2004 · 20 years old at test · Petrol mostly

2004 Volvo S40 MOT pass rate and common faults

1,106 MOT tests in 2024. 52.7% passed first time, compared with 56.4% for all cars the same age.

93Below average
Passed first time52.7%
Failed or needed repairs47.3%
Typical mileage at test101,000

Most common reasons for failing

Share of all 1,106 tests where this item caused a failure.

  1. Rbt (sp): efficiency below requirements6.7%
  2. Joints: constant velocity boot split or insecure, no longer prevents the ingress of dirt6.3%
  3. Coil spring: fractured or broken5.0%
  4. Position lamp: not working4.5%
  5. Malfunction indicator lamp: inoperative or indicates a malfunction3.5%
  6. Parking brake performance: inoperative on one side3.4%
  7. Registration plate lamp(s): inoperative in the case of a single lamp or all lamps3.3%
  8. Rigid brake pipes: excessively corroded2.5%
  9. Headlamp aim: too low2.5%
  10. SRS malfunction indicator lamp: warning lamp indicates a fault2.4%

Problem areas

Failure items found per 100 tests, by part of the car.

  1. Lights & electrics30.8%
  2. Brakes29.6%
  3. Suspension24.3%
  4. Body & chassis10.4%
  5. Emissions & leaks10.3%
  6. Tyres8.8%
  7. Visibility (wipers, screen, mirrors)7.2%
  8. Steering6.2%

Most common advisories

Not failures yet, but things the tester warned about.

  1. Tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm16.4%
  2. Brake discs: in such a condition that it is seriously weakened13.8%
  3. Rigid brake pipes: excessively corroded10.8%
  4. Tyres - condition: has a tear, caused by separation or partial failure of its structure10.1%
  5. Brake pads: less than 1.5 mm thick8.2%

What this means if you are buying one

This model year fails more often than most cars its age, so budget for repairs and check the history carefully. Before buying, check the area that fails most: rbt (sp): efficiency below requirements. Then look up the car's own MOT history on GOV.UK with its number plate, and look for repeat advisories.

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Questions

What is the MOT pass rate for a 2004 Volvo S40?

In 2024, 52.7% of 2004 Volvo S40 cars passed their MOT first time, across 1,106 tests. The average for all 20-year-old cars was 56.4%.

What are the most common MOT failures on a 2004 Volvo S40?

The most common failure reasons were rbt (sp): efficiency below requirements; joints: constant velocity boot split or insecure, no longer prevents the ingress of dirt; coil spring: fractured or broken. The biggest problem area was lights & electrics.

Is the 2004 Volvo S40 reliable at MOT time?

Its MOT Rank score is 93, which is below average for a car of its age (100 means exactly average).