MOT History from tests of diesel VOLVO 850s year 1997

Review the list of common VOLVO 850 failures below or to perform a specific mot history check on your VOLVO then use our popular KnowYourCar service

mot history

Pass percent:64.87%

(The average a diesel VOLVO 850 year 1997 passes without issue)

Based on:2,203 MOT Tests

Most common failures	No# failures
Registration plate lamp issues	120
Windscreen wiper does not clear the windscreen effectively	102
Parking brake: efficiency below requirements \|3.7.B.7\|	96
Headlamp aim out of alignment	93
Brake hose excessively deteriorated	88
Rear parking brake recording little or no effort	63
Exhaust emits an excessive level of metered smoke for a turbo charged engine \|7.4.B.3b\|	57
Nearside Front position lamp\|s\| not working \|1.1.A.3b\|	55
Nearside Front constant velocity joint gaiter split \|2.5.C.1a\|	50
Anti-lock braking system warning lamp indicates an ABS fault	49
Offside Front position lamp\|s\| not working \|1.1.A.3b\|	41
Registration plate issues	39
Brakes imbalanced across an axle	38
Offside Front constant velocity joint gaiter split \|2.5.C.1a\|	36
Rear Exhaust system not adequately supported \|7.1.1\|	32
Parking brake lever has no reserve travel \|3.1.6b\|	24
Nearside Front Suspension arm has excessive play in a ball joint \|2.4.G.2\|	21
Brake hose damaged	20
Offside Front Front position lamp\|s\| not working \|1.1.A.3b\|	19
Nearside Headlamp not working on dipped beam \|1.7.5a\|	19
Offside Front Suspension arm has excessive play in a ball joint \|2.4.G.2\|	18
Nearside Front Front constant velocity joint gaiter split \|2.5.C.1a\|	17
Nearside Front Front position lamp\|s\| not working \|1.1.A.3b\|	17
Nearside Side repeater not working \|1.4.A.2c\|	16
Offside Front Lower Suspension arm has excessive play in a ball joint \|2.4.G.2\|	16
Nearside Front suspension has excessive play in a lower suspension ball joint \|2.5.B.1a\|	15
Nearside Front Anti-roll bar linkage has excessive play in a ball joint \|2.4.G.2\|	15
Offside Front suspension has excessive play in a lower suspension ball joint \|2.5.B.1a\|	15
Offside Front Front constant velocity joint gaiter split \|2.5.C.1a\|	14
Nearside Front Lower Suspension arm has excessive play in a ball joint \|2.4.G.2\|	14
Offside Front Anti-roll bar linkage has excessive play in a ball joint \|2.4.G.2\|	13
Offside Front Track rod end ball joint has excessive play \|2.2.B.1f\|	12
Offside Rear brake disc excessively pitted \|3.5.1h\|	12
Front brake application uneven	12
Offside Headlamp aim beam image obviously incorrect \|1.8.A.1b\|	11
Nearside Track rod end ball joint has excessive play \|2.2.B.1f\|	11
Nearside Stop lamp not working \|1.2.1b\|	11
Horn not working \|1.6.2a\|	10
Offside Stop lamp not working \|1.2.1b\|	10
Nearside Rear Shock absorber has a serious fluid leak \|2.7.3\|	10
Nearside Front constant velocity joint gaiter damaged to the extent that it no longer prevents the ingress of dirt etc \|2.5.C.1a\|	10
Offside Track rod end ball joint has excessive play \|2.2.B.1f\|	10
Offside Side repeater not working \|1.4.A.2c\|	9
Nearside Headlamp not working on main beam \|1.7.5a\|	9
Offside Steering rack gaiter split \|2.2.D.2d\|	9
Battery insecure \|1.9.1\|	9
Offside Front Suspension arm rubber bush deteriorated resulting in excessive movement \|2.4.G.2\|	8
Nearside Outer Front constant velocity joint gaiter split \|2.5.C.1a\|	8
Nearside Front wheel bearing has excessive play \|2.5.A.3c\|	7
Exhaust system not adequately supported \|7.1.1\|	7
Rear brake disc in such a condition that it is seriously weakened	7
Offside Outer Front constant velocity joint gaiter split \|2.5.C.1a\|	7
Nearside Front Side repeater not working \|1.4.A.2c\|	7
Nearside Rear brake disc excessively pitted \|3.5.1h\|	7
Centre Stop lamp not working \|1.2.1b\|	7
Rear brake binding	7
Front brake disc in such a condition that it is seriously weakened	7
Windscreen wiper blade insecure	7
Power steering component\|s\| leaking \|2.3.3b\|	7
Offside Front Macpherson strut has excessive movement at the upper attachment \|2.5.A.1c\|	6
Offside Headlamp not in good working order adversely affecting beam image \|1.2.4a\|	6
Offside Front Headlamp not in good working order adversely affecting beam image \|1.2.4a\|	6
Windscreen has a sticker or other obstruction encroaching into the swept area by more than 40mm outside zone `A` \|8.3.1e\|	6
Nearside Front Suspension arm rubber bush deteriorated resulting in excessive movement \|2.4.G.2\|	6
Nearside Front Macpherson strut has excessive movement at the upper attachment \|2.5.A.1c\|	6
Nearside Headlamp aim beam image obviously incorrect \|1.8.A.1b\|	6
