Reliability report
Volvo V40 reliability and common faults
Based on 213,844 roadworthiness tests, led by the UK MOT. Each country is compared only with its own average for cars of the same age.
🇬🇧 United Kingdom · MOT
24.9%
fail rate · average 21.5%
much worse than average
96,905 MOT tests (DVSA)
🇳🇱 Netherlands · APK
49.1%
with defects · average 46.3%
worse than average
95,879 APK inspections (RDW)
🇱🇹 Lithuania · inspection
47.9%
first-time pass · average 49.5%
worse than average
21,060 inspections
Testing regimes differ from country to country – don’t compare the figures between countries; compare each one only with its own average. MOT data: contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0.
Weak spots
What goes wrong on the Volvo V40
How often each area fails compared with the average car of the same age (vertical line = average, 100%). Red – more often than average.
Driving controls
Exhaust and emissionsconfirmed in 2 countries
Suspensionconfirmed in 2 countries
Seat belts and airbags
Plates and identification
Tyres
Body and structure
Brakes
Wheels
Steering
Lights and electrics
Visibility
Most common test failures
- 1Tyre insufficient tread
- 2Tyre(s) with tread depth of 1.6 to 2.5 mm
- 3Tyre pressure not at correct value
- 4Low beam incorrectly adjusted
- 5Spring broken or cracked
- 6Mechanical parts of the brake system show wear
- 7Turn signal color incorrect/not allowed
- 8Particulate filter not working properly, particle count exceeds limit
- 9Excessive leakage of other fluids
- 10Tyre damaged
- 11Sidelight not working (properly)
- 12Windscreen wiper system gives insufficient visibility
Results by vehicle age
| Age | 🇬🇧 MOT fail rate | 🇳🇱 APK defects |
|---|---|---|
| 3–5 years | — | 24.6% avg 27.0% |
| 6–8 years | 18.9% avg 15.3% | 36.7% avg 36.7% |
| 9–11 years | 26.9% avg 22.9% | 49.9% avg 44.4% |
| 12–15 years | 30.0% avg 30.3% | 52.9% avg 55.4% |
| 16–20 years | — | 71.8% avg 64.7% |
| 21+ years | 42.1% avg 31.4% | 74.5% avg 68.4% |
🇱🇹 First-time pass rate in Lithuania – by year of manufacture
| Year | V40 | Average for year | Inspections |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2019 | 90.6% | 83.2% | 191 |
| 2018 | 82.6% | 79.5% | 310 |
| 2017 | 86.0% | 76.6% | 457 |
| 2016 | 73.8% | 72.8% | 603 |
| 2015 | 73.3% | 71.1% | 1,159 |
| 2014 | 69.3% | 68.0% | 1,373 |
| 2013 | 69.7% | 65.9% | 1,930 |
| 2012 | 69.1% | 63.7% | 614 |
| 2004 | 38.2% | 44.5% | 919 |
| 2003 | 38.3% | 42.9% | 1,946 |
| 2002 | 38.7% | 42.0% | 2,158 |
| 2001 | 40.1% | 40.9% | 2,399 |
| 2000 | 35.3% | 39.6% | 1,973 |
| 1999 | 36.3% | 38.6% | 1,933 |
| 1998 | 31.3% | 37.8% | 1,677 |
Volvo V40 – FAQs
How reliable is the Volvo V40?+
In the UK the Volvo V40 fails 24.9% of MOT tests, against an average of 21.5% for cars of the same age – much worse than average. In the Netherlands, inspectors found defects at 49.1% of APK inspections (average there 46.3%) – worse than average. In Lithuania 47.9% pass their roadworthiness test first time (average for those years there 49.5%) – worse than average.
What goes wrong most often on the Volvo V40?+
Compared with the average car of the same age, testers find faults more often in these areas: exhaust and emissions, suspension, seat belts and airbags, tyres.
What should I check when buying a used Volvo V40?+
The most common inspection failures: Tyre insufficient tread; Tyre(s) with tread depth of 1.6 to 2.5 mm; Tyre pressure not at correct value; Low beam incorrectly adjusted; Spring broken or cracked. Before you buy, also check the free MOT history on GOV.UK and the car’s history by reg or VIN (mileage, damage, theft).
More Volvo models
Sources: anonymised MOT test results (DVSA) – contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0; APK inspection defects (RDW, open data); Lithuanian roadworthiness test results (data.gov.lt). Initial tests only; retests are not counted. Photo: M 93, CC BY-SA 3.0 de, Wikimedia Commons (licence).