Does the Volvo 400 Series fail the MOT on lamps, reflectors and electrics more than it should?
The Volvo 400 Series records 45.80 lamps, reflectors and electrics failure items per 100 initial MOT tests (2019–2024), against 29.48 expected for a car of the same age mix: more than expected for its class and age (+16.32, 95% interval +13.31 to +19.33). It ranks 35 of 729 models on lamps, reflectors and electrics (1 = most failures above expected).
Data release dvsa-2024-v2 (24 Sep 2026) · page updated 30 Sep 2026 · all models on lamps, reflectors and electrics · check a Volvo 400 Series by registration
What exactly fails on lamps, reflectors and electrics?
The most frequent DVSA defect wording in this group on the Volvo 400 Series is “The aim of a headlamp is not within limits laid down in the requirements”, recorded 117 times in 2019–2024.
| DVSA defect wording | Items | Per 100 tests |
|---|---|---|
| The aim of a headlamp is not within limits laid down in the requirements | 117 | 6.03 |
| A rear registration plate lamp or light source missing or inoperative in the case of multiple lamps or light sources | 111 | 5.72 |
| A headlamp or light source missing, inoperative or more than ½ not functioning in the case of LED | 75 | 3.86 |
| A lamp missing, inoperative or in the case of a multiple light source more than 1/2 not functioning | 73 | 3.76 |
| Lamp emitted colour, position or intensity not in accordance with the requirements | 46 | 2.37 |
Source: DVSA MOT bulk data (OGL v3.0) · Window: 2019–2024 · n = 1,941 (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
Other pages for this model
Volvo 400 Series body, chassis and structure failures · Volvo 400 Series brakes failures · Volvo 400 Series noise, emissions and leaks failures · Volvo 400 Series seat belts and airbags failures · Volvo 400 Series steering failures · Volvo 400 Series suspension failures · Volvo 400 Series tyres failures · Volvo 400 Series visibility failures