Used car guide

1997 Volvo 800 Series petrol: common problems and MOT failures

What MOT testers find on the petrol Volvo 800 Series first registered in 1997 (petrol cars only): we looked at the 417 MOTs these cars had during 2023–2025. Plus known faults and what to look at before you buy one.

Small sample: there were only 417 MOTs of these cars during 2023–2025, so treat the percentages as rough. The known faults below don't depend on it.

417MOTs of 1997 petrol cars, done in 2023–2025
58%pass first time (all 1997 cars: 65%)
5,500typical miles a year
2.5×the usual rate for drive shaft (cv) joints

What goes wrong more than usual on a 1997 Volvo 800 Series petrol?

Parts flagged at MOT more often on the 1997 Volvo 800 Series petrol than on all cars registered in 1997.

  • Drive shaft (CV) joints2.5× usual
    Volvo 800 Series
    11.3% All 1997 cars
    4.5%

    Failed outright at MOT: 5.8%, against 1.9% of all 1997 cars. The rest were advisories or minor defects.

    Rough price £60–£350 our estimate

    At the viewing: Drive slowly on full steering lock in both directions and listen for clicking. Look for split rubber boots behind the front wheels.

Common 1997 Volvo 800 Series petrol MOT failures and advisories

The share of 1997 Volvo 800 Series petrol MOT tests where testers flagged each area, as a fail or an advisory. Rough prices are typical independent-garage costs.

  • Suspension
    41% of testsRough price £120–£400

    At the viewing: Listen for knocks over speed bumps, and look behind each front wheel for a snapped coil spring.

  • Brakes
    35% of testsRough price £150–£350

    At the viewing: Look for a lip on the disc edges and feel for judder or pulling when braking firmly from about 40mph.

  • Lights and electrics
    29% of testsRough price £10–£80

    At the viewing: Ask a friend to check every light, including brake lights and indicators, while you operate them.

  • Tyres
    29% of testsRough price £70–£150

    At the viewing: Check the tread on all four tyres, including the inside edges, and look for cracks or bulges.

  • Oil and fluid leaks
    23% of testsRough price £80–£600

    At the viewing: Look under the engine and on the ground where the car is usually parked for fresh oil or fluid.

  • Exhaust and emissions
    20% of testsRough price £100–£1,200

    At the viewing: Look for black soot in the tailpipe, listen for blowing from the exhaust and check for an engine warning light.

Questions to ask the seller before buying a 1997 Volvo 800 Series petrol

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

  1. Any recent work on the drive shaft (cv) joints? (Flagged at MOT 2.5× as often on the 1997 Volvo 800 Series petrol as on other cars the same age.)
  2. Can I see the service history and receipts for any big jobs?

Looking at a Volvo 800 Series?

Check the actual car: its own MOT history, mileage and what to ask the seller. Free, no sign-up.

Other years

Every year of the Volvo 800 Series compared

YearMOT testsMost flagged
19962,504Suspension 37%
19951,622Suspension 37%
1994560Suspension 38%
1993174Suspension 43%

Where this comes from: the DVSA's anonymised results for every MOT test done in Great Britain during 2023–2025, counting the MOTs of Volvo 800 Series cars first registered in 1997. "Flagged" includes advisories, so it isn't the same as a fail rate. How we score