Volvo S40 S Reliability, MOT Pass Rate & Common Faults
Free Volvo S40 S car check
Is the Volvo S40 S reliable? We analysed 703 real MOT tests across 190 vehicles to find out.
Got a specific Volvo S40 S? Enter the reg for a free check:
The Volvo S40 S is above average for reliability based on real UK MOT data. Here's everything you need to know before buying a used Volvo S40 S.
Volvo S40 S Number Plates
Number plates registered to a Volvo S40 S. Click on any registration for full vehicle details — including MOT history, mileage records, previous owners and damage history.
Volvo S40 S Mileage — What's Normal?
How many miles does a typical Volvo S40 S owner drive per year? Use this to check if a car you're looking at has suspiciously low or high mileage.
Volvo S40 S Mileage Distribution
Total mileage recorded across all Volvo S40 S MOT tests. If the car you're looking at is above the 75th percentile, it's done more miles than most.
How Does the Volvo S40 S Compare?
MOT pass rates compared to similar models. Click any model for the full breakdown.
| Model | Pass Rate | Tests | Typical Mileage | Lifespan |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Volvo S40 S THIS CAR | 78.2% | 703 | 99,666 mi | — yrs |
| Volvo V70 | 71% | 1,930,508 | 113,181 mi | 29 yrs |
| Volvo V40 | 73.7% | 1,865,374 | 76,415 mi | 30 yrs |
| Volvo S40 | 69.9% | 1,390,271 | 84,701 mi | 30 yrs |
| Seat Leon Ecomotive SE Tech TDI | 90% | 713 | 89,092 mi | — yrs |
Compared to the Volvo V70 (71.0% pass rate) and the Volvo V40 (73.7% pass rate), the Volvo S40 S outperforms both on MOT reliability.
Found a Volvo S40 S you like?
Run a full vehicle history check on the specific car. See finance, stolen, write-off, mileage and MOT data for that exact vehicle.
Check a specific Volvo S40 SShould you buy a used Volvo S40 S?
The Volvo S40 S has an overall MOT pass rate of 78.2% across 703 real MOT tests — comfortably above the UK average, which puts it among the more reliable models on UK roads.
A typical Volvo S40 S owner drives around 4,675 miles per year. If the car you're looking at is significantly above this, expect more wear on suspension, brakes and tyres. If it's well below, the vehicle may have been sitting unused — check for perished rubber, corroded discs and stale fluids.
Before committing to a purchase, we recommend running a full vehicle history check on the specific car. This will reveal any outstanding finance, stolen markers, write-off history and mileage discrepancies that the seller may not disclose — and that the MOT data alone can't tell you.