Power steering malfunctioning \|2.3.3a\|	6
Nearside Front Lower Suspension arm rubber bush deteriorated resulting in excessive movement \|2.4.G.2\|	6
Offside Rear brake disc excessively scored \|3.5.1h\|	6
Nearside Front Track rod end ball joint has excessive play \|2.2.B.1f\|	6
Offside Rear fog lamp not working \|1.3.2b\|	5
Emissions not tested \|7.0\|	5
Offside Rear Stop lamp not working \|1.2.1b\|	5
Offside Front Front suspension has excessive play in a lower suspension ball joint \|2.5.B.1a\|	5
Fuel system component leaking \|7.2.3\|	5
Offside Headlamp not working on dipped beam \|1.7.5a\|	5
Nearside Front Anti-roll bar linkage ball joint dust cover excessively deteriorated so that it no longer prevents the ingress of dirt \|2.4.G.2\|	5
Offside Front Anti-roll bar linkage ball joint dust cover excessively damaged so that it no longer prevents the ingress of dirt \|2.4.G.2\|	4
Offside Front constant velocity joint gaiter deteriorated to the extent that it no longer prevents the ingress of dirt etc \|2.5.C.1a\|	4
Nearside Front Steering rack gaiter split \|2.2.D.2d\|	4
Nearside Windscreen wiper blade deteriorated \|8.2.2\|	4
Nearside Front Suspension arm has excessive play in a pin/bush \|2.4.G.2\|	4
Rear Exhaust mounting missing \|7.1.1b\|	4
Anti-lock braking system warning lamp does not illuminate \|3.4.1b\|	4
Nearside Front Front suspension has excessive play in a lower suspension ball joint \|2.5.B.1a\|	4
Exhaust emits excessive smoke or vapour of any colour \|7.4.B.4\|	4
Nearside Headlamp not in good working order adversely affecting beam image \|1.2.4a\|	4
Nearside Steering rack gaiter split \|2.2.D.2d\|	4
Parking brake efficiency below requirements (1.4.2 (a) (i))	4
Nearside front brake binding \|3.7.B.1\|	4
Offside Rear Shock absorber has a serious fluid leak \|2.7.3\|	4
Nearside Rear Stop lamp not working \|1.2.1b\|	4
Nearside Front Headlamp not in good working order adversely affecting beam image \|1.2.4a\|	4
Rear brake application uneven	4
Parking brake efficiency less than 50% of the required value (1.4.2 (a) (ii))	4
Front position lamp\|s\| not working \|1.1.A.3b\|	4
Offside Front Lower Suspension arm has excessive play in a pin/bush \|2.4.G.2\|	3
Offside Front Anti-roll bar ball joint dust cover excessively damaged so that it no longer prevents the ingress of dirt \|2.4.G.2\|	3
Stop lamp not working \|1.2.1b\|	3
Offside Windscreen wiper blade deteriorated \|8.2.2\|	3
Steering system excessively rough \|2.2.D.1\|	3
Offside Front Lower Suspension arm rubber bush deteriorated resulting in excessive movement \|2.4.G.2\|	3
Offside Front wheel bearing has excessive play \|2.5.A.3c\|	3
Offside Front Outer Drive shaft joint constant velocity boot split or insecure, no longer prevents the ingress of dirt (6.1.7 (g) (ii))	3
Nearside Front Anti-roll bar ball joint dust cover excessively damaged so that it no longer prevents the ingress of dirt \|2.4.G.2\|	3
Nearside Front Headlamp not working on dipped beam \|1.7.5a\|	3
Offside Outer Front constant velocity joint gaiter damaged to the extent that it no longer prevents the ingress of dirt etc \|2.5.C.1a\|	3
Nearside Front Anti-roll bar linkage ball joint dust cover excessively damaged so that it no longer prevents the ingress of dirt \|2.4.G.2\|	3
Nearside Front Braking system leaking \|3.6.A.1\|	3
Offside Front Outer Drive shaft joint constant velocity boot split or insecure, no longer prevents the ingress of dirt \|6.1.7 \|g\| \|ii\|\|	3
Offside Front brake disc excessively pitted \|3.5.1h\|	3
Offside Front Ball joint has excessive play \|2.2.B.1f\|	3
Nearside Headlamp aim aimed so that it dazzles other road users \|1.8.A.1a\|	3
Nearside Rear Seat belt retracting mechanism defective \|5.2.5b\|	3
Nearside Front Lower Ball joint has excessive play \|2.2.B.1f\|	3
Exhaust emits an excessive level of metered smoke for a non-turbo charged engine \|7.4.B.3b\|	3
Electronic stability system warning lamp indicates a fault \|3.4.1c\|	3
Nearside Outer Front constant velocity joint gaiter damaged to the extent that it no longer prevents the ingress of dirt etc \|2.5.C.1a\|	3
Offside Rear Seat belt locking mechanism does not secure or release \|5.2.5a\|	3
rear parking \|secondary\| brakes imbalanced	3
Nearside Front Position lamp not working (4.2.1 (a) (ii))	3
Nearside Rear coil spring fractured \|2.4.C.1a\|	3
Offside Front Anti-roll bar linkage ball joint dust cover excessively deteriorated so that it no longer prevents the ingress of dirt \|2.4.G.2\|	3
Offside Front wheel bearing rough when rotated \|2.5.A.2\|	3
Offside Front Lower Suspension arm ball joint excessively worn \|5.3.4 \|a\| \|i\|\|	3

