Volvo S40: what fails at MOT
22,000 MOT tests on the Volvo S40 in 2024, counted. 41.7% failed at the first attempt.
The short answer
41.7% of Volvo S40 tests failed at the first attempt. Cars of the same ages averaged 40%, so the S40 is about average for its age.
It fails most often on suspension (13% of tests), lights and electrics (12.9% of tests) and brakes (7.4% of tests).
By year of registration
Older cars fail more, whatever the model. So each year is shown beside the figure for all cars first used that year.
| First used | Tests | Failed first time | All cars that year | Typical mileage |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2012 | 1,656 | 36.1% | 33.4% | 98,600 70,900 to 123,500 |
| 2011 | 1,979 | 39.7% | 36.1% | 107,300 82,600 to 134,300 |
| 2010 | 2,709 | 42.5% | 38.6% | 107,900 83,900 to 133,700 |
| 2009 | 3,277 | 40.1% | 39.8% | 106,900 79,800 to 133,700 |
| 2008 | 3,899 | 42.5% | 41.5% | 112,500 88,300 to 138,800 |
| 2007 | 2,461 | 41.0% | 41.5% | 117,500 92,400 to 144,300 |
| 2006 | 2,387 | 40.2% | 42.4% | 118,700 87,600 to 149,100 |
| 2005 | 1,933 | 47.1% | 42.2% | 115,200 85,900 to 142,800 |
| 2004 | 1,414 | 47.3% | 42.3% | 104,100 76,900 to 133,700 |
Green is at least three points better than other cars that year, red at least three points worse. Typical mileage is the middle reading at the test, with the range the middle half of cars fell in.
Where it fails
The share of Volvo S40 tests with at least one failure in each part of the MOT, beside what cars of the same ages average.
| Part of the test | S40 | Cars its age | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Suspension | 13.0% | 10.9% | |
| Lights and electrics | 12.9% | 13.0% | |
| Brakes | 7.4% | 7.6% | |
| Tyres | 6.1% | 4.9% | |
| Body and structure | 5.3% | 4.7% | |
| Wipers, washers and windscreen | 3.9% | 4.4% | |
| Exhaust and emissions | 3.6% | 3.9% | |
| Steering | 3.0% | 2.3% |
The parts that fail most
- Tyre4.6%
- Side light4.2%
- Coil spring3.7%
- Headlamp aim3.6%
- Driveshaft joint3.3%
- Suspension pins and bushes3.1%
- Headlamp2.6%
- Brake test2.3%
- Washers2.2%
- Number plate light2.2%
Share of tests with a failure on that part.
The most common failures
- Side light: not working4.1%
- Coil spring: fractured or broken3.6%
- Driveshaft joint: constant velocity boot split or insecure, no longer prevents the ingress of dirt3.2%
- Suspension pins and bushes: pin or bush excessively worn3.1%
- Tyre: has ply or cords exposed2.2%
- Tyre tread: below requirements of 1.6mm2.0%
- Ball joint: excessively worn1.9%
- Number plate light: inoperative in the case of a single lamp or all lamps1.9%
- Brake test: efficiency below requirements1.8%
- Brake pads: less than 1.5 mm thick1.8%
What testers warn about
Advisories are things that passed this time but are wearing. They are the best guide to next year's bills.
- Tyre tread: worn close to legal limit/worn on edge16.8%
- Suspension pins and bushes: pin or bush worn but not resulting in excessive movement8.6%
- Brake discs: worn, pitted or scored, but not seriously weakened8.0%
- Brake pads: wearing thin6.4%
- Tyre: slightly damaged/cracking or perishing6.0%
- Engine oil: leak, but not excessive5.4%
- Coil spring: corroded4.9%
- Number plates: deteriorated but not likely to be misread3.3%
What these figures can't tell you
An MOT is a safety and emissions test. These figures show how often the model fails that test. They say nothing about engines, gearboxes or electronics that break between tests, and how a car has been looked after matters more than its badge. The car you are looking at has its own MOT record, and that is the one to read.
Ask before you travel
- “Have any suspension parts been replaced, such as springs, ball joints or bushes, and can I see the invoice?”
- “Do all the lights work, including the number plate lights and brake lights?”
- “When were the brake pads and discs last changed?”
- “How much tread is left on each tyre, and how old are they?”
Check a Volvo S40's own MOT record
Type the registration from the advert. You'll see every test that car has had, what it failed on and what it was warned about, free.
Where this comes from
DVSA anonymised MOT tests and results, 2024, published by the Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency. Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. The counting is Hindsight's own.
First-attempt MOT tests of cars first used 2004 to 2021. A test counts as failed if it failed or only passed after a repair during the test. Retests are left out. Built on 13 November 2026.