Volvo S 40 MOT Check

MOT pass rates, common failures, and reliability data for the Volvo S 40. Check any S 40 by registration number below.

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92.5%

Avg Pass Rate

+4.8%

vs Volvo Avg

Year Ranges

Excellent

Reliability

Volvo S 40 — MOT Reliability Overview

The Volvo S 40 has an average MOT pass rate of 92.5%, which is 4.8 percentage points above the Volvo brand average of 87.7%. This is a strong result, indicating that the S 40 is well-engineered and tends to age well mechanically. Owners can expect fewer surprises at MOT time.

Typical mileage for the S 40 is around 97,096 miles at 5 years. When evaluating a used S 40, compare the odometer reading against these benchmarks. Significantly lower mileage than expected could indicate a clocked vehicle — run a free mileage check to verify.

Before buying a used Volvo S 40, we recommend checking the full MOT history, write-off status, outstanding finance, and stolen vehicle status. These checks can be done for free using the registration number.

MOT Pass Rate by Year

How the Volvo S 40 performs at MOT across different model years.

2011

Based on 96 vehicles

96.9%Excellent

Volvo average: 87.7%

2010

Based on 172 vehicles

95.3%Excellent

Volvo average: 87.7%

2009

Based on 330 vehicles

95.2%Excellent

Volvo average: 87.7%

Mileage at 3yr

56k mi

Mileage at 5yr

97k mi

Mileage at 10yr

154k mi

2008

Based on 417 vehicles

94.0%Excellent

Volvo average: 87.7%

Mileage at 3yr

71k mi

Mileage at 5yr

98k mi

Mileage at 10yr

163k mi

2007

Based on 596 vehicles

96.0%Excellent

Volvo average: 87.7%

Mileage at 3yr

52k mi

Mileage at 5yr

95k mi

Mileage at 10yr

155k mi

2006

Based on 601 vehicles

97.0%Excellent

Volvo average: 87.7%

Mileage at 5yr

82k mi

Mileage at 10yr

158k mi

2005

Based on 926 vehicles

92.5%Excellent

Volvo average: 87.7%

Mileage at 5yr

99k mi

Mileage at 10yr

163k mi

2004

Based on 1,142 vehicles

94.1%Excellent

Volvo average: 87.7%

Mileage at 5yr

116k mi

Mileage at 10yr

161k mi

2003

Based on 404 vehicles

90.6%Excellent

Volvo average: 87.7%

Mileage at 10yr

154k mi

2002

Based on 508 vehicles

89.4%Excellent

Volvo average: 87.7%

Mileage at 10yr

182k mi

2001

Based on 695 vehicles

91.4%Excellent

Volvo average: 87.7%

Mileage at 10yr

168k mi

2000

Based on 1,097 vehicles

92.4%Excellent

Volvo average: 87.7%

Mileage at 10yr

174k mi

1999

Based on 600 vehicles

90.0%Excellent

Volvo average: 87.7%

Mileage at 10yr

161k mi

1998

Based on 657 vehicles

87.5%Excellent

Volvo average: 87.7%

Mileage at 10yr

183k mi

1997

Based on 709 vehicles

88.6%Excellent

Volvo average: 87.7%

1996

Based on 470 vehicles

89.1%Excellent

Volvo average: 87.7%

1995

Based on 56 vehicles

92.9%Excellent

Volvo average: 87.7%

Typical Mileage — Volvo S 40

Average mileage readings recorded at MOT tests for the 2009 model year range. Use these benchmarks to evaluate a used S 40.

At 3 Years

56,056

miles

At 5 Years

97,096

miles

At 10 Years

153,618

miles

Other Volvo Models

Compare MOT reliability across Volvo models.

Volvo V90 R-design T6 Recharge Awd A

80.8% pass rate

Volvo V60 Momentum + D3 Auto

86.8% pass rate

Volvo V60

82.5% pass rate

Volvo Xc60 Rdesign Pro B4 Mhev Awd A

92.4% pass rate

Volvo C30 1,6

91.8% pass rate

Volvo 850

92.4% pass rate

Useful MOT Guides

Common MOT Failures

The most common reasons UK vehicles fail their MOT — and how to prepare.

MOT Checklist

Pre-MOT checklist to improve your chances of passing first time.

Advisory vs Failure

Understanding the difference between MOT advisories and failures.

See detailed fault analysis for Volvo S 40

Volvo S 40 — Frequently Asked Questions

Common questions about the Volvo S 40 MOT and reliability.

What is the MOT pass rate for the Volvo S 40?

The average MOT pass rate for the Volvo S 40 is 92.5% compared to the Volvo average of 87.7%. Pass rates vary by year — check the year-by-year breakdown on this page for details.

What are the most common MOT failures on a Volvo S 40?

Check the detailed breakdown on this page for specific failure data by year range.

Is the Volvo S 40 reliable?

With an average MOT pass rate of 92.5%, the Volvo S 40 is rated as "Excellent" for reliability. This is a strong result suggesting good build quality and fewer common defects.

How do I check the MOT history of a Volvo S 40?

Enter the vehicle's registration number in the search box at the top of this page. You will instantly see the complete MOT history including every test result, mileage readings, advisories, and dangerous defects — completely free.

What mileage should I expect on a Volvo S 40?

Typical mileage for the Volvo S 40: 56,056 miles at 3 years, 97,096 miles at 5 years, 153,618 miles at 10 years. Use these benchmarks when evaluating a used S 40 to spot vehicles with unusually high or low mileage.

Check Your Volvo S 40's MOT History

Enter the registration number for the full MOT history — free and instant.