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SL53 ZBC

2003 Volvo S40

Grey Petrol 1783cc
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MOT Status

Valid
Expires28 Oct 2026
Tests28 (19 pass, 9 fail)
Pass rate67.9%

Mileage

131,169 mi
Last recorded131,169 miles
Recorded on23 Oct 2025
Typical for 2003 Volvo S4076,229 mi

Significantly above average — investigate

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Vehicle Details

RegistrationSL53 ZBC
MakeVolvo
ModelS40
Year2003
ColourGrey
Fuel typePetrol
Engine1,783cc

All premium checks include

50+ data points
Finance Check (Experian) Insurance Write-off Salvage Auction Stolen Check Previous Owners Ex-Taxi, Police, NHS Mileage Anomaly Import / Export Scrapped Check Plate Changes

MOT History

19 pass 9 fail
Pass 23 Oct 2025 131,169 miles

Registration plate lamp inoperative in the case of multiple lamps or light sources (4.7.1 (b) (i))

Pass 29 Oct 2024 130,392 miles

Nearside Front Brake pipe corroded, covered in grease or other material (1.1.11 (c))

Pass 3 Oct 2023 129,819 miles

Exhaust has a minor leak of exhaust gases (6.1.2 (a))

Nearside Rear Brake disc worn, pitted or scored, but not seriously weakened (1.1.14 (a) (ii))

Offside Rear Brake disc worn, pitted or scored, but not seriously weakened (1.1.14 (a) (ii))

Pass 6 Oct 2022 138,264 miles

Nearside Front Coil spring worn (5.3.1 (b) (i))

Nearside Rear Anti-roll bar linkage ball joint has slight play (5.3.4 (a) (i))

Offside Rear Registration plate lamp inoperative in the case of multiple lamps or light sources (4.7.1 (b) (i))

Pass 7 Oct 2021 125,951 miles
Pass 5 Oct 2020 124,324 miles
Pass 11 Apr 2019 115,308 miles

Nearside Front Brake pad(s) wearing thin (1.1.13 (a) (ii))

Nearside Rear Registration plate lamp inoperative in the case of multiple lamps or light sources (4.7.1 (b) (i))

Offside Front Brake pad(s) wearing thin (1.1.13 (a) (ii))

Fail 10 Apr 2019 115,308 miles

Nearside Front Headlamp not working on dipped beam (4.1.1 (a) (ii))

Offside Front Track rod end ball joint worn to the extent there is a serious risk of detachment (2.1.3 (b) (ii)) DANGEROUS

Nearside Front Brake pad(s) wearing thin (1.1.13 (a) (ii))

Nearside Rear Registration plate lamp inoperative in the case of multiple lamps or light sources (4.7.1 (b) (i))

Offside Front Brake pad(s) wearing thin (1.1.13 (a) (ii))

Pass 11 Apr 2018 103,344 miles
Fail 10 Apr 2018 103,336 miles

Central Statutory seat belt missing (5.1.1)

Nearside Front Tyre has a cut in excess of the requirements deep enough to reach the ply or cords outer sidewall (4.1.D.1a)

Nearside Headlamp not working on dipped beam (1.7.5a)

Offside Rear Brake pad(s) less than 1.5 mm thick (3.5.1g)

Offside rear parking brake recording little or no effort (3.7.B.6a)

Parking brake: efficiency below requirements (3.7.B.7)

Pass 8 Feb 2017 95,480 miles

Fuel Pipe/s corroded ()

Nearside Front marker light

Nearside Rear marker light

Offside Front marker light

Offside Rear marker light wrong colour

Fail 8 Feb 2017 95,478 miles

Nearside Front Windscreen wiper does not clear the windscreen effectively (8.2.2)

Offside Front Front position lamp(s) not working (1.1.A.3b)

Offside Front Windscreen wiper does not clear the windscreen effectively (8.2.2)

Offside Rear rear parking brake recording little or no effort (3.7.B.6a)

Parking brake: efficiency below requirements (3.7.B.7)

Fuel Pipe/s corroded ()

Nearside Front marker light

Nearside Rear marker light

Offside Front marker light

Offside Rear marker light wrong colour

Pass 9 Mar 2016 93,106 miles

Nearside Front Track rod end ball joint has slight play (2.2.B.1f)

Pass 17 Feb 2015 91,621 miles
Pass 7 Feb 2014 90,521 miles

Front Exhaust has a minor leak of exhaust gases (7.1.2)

