Volvo S40 MOT Check
MOT pass rates, common failures, and reliability data for the Volvo S40. Check any S40 by registration number below.
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64.3%
Avg Pass Rate
-23.4%
vs Volvo Avg
19
Year Ranges
Below Average
Reliability
Volvo S40 — MOT Reliability Overview
The Volvo S40 has an average MOT pass rate of 64.3%, which is 23.4 percentage points below the Volvo brand average of 87.7%. This suggests the S40 can be more maintenance-intensive than average. Pay close attention to the common failure points listed below if you are considering buying one.
The most common reasons a Volvo S40 fails its MOT are brake pipe damaged or excessively corroded, the strength or continuity of the load bearing structure within 30cm of any sub-frame, spring or suspension component mounting (a 'prescribed area') is significantly reduced or inadequately repaired, a lamp missing, inoperative or in the case of a multiple light source more than 1/2 not functioning. If you are preparing your S40 for its MOT, checking these areas first could save you a retest fee. Our detailed fault analysis includes estimated repair costs for each failure type.
Before buying a used Volvo S40, we recommend checking the full MOT history, write-off status, outstanding finance, and stolen vehicle status. These checks can be done for free using the registration number.
MOT Pass Rate by Year
How the Volvo S40 performs at MOT across different model years.
2013
Based on 87 vehicles
2.0%
32.0%
142k mi
2012
Based on 3,075 vehicles
8.7%
30.1%
152k mi
2011
Based on 3,653 vehicles
10.3%
32.1%
2010
Based on 5,006 vehicles
10.1%
33.9%
2009
Based on 6,089 vehicles
8.6%
30.9%
2008
Based on 7,495 vehicles
8.8%
31.6%
2007
Based on 4,751 vehicles
9.3%
30.1%
2006
Based on 4,564 vehicles
8.6%
29.6%
2005
Based on 3,813 vehicles
9.7%
35.9%
2004
Based on 3,072 vehicles
8.5%
35.8%
2003
Based on 1,732 vehicles
9.5%
36.6%
2002
Based on 1,183 vehicles
8.0%
31.3%
2001
Based on 841 vehicles
8.8%
32.2%
2000
Based on 572 vehicles
9.5%
24.7%
1999
Based on 501 vehicles
3.7%
30.4%
1998
Based on 457 vehicles
3.1%
21.9%
1997
Based on 259 vehicles
1.8%
28.1%
1996
Based on 51 vehicles
6.3%
25.0%
0
Based on 28,007 vehicles
109k mi
Top MOT Failures — Volvo S40
The most common reasons a Volvo S40 fails its MOT, aggregated across all year ranges.
Brake pipe damaged or excessively corroded
The strength or continuity of the load bearing structure within 30cm of any sub-frame, spring or suspension component mounting (a 'prescribed area') is significantly reduced or inadequately repaired
A lamp missing, inoperative or in the case of a multiple light source more than 1/2 not functioning
Steering rack gaiter or ball joint dust cover missing or no longer prevents the ingress of dirt etc
Vehicle structure corroded to the extent that the rigidity of the assembly is seriously reduced
Where Failures Occur
The areas of the vehicle most commonly flagged during MOT inspections.
Front Nearside
Rear Nearside
Rear Offside
Other Volvo Models
Compare MOT reliability across Volvo models.
Volvo S40 — Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about the Volvo S40 MOT and reliability.
What is the MOT pass rate for the Volvo S40?
What are the most common MOT failures on a Volvo S40?
Is the Volvo S40 reliable?
How do I check the MOT history of a Volvo S40?
What mileage should I expect on a Volvo S40?
Check Your Volvo S40's MOT History
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