2008 · 16 years old at test · Petrol mostly

2008 Volvo S40 MOT pass rate and common faults

2,848 MOT tests in 2024. 56.6% passed first time, compared with 56.9% for all cars the same age.

99About average
Passed first time56.6%
Failed or needed repairs43.4%
Typical mileage at test110,000

Most common reasons for failing

Share of all 2,848 tests where this item caused a failure.

  1. Position lamp: not working8.6%
  2. Coil spring: fractured or broken4.1%
  3. Suspension arms - pins and bushes: pin or bush excessively worn4.0%
  4. Joints: constant velocity boot split or insecure, no longer prevents the ingress of dirt3.8%
  5. Tyres - condition: has ply or cords exposed3.1%
    129 marked dangerous
  6. Brake pads: less than 1.5 mm thick3.1%
    113 marked dangerous
  7. Shock absorbers: has a serious fluid leak3.0%
  8. Tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm2.5%
    99 marked dangerous
  9. Suspension arms - ball joint: ball joint excessively worn2.4%

Problem areas

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

  1. Lights & electrics27.7%
  2. Suspension23.4%
  3. Brakes15.5%
  4. Tyres9.4%
  5. Body & chassis9.3%
  6. Emissions & leaks7.9%
  7. Visibility (wipers, screen, mirrors)6.4%
  8. Steering5.0%

Most common advisories

Not failures yet, but things the tester warned about.

  1. Tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm21.9%
  2. Suspension arms - pins and bushes: pin or bush excessively worn11.6%
  3. Brake discs: in such a condition that it is seriously weakened11.4%
  4. Brake pads: less than 1.5 mm thick8.9%
  5. Tyres - condition: has a tear, caused by separation or partial failure of its structure8.6%

What this means if you are buying one

This model year is about as good as an average car its age. Before buying, check the area that fails most: position lamp: not working. Then look up the car's own MOT history on GOV.UK with its number plate, and look for repeat advisories.

← 2007 S40All S40 years2009 S40 →

Questions

What is the MOT pass rate for a 2008 Volvo S40?

In 2024, 56.6% of 2008 Volvo S40 cars passed their MOT first time, across 2,848 tests. The average for all 16-year-old cars was 56.9%.

What are the most common MOT failures on a 2008 Volvo S40?

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

Is the 2008 Volvo S40 reliable at MOT time?

Its MOT Rank score is 99, which is about average for a car of its age (100 means exactly average).