2010 · 14 years old at test · Diesel mostly

2010 Volvo S40 MOT pass rate and common faults

1,952 MOT tests in 2024. 57.4% passed first time, compared with 59.6% for all cars the same age.

96Below average
Passed first time57.4%
Failed or needed repairs42.6%
Typical mileage at test105,000

Most common reasons for failing

Share of all 1,952 tests where this item caused a failure.

  1. Coil spring: fractured or broken6.3%
  2. Position lamp: not working5.8%
  3. Suspension arms - pins and bushes: pin or bush excessively worn4.8%
  4. Tyres - condition: has ply or cords exposed3.3%
    92 marked dangerous
  5. Brake pads: less than 1.5 mm thick2.8%
    76 marked dangerous
  6. Steering rack: gaiter missing or no longer prevents the ingress of dirt2.8%
  7. Joints: constant velocity boot split or insecure, no longer prevents the ingress of dirt2.8%
  8. Tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm2.7%
    77 marked dangerous
  9. Suspension arms - ball joint: ball joint excessively worn2.7%
  10. Headlamp aim: too low2.5%

Problem areas

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

  1. Lights & electrics26.7%
  2. Suspension26.0%
  3. Brakes14.4%
  4. Tyres10.0%
  5. Body & chassis6.2%
  6. Emissions & leaks5.9%
  7. Visibility (wipers, screen, mirrors)5.2%
  8. Steering5.1%

Most common advisories

Not failures yet, but things the tester warned about.

  1. Tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm21.7%
  2. Suspension arms - pins and bushes: pin or bush excessively worn13.6%
  3. Brake discs: in such a condition that it is seriously weakened10.7%
  4. Brake pads: less than 1.5 mm thick9.7%
  5. Tyres - condition: has a tear, caused by separation or partial failure of its structure8.9%

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: coil spring: fractured or broken. 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 2010 Volvo S40?

In 2024, 57.4% of 2010 Volvo S40 cars passed their MOT first time, across 1,952 tests. The average for all 14-year-old cars was 59.6%.

What are the most common MOT failures on a 2010 Volvo S40?

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

Is the 2010 Volvo S40 reliable at MOT time?

Its MOT Rank score is 96, which is below average for a car of its age (100 means exactly average).