Volvo S40
From 31,725 MOT tests. Below average for its class.
Common MOT failure categories
Pass rate by registration year
Newer S40s fare better: 2012 models pass at 72.3% vs 62.9% for 2002.
What goes wrong?
The most common MOT failure reasons are a suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn, a spring or spring component fractured or seriously weakened, a lamp missing and inoperative or in the case of a multiple light source more than 1/2 not functioning. The top issue, a suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn, caused 2,018 failures in 2024. Checking tread depth (1.6mm legal minimum, 3mm recommended) before your test can save an unnecessary fail. You can check prices at Black Circles if you need replacements. If you need repairs before retesting, sites like BookMyGarage let you compare local prices.
| a suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn | 2,018 |
| a spring or spring component fractured or seriously weakened | 1,090 |
| a lamp missing, inoperative or in the case of a multiple light source more than 1/2 not functioning | 1,049 |
| the aim of a headlamp is not within limits laid down in the requirements | 1,003 |
| a transmission shaft constant velocity joint boot missing or no longer prevents the ingress of dirt etc | 983 |
| a tyre cords visible or damaged | 696 |
| tyre tread depth not in accordance with the requirements | 673 |
| a rear registration plate lamp or light source missing or inoperative in the case of multiple lamps or light sources | 668 |
| a suspension joint dust cover missing or no longer prevents the ingress of dirt etc | 661 |
| a tyre seriously damaged | 640 |
How serious are these failures?
Not all MOT failures are equal. 21.9% of S40 failures could actually strand you: fractured springs, engine faults, exhaust problems. Another 35.4% are safety issues where the car still drives but shouldn't, such as worn brakes, corroded brake pipes, and steering wear. When it does fail, the average repair bill is around £112.
Volvo S40 on UK roads
The fleet is shrinking: 2,692 scrapped or exported in the past year with only 3 newly registered, a net loss of 2,689. At this rate, roughly 7.1 years until none remain. Now at 22.8% of its peak (83,787 in 2009 Q1).
Quarterly breakdown
| Quarter | On road | SORN | New | Gone | Net |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 Q3 | 14,006 | 5,128 | +1 | -598 | -597 |
| 2025 Q2 | 14,627 | 5,104 | +0 | -640 | -640 |
| 2025 Q1 | 15,284 | 5,087 | +2 | -707 | -705 |
| 2024 Q4 | 15,925 | 5,151 | +0 | -747 | -747 |
| 2024 Q3 | 16,644 | 5,179 | +1 | -681 | -680 |
| 2024 Q2 | 17,343 | 5,160 | +0 | -656 | -656 |
| 2024 Q1 | 18,035 | 5,124 | +1 | -649 | -648 |
| 2023 Q4 | 18,730 | 5,077 | +0 | -638 | -638 |
20 variants on the road
| Variant | Fuel | Licensed | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| S40 S | Petrol | 1,683 | 17% |
| S40 S 16V | Petrol | 1,444 | 15% |
| S40 Se | Diesel | 1,126 | 12% |
| S40 Se Lux Edition Drive S/S | Diesel | 647 | 7% |
| S40 Se D (E4) | Diesel | 612 | 6% |
| S40 Sport | Petrol | 446 | 5% |
| S40 S D Drive | Diesel | 375 | 4% |
| S40 Se D Drive | Diesel | 359 | 4% |
| S40 Sport D | Diesel | 347 | 4% |
| S40 Se Auto | Gas | 335 | 3% |
| S40 Se Lux Edition | Petrol | 301 | 3% |
| S40 S D | Diesel | 291 | 3% |
| S40 Se D | Diesel | 263 | 3% |
| S40 Se Lux D Drive | Diesel | 243 | 3% |
| S40 Se 16V | Petrol | 230 | 2% |
| S40 Se Edition Drive S/S | Diesel | 225 | 2% |
| S40 R-Design | Petrol | 200 | 2% |
| S40 R-Design D | Diesel | 189 | 2% |
| S40 Se Lux D | Diesel | 186 | 2% |
| S40 S D (E4) | Diesel | 174 | 2% |
Source: DfT vehicle licensing statistics, 2025 Q3. Crown copyright, OGL v3.0.
