Volvo S40 reliability and MOT data

Time Period & Model

Time period snapshot: Last 5 years

Manufacturer: Volvo

Model: S40

Model reliability rank
45
MOT-based rank from 140,533 selected-period tests.
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Overall MOT pass rate
69.1%
Share of this model's 140,533 selected-period MOT tests that pass.
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Efficiency, emissions & tax
Average MPG
-
CO2 emission
-
Euro emissions
-
Tax cost
£370/yr
Average vehicle miles
119,690
Solid average mileage for this model.
Life expectancy miles
119,690
Moderate mature-fleet mileage expectation.
Average vehicle age
17.3
Older average age in the represented fleet.
Market share
0.03%
0.03% share within the active represented vehicle pool.
Vehicles represented
13,388
13,388 valid MOT, 0 under 3 years.
Tests analysed
140,533
140,533 MOT tests in the selected period.
Rarity ranking
Based on Make & Model
Scarce
13,388On the road
Insight summary

Volvo S40 is a scarce model in this snapshot, with 13,388 represented vehicles and 0.03% of the active UK pool tracked by AutoRank. For the last 5 years, it has a pass rate of 69.1% from 140,533 MOT tests, with a reliability score of 45. The current pool shows an average of 119,690 miles and an average age of 17.3 years, while mature-fleet mileage is estimated at 119,690 miles. Petrol leads the fuel split, followed by diesel, and the most frequent defect themes are lighting, parking brake and windscreen damage. The practical read is that the Volvo S40 looks like a solid used-car baseline rather than a rare find, with age, mileage and common wear items doing most of the explaining.

Fuel type breakdown (by model)
FuelVehicles
PETROL7,147
DIESEL6,232
LPG5
OTHER4
PETROL53.4%7,147 vehicles
Euro NCAP Safety
No NCAP tests found for this model.
Top 25 most common defects (by model)
DefectCount
Nearside Front Position lamp not working (4.2.1 (a) (ii))3,289
Parking brake efficiency below requirements (1.4.2 (a) (i))2,771
Windscreen damaged but not adversely affecting driver's view (3.2 (a) (i))2,533
Offside Front Coil spring fractured or broken (5.3.1 (b) (i))2,445
Offside Registration plate lamp inoperative in the case of multiple lamps or light sources (4.7.1 (b) (i))2,340
Nearside Front Coil spring fractured or broken (5.3.1 (b) (i))2,091
Offside Front Position lamp not working (4.2.1 (a) (ii))1,998
Nearside Registration plate lamp inoperative in the case of multiple lamps or light sources (4.7.1 (b) (i))1,981
Offside Rear Registration plate lamp inoperative in the case of multiple lamps or light sources (4.7.1 (b) (i))1,628
Engine MIL inoperative or indicates a malfunction (8.2.1.2 (h))1,616
Nearside Rear Registration plate lamp inoperative in the case of multiple lamps or light sources (4.7.1 (b) (i))1,421
Nearside Front Inner Drive shaft joint constant velocity boot severely deteriorated (6.1.7 (g) (i))1,400
Offside Front Inner Drive shaft joint constant velocity boot severely deteriorated (6.1.7 (g) (i))1,345
Registration plate lamp inoperative in the case of a single lamp or all lamps (4.7.1 (b) (ii))1,295
Nearside Rear Direction indicator incorrect colour (4.4.3 (a))1,250
Offside Rear Direction indicator incorrect colour (4.4.3 (a))1,220
Nearside Front Tyre tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm (5.2.3 (e))1,155
Offside Front Tyre has ply or cords exposed (5.2.3 (d) (ii))1,068
Offside Rear Coil spring fractured or broken (5.3.1 (b) (i))1,065
Offside Front Outer Drive shaft joint constant velocity boot severely deteriorated (6.1.7 (g) (i))1,029
Offside Front Tyre tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm (5.2.3 (e))1,026
Nearside Rear Position lamp with a multiple light source up to 1/2 not functioning (4.2.1 (a) (i))1,009
Supplementary restraint system warning lamp indicates a fault (7.1.6 (a))999
Registration plate lamp inoperative in the case of multiple lamps or light sources (4.7.1 (b) (i))994
Windscreen washer provides insufficient washer liquid (3.5 (a))977
All 25 defects ranked by recorded countShowing 39,945 defects across this top 25 set
01
Nearside Front Position lamp not working (4.2.1 (a) (ii))
8.2% of displayed top 25
3,289
02
Parking brake efficiency below requirements (1.4.2 (a) (i))
6.9% of displayed top 25
2,771
03
Windscreen damaged but not adversely affecting driver's view (3.2 (a) (i))
6.3% of displayed top 25
2,533
04
Offside Front Coil spring fractured or broken (5.3.1 (b) (i))
6.1% of displayed top 25
2,445
05
Offside Registration plate lamp inoperative in the case of multiple lamps or light sources (4.7.1 (b) (i))
5.9% of displayed top 25
2,340
06
Nearside Front Coil spring fractured or broken (5.3.1 (b) (i))
5.2% of displayed top 25
2,091
07
Offside Front Position lamp not working (4.2.1 (a) (ii))
5.0% of displayed top 25
1,998
08
Nearside Registration plate lamp inoperative in the case of multiple lamps or light sources (4.7.1 (b) (i))
5.0% of displayed top 25
1,981
09
Offside Rear Registration plate lamp inoperative in the case of multiple lamps or light sources (4.7.1 (b) (i))
4.1% of displayed top 25
1,628
10
Engine MIL inoperative or indicates a malfunction (8.2.1.2 (h))
4.0% of displayed top 25
1,616
11
Nearside Rear Registration plate lamp inoperative in the case of multiple lamps or light sources (4.7.1 (b) (i))
3.6% of displayed top 25
1,421
12
Nearside Front Inner Drive shaft joint constant velocity boot severely deteriorated (6.1.7 (g) (i))
3.5% of displayed top 25
1,400
13
Offside Front Inner Drive shaft joint constant velocity boot severely deteriorated (6.1.7 (g) (i))
3.4% of displayed top 25
1,345
14
Registration plate lamp inoperative in the case of a single lamp or all lamps (4.7.1 (b) (ii))
3.2% of displayed top 25
1,295
15
Nearside Rear Direction indicator incorrect colour (4.4.3 (a))
3.1% of displayed top 25
1,250
16
Offside Rear Direction indicator incorrect colour (4.4.3 (a))
3.1% of displayed top 25
1,220
17
Nearside Front Tyre tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm (5.2.3 (e))
2.9% of displayed top 25
1,155
18
Offside Front Tyre has ply or cords exposed (5.2.3 (d) (ii))
2.7% of displayed top 25
1,068
19
Offside Rear Coil spring fractured or broken (5.3.1 (b) (i))
2.7% of displayed top 25
1,065
20
Offside Front Outer Drive shaft joint constant velocity boot severely deteriorated (6.1.7 (g) (i))
2.6% of displayed top 25
1,029
21
Offside Front Tyre tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm (5.2.3 (e))
2.6% of displayed top 25
1,026
22
Nearside Rear Position lamp with a multiple light source up to 1/2 not functioning (4.2.1 (a) (i))
2.5% of displayed top 25
1,009
23
Supplementary restraint system warning lamp indicates a fault (7.1.6 (a))
2.5% of displayed top 25
999
24
Registration plate lamp inoperative in the case of multiple lamps or light sources (4.7.1 (b) (i))
2.5% of displayed top 25
994
25
Windscreen washer provides insufficient washer liquid (3.5 (a))
2.4% of displayed top 25
977