Volvo V40
From 140,680 MOT tests. Above average for its class.
Common MOT failure categories
Pass rate by registration year
Newer V40s fare better: 2019 models pass at 86% vs 60.3% for 1999.
What goes wrong?
The most common MOT failure reasons are a spring or spring component fractured or seriously weakened, a tyre seriously damaged and tyre tread depth not in accordance with the requirements. The top issue, a spring or spring component fractured or seriously weakened, caused 5,649 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 spring or spring component fractured or seriously weakened | 5,649 |
| a tyre seriously damaged | 3,141 |
| tyre tread depth not in accordance with the requirements | 2,944 |
| a tyre cords visible or damaged | 2,746 |
| a brake lining or pad worn below 1.5mm | 2,583 |
| a transmission shaft constant velocity joint boot missing or no longer prevents the ingress of dirt etc | 1,639 |
| a suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn | 1,561 |
| a lamp missing, inoperative or in the case of a multiple light source more than 1/2 not functioning | 1,363 |
| the aim of a headlamp is not within limits laid down in the requirements | 1,357 |
| wiper blade missing or obviously not clearing the windscreen | 1,158 |
How serious are these failures?
Not all MOT failures are equal. 30.2% of V40 failures could actually strand you: fractured springs, engine faults, exhaust problems. Another 41.6% are safety issues where the car still drives but shouldn't, such as worn brakes, corroded brake pipes, and steering wear. Breakdown cover may be worth considering for this model. When it does fail, the average repair bill is around £130.
Volvo V40 on UK roads
The fleet is shrinking: 1,719 scrapped or exported in the past year with only 164 newly registered, a net loss of 1,555. At this rate, roughly 62 years until none remain. Now at 89% of its peak (108,323 in 2019 Q3).
Quarterly breakdown
| Quarter | On road | SORN | New | Gone | Net |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 Q3 | 92,190 | 4,267 | +68 | -360 | -292 |
| 2025 Q2 | 92,603 | 4,146 | +43 | -543 | -500 |
| 2025 Q1 | 93,112 | 4,137 | +35 | -529 | -494 |
| 2024 Q4 | 93,661 | 4,082 | +18 | -287 | -269 |
| 2024 Q3 | 93,965 | 4,047 | +21 | -533 | -512 |
| 2024 Q2 | 94,469 | 4,055 | +23 | -432 | -409 |
| 2024 Q1 | 94,874 | 4,059 | +19 | -449 | -430 |
| 2023 Q4 | 95,399 | 3,964 | +9 | -138 | -129 |
20 variants on the road
| Variant | Fuel | Licensed | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| V40 R-Design D2 | Diesel | 7,137 | 16% |
| V40 R-Design T2 | Petrol | 4,678 | 11% |
| V40 Cross Country Lux D2 Auto | Diesel | 3,809 | 9% |
| V40 Se D2 | Diesel | 3,060 | 7% |
| V40 Cross Country Lux D2 | Diesel | 2,358 | 5% |
| V40 R-Design Nav + T2 | Petrol | 2,257 | 5% |
| V40 Cross Country Pro T3 Auto | Petrol | 2,177 | 5% |
| V40 Es D2 | Diesel | 1,786 | 4% |
| V40 Momentum T2 | Petrol | 1,775 | 4% |
| V40 Se Lux Nav D2 | Diesel | 1,739 | 4% |
| V40 R-Design Nav D2 | Diesel | 1,658 | 4% |
| V40 Momentum Nav + T2 | Petrol | 1,572 | 4% |
| V40 R-Design Edition T2 | Petrol | 1,561 | 4% |
| V40 Inscription T3 Auto | Petrol | 1,455 | 3% |
| V40 Se Lux Nav D3 | Diesel | 1,303 | 3% |
| V40 Cross Country Lux Nav D2 | Diesel | 1,245 | 3% |
| V40 R-Design D4 | Diesel | 1,214 | 3% |
| V40 R-Design Nav + D2 | Diesel | 1,173 | 3% |
| V40 Se Lux D2 | Diesel | 1,166 | 3% |
| V40 Se Nav D2 | Diesel | 1,048 | 2% |
Source: DfT vehicle licensing statistics, 2025 Q3. Crown copyright, OGL v3.0.
By registration year
| Year | Pass rate | Top failures |
|---|---|---|
| 2019 | 86% | a tyre seriously damaged, a spring or spring component fractured or seriously weakened |
| 2018 | 83.8% | a spring or spring component fractured or seriously weakened, a tyre seriously damaged |
| 2017 | 82.6% | a spring or spring component fractured or seriously weakened, a tyre seriously damaged |
| 2016 | 80% | a spring or spring component fractured or seriously weakened, tyre tread depth not in accordance with the requirements |
12 earlier years
| 2015 | 77.4% | a spring or spring component fractured or seriously weakened, tyre tread depth not in accordance with the requirements |
| 2014 | 76.6% | a spring or spring component fractured or seriously weakened, tyre tread depth not in accordance with the requirements |
| 2013 | 76% | a spring or spring component fractured or seriously weakened, a tyre cords visible or damaged |
| 2012 | 73.7% | lamp emitted colour, position or intensity not in accordance with the requirements, a spring or spring component fractured or seriously weakened |
| 2004 | 61.4% | a lamp missing, inoperative or in the case of a multiple light source more than 1/2 not functioning, a suspension joint dust cover missing or no longer prevents the ingress of dirt etc |
| 2003 | 61% | 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 |
| 2002 | 59.9% | a suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn, a suspension joint dust cover missing or no longer prevents the ingress of dirt etc |
| 2001 | 64.5% | a suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn, a suspension joint dust cover missing or no longer prevents the ingress of dirt etc |
| 2000 | 62% | a suspension joint dust cover missing or no longer prevents the ingress of dirt etc, steering rack gaiter or ball joint dust cover missing or no longer prevents the ingress of dirt etc |
| 1999 | 60.3% | the aim of a headlamp is not within limits laid down in the requirements, a suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn |
| 1998 | 64.1% | 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 |
| 1997 | 64.7% | a lamp missing, inoperative or in the case of a multiple light source more than 1/2 not functioning, 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 |
Typical mileage
Half of all V40s tested had between 40,009 and 90,652 miles on the clock.
At 61,956 median miles, the V40 has 0.034 failures per 10,000 miles driven.
Other Volvo models
| Volvo Xc60 | 82.7% |
| Volvo Xc90 | 78% |
| Volvo Xc40 | 91.2% |
| Volvo V70 | 72% |
| Volvo V50 | 67.4% |
Common questions
What is the Volvo V40 MOT pass rate?
The Volvo V40 has a 79% MOT pass rate based on 140,680 real MOT tests. This is above the national average.
What are common MOT failures on a Volvo V40?
The most common MOT failure on the Volvo V40 is a spring or spring component fractured or seriously weakened, which caused 5,649 failures. Other common issues include a tyre seriously damaged.
How many Volvo V40s are on UK roads?
There are 92,190 Volvo V40s currently licensed on UK roads, with 4,267 on SORN.
What is the typical mileage of a Volvo V40 at MOT?
The median mileage at MOT for a Volvo V40 is 61,956 miles. The middle 50% of vehicles tested have between 40,009 and 90,652 miles.
Buying a used V40?
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 79% pass rate and an average repair bill of £130 when things go wrong, budget accordingly. 30.2% of failures on this model could actually strand you, so breakdown cover may be worth considering.
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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.