MOT performance
Volvo V40 diesel: MOT pass rate and common failures
Of 126,133 MOT tests on diesel Volvo V40s in 2023–2024 (on average 8.1 years old at test, median 76,192 miles), 70.9% passed first time, against 76.9% of 73,174 petrol Volvo V40 tests. Allowing for age, mileage and fuel, diesel Volvo V40s failed 7% more often than comparable cars — 1.07× against 1.08× for the Volvo V40 as a whole.
126,133 MOT tests on 62,583 vehicles, 2023–2024 · Source: DVSA (Open Government Licence) · Analysis: 73 Auto
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| Figure | Value | Basis |
|---|---|---|
| First-time pass rate | 70.9% | ±0.3 pts (95%), n = 126,133 |
| All Volvo V40s | 73.1% | n = 199,307 |
| Failures vs similar cars | 1.07× | same age, mileage and fuel = 1.00; Volvo V40 overall 1.08× |
| Tests with a dangerous defect | 9.4% | n = 126,133 |
| Average age at test | 8.1 years | n = 126,133 |
| Registration years covered | 1997–2021 | DVSA first-use date |
Diesel against the other Volvo V40 fuels
Official DVSA test results by fuel, with 73 Auto's adjusted ratio (failures against cars of the same age, mileage and fuel). The diesel cars were tested 1.2 years older on average than the petrol ones, so the raw pass rates partly reflect age; the adjusted column doesn't.
| Fuel | Tests | Average age | First-time pass | vs similar cars | Dangerous |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Diesel | 126,133 | 8.1 yrs | 70.9% | +7% | 9.4% |
| Petrol | 73,174 | 6.9 yrs | 76.9% | +12% | 8.1% |
Where diesel Volvo V40s differ
- Steering: diesel Volvo V40s failed 38% less often than the Volvo V40 overall, relative to comparable cars (0.24× vs 0.39×).
- Noise, emissions and leaks: diesel Volvo V40s failed 23% more often than the Volvo V40 overall, relative to comparable cars (1.45× vs 1.18×).
| Area | Diesel (vs similar) | All Volvo V40s (vs similar) |
|---|---|---|
| Suspension | 9.9% (+27%) | 9.3% (+41%) |
| Tyres | 8.3% (+18%) | 8.1% (+24%) |
| Lights, reflectors and electrical | 7.4% (-20%) | 6.5% (-20%) |
| Brakes | 6.1% (-1%) | 5.5% (+1%) |
| Noise, emissions and leaks | 3.5% (+45%) | 2.6% (+18%) |
| Driver's view of the road | 2.8% (-30%) | 2.7% (-31%) |
| Body, chassis and structure | 2.4% (-9%) | 2.2% (-1%) |
| Seat belts and airbags | 0.6% (-25%) | 0.6% (-17%) |
| Steering | 0.4% (-76%) | 0.6% (-61%) |
| Road wheels | 0.4% (-12%) | 0.3% (-11%) |
| Registration plates and VIN | 0.2% (-31%) | 0.2% (-26%) |
Most common diesel Volvo V40 failure items
| Item | Area | Share of tests |
|---|---|---|
| Coil spring: fractured or broken | Suspension | 7.19% |
| Tread depth: tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm | Tyres | 2.81% |
| Condition: has ply or cords exposed | Tyres | 2.53% |
| Brake pads: less than 1.5 mm thick | Brakes | 2.50% |
| Position lamp: not working | Lights, reflectors and electrical | 2.12% |
Pass rate by age, by fuel
| Age at test (years) | diesel pass rate (tests) | petrol pass rate (tests) |
|---|---|---|
| 3-4 | 81.7% (5,334) | 84.3% (18,060) |
| 5-6 | 77.3% (20,698) | 79.4% (30,010) |
| 7-8 | 71.5% (45,384) | 74.2% (15,287) |
| 9-10 | 68.0% (45,902) | 74.7% (3,317) |
| 11-12 | 64.7% (6,998) | 75.1% (393) |
| 16+ | 48.1% (1,804) | 50.1% (6,092) |
Volvo V40 by registration year
Registration-year pages cover every fuel of that year.
- 2003 Volvo V40 · 47.8%
- 2012 Volvo V40 · 64.6%
- 2013 Volvo V40 · 68.0%
- 2014 Volvo V40 · 69.0%
- 2015 Volvo V40 · 70.3%
- 2016 Volvo V40 · 74.4%
- 2017 Volvo V40 · 78.4%
- 2018 Volvo V40 · 80.6%
- 2019 Volvo V40 · 84.2%
What this does and doesn't tell you
Fuel is DVSA's recorded fuel type; plug-in and self-charging hybrids are grouped as hybrid. A difference between fuels can come from the engines themselves, or from how the cars are used — diesels typically cover more miles, and the adjusted ratio allows for mileage band but not for every difference in use. For one car, its own MOT history is the better guide: see MOT check.
Check a specific diesel Volvo V40
Enter a UK registration to see that car's own MOT history and what it is likely to cost to own. Your first check is free and shows the vehicle summary and its headline ownership cost. The category-by-category breakdown is part of a paid check.
UK number plate or 17-character VIN
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.
Related
- All Volvo V40 MOT results
- Volvo V40 petrol · 76.9% first-time pass
- Check one car’s MOT history
- What a used car costs to own