Should I check the MOT history before buying a 1987 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 1987 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 1987 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 1987 Volvo 240 reliable?

Based on MOT data from 1,960 vehicles, the 1987 Volvo 240 has a first-time MOT pass rate of 65%, indicating average reliability for its class. Always check the full MOT history of any specific vehicle before buying.

What are common problems with the 1987 Volvo 240?

The most frequently recorded MOT issues on the 1987 Volvo 240 are: Exhaust emissions carbon monoxide content excessive (21.1% of vehicles), Oil leak (20.3% of vehicles), Offside Front Brake hose slightly deteriorated (19.7% 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 1987 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 (1987)

1,960 real MOT outcomes analysed • 65% first-time pass rate

1987 Volvo 240

CarHunch analysed 1,960 real MOT records for the 1987 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 1987 Volvo 240 passes its MOT first time just 65% of the time, well below the UK average of 80%, suggesting these cars typically need remedial work before they're road-legal. With 12.4% having encountered dangerous defects, you're looking at a vehicle that demands careful pre-purchase inspection and honest maintenance history.

At 142,000 miles median, these examples are genuinely aged and heavily used, yet they're clocking up an average of 1.85 failures per test, indicating specific weak points rather than terminal decline. The high advisory rate of 5.7 per vehicle tells you that minor wear items are plentiful; before buying, have a trusted mechanic run through the typical issues (suspension, brakes, seals) and budget for steady upkeep.

The 1987 Volvo 240 has a below-average first-time pass rate (65% vs ~80% UK average) — check the specific vehicle's full MOT history carefully before buying.

⚠️ 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

65%

UK average ~80%

Below average

Dangerous (ever)

12.4%

At least once in MOT history

Check this vehicle

Avg failures / car

1.85

Over 5.5 tests on record

High

Typical mileage

142k

Middle half: 111k–173k

For context

⚠️ Below average. More vehicles in this cohort fail their first MOT than typical. Scrutinise this vehicle's history — look for recurring issues, not just the latest result.

🔧 Expect consumable spend. An average of 5.7 advisories per vehicle tells you wear items (tyres, brakes) get flagged regularly. Budget for them — they're not surprises.

🔍 The dangerous defect figure is real. Most are one-off tyre failures or brake issues — not structural problems. But it's exactly why checking the individual vehicle's history is essential, not optional.

These stats describe 1,960 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 1,960 vehicles — figures show how many had each issue flagged at least once in their MOT history.

Exhaust & emissions 21.1%

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

Other issues 20.3%

Oil leak

Brake wear 19.7%

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.

Tyre wear 18.9%

Nearside Front Tyre worn close to the legal limit · Nearside Rear 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.

Suspension & steering 15.1%

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

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

Lighting 10.9%

Offside Stop lamp not working

Usually cheap to fix. Worth confirming all lights work before collecting.

Data covers a 3-year window centred on 1987.

See this vehicle's full MOT history & AI hunches

Spot recurring advisories, hidden issues, and how it compares to 1,960 Volvo 240 cars.

Before you buy a 1987 Volvo 240

Based on MOT data from 1,960 vehicles — here's what to check.

📋 Check the full MOT history. 12.4% 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%)	1,950	64.9%	1.85

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 1987 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.

142,347

typical

110,898

low mileage

172,762

high mileage

Half of all 1987 Volvo 240 vehicles fall between 110,898 and 172,762 miles.

Is the mileage you're seeing normal?

✓ Under 110,898 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.

✓ 110,898–172,762 miles — normal for age. This is where most 1987 Volvo 240s sit.

⚠ Over 233,228 miles — higher than typical. Not necessarily a problem, but check service history and look out for advisory build-up on tyres and brakes.

1987 Volvo 240 — Still on the Road

Numbers are thinning — 32% of 1987 Volvo 240s are still active.

Numbers are declining — 59 vehicles still getting MOTs in 2025 (32% of peak).

Based on vehicles from this manufacture year that had at least one MOT test in each calendar year. Data from 2014–2025.
* 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

5.5

Avg MOT tests per vehicle

1.85

Avg failures per vehicle

5.7

Avg advisories per vehicle

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

1980 1981 1982 1983 1984 1985 1986 1988 1989 1990 1991 1992 1993

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Compare with another model

See how the 1987 Volvo 240 stacks up against a rival.

Buyer beware — pass it on