We get to these numbers by trawling through over 1 billion MOT test results since 2004 and crunched the numbers. We remove anything to do with Tyres, as they are model independent and group together common non-model specific issues. We are trying to get to a picture of what models have what issues.

Please note: We take the data from the DVSA. This data is raw and can contain typos and spelling mistakes that garages may have entered while recording a MOT result. Specifically miss-match on names of models and makes. We are constantly cleaning the data so bear with the odd issue.

Got suggestions? We’re improving this section all the time. If you have any suggestions, please let us know.

Most common failures	No# failures
Registration plate lamp issues	120
Windscreen wiper does not clear the windscreen effectively	102
Parking brake: efficiency below requirements \|3.7.B.7\|	96
Headlamp aim out of alignment	93
Brake hose excessively deteriorated	88
Rear parking brake recording little or no effort	63
Exhaust emits an excessive level of metered smoke for a turbo charged engine \|7.4.B.3b\|	57
Nearside Front position lamp\|s\| not working \|1.1.A.3b\|	55
Nearside Front constant velocity joint gaiter split \|2.5.C.1a\|	50
Anti-lock braking system warning lamp indicates an ABS fault	49
Offside Front position lamp\|s\| not working \|1.1.A.3b\|	41
Registration plate issues	39
Brakes imbalanced across an axle	38
Offside Front constant velocity joint gaiter split \|2.5.C.1a\|	36
Rear Exhaust system not adequately supported \|7.1.1\|	32
Parking brake lever has no reserve travel \|3.1.6b\|	24
Nearside Front Suspension arm has excessive play in a ball joint \|2.4.G.2\|	21
Brake hose damaged	20
Offside Front Front position lamp\|s\| not working \|1.1.A.3b\|	19
Nearside Headlamp not working on dipped beam \|1.7.5a\|	19
Offside Front Suspension arm has excessive play in a ball joint \|2.4.G.2\|	18
Nearside Front Front constant velocity joint gaiter split \|2.5.C.1a\|	17
Nearside Front Front position lamp\|s\| not working \|1.1.A.3b\|	17
Nearside Side repeater not working \|1.4.A.2c\|	16
Offside Front Lower Suspension arm has excessive play in a ball joint \|2.4.G.2\|	16
Nearside Front suspension has excessive play in a lower suspension ball joint \|2.5.B.1a\|	15
Nearside Front Anti-roll bar linkage has excessive play in a ball joint \|2.4.G.2\|	15
Offside Front suspension has excessive play in a lower suspension ball joint \|2.5.B.1a\|	15
Offside Front Front constant velocity joint gaiter split \|2.5.C.1a\|	14
Nearside Front Lower Suspension arm has excessive play in a ball joint \|2.4.G.2\|	14
Offside Front Anti-roll bar linkage has excessive play in a ball joint \|2.4.G.2\|	13
Offside Front Track rod end ball joint has excessive play \|2.2.B.1f\|	12
Offside Rear brake disc excessively pitted \|3.5.1h\|	12
Front brake application uneven	12
Offside Headlamp aim beam image obviously incorrect \|1.8.A.1b\|	11
Nearside Track rod end ball joint has excessive play \|2.2.B.1f\|	11
Nearside Stop lamp not working \|1.2.1b\|	11
Horn not working \|1.6.2a\|	10
Offside Stop lamp not working \|1.2.1b\|	10
Nearside Rear Shock absorber has a serious fluid leak \|2.7.3\|	10
