2006 · 18 years old at test · Petrol mostly

2006 Volvo S40 MOT pass rate and common faults

1,661 MOT tests in 2024. 58.0% passed first time, compared with 56.1% for all cars the same age.

103Above average
Passed first time58.0%
Failed or needed repairs42.0%
Typical mileage at test114,000

Most common reasons for failing

Share of all 1,661 tests where this item caused a failure.

  1. Joints: constant velocity boot split or insecure, no longer prevents the ingress of dirt4.9%
  2. Coil spring: fractured or broken4.2%
  3. Rbt (sp): efficiency below requirements4.0%
  4. Suspension arms - pins and bushes: pin or bush excessively worn3.8%
  5. Shock absorbers: has a serious fluid leak3.4%
  6. Position lamp: not working3.3%
  7. Tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm3.0%
    75 marked dangerous
  8. Tyres - condition: has ply or cords exposed2.8%
    58 marked dangerous
  9. Wheel bearings: rough when rotated2.4%
  10. Malfunction indicator lamp: inoperative or indicates a malfunction2.4%

Problem areas

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

  1. Suspension25.5%
  2. Lights & electrics23.2%
  3. Brakes18.2%
  4. Tyres10.5%
  5. Body & chassis10.1%
  6. Emissions & leaks7.9%
  7. Visibility (wipers, screen, mirrors)6.0%
  8. Steering4.9%

Most common advisories

Not failures yet, but things the tester warned about.

  1. Tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm21.3%
  2. Brake discs: in such a condition that it is seriously weakened12.6%
  3. Suspension arms - pins and bushes: pin or bush excessively worn11.1%
  4. Engine oil leaks: leaking excessively from engine9.5%
  5. Coil spring: corroded so that its cross sectional area is reduced and seriously weakened9.2%

What this means if you are buying one

This model year does better than most cars its age, so it is a reasonable used buy on MOT record alone. 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 2006 Volvo S40?

In 2024, 58.0% of 2006 Volvo S40 cars passed their MOT first time, across 1,661 tests. The average for all 18-year-old cars was 56.1%.

What are the most common MOT failures on a 2006 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; rbt (sp): efficiency below requirements. The biggest problem area was suspension.

Is the 2006 Volvo S40 reliable at MOT time?

Its MOT Rank score is 103, which is above average for a car of its age (100 means exactly average).