MOT performance
Volvo V40 vs Nissan Leaf: MOT pass rates compared
In 2023–2024, 73.1% of 199,307 Volvo V40 MOT tests and 80.9% of 81,819 Nissan Leaf tests passed first time — 7.8 points in favour of the Nissan Leaf. Once age, mileage and fuel are allowed for, the two fail about as often as each other (1.08× and 1.13× the national rate for comparable cars).
199,307 Volvo V40 and 81,819 Nissan Leaf MOT tests, 2023–2024
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| Figure | Value | Basis |
|---|---|---|
| Volvo V40: first-time pass rate | 73.1% | ±0.2 pts (95%), n = 199,307 |
| Nissan Leaf: first-time pass rate | 80.9% | ±0.3 pts (95%), n = 81,819 |
| Volvo V40: failures vs similar cars | +8% | same age, mileage and fuel = 1.00 |
| Nissan Leaf: failures vs similar cars | +13% | same age, mileage and fuel = 1.00 |
| Volvo V40: dangerous defect | 8.9% | n = 199,307 |
| Nissan Leaf: dangerous defect | 6.0% | n = 81,819 |
| Average age at test | 7.7 vs 5.3 years | Volvo V40 vs Nissan Leaf |
Why the raw pass rates can mislead
The Volvo V40 was tested at an older average age (7.7 years against 5.3), and older cars fail more often whatever they are. That is why the table above also shows failures against cars of the same age, mileage and fuel: it compares the models, not their fleets. Here the adjustment reverses the raw result: the Volvo V40 has the lower pass rate but fails less often than comparable cars.
Failure areas side by side
Share of MOT tests that failed on each area, and in brackets how that compares with cars of the same age, mileage and fuel (1.00 = national average). The clearest difference is noise, emissions and leaks, where the Volvo V40 fails 13.4 times as often on an adjusted basis.
| Area | Volvo V40 | Nissan Leaf |
|---|---|---|
| Brakes | 5.5% (+1%) | 4.1% (+67%) |
| Steering | 0.6% (-61%) | 0.9% (+91%) |
| Suspension | 9.3% (+41%) | 6.1% (+58%) |
| Tyres | 8.1% (+24%) | 6.5% (Same) |
| Road wheels | 0.3% (-11%) | 0.3% (+35%) |
| Lights, reflectors and electrical | 6.5% (-20%) | 3.3% (-19%) |
| Body, chassis and structure | 2.2% (-1%) | 0.3% (-29%) |
| Driver's view of the road | 2.7% (-31%) | 3.7% (+11%) |
| Noise, emissions and leaks | 2.6% (+18%) | 0.0% (-91%) |
| Seat belts and airbags | 0.6% (-17%) | 0.3% (+20%) |
| Registration plates and VIN | 0.2% (-26%) | 0.1% (-34%) |
Pass rate at the same age
Comparing cars of the same age removes most of the fleet-age effect from the raw rates.
| Age at test | Volvo V40 | Nissan Leaf |
|---|---|---|
| 3-4 years | 83.7% (n = 23,394) | 88.7% (n = 24,268) |
| 5-6 years | 78.6% (n = 50,708) | 82.3% (n = 17,926) |
| 7-8 years | 72.1% (n = 60,671) | 71.2% (n = 16,193) |
| 9-10 years | 68.5% (n = 49,219) | 62.6% (n = 8,431) |
| 11-12 years | 65.3% (n = 7,391) | 64.1% (n = 1,886) |
Most common failure item
- Volvo V40 · coil spring: fractured or broken (6.88% of tests)
- Nissan Leaf · ball joint: ball joint excessively worn (3.76% of tests)
MOT results reflect how cars are maintained as well as how they are built, so a gap between two models is a difference in test performance, not proof that one is more reliable. For one car, its own MOT history says more than any average.
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About this data. These are MOT test results, not a measure of mechanical reliability: a car's MOT outcome reflects its condition on the day, which depends on how it has been maintained and driven as well as how it was built. Figures cover class 4 vehicles (cars and light vans), normal tests only (retests excluded), outcomes pass, fail and pass after rectification at the station; vehicles at least 2.5 years old at test. Tests from 2023-01-01 to 2024-12-30. “Compared with similar cars” means compared with the national rate for cars of the same age, mileage band and fuel. Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. Makes and models are matched to 73 Auto's vehicle catalogue; tests that can't be matched are left out rather than guessed. See how the MOT figures are produced.