MOT performance
Volvo V40 petrol: MOT pass rate and common failures
Of 73,174 MOT tests on petrol Volvo V40s in 2023–2024 (on average 6.9 years old at test, median 41,906 miles), 76.9% passed first time, against 70.9% of 126,133 diesel Volvo V40 tests. Allowing for age, mileage and fuel, petrol Volvo V40s failed 12% more often than comparable cars — 1.12× against 1.08× for the Volvo V40 as a whole.
73,174 MOT tests on 36,598 vehicles, 2023–2024 · Source: DVSA (Open Government Licence) · Analysis: 73 Auto
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| Figure | Value | Basis |
|---|---|---|
| First-time pass rate | 76.9% | ±0.3 pts (95%), n = 73,174 |
| All Volvo V40s | 73.1% | n = 199,307 |
| Failures vs similar cars | 1.12× | same age, mileage and fuel = 1.00; Volvo V40 overall 1.08× |
| Tests with a dangerous defect | 8.1% | n = 73,174 |
| Average age at test | 6.9 years | n = 73,174 |
| Registration years covered | 1996–2020 | DVSA first-use date |
Petrol 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 petrol cars were tested 1.2 years younger on average than the diesel 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 petrol Volvo V40s differ
- Steering: petrol Volvo V40s failed 109% more often than the Volvo V40 overall, relative to comparable cars (0.80× vs 0.39×).
- Noise, emissions and leaks: petrol Volvo V40s failed 50% less often than the Volvo V40 overall, relative to comparable cars (0.59× vs 1.18×).
- Suspension: petrol Volvo V40s failed 31% more often than the Volvo V40 overall, relative to comparable cars (1.85× vs 1.41×).
- Body, chassis and structure: petrol Volvo V40s failed 25% more often than the Volvo V40 overall, relative to comparable cars (1.24× vs 0.99×).
| Area | Petrol (vs similar) | All Volvo V40s (vs similar) |
|---|---|---|
| Suspension | 8.2% (+86%) | 9.3% (+41%) |
| Tyres | 7.6% (+36%) | 8.1% (+24%) |
| Lights, reflectors and electrical | 4.9% (-23%) | 6.5% (-20%) |
| Brakes | 4.6% (+4%) | 5.5% (+1%) |
| Driver's view of the road | 2.7% (-33%) | 2.7% (-31%) |
| Body, chassis and structure | 2.0% (+24%) | 2.2% (-1%) |
| Noise, emissions and leaks | 1.1% (-41%) | 2.6% (+18%) |
| Steering | 0.8% (-20%) | 0.6% (-61%) |
| Seat belts and airbags | 0.6% (Same) | 0.6% (-17%) |
| Registration plates and VIN | 0.2% (-13%) | 0.2% (-26%) |
| Road wheels | 0.2% (-10%) | 0.3% (-11%) |
Most common petrol Volvo V40 failure items
| Item | Area | Share of tests |
|---|---|---|
| Coil spring: fractured or broken | Suspension | 6.35% |
| Condition: has ply or cords exposed | Tyres | 2.33% |
| Brake pads: less than 1.5 mm thick | Brakes | 2.32% |
| Condition: has a cut in excess of the requirements deep enough to reach the ply or cords | Tyres | 2.02% |
| Tread depth: tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm | Tyres | 1.88% |
Pass rate by age, by fuel
| Age at test (years) | petrol pass rate (tests) | diesel pass rate (tests) |
|---|---|---|
| 3-4 | 84.3% (18,060) | 81.7% (5,334) |
| 5-6 | 79.4% (30,010) | 77.3% (20,698) |
| 7-8 | 74.2% (15,287) | 71.5% (45,384) |
| 9-10 | 74.7% (3,317) | 68.0% (45,902) |
| 11-12 | 75.1% (393) | 64.7% (6,998) |
| 16+ | 50.1% (6,092) | 48.1% (1,804) |
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 petrol 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 diesel · 70.9% first-time pass
- Check one car’s MOT history
- What a used car costs to own