CarVerify

Volvo S40 S 16V Reliability, MOT Pass Rate & Common Faults

Free Volvo S40 S 16V car check

Is the Volvo S40 S 16V reliable? We analysed 784 real MOT tests across 124 vehicles to find out.

Got a specific Volvo S40 S 16V? Enter the reg for a free check:

Free basic check Reports from £4.99 Results in seconds
Data last updated: · Based on 784 real MOT tests
MOT Pass Rate
82.8%
Typical Mileage
91,503mi
Annual Mileage
4,889mi/yr
Est. Lifespan
yrs

The Volvo S40 S 16V 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 16V.

Volvo S40 S 16V Number Plates

Number plates registered to a Volvo S40 S 16V. Click on any registration for full vehicle details — including MOT history, mileage records, previous owners and damage history.

Volvo S40 S 16V Mileage — What's Normal?

How many miles does a typical Volvo S40 S 16V owner drive per year? Use this to check if a car you're looking at has suspiciously low or high mileage.

Low usage
2,937 mi/yr
Typical
4,889 mi/yr
Average
5,689 mi/yr
Heavy usage
7,576 mi/yr

Volvo S40 S 16V Mileage Distribution

Total mileage recorded across all Volvo S40 S 16V MOT tests. If the car you're looking at is above the 75th percentile, it's done more miles than most.

Median
91,503 mi
75th Percentile
112,546 mi
95th Percentile
143,762 mi
Max Recorded
183,715 mi

How Does the Volvo S40 S 16V 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 16V THIS CAR 82.8% 784 91,503 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
Audi A5 S Line ED 1 40 TDI QUAT S-a 88.7% 462 35,214 mi — yrs

Compared to the Volvo V70 (71.0% pass rate) and the Volvo V40 (73.7% pass rate), the Volvo S40 S 16V outperforms both on MOT reliability.

Found a Volvo S40 S 16V 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 S 16V

Should you buy a used Volvo S40 S 16V?

The Volvo S40 S 16V has an overall MOT pass rate of 82.8% across 784 real MOT tests — comfortably above the UK average, which puts it among the more reliable models on UK roads.

A typical Volvo S40 S 16V owner drives around 4,889 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.

Volvo S40 S 16V — Frequently Asked Questions

Is the Volvo S40 S 16V reliable?
Based on 784 MOT tests, the Volvo S40 S 16V has a 82.8% pass rate — above the UK average, suggesting good reliability.
What are the common problems on a Volvo S40 S 16V?
The most common failure point is general wear and tear.
How many miles does a Volvo S40 S 16V do per year?
The typical Volvo S40 S 16V does around 4,889 miles per year. Anything significantly above or below this is worth investigating.
How long does a Volvo S40 S 16V last?
Lifespan data is not yet available for this model.
Should I get a vehicle check before buying a Volvo S40 S 16V?
Yes. An MOT pass rate tells you about the model in general, but a vehicle history check reveals the specific car's finance, stolen, write-off and mileage history — things the seller may not disclose.