By registration year
| Year | Pass rate | Top failures |
|---|---|---|
| 2012 | 72.3% | a suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn, a spring or spring component fractured or seriously weakened |
| 2011 | 69.9% | a suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn, a transmission shaft constant velocity joint boot missing or no longer prevents the ingress of dirt etc |
| 2010 | 67.9% | a suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn, a spring or spring component fractured or seriously weakened |
| 2009 | 69.4% | a suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn, a lamp missing, inoperative or in the case of a multiple light source more than 1/2 not functioning |
12 earlier years
| 2008 | 67.7% | a suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn, a lamp missing, inoperative or in the case of a multiple light source more than 1/2 not functioning |
| 2007 | 68.4% | a suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn, the aim of a headlamp is not within limits laid down in the requirements |
| 2006 | 68.8% | a suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn, the aim of a headlamp is not within limits laid down in the requirements |
| 2005 | 64.9% | a suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn, the aim of a headlamp is not within limits laid down in the requirements |
| 2004 | 65.3% | a transmission shaft constant velocity joint boot missing or no longer prevents the ingress of dirt etc, a suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn |
| 2003 | 62.5% | a suspension joint dust cover missing or no longer prevents the ingress of dirt etc, a lamp missing, inoperative or in the case of a multiple light source more than 1/2 not functioning |
| 2002 | 62.9% | a suspension joint dust cover severely deteriorated, a lamp missing, inoperative or in the case of a multiple light source more than 1/2 not functioning |
| 2001 | 64.9% | a suspension joint dust cover missing or no longer prevents the ingress of dirt etc, a suspension joint dust cover severely deteriorated |
| 2000 | 63% | 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 |
| 1999 | 62.1% | 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, the aim of a headlamp is not within limits laid down in the requirements |
| 1998 | 68.7% | the aim of a headlamp is not within limits laid down in the requirements, a headlamp or light source missing, inoperative or more than ½ not functioning in the case of led |
| 1997 | 68.4% | a lamp missing, inoperative or in the case of a multiple light source more than 1/2 not functioning, a rear registration plate lamp or light source missing or inoperative in the case of multiple lamps or light sources |
Typical mileage
Half of all S40s tested had between 85,233 and 130,439 miles on the clock. A significant number are high-mileage vehicles.
At 105,994 median miles, the S40 has 0.03 failures per 10,000 miles driven.
Other Volvo models
| Volvo Xc60 | 82.7% |
| Volvo V40 | 79% |
| Volvo Xc90 | 78% |
| Volvo Xc40 | 91.2% |
| Volvo V70 | 72% |
Common questions
What is the Volvo S40 MOT pass rate?
The Volvo S40 has a 67.8% MOT pass rate based on 31,725 real MOT tests. This is below the national average.
What are common MOT failures on a Volvo S40?
The most common MOT failure on the Volvo S40 is a suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn, which caused 2,018 failures. Other common issues include a spring or spring component fractured or seriously weakened.
How many Volvo S40s are on UK roads?
There are 14,006 Volvo S40s currently licensed on UK roads, with 5,128 on SORN.
What is the typical mileage of a Volvo S40 at MOT?
The median mileage at MOT for a Volvo S40 is 105,994 miles. The middle 50% of vehicles tested have between 85,233 and 130,439 miles.
Buying a used S40?
Start with the free tools. Look up the specific vehicle's MOT history on GOV.UK The mileage at each test will show if it's been wound back, and the advisory history tells you what's wearing. Cross-reference that against the typical failures above to see if anything looks unusual for this model.
The free data won't tell you about outstanding finance, theft markers, or write-off history. For that, you need a vehicle history check This is especially important on a private sale where you have fewer legal protections.
With a 67.8% pass rate and an average repair bill of £112 when things go wrong, budget accordingly.
Some links are to services we may earn from. Disclosure.
MOT data from DVSA anonymised test results, 2024 test year. Fleet data from DfT vehicle licensing statistics. Crown copyright, OGL v3.0. MOT pass rates are statistical summaries of test outcomes, not assessments of individual vehicle safety or condition. Always inspect a vehicle and check its full MOT history before purchasing. See terms of use.