Nearside Front constant velocity joint gaiter damaged to the extent that it no longer prevents the ingress of dirt etc \|2.5.C.1a\|	10
Offside Track rod end ball joint has excessive play \|2.2.B.1f\|	10
Offside Side repeater not working \|1.4.A.2c\|	9
Nearside Headlamp not working on main beam \|1.7.5a\|	9
Offside Steering rack gaiter split \|2.2.D.2d\|	9
Battery insecure \|1.9.1\|	9
Offside Front Suspension arm rubber bush deteriorated resulting in excessive movement \|2.4.G.2\|	8
Nearside Outer Front constant velocity joint gaiter split \|2.5.C.1a\|	8
Nearside Front wheel bearing has excessive play \|2.5.A.3c\|	7
Exhaust system not adequately supported \|7.1.1\|	7
Rear brake disc in such a condition that it is seriously weakened	7
Offside Outer Front constant velocity joint gaiter split \|2.5.C.1a\|	7
Nearside Front Side repeater not working \|1.4.A.2c\|	7
Nearside Rear brake disc excessively pitted \|3.5.1h\|	7
Centre Stop lamp not working \|1.2.1b\|	7
Rear brake binding	7
Front brake disc in such a condition that it is seriously weakened	7
Windscreen wiper blade insecure	7
Power steering component\|s\| leaking \|2.3.3b\|	7
Offside Front Macpherson strut has excessive movement at the upper attachment \|2.5.A.1c\|	6
Offside Headlamp not in good working order adversely affecting beam image \|1.2.4a\|	6
Offside Front Headlamp not in good working order adversely affecting beam image \|1.2.4a\|	6
Windscreen has a sticker or other obstruction encroaching into the swept area by more than 40mm outside zone `A` \|8.3.1e\|	6
Nearside Front Suspension arm rubber bush deteriorated resulting in excessive movement \|2.4.G.2\|	6
Nearside Front Macpherson strut has excessive movement at the upper attachment \|2.5.A.1c\|	6
Nearside Headlamp aim beam image obviously incorrect \|1.8.A.1b\|	6
Power steering malfunctioning \|2.3.3a\|	6
Nearside Front Lower Suspension arm rubber bush deteriorated resulting in excessive movement \|2.4.G.2\|	6
Offside Rear brake disc excessively scored \|3.5.1h\|	6
Nearside Front Track rod end ball joint has excessive play \|2.2.B.1f\|	6
Offside Rear fog lamp not working \|1.3.2b\|	5
Emissions not tested \|7.0\|	5
Offside Rear Stop lamp not working \|1.2.1b\|	5
Offside Front Front suspension has excessive play in a lower suspension ball joint \|2.5.B.1a\|	5
Fuel system component leaking \|7.2.3\|	5
Offside Headlamp not working on dipped beam \|1.7.5a\|	5
Nearside Front Anti-roll bar linkage ball joint dust cover excessively deteriorated so that it no longer prevents the ingress of dirt \|2.4.G.2\|	5
Offside Front Anti-roll bar linkage ball joint dust cover excessively damaged so that it no longer prevents the ingress of dirt \|2.4.G.2\|	4
Offside Front constant velocity joint gaiter deteriorated to the extent that it no longer prevents the ingress of dirt etc \|2.5.C.1a\|	4
Nearside Front Steering rack gaiter split \|2.2.D.2d\|	4
Nearside Windscreen wiper blade deteriorated \|8.2.2\|	4
Nearside Front Suspension arm has excessive play in a pin/bush \|2.4.G.2\|	4
Rear Exhaust mounting missing \|7.1.1b\|	4
Anti-lock braking system warning lamp does not illuminate \|3.4.1b\|	4
Nearside Front Front suspension has excessive play in a lower suspension ball joint \|2.5.B.1a\|	4
