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Volvo S40 SE D (E4) Reliability, MOT Pass Rate & Common Faults

Free Volvo S40 SE D (E4) car check

Is the Volvo S40 SE D (E4) reliable? We analysed 632 real MOT tests across 199 vehicles to find out.

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Data last updated: · Based on 632 real MOT tests
MOT Pass Rate
76.4%
Typical Mileage
154,326mi
Annual Mileage
7,001mi/yr
Est. Lifespan
yrs

The Volvo S40 SE D (E4) is above average for reliability based on real UK MOT data. Here's everything you need to know before buying a used Volvo S40 SE D (E4).

Volvo S40 SE D (E4) Number Plates

Number plates registered to a Volvo S40 SE D (E4). Click on any registration for full vehicle details — including MOT history, mileage records, previous owners and damage history.

Volvo S40 SE D (E4) Mileage — What's Normal?

How many miles does a typical Volvo S40 SE D (E4) owner drive per year? Use this to check if a car you're looking at has suspiciously low or high mileage.

Low usage
4,771 mi/yr
Typical
7,001 mi/yr
Average
7,797 mi/yr
Heavy usage
9,930 mi/yr

Volvo S40 SE D (E4) Mileage Distribution

Total mileage recorded across all Volvo S40 SE D (E4) MOT tests. If the car you're looking at is above the 75th percentile, it's done more miles than most.

Median
154,326 mi
75th Percentile
177,979 mi
95th Percentile
217,768 mi
Max Recorded
296,572 mi

How Does the Volvo S40 SE D (E4) Compare?

MOT pass rates compared to similar models. Click any model for the full breakdown.

Model Pass Rate Tests Typical Mileage Lifespan
Volvo S40 SE D (E4) THIS CAR 76.4% 632 154,326 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
Suzuki Ts 50 Erkx 68.1% 573 15,395 mi 28 yrs

Compared to the Volvo V70 (71.0% pass rate) and the Volvo V40 (73.7% pass rate), the Volvo S40 SE D (E4) outperforms both on MOT reliability.

Found a Volvo S40 SE D (E4) you like?

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Should you buy a used Volvo S40 SE D (E4)?

The Volvo S40 SE D (E4) has an overall MOT pass rate of 76.4% across 632 real MOT tests — comfortably above the UK average, which puts it among the more reliable models on UK roads.

A typical Volvo S40 SE D (E4) owner drives around 7,001 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 SE D (E4) — Frequently Asked Questions

Is the Volvo S40 SE D (E4) reliable?
Based on 632 MOT tests, the Volvo S40 SE D (E4) has a 76.4% pass rate — above the UK average, suggesting good reliability.
What are the common problems on a Volvo S40 SE D (E4)?
The most common failure point is general wear and tear.
How many miles does a Volvo S40 SE D (E4) do per year?
The typical Volvo S40 SE D (E4) does around 7,001 miles per year. Anything significantly above or below this is worth investigating.
How long does a Volvo S40 SE D (E4) last?
Lifespan data is not yet available for this model.
Should I get a vehicle check before buying a Volvo S40 SE D (E4)?
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.