Does the Volvo 240 fail the MOT on body, chassis and structure more than it should?
The Volvo 240 records 14.78 body, chassis and structure failure items per 100 initial MOT tests (2019–2024), against 15.03 expected for a car of the same age mix: about as expected for its class and age (the difference is within its interval or under 0.5 items per 100 tests) (−0.25, 95% interval −1.04 to +0.55). It ranks 298 of 663 models on body, chassis and structure (1 = most failures above expected).
Data release dvsa-2024-v2 (24 Sep 2026) · page updated 30 Sep 2026 · all models on body, chassis and structure · check a Volvo 240 by registration
What exactly fails on body, chassis and structure?
The most frequent DVSA defect wording in this group on the Volvo 240 is “Exhaust system leaking or insecure”, recorded 385 times in 2019–2024.
| DVSA defect wording | Items | Per 100 tests |
|---|---|---|
| Exhaust system leaking or insecure | 385 | 4.19 |
| Vehicle structure corroded to the extent that the rigidity of the assembly is seriously reduced | 316 | 3.44 |
| Body, cab or chassis excessively corroded at a mounting point | 192 | 2.09 |
| A door will not open using the relevant control or close properly | 61 | 0.66 |
| Fuel system leaking, or missing or ineffective filler cap | 49 | 0.53 |
Source: DVSA MOT bulk data (OGL v3.0) · Window: 2019–2024 · n = 9,179 (initial tests) · Method: failure items (major and minor) grouped by DVSA's defect tree; wordings with 30+ items · Updated: 30 Sep 2026 · Release: dvsa-2024-v2 · CSV
If a Volvo 240 gets a body, chassis and structure advisory, how often does it fail next time?
15.7% of Volvo 240 MOTs with a body, chassis and structure advisory were followed by a fail in the same group at the next MOT, typically 12.2 months and 800 miles later (933 advisories followed).
Source: DVSA MOT bulk data (OGL v3.0) · Window: 2019–2024 · n = 933 (advisories followed) · Method: the same vehicles followed to their next ordinary MOT · Updated: 30 Sep 2026 · Release: dvsa-2024-v2 · CSV
Other pages for this model
Volvo 240 in Norway · Volvo 240 in the Netherlands · Volvo 240 by postcode area · Volvo 240 brakes failures · Volvo 240 vehicle identification failures · Volvo 240 lamps, reflectors and electrics failures · Volvo 240 noise, emissions and leaks failures · Volvo 240 seat belts and airbags failures · Volvo 240 steering failures · Volvo 240 suspension failures · Volvo 240 tyres failures · Volvo 240 visibility failures