Should I check the MOT history before buying a 1993 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 1993 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 1993 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.

How many 1993 Volvo 240 vehicles have had dangerous defects recorded?

23% of these vehicles have had a dangerous defect recorded. Search the registration on CarHunch — the full MOT history will show exactly what was flagged and whether it was resolved.

Is the 1993 Volvo 240 reliable?

Based on MOT data from 1,637 vehicles, the 1993 Volvo 240 has a first-time MOT pass rate of 67.8%, indicating average reliability for its class. Always check the full MOT history of any specific vehicle before buying.

What are common problems with the 1993 Volvo 240?

The most frequently recorded MOT issues on the 1993 Volvo 240 are: Parking brake: efficiency below requirements (31.9% of vehicles), Offside Front Brake hose slightly deteriorated (31.3% of vehicles), Nearside Front Brake hose slightly deteriorated (31.2% 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 1993 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.

CarHunch

Get Started

Volvo 240 (1993)

1,637 real MOT outcomes analysed • 67.8% first-time pass rate

1993 Volvo 240

CarHunch analysed 1,637 real MOT records for the 1993 Volvo 240. Real test outcomes — pass rates, defect profiles, mileage data — from verified DVLA records. Updated as new MOTs are recorded.
Which year to buy? →

On this page

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 1993 Volvo 240 has a below-average first-time pass rate (67.8% vs ~80% UK average) — check the specific vehicle's full MOT history carefully before buying.

⚠️ Over 1 in 5 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

67.8%

UK average ~80%

Below average

Dangerous (ever)

23.3%

At least once in MOT history

Check this vehicle

Avg failures / car

3.34

Over 9.9 tests on record

High

Typical mileage

140k

Middle half: 114k–169k

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 14.1 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 1,637 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 1,637 vehicles — figures show how many had each issue flagged at least once in their MOT history.

Brake wear 31.9%

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

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

Tyre wear 28.7%

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

Other issues 27.2%

Oil leak · Windscreen has damage to an area less than a 40mm circle outside zone 'A' · Oil leak, but not excessive

Exhaust & emissions 21.2%

Exhaust has a minor leak of exhaust gases · Rear Exhaust has a minor leak of exhaust gases

Lighting 17.4%

Nearside Front position lamp(s) not working · Offside Front position lamp(s) not working · Nearside Stop lamp not working · …

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

Data covers a 3-year window centred on 1993.

See this vehicle's full MOT history & AI hunches

Spot recurring advisories, hidden issues, and how it compares to 1,637 Volvo 240 cars.

Before you buy a 1993 Volvo 240

Based on MOT data from 1,637 vehicles — here's what to check.

📋 Check the full MOT history. 23.3% 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 (100%)	1,629	67.8%	3.34

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 1993 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.

140,005

typical

113,878

low mileage

168,507

high mileage

Half of all 1993 Volvo 240 vehicles fall between 113,878 and 168,507 miles.

Is the mileage you're seeing normal?

✓ Under 113,878 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.

✓ 113,878–168,507 miles — normal for age. This is where most 1993 Volvo 240s sit.

⚠ Over 227,484 miles — higher than typical. Not necessarily a problem, but check service history and look out for advisory build-up on tyres and brakes.

1993 Volvo 240 — Still on the Road

Numbers are thinning — 45% of 1993 Volvo 240s are still active.

Numbers are declining — 186 vehicles still getting MOTs in 2025 (45% 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

9.9

Avg MOT tests per vehicle

3.34

Avg failures per vehicle

14.1

Avg advisories per vehicle

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

1980 1981 1982 1983 1984 1985 1986 1987 1988 1989 1990 1991 1992

Or browse all models: Volvo →

Compare with another model

See how the 1993 Volvo 240 stacks up against a rival.

Buyer beware — pass it on