2011 · 13 years old at test · Diesel mostly

2011 Volvo S40 MOT pass rate and common faults

1,444 MOT tests in 2024. 57.8% passed first time, compared with 61.8% for all cars the same age.

93Below average
Passed first time57.8%
Failed or needed repairs42.2%
Typical mileage at test105,000

Most common reasons for failing

Share of all 1,444 tests where this item caused a failure.

  1. Joints: constant velocity boot split or insecure, no longer prevents the ingress of dirt6.9%
  2. Coil spring: fractured or broken5.8%
  3. Suspension arms - pins and bushes: pin or bush excessively worn5.7%
  4. Tyres - condition: has ply or cords exposed3.7%
    65 marked dangerous
  5. Position lamp: not working3.2%
  6. Tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm3.0%
    69 marked dangerous
  7. Brake pads: less than 1.5 mm thick2.8%
    52 marked dangerous
  8. Suspension arms - ball joint: ball joint excessively worn2.6%
  9. Anti-roll bars - linkage: fractured2.4%
    42 marked dangerous
  10. Headlamp aim: too low2.2%

Problem areas

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

  1. Suspension24.4%
  2. Lights & electrics21.1%
  3. Brakes13.4%
  4. Tyres10.1%
  5. Body & chassis9.1%
  6. Visibility (wipers, screen, mirrors)5.3%
  7. Steering3.1%
  8. Emissions & leaks2.3%

Most common advisories

Not failures yet, but things the tester warned about.

  1. Tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm24.3%
  2. Suspension arms - pins and bushes: pin or bush excessively worn12.5%
  3. Brake discs: in such a condition that it is seriously weakened10.1%
  4. Brake pads: less than 1.5 mm thick10.0%
  5. Tyres - condition: has a tear, caused by separation or partial failure of its structure7.1%

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: joints: constant velocity boot split or insecure, no longer prevents the ingress of dirt. 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 2011 Volvo S40?

In 2024, 57.8% of 2011 Volvo S40 cars passed their MOT first time, across 1,444 tests. The average for all 13-year-old cars was 61.8%.

What are the most common MOT failures on a 2011 Volvo S40?

The most common failure reasons were joints: constant velocity boot split or insecure, no longer prevents the ingress of dirt; coil spring: fractured or broken; suspension arms - pins and bushes: pin or bush excessively worn. The biggest problem area was suspension.

Is the 2011 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).