MOT performance
Volvo XC40 diesel: MOT pass rate and common failures
Of 22,943 MOT tests on diesel Volvo XC40s in 2023–2024 (on average 3.8 years old at test, median 40,116 miles), 88.8% passed first time, against 89.9% of 64,764 petrol Volvo XC40 tests. Allowing for age, mileage and fuel, diesel Volvo XC40s failed 33% less often than comparable cars — 0.67× against 0.75× for the Volvo XC40 as a whole.
22,943 MOT tests on 11,298 vehicles, 2023–2024 · Source: DVSA (Open Government Licence) · Analysis: 73 Auto
Check a specific car's MOT history and running costsAt a glance
| Figure | Value | Basis |
|---|---|---|
| First-time pass rate | 88.8% | ±0.4 pts (95%), n = 22,943 |
| All Volvo XC40s | 90.2% | n = 119,449 |
| Failures vs similar cars | 0.67× | same age, mileage and fuel = 1.00; Volvo XC40 overall 0.75× |
| Tests with a dangerous defect | 6.4% | n = 22,943 |
| Average age at test | 3.8 years | n = 22,943 |
| Registration years covered | 2017–2021 | DVSA first-use date |
Diesel against the other Volvo XC40 fuels
Official DVSA test results by fuel, with 73 Auto's adjusted ratio (failures against cars of the same age, mileage and fuel).
| Fuel | Tests | Average age | First-time pass | vs similar cars | Dangerous |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Petrol | 64,764 | 3.1 yrs | 89.9% | -21% | 5.5% |
| Hybrid | 29,995 | 2.4 yrs | 92.0% | -25% | 2.9% |
| Diesel | 22,943 | 3.8 yrs | 88.8% | -33% | 6.4% |
| Electric | 1,747 | 2.2 yrs | 88.4% | -9% | 5.9% |
Where diesel Volvo XC40s differ
- Body, chassis and structure: diesel Volvo XC40s failed 51% less often than the Volvo XC40 overall, relative to comparable cars (0.31× vs 0.63×).
- Lights, reflectors and electrical: diesel Volvo XC40s failed 44% less often than the Volvo XC40 overall, relative to comparable cars (0.24× vs 0.43×).
- Driver's view of the road: diesel Volvo XC40s failed 22% less often than the Volvo XC40 overall, relative to comparable cars (0.32× vs 0.41×).
| Area | Diesel (vs similar) | All Volvo XC40s (vs similar) |
|---|---|---|
| Brakes | 4.6% (+41%) | 3.2% (+61%) |
| Tyres | 4.1% (-25%) | 4.1% (-19%) |
| Driver's view of the road | 1.1% (-68%) | 1.2% (-59%) |
| Lights, reflectors and electrical | 1.1% (-76%) | 1.2% (-57%) |
| Noise, emissions and leaks | 0.7% (-51%) | 0.3% (-48%) |
| Suspension | 0.6% (-64%) | 0.4% (-55%) |
Most common diesel Volvo XC40 failure items
| Item | Area | Share of tests |
|---|---|---|
| Brake pads: less than 1.5 mm thick | Brakes | 4.09% |
| Condition: has a cut in excess of the requirements deep enough to reach the ply or cords | Tyres | 1.84% |
| Tread depth: tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm | Tyres | 1.29% |
| Wipers: does not clear the windscreen effectively | Driver's view of the road | 0.82% |
| Condition: has ply or cords exposed | Tyres | 0.57% |
Pass rate by age, by fuel
| Age at test (years) | diesel pass rate (tests) | petrol pass rate (tests) | hybrid pass rate (tests) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 3-4 | 89.0% (15,253) | 90.2% (38,236) | 92.3% (11,598) |
| 5-6 | 87.5% (5,394) | 87.9% (6,565) | — |
Volvo XC40 by registration year
Registration-year pages cover every fuel of that year.
- 2018 Volvo XC40 · 88.9%
- 2019 Volvo XC40 · 89.2%
- 2020 Volvo XC40 · 90.8%
- 2021 Volvo XC40 · 90.9%
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 XC40
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.