Exhaust emits excessive smoke or vapour of any colour \|7.4.B.4\|	4
Nearside Headlamp not in good working order adversely affecting beam image \|1.2.4a\|	4
Nearside Steering rack gaiter split \|2.2.D.2d\|	4
Parking brake efficiency below requirements (1.4.2 (a) (i))	4
Nearside front brake binding \|3.7.B.1\|	4
Offside Rear Shock absorber has a serious fluid leak \|2.7.3\|	4
Nearside Rear Stop lamp not working \|1.2.1b\|	4
Nearside Front Headlamp not in good working order adversely affecting beam image \|1.2.4a\|	4
Rear brake application uneven	4
Parking brake efficiency less than 50% of the required value (1.4.2 (a) (ii))	4
Front position lamp\|s\| not working \|1.1.A.3b\|	4
Offside Front Lower Suspension arm has excessive play in a pin/bush \|2.4.G.2\|	3
Offside Front Anti-roll bar ball joint dust cover excessively damaged so that it no longer prevents the ingress of dirt \|2.4.G.2\|	3
Stop lamp not working \|1.2.1b\|	3
Offside Windscreen wiper blade deteriorated \|8.2.2\|	3
Steering system excessively rough \|2.2.D.1\|	3
Offside Front Lower Suspension arm rubber bush deteriorated resulting in excessive movement \|2.4.G.2\|	3
Offside Front wheel bearing has excessive play \|2.5.A.3c\|	3
Offside Front Outer Drive shaft joint constant velocity boot split or insecure, no longer prevents the ingress of dirt (6.1.7 (g) (ii))	3
Nearside Front Anti-roll bar ball joint dust cover excessively damaged so that it no longer prevents the ingress of dirt \|2.4.G.2\|	3
Nearside Front Headlamp not working on dipped beam \|1.7.5a\|	3
Offside Outer Front constant velocity joint gaiter damaged to the extent that it no longer prevents the ingress of dirt etc \|2.5.C.1a\|	3
Nearside Front Anti-roll bar linkage ball joint dust cover excessively damaged so that it no longer prevents the ingress of dirt \|2.4.G.2\|	3
Nearside Front Braking system leaking \|3.6.A.1\|	3
Offside Front Outer Drive shaft joint constant velocity boot split or insecure, no longer prevents the ingress of dirt \|6.1.7 \|g\| \|ii\|\|	3
Offside Front brake disc excessively pitted \|3.5.1h\|	3
Offside Front Ball joint has excessive play \|2.2.B.1f\|	3
Nearside Headlamp aim aimed so that it dazzles other road users \|1.8.A.1a\|	3
Nearside Rear Seat belt retracting mechanism defective \|5.2.5b\|	3
Nearside Front Lower Ball joint has excessive play \|2.2.B.1f\|	3
Exhaust emits an excessive level of metered smoke for a non-turbo charged engine \|7.4.B.3b\|	3
Electronic stability system warning lamp indicates a fault \|3.4.1c\|	3
Nearside Outer Front constant velocity joint gaiter damaged to the extent that it no longer prevents the ingress of dirt etc \|2.5.C.1a\|	3
Offside Rear Seat belt locking mechanism does not secure or release \|5.2.5a\|	3
rear parking \|secondary\| brakes imbalanced	3
Nearside Front Position lamp not working (4.2.1 (a) (ii))	3
Nearside Rear coil spring fractured \|2.4.C.1a\|	3
Offside Front Anti-roll bar linkage ball joint dust cover excessively deteriorated so that it no longer prevents the ingress of dirt \|2.4.G.2\|	3
Offside Front wheel bearing rough when rotated \|2.5.A.2\|	3
Offside Front Lower Suspension arm ball joint excessively worn \|5.3.4 \|a\| \|i\|\|	3

MOT History from tests of diesel VOLVO 850s year 1997

Find us on Facebook