Volvo S40: reliability by registration year
2003-2012 · 10 registration years · 13,633 first tests
Registration years
First-attempt MOT results for every S40 registration year with at least 500 first tests in 2025. Pass rates rise with newer cars, so read a year against its neighbours rather than against the top of the table.
| Year | First tests | First-attempt pass | Incl. PRS | Most common failure |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2012 | 1,176 | 59.0% | 63.9% | Drive shaft joints and boots (front) 16.0% |
| 2011 | 1,289 | 56.6% | 61.2% | Drive shaft joints and boots (front) 19.5% |
| 2010 | 1,630 | 58.2% | 64.4% | Individual sidelight or tail light (front) 13.4% |
| 2009 | 2,017 | 57.4% | 64.4% | Individual sidelight or tail light (front) 19.0% |
| 2008 | 2,347 | 57.6% | 65.1% | Individual sidelight or tail light (front) 18.8% |
| 2007 | 1,449 | 58.4% | 65.4% | Individual sidelight or tail light (front) 11.8% |
| 2006 | 1,279 | 59.9% | 66.2% | Handbrake efficiency below minimum (roller test) 13.3% |
| 2005 | 1,084 | 56.6% | 63.2% | Handbrake efficiency below minimum (roller test) 15.1% |
| 2004 | 861 | 54.1% | 62.6% | Drive shaft joints and boots (front) 14.9% |
| 2003 | 501 | 51.9% | 60.5% |