Volvo V40 Reliability: Common Problems and Years to Avoid
What the Volvo V40 fails its MOT on, with rough repair costs, and how each model year's MOT pass rate compares with other cars of the same age. Based on 177,228 MOT tests across 16 model years (DVSA data for tests carried out in 2024, retests included).
Segment: premium | Fuel: Petrol, Diesel, LPG
81%
Volvo V40 pass rate
87%
Volvo average
82%
All-model average
The Volvo V40 has an average MOT pass rate of 81%, which is 6 points below the Volvo average and 1 point below the average across all models in our data. Newer Volvo V40s pass their MOT more often than older ones, by 14 percentage points on average, which is mostly down to age and wear.
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What the Volvo V40 Fails Its MOT On
Of the 27,595 MOT tests on the Volvo V40 that failed at the first attempt in 2025, the share that failed on each part of the test, next to the share for all cars and vans of the same ages. A test that failed on two areas counts in both.
Suspension
35%Cars and vans the same age: 30% · Typical repair £150-£600
Tyres
29%Cars and vans the same age: 24% · Typical repair £50-£300
Lights and electrics
24%Cars and vans the same age: 33% (the V40 fails on this less often) · Typical repair £15-£200
Brakes
23%Cars and vans the same age: 21% · Typical repair £80-£450
Body, chassis and structure
11%Cars and vans the same age: 9.2% · Typical repair £200-£1200
The 3 single faults it failed on most
- Coil spring: fractured or broken (23% of failed tests, suspension)
- Tyre has ply or cords exposed (8.8% of failed tests, tyres)
- Brake pads: less than 1.5 mm thick (8.7% of failed tests, brakes)
Source: CarCostCheck analysis of DVSA anonymised MOT test results and failure items for 2025: first attempt at each MOT, fail and pass-after-repair defects, DVSA's defect categories (names shortened). Repair costs are rough UK ranges, not quotes. Method and national figures: MOT failure reasons 2025.
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Volvo V40 Years to Avoid
Every car in the 2024 MOT data was tested at the same age as the other cars first registered that year, so each V40 year is compared with all cars from the same year. Years with 1,000+ tests that were at least three years old are included.
Failed more often than cars their age
Passed more often than cars their age
No year passed 3 or more points more often than other cars of the same age.
A lower pass rate means that year failed its MOT more often in 2024; it does not mean every car from that year is bad. Old cars still on the road are often the best-kept ones, which can lift the pass rates of the oldest years. How a car has been looked after matters more, so check the MOT history of the car you are looking at.
Volvo V40 Reliability by Year
MOT pass rate for each model year, from DVSA data for tests carried out in 2024 (retests included). Newer cars usually pass more often simply because they are younger. All Cars is the pass rate of every car first registered that year, with the gap in points. Highest and lowest are marked among years with 100+ tests that were at least three years old when tested. Fuel and engine size are a guide only.
| Year | Fuel | Engine | Pass Rate | Fail Rate | All Cars |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2019 | Petrol | 1.5L | 88% | 12% | 91% (-3) |
| 2018 | Petrol | 1.5L | 85% | 14% | 89% (-4) |
| 2017 | Petrol | 1.5L | 84% | 16% | 87% (-3) |
| 2016 | Petrol | 1.5L | 82% | 17% | 86% (-4) |
| 2015 | Diesel | 2.0L | 80% | 20% | 84% (-4) |
| 2014 | Diesel | 2.0L | 80% | 20% | 82% (-2) |
| 2013 | Diesel | 2.0L | 80% | 20% | 80% (0) |
| 2012 | Diesel | 2.0L | 76% | 23% | 79% (-3) |
| 2004 | LPG | 1.9L | 66% | 33% | 72% (-6) |
| 2003 | Petrol | 1.8L | 66% | 33% | 72% (-6) |
| 2002 | Petrol | 1.9L | 68% | 31% | 73% (-5) |
| 2001 | Petrol | 1.9L | 70% | 28% | - |
| 2000 | Petrol | 1.9L | 66% | 32% | - |
| 1999 | Petrol | 1.9L | 67% | 33% | - |
| 1998 | Petrol | 1.8L | 67% | 31% | - |
| 1997 | Petrol | 1.7L | 70% | 30% | - |
Volvo V40 Running Costs
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Volvo V40 FAQ
What are the most common Volvo V40 problems?
In 2025, MOT tests on the Volvo V40 that failed at the first attempt most often failed on suspension (35% of the 27,595 failed tests), tyres (29%) and lights and electrics (24%). The single most common fault was "Coil spring: fractured or broken" (23%). Across 177,228 MOT tests (DVSA MOT data for tests in 2024, retests included), 81% ended in a pass.
Is the Volvo V40 reliable?
The Volvo V40 has an average MOT pass rate of 81%, from 177,228 MOT tests (DVSA MOT data for tests in 2024, retests included). Comparing each model year with all cars first registered the same year, so that age is allowed for, it passed 3 points less often on average, so check the history of any example carefully.
Which Volvo V40 years should I avoid?
Compared with all cars first registered the same year (DVSA MOT data for tests in 2024, retests included), the 2003 (66% of 1,843 tests passed, against 72% for all 2003 cars), the 2004 (66% of 1,585 tests passed, against 72% for all 2004 cars) and the 2002 (68% of 1,201 tests passed, against 73% for all 2002 cars) failed their MOT most often for their age. A year's pass rate does not tell you about one car, so check the MOT history of the car you are buying.
How much does it cost to fix common Volvo V40 faults?
As a rough guide, brake work on a Volvo V40 typically costs £80-£450 and suspension repairs £150-£600, while exhaust and emissions fixes can cost £80-£800. Lighting and wiper fixes are usually under £200.
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Other Volvo Models
Common problems pages for other Volvo models