2005 · 19 years old at test · Petrol mostly

2005 Volvo S40 MOT pass rate and common faults

1,417 MOT tests in 2024. 54.8% passed first time, compared with 56.5% for all cars the same age.

97Below average
Passed first time54.8%
Failed or needed repairs45.2%
Typical mileage at test114,000

Most common reasons for failing

Share of all 1,417 tests where this item caused a failure.

  1. Rbt (sp): efficiency below requirements5.0%
  2. Coil spring: fractured or broken4.6%
  3. Joints: constant velocity boot split or insecure, no longer prevents the ingress of dirt4.6%
  4. Suspension arms - pins and bushes: pin or bush excessively worn4.0%
  5. Tyres - condition: has ply or cords exposed3.4%
    62 marked dangerous
  6. Malfunction indicator lamp: inoperative or indicates a malfunction3.2%
  7. Parking brake performance: inoperative on one side3.0%
  8. Shock absorbers: has a serious fluid leak3.0%
  9. Linkage ball joint dust cover: ball joint dust cover no longer prevents the ingress of dirt2.9%
  10. Tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm2.8%
    63 marked dangerous

Problem areas

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

  1. Suspension27.3%
  2. Lights & electrics23.8%
  3. Brakes20.3%
  4. Tyres10.5%
  5. Body & chassis9.7%
  6. Emissions & leaks9.7%
  7. Visibility (wipers, screen, mirrors)7.3%
  8. Steering5.5%

Most common advisories

Not failures yet, but things the tester warned about.

  1. Tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm21.2%
  2. Brake discs: in such a condition that it is seriously weakened13.8%
  3. Suspension arms - pins and bushes: pin or bush excessively worn11.9%
  4. Engine oil leaks: leaking excessively from engine11.1%
  5. Coil spring: corroded so that its cross sectional area is reduced and seriously weakened10.2%

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 2005 Volvo S40?

In 2024, 54.8% of 2005 Volvo S40 cars passed their MOT first time, across 1,417 tests. The average for all 19-year-old cars was 56.5%.

What are the most common MOT failures on a 2005 Volvo S40?

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

Is the 2005 Volvo S40 reliable at MOT time?

Its MOT Rank score is 97, which is below average for a car of its age (100 means exactly average).