981 Volvo 240. Real test outcomes — pass rates, defect profiles, mileage data — from verified DVLA records. Updated as new MOTs are recorded.
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AI Analysis Reliability Overview Common Issues Check a Specific Reg Buyer's Checklist Pass Rate by Fuel Mileage Distribution Still on the Road MOT Averages Colour Breakdown Compare Models

The 1981 Volvo 240 is markedly less reliable than the UK average, with a first-time MOT pass rate of just 68% against the national 80%—meaning roughly one in three of these cars fails on their first attempt. Dangerous defects have affected 13.2% of the cohort, which is moderate but worth factoring into your inspection checklist.

These 240s are running at sensible mileages for their age (median 110,169 miles), yet they're still racking up an average of 1.71 failures and 5.6 advisories per test, pointing to accumulated wear rather than abuse. If you're considering one, budget for brake work, suspension repairs, and fuel system attention—get a pre-purchase inspection done by someone familiar with 1980s Volvos.

We have limited data for the 1981 Volvo 240 — treat the figures below as indicative rather than definitive.

⚠️ Around 1 in 8 of these vehicles have had a dangerous MOT failure at some point — usually tyres or brakes, and often a one-off issue rather than a persistent problem. The group stats won't tell you which one you're looking at.

First-time pass

68%

UK average ~80%

Below average

Dangerous (ever)

13.2%

At least once in MOT history

Check this vehicle

Avg failures / car

1.71

Over 5.4 tests on record

High

Typical mileage

110k

Middle half: 77k–139k

For context

These stats describe 235 vehicles as a group. The specific vehicle you're looking at could be the one good example or the one outlier. Run its registration to find out.

Buyer beware — pass it on

What tends to go wrong

Across 235 vehicles — figures show how many had each issue flagged at least once in their MOT history.

Exhaust & emissions 36.7%

Exhaust emissions carbon monoxide content excessive · Rear Exhaust has a minor leak of exhaust gases · Rear Exhaust has a major leak of exhaust gases

Other issues 26.6%

Oil leak

Tyre wear 14.2%

Nearside Front Tyre worn close to the legal limit · Offside Front Tyre worn close to the legal limit · Offside Rear Tyre worn close to the legal limit · …

Budget for a full set — on a vehicle this age, tyres are expected consumables. An inspection will confirm how much is left.

Brake wear 11.4%

Offside Front Brake hose slightly deteriorated · Nearside Front Brake hose slightly deteriorated · Parking brake: efficiency below requirements

Ask the seller when brakes were last serviced. If they don't know, factor in the cost.

Wipers & washers 10.3%

Windscreen washer provides insufficient washer liquid

Suspension & steering 10.2%

Nearside Rear Suspension component mounting prescribed area is excessively corroded · Nearside Front wheel bearing has slight play · Offside Rear Suspension component mounting prescribed area is excessively corroded · …

Harder to spot without a ramp — this is a good reason to book a pre-purchase inspection.

Data covers a 3-year window centred on 1981.

See this vehicle's full MOT history & AI hunches

Spot recurring advisories, hidden issues, and how it compares to 235 Volvo 240 cars.

Before you buy a 1981 Volvo 240

Based on MOT data from 235 vehicles — here's what to check.

📋 Check the full MOT history. 13.2% of these vehicles have had a dangerous defect recorded - recurring advisories often signal problems years before they become failures.
Search the reg on CarHunch for the full MOT history, reliability stats and a free AI-powered analysis of that exact vehicle.
🔍 Brake pipes, sills and subframes are the key areas on a vehicle this age — structural rust is hard to spot without getting underneath. A mechanic will check all of this before you commit, and give you a concrete basis to negotiate on price. Inspection →
📄 Outstanding finance, insurance write-offs and clocking won't appear in the MOT records — a dedicated history check covers all of this. Our link gets you 20% off automatically. History Get 20% off via CarHunch

Pass Rate by Fuel Type

Fuel type	Vehicles	Pass rate	Avg failures
Petrol (99%)	233	68.1%	1.72

Colour Breakdown

Based on 19,427 Volvo 240 vehicles registered in the UK — across all years. From DVLA registration records.

Blue 30.1%

5,854

Red 21.9%

4,247

Silver 20.8%

4,049

White 15%

2,921

Grey 3.8%

745

Green 3.2%

628

Gold 1.2%

237

Brown 1.1%

216

Black 0.9%

179

Beige 0.9%

174

Yellow 0.7%

135

Maroon 0.2%

Mileage Distribution

Most 1981 Volvo 240 vehicles sit in the blue band. If the vehicle you're looking at is outside it, it's either unusually low or high mileage for its age.

110,169

typical

77,069

low mileage

139,492

high mileage

Half of all 1981 Volvo 240 vehicles fall between 77,069 and 139,492 miles.

Is the mileage you're seeing normal?

✓ Under 77,069 miles — lower than most. Could be great, or could be a vehicle that rarely moved. Check test frequency and mileage progression in the MOT history.

✓ 77,069–139,492 miles — normal for age. This is where most 1981 Volvo 240s sit.

⚠ Over 188,314 miles — higher than typical. Not necessarily a problem, but check service history and look out for advisory build-up on tyres and brakes.

1981 Volvo 240 — Still on the Road

Numbers are thinning — 60% of 1981 Volvo 240s are still active.

21 vehicles still getting MOTs in 2021 — 60% of the peak remain.

Based on vehicles from this manufacture year that had at least one MOT test in each calendar year. Data from 2014–2021.
* The 2020 dip reflects the government's COVID-19 MOT exemption, which allowed certificates to be extended by six months — fewer tests were conducted that year.

MOT History Averages

5.4

Avg MOT tests per vehicle

1.71

Avg failures per vehicle

5.6

Avg advisories per vehicle

Other model years — Volvo 240: All 240 years → Which year to buy? →

1980 1982 1983 1984 1985 1986 1987 1988 1989 1990 1991 1992 1993

Or browse all models: Volvo →

Compare with another model

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Buyer beware — pass it on