Used car guide · 1991–1998

Volvo 900 Series common problems and MOT failures

What goes wrong on a used Volvo 900 Series, year by year: known faults from UK buying guides, the parts flagged at MOT more than on other cars (from 9,166 MOTs done during 2023–2025), and what to check before you buy one.

9,166MOTs done in 2023–2025, all years of this model

Pick the year

Most years have their own guide. The year is when the car was first registered (it’s on the logbook, or check the reg below).

19981997199619951994199319921991

What usually goes wrong with a Volvo 900 Series?

We haven’t found widely reported faults for the Volvo 900 Series in the UK buying guides we use yet. That doesn’t mean it has none, so check the car carefully and look at the MOT weak spots below.

Common Volvo 900 Series MOT failures to check

Parts flagged at MOT well above the usual rate for cars the same age. From the DVSA’s results for every MOT done in Great Britain during 2023–2025.

  • Exhaust system

    up to 2.4× usual

    Stands out on cars registered in 1991, 1992, 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 1997 and 1998.

    Rough price £100–£500 (pipe or section) ClickMechanic

    At the viewing: Listen for blowing or rattling from underneath at idle, and look for black soot around joints.

  • Battery

    up to 4.7× usual

    Stands out on cars registered in 1991, 1992, 1993, 1995, 1996, 1997 and 1998.

    Rough price £80–£200 our estimate

    At the viewing: Check the car starts cleanly and there are no warning lights once running.

  • Anti-roll bar link bushes

    up to 5.5× usual

    Stands out on cars registered in 1991, 1992, 1993 and 1994.

    Rough price £100–£280 (pair of drop links) Checkatrade

    At the viewing: Drive slowly over bumps and listen for a knock or rattle from the front. Worn anti-roll bar links are a cheap fix.

  • Steering rack inner joints

    up to 4.2× usual

    Stands out on cars registered in 1991, 1996, 1997 and 1998.

    Rough price £100–£450 our estimate

    At the viewing: On a straight road the steering wheel should sit straight. Listen for knocks when turning, and check the steering feels even.

  • Number plates

    up to 2.6× usual

    Stands out on cars registered in 1992, 1993 and 1995.

    Rough price £5–£40 our estimate

    At the viewing: Check the number plate lights work and the plates are clean and legal.

  • Brake discs

    up to 2× usual

    Stands out on cars registered in 1991, 1994 and 1995.

    Rough price £150–£350 our estimate

    At the viewing: Look through the wheel at the brake disc: a deep lip at the edge or heavy scoring means they're worn. Feel for judder when braking.

Volvo 900 Series MOT pass rate by year

Older cars fail more, so compare each year with all cars registered the same year.

YearPass first timeAll cars that yearMOT tests
199865%65% +0763
199764%65% -12,201
199664%66% -21,579
199564%67% -31,589
199458%67% -9821
199365%68% -3814
199261%69% -8805
199169%71% -2594

Questions to ask the seller before buying a Volvo 900 Series

Ask before you travel to see it. A seller who knows the car will have answers, and receipts.

  1. Any recent work on the exhaust system? (Flagged at MOT 2.4× as often on the Volvo 900 Series as on other cars the same age.)
  2. Any recent work on the battery? (Flagged at MOT 4.7× as often on the Volvo 900 Series as on other cars the same age.)
  3. Any recent work on the anti-roll bar link bushes? (Flagged at MOT 5.5× as often on the Volvo 900 Series as on other cars the same age.)
  4. Can I see the service history and receipts for any big jobs?

Looking at a Volvo 900 Series?

Check the actual car: its own MOT history, whether it already shows these weak spots and what to ask the seller. Free, no sign-up.

Where this comes from: MOT figures are the DVSA’s anonymised results for every MOT test done in Great Britain during 2023–2025, grouped by the year each car was first registered. How many are on the road is from the Department for Transport’s vehicle licensing statistics. Known faults are from UK buying guides, in our own words, with links. How we score