2007 · 17 years old at test · Petrol mostly

2007 Volvo S40 MOT pass rate and common faults

1,796 MOT tests in 2024. 57.9% passed first time, compared with 56.9% for all cars the same age.

102About average
Passed first time57.9%
Failed or needed repairs42.1%
Typical mileage at test117,000

Most common reasons for failing

Share of all 1,796 tests where this item caused a failure.

  1. Suspension arms - pins and bushes: pin or bush excessively worn4.6%
  2. Coil spring: fractured or broken4.6%
  3. Position lamp: not working4.5%
  4. Joints: constant velocity boot split or insecure, no longer prevents the ingress of dirt4.2%
  5. Tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm3.5%
    95 marked dangerous
  6. Tyres - condition: has ply or cords exposed3.3%
    84 marked dangerous
  7. Registration plate lamp(s): inoperative in the case of a single lamp or all lamps2.7%
  8. Suspension arms - ball joint: ball joint excessively worn2.7%
  9. Shock absorbers: has a serious fluid leak2.6%
  10. Rbt (sp): efficiency below requirements2.3%

Problem areas

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

  1. Lights & electrics26.6%
  2. Suspension24.8%
  3. Brakes14.1%
  4. Tyres10.9%
  5. Body & chassis9.1%
  6. Emissions & leaks7.6%
  7. Visibility (wipers, screen, mirrors)6.2%
  8. Steering4.1%

Most common advisories

Not failures yet, but things the tester warned about.

  1. Tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm21.6%
  2. Brake discs: in such a condition that it is seriously weakened12.4%
  3. Suspension arms - pins and bushes: pin or bush excessively worn11.5%
  4. Brake pads: less than 1.5 mm thick10.2%
  5. Tyres - condition: has a tear, caused by separation or partial failure of its structure9.1%

What this means if you are buying one

This model year is about as good as an average car its age. Before buying, check the area that fails most: suspension arms - pins and bushes: pin or bush excessively worn. Then look up the car's own MOT history on GOV.UK with its number plate, and look for repeat advisories.

← 2006 S40All S40 years2008 S40 →

Questions

What is the MOT pass rate for a 2007 Volvo S40?

In 2024, 57.9% of 2007 Volvo S40 cars passed their MOT first time, across 1,796 tests. The average for all 17-year-old cars was 56.9%.

What are the most common MOT failures on a 2007 Volvo S40?

The most common failure reasons were suspension arms - pins and bushes: pin or bush excessively worn; coil spring: fractured or broken; position lamp: not working. The biggest problem area was lights & electrics.

Is the 2007 Volvo S40 reliable at MOT time?

Its MOT Rank score is 102, which is about average for a car of its age (100 means exactly average).