In 2025, 97,251 Volvo V40 cars had a regular MOT in Great Britain. 72% passed first time, compared with 74% for all cars of the same ages, which makes the V40 about average. Adjusted for age, it ranks 159 of the 217 most-tested car models.
That comparison matters: older cars fail more often, so a raw pass rate flatters models that are mostly young. We compare each model against every car on the road at the same age.
Pass rate by age
At 6 years old, 81% of V40s passed first time (all cars that age: 84%). By 13 years, that figure is 62% (all cars: 63%). It trails the average car at most ages, most noticeably at 10 years (4 points behind).
Volvo V40 All cars of that age
| Age | Tests | V40 passed first time | All cars | Typical mileage |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 6 years | 8,200 | 81% | 84% | 44,444 |
| 7 years | 12,950 | 79% | 81% | 53,440 |
| 8 years | 13,520 | 78% | 78% | 64,290 |
| 9 years | 15,331 | 73% | 75% | 74,180 |
| 10 years | 15,375 | 68% | 72% | 85,653 |
| 11 years | 15,865 | 67% | 69% | 94,832 |
| 12 years | 11,045 | 66% | 66% | 105,621 |
| 13 years | 2,251 | 62% | 63% | 112,164 |
What fails most on a Volvo V40
The area that lets the V40 down most, relative to other cars, is tyres: 10.9% of tests failed on it, 1.3 times the rate for the average car. It does comparatively well on steering and visibility.
Share of V40 tests failing on this area Average car
The six most common failure items
| Failure item | Area | Share of tests |
|---|---|---|
| A spring or spring component fractured or seriously weakened | Suspension | 7.2% |
| The aim of a headlamp is not within limits laid down in the requirements | Lights and electrics | 3.4% |
| Tyre tread depth not in accordance with the requirements | Tyres | 3.4% |
| A tyre seriously damaged | Tyres | 3.3% |
| A tyre cords visible or damaged | Tyres | 3.2% |
| A brake lining or pad worn below 1.5mm | Brakes | 2.9% |
What to check when buying a used V40
Based on where the V40 fails more often than other cars, these are the checks worth making before you buy:
- Tyres: Check tread across the whole width (uneven wear hints at alignment or suspension faults), and look for cuts, bulges and mismatched brands. Repair guide
- Brakes: Look through the wheels for lipped or scored discs, check the handbrake holds on a slope, and feel for pulling or vibration under firm braking. Repair guide
- Suspension: Listen for knocks over speed bumps, look for leaking shock absorbers, and check the car sits level. Ask whether springs, bushes or drop links have been replaced. Repair guide
Then check the individual car: its own MOT history will show whether it follows the pattern. A car with repeated advisories in the same weak area is more likely to fail its next test.
Check a specific V40
Enter the registration to see its full MOT history, mileage record and reliability score, compared with these figures.
Check a V40Frequently asked questions
What is the MOT pass rate for a Volvo V40?
In 2025, 72% of Volvo V40 cars passed their MOT first time, across 97,251 tests. Cars of the same ages averaged 74%.
What do Volvo V40 cars most often fail their MOT on?
The most common failure items were: a spring or spring component fractured or seriously weakened (7.2% of tests); the aim of a headlamp is not within limits laid down in the requirements (3.4% of tests); tyre tread depth not in accordance with the requirements (3.4% of tests).
Other Volvo models
Volvo XC60 (77%), Volvo XC90 (72%), Volvo XC40 (89%), Volvo V70 (64%), Volvo V60 (75%), Volvo V50 (55%). All Volvo models
Source: DVSA anonymised MOT tests and results, 2025 (class 4 normal tests; first-time pass means passed with no faults fixed at the test). Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0.