Volvo V40 common problems by mileage
What UK MOT testers flag on the Volvo V40 at each age and mileage, compared with all cars.
In 100,375 UK MOT tests of the Volvo V40 in 2023, the problem that most sets it apart from other cars is coil spring (fractured or broken): recorded on 4.2% of tests of 2018–2020 cars at 20k–40k mi (32k–64k km), 21× the rate for all cars of that age and mileage. Other stand-out issues: seat belts and airbags (webbing slightly damaged or frayed) (12×); steering rack (gaiter missing or no longer prevents the ingress of dirt) (8.1×); tyres (ply or cords exposed) (2.7×). The most common reasons a Volvo V40 fails its MOT are coil spring (fractured or broken); tyres (tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm); tyres (ply or cords exposed).
Last updated: · Source: DVSA anonymised MOT data 2023
What stands out on the Volvo V40
Parts that MOT testers flag clearly more often on the Volvo V40 than on all cars of the same age at the same mileage (at least 1.5× the rate and 3% of tests).
| Issue | Type | First used | Mileage | Share of tests | All cars this age | Ratio | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Coil spring: fractured or broken | MOT fail | 2018–2020 | 20k–40k mi (32k–64k km) | 4.2% | 0.2% | 21× | 10,515 |
| Seat belts and airbags (condition): webbing slightly damaged or frayed | Advisory | 2003–2005 | 100k–120k mi (161k–193k km) | 7.1% | 0.6% | 12× | 379 |
| Steering rack: gaiter missing or no longer prevents the ingress of dirt | MOT fail | 2002–2004 | 140k–160k mi (225k–257k km) | 8.9% | 1.1% | 8.1× | 393 |
| Tyres (condition): has ply or cords exposed | MOT fail | 2017–2019 | 40k–60k mi (64k–97k km) | 3% | 1.1% | 2.7× | 9,801 |
| Individual direction indicators: slightly discoloured | Advisory | 2011–2013 | 140k–160k mi (225k–257k km) | 5.4% | 1.6% | 3.4× | 808 |
| Coil spring: corroded | Advisory | 2013–2015 | 160k+ mi (257k+ km) | 5% | 2% | 2.5× | 827 |
| Position lamp: not working | MOT fail | 2015–2017 | 80k–100k mi (129k–161k km) | 3.1% | 1.6% | 1.9× | 5,592 |
| Tyres (condition): slightly damaged/cracking or perishing | Advisory | 2018–2020 | 0k–20k mi (0k–32k km) | 13% | 6.5% | 1.9× | 3,945 |
Volvo V40 by mileage (2017–2019 cars)
The most-tested first-use years. For each mileage band: how many MOT tests, the most common item, and the item that stands out most against other cars.
| Mileage | Tests | Most common | Stands out |
|---|---|---|---|
| 0k–20k mi (0k–32k km) | 4,838 | Tyres (condition): slightly damaged/cracking or perishing (13%) | — |
| 20k–40k mi (32k–64k km) | 14,866 | Tyres (tread depth): worn close to legal limit/worn on edge (13%) | Coil spring: fractured or broken (5.6%, 11×) |
| 40k–60k mi (64k–97k km) | 9,801 | Tyres (tread depth): worn close to legal limit/worn on edge (18%) | Coil spring: fractured or broken (7.4%, 9.3×) |
| 60k–80k mi (97k–129k km) | 3,611 | Tyres (tread depth): worn close to legal limit/worn on edge (20%) | Coil spring: fractured or broken (7.4%, 6.7×) |
| 80k–100k mi (129k–161k km) | 1,182 | Tyres (tread depth): worn close to legal limit/worn on edge (21%) | Coil spring: fractured or broken (6.9%, 5.3×) |
| 100k–120k mi (161k–193k km) | 359 | Tyres (tread depth): worn close to legal limit/worn on edge (18%) | Coil spring: fractured or broken (7.8%, 6×) |
Volvo V40 by first-use year
| First used | Tests | Biggest stand-out issue |
|---|---|---|
| 2001 | 606 | Brake pads: wearing thin at 100k–120k mi (161k–193k km) (2.2×) |
| 2002 | 824 | Seat belts and airbags (condition): webbing slightly damaged or frayed at 120k–140k mi (193k–225k km) (10×) |
| 2003 | 1,181 | Seat belts and airbags (condition): webbing slightly damaged or frayed at 120k–140k mi (193k–225k km) (10×) |
| 2004 | 982 | Seat belts and airbags (condition): webbing slightly damaged or frayed at 120k–140k mi (193k–225k km) (12×) |
| 2012 | 2,378 | Individual direction indicators: slightly discoloured at 140k–160k mi (225k–257k km) (3.4×) |
| 2013 | 11,382 | Coil spring: fractured or broken at 20k–40k mi (32k–64k km) (2.8×) |
| 2014 | 16,265 | Coil spring: fractured or broken at 0k–20k mi (0k–32k km) (4.3×) |
| 2015 | 15,646 | Coil spring: fractured or broken at 0k–20k mi (0k–32k km) (5.5×) |
| 2016 | 15,411 | Coil spring: fractured or broken at 20k–40k mi (32k–64k km) (6.4×) |
| 2017 | 13,577 | Coil spring: fractured or broken at 20k–40k mi (32k–64k km) (8.4×) |
| 2018 | 12,975 | Coil spring: fractured or broken at 20k–40k mi (32k–64k km) (11×) |
| 2019 | 8,317 | Coil spring: fractured or broken at 20k–40k mi (32k–64k km) (21×) |
How these numbers are made
From the DVSA anonymised MOT data for 2023: every normal MOT test of a car in Great Britain, with its mileage and every advisory and failure item. For each first-use year (pooled with the years either side) and 20,000-mile band we count the share of tests where a part was recorded, and compare it with the same share for every car of that age at that mileage. A cell is shown only with 300 or more tests. Advisories are tester notes, not failures. Figures describe UK-market cars; engines and equipment can differ in other countries.
Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0 (DVSA anonymised MOT data, 2023).
Frequently asked questions
What are the most common problems with the Volvo V40?
In 100,375 UK MOT tests of the Volvo V40 in 2023, the problem that most sets it apart from other cars is coil spring (fractured or broken): recorded on 4.2% of tests of 2018–2020 cars at 20k–40k mi (32k–64k km), 21× the rate for all cars of that age and mileage. Other stand-out issues: seat belts and airbags (webbing slightly damaged or frayed) (12×); steering rack (gaiter missing or no longer prevents the ingress of dirt) (8.1×); tyres (ply or cords exposed) (2.7×). The most common reasons a Volvo V40 fails its MOT are coil spring (fractured or broken); tyres (tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm); tyres (ply or cords exposed).
Why do Volvo V40s fail the MOT?
Across 100,375 MOT tests in 2023, the most common failure items on the Volvo V40 were coil spring (fractured or broken) (8.1% of tests); tyres (tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm) (3.4% of tests); tyres (ply or cords exposed) (2.8% of tests).
At what mileage do Volvo V40 problems start?
The clearest Volvo V40-specific issue, coil spring (fractured or broken), peaks against other cars at 20k–40k mi (32k–64k km) on 2018–2020 cars (4.2% of tests vs 0.2% for all cars that age).
Where does this Volvo V40 data come from?
From the UK government's anonymised MOT test data (DVSA, 2023, Open Government Licence v3.0): 100,375 tests of the Volvo V40. VinSnap shows the same numbers for your own car's age and mileage in the app.