Does the Volvo 800 Series fail the MOT on brakes more than it should?
The Volvo 800 Series records 24.73 brakes failure items per 100 initial MOT tests (2019–2024), against 20.29 expected for a car of the same age mix: more than expected for its class and age (+4.44, 95% interval +3.36 to +5.51). It ranks 138 of 712 models on brakes (1 = most failures above expected).
Data release dvsa-2024-v2 (24 Sep 2026) · page updated 30 Sep 2026 · all models on brakes · check a Volvo 800 Series by registration
What exactly fails on brakes?
The most frequent DVSA defect wording in this group on the Volvo 800 Series is “Warning device shows system malfunction”, recorded 334 times in 2019–2024.
| DVSA defect wording | Items | Per 100 tests |
|---|---|---|
| Warning device shows system malfunction | 334 | 4.03 |
| Parking brake efficiency below minimum requirement | 322 | 3.89 |
| Parking brake inoperative on one side | 209 | 2.52 |
| Significant brake effort recorded with no brake applied indicating a binding brake | 168 | 2.03 |
| A flexible brake hose excessively damaged, deteriorated, chafed, twisted or stretched | 129 | 1.56 |
Source: DVSA MOT bulk data (OGL v3.0) · Window: 2019–2024 · n = 8,287 (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 800 Series gets a brakes advisory, how often does it fail next time?
18.0% of Volvo 800 Series MOTs with a brakes advisory were followed by a fail in the same group at the next MOT, typically 12 months and 27 miles later (1,220 advisories followed).
Source: DVSA MOT bulk data (OGL v3.0) · Window: 2019–2024 · n = 1,220 (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 800 Series by postcode area · Volvo 800 Series body, chassis and structure failures · Volvo 800 Series vehicle identification failures · Volvo 800 Series lamps, reflectors and electrics failures · Volvo 800 Series noise, emissions and leaks failures · Volvo 800 Series seat belts and airbags failures · Volvo 800 Series steering failures · Volvo 800 Series suspension failures · Volvo 800 Series tyres failures · Volvo 800 Series visibility failures