2012 · 12 years old at test · Diesel mostly

2012 Volvo S40 MOT pass rate and common faults

1,269 MOT tests in 2024. 62.4% passed first time, compared with 64.3% for all cars the same age.

97Below average
Passed first time62.4%
Failed or needed repairs37.6%
Typical mileage at test98,000

Most common reasons for failing

Share of all 1,269 tests where this item caused a failure.

  1. Coil spring: fractured or broken7.7%
  2. Joints: constant velocity boot split or insecure, no longer prevents the ingress of dirt6.1%
  3. Suspension arms - pins and bushes: pin or bush excessively worn4.9%
  4. Tyres - condition: has ply or cords exposed2.4%
    39 marked dangerous
  5. Brake pads: less than 1.5 mm thick2.4%
    38 marked dangerous
  6. Suspension arms - ball joint: ball joint excessively worn2.3%
  7. Tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm2.0%
    34 marked dangerous
  8. Anti-roll bars - linkage: fractured1.9%
    30 marked dangerous
  9. Individual direction indicators: incorrect colour1.8%
  10. Registration plate lamp(s): inoperative in the case of a single lamp or all lamps1.8%

Problem areas

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

  1. Suspension23.8%
  2. Lights & electrics14.7%
  3. Brakes11.5%
  4. Tyres8.4%
  5. Body & chassis7.9%
  6. Visibility (wipers, screen, mirrors)5.2%
  7. Emissions & leaks3.0%
  8. Steering1.3%

Most common advisories

Not failures yet, but things the tester warned about.

  1. Tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm21.0%
  2. Suspension arms - pins and bushes: pin or bush excessively worn14.6%
  3. Brake discs: in such a condition that it is seriously weakened9.3%
  4. Brake pads: less than 1.5 mm thick9.1%
  5. Tyres - condition: has a tear, caused by separation or partial failure of its structure6.9%

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: coil spring: fractured or broken. Then look up the car's own MOT history on GOV.UK with its number plate, and look for repeat advisories.

← 2011 S40All S40 years

Questions

What is the MOT pass rate for a 2012 Volvo S40?

In 2024, 62.4% of 2012 Volvo S40 cars passed their MOT first time, across 1,269 tests. The average for all 12-year-old cars was 64.3%.

What are the most common MOT failures on a 2012 Volvo S40?

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

Is the 2012 Volvo S40 reliable at MOT time?

Its MOT Rank score is 97, which is below average for a car of its age (100 means exactly average).