Nearside Rear All position lamps have light sources not illuminating, but not more than 50% (1.1.A.3b)

Rear brake disc worn, pitted or scored, but not seriously weakened (3.5.1i)

fuel filter corroded

offside front wiper arm linkage worn

offside wiper blade starting to tear

rear brake back plates corroded

service light on

Fail 7 Feb 2014 90,521 miles

Nearside Rear Direction indicators incorrect colour (1.4.A.2f)

Offside Front Anti-roll bar linkage has excessive play in a ball joint (2.4.G.2)

Offside Rear Direction indicators incorrect colour (1.4.A.2f)

Offside rear parking brake recording little or no effort (3.7.B.6a)

Parking brake: efficiency below requirements (3.7.B.7)

Front Exhaust has a minor leak of exhaust gases (7.1.2)

Nearside Rear All position lamps have light sources not illuminating, but not more than 50% (1.1.A.3b)

Rear brake disc worn, pitted or scored, but not seriously weakened (3.5.1i)

fuel filter corroded

offside front wiper arm linkage worn

offside rear handbrake lever not against stop

offside wiper blade starting to tear

rear brake back plates corroded

service light on

Pass 18 Feb 2013 86,987 miles

Exhaust has a minor leak of exhaust gases (7.1.2)

Nearside Brake pipe slightly corroded (3.6.B.2c)

Nearside Rear Direction indicator slightly discoloured (1.4.A.2f)

Offside Brake pipe slightly corroded (3.6.B.2c)

Offside Front Anti-roll bar has slight play in a ball joint (2.4.G.2)

Offside Rear Direction indicator slightly discoloured (1.4.A.2f)

exhaust corroded

unable to fully check rear springs

Fail 18 Feb 2013 86,987 miles

Brakes imbalanced across an axle (3.7.B.5b)

Offside Front Tyre tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm (4.1.E.1)

Offside Rear Tyre tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm (4.1.E.1)

Exhaust has a minor leak of exhaust gases (7.1.2)

Nearside Brake pipe slightly corroded (3.6.B.2c)

Nearside Rear Direction indicator slightly discoloured (1.4.A.2f)

Offside Brake pipe slightly corroded (3.6.B.2c)

Offside Front Anti-roll bar has slight play in a ball joint (2.4.G.2)

Offside Rear Direction indicator slightly discoloured (1.4.A.2f)

exhaust corroded

unable to fully check rear springs

Pass 30 Nov 2011 80,431 miles

Exhaust has part of the system slightly deteriorated (7.1.1a)

Nearside Front Track rod end ball joint has slight play (2.2.B.1f)

Nearside Rear Brake pipe slightly corroded (3.6.B.2c)

Nearside Rear Direction indicators slightly discoloured (1.4.A.2f)

Offside Front Seat belt damaged but webbing not significantly weakened (5.2.2a)

Offside Rear Direction indicators slightly discoloured (1.4.A.2f)

front tyres damaged

noise from engine

rear tyre worn and perished

Fail 30 Nov 2011 80,431 miles

Offside Front Brake pad(s) less than 1.5 mm thick (3.5.1g)

Offside Registration plate lamp not working (1.1.C.1d)

Exhaust has part of the system slightly deteriorated (7.1.1a)

Nearside Front Track rod end ball joint has slight play (2.2.B.1f)

Nearside Rear Brake pipe slightly corroded (3.6.B.2c)

Nearside Rear Direction indicators slightly discoloured (1.4.A.2f)

Offside Front Seat belt damaged but webbing not significantly weakened (5.2.2a)

Offside Rear Direction indicators slightly discoloured (1.4.A.2f)

front brake discs pitted

front tyres damaged

noise from engine

rear tyre worn and perished

Pass 18 Jan 2011 76,254 miles

Parking brake: parking brake efficiency only just met. It would appear that the braking system requires adjustment or repair. (3.7.B.7)

Fail 18 Jan 2011 76,241 miles

Nearside Headlamp aim too high (1.8)

Nearside Rear Tyre tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm (4.1.E.1)

Offside Registration plate lamp not working (1.1.C.1d)

Parking brake: efficiency below requirements (3.7.B.7)

Offside Front Brake pad(s) wearing thin (3.5.1g)

Offside Rear Tyre worn close to the legal limit (4.1.E.1)

front discs worn

Pass 15 Feb 2010 70,012 miles

Nearside Rear Direction indicators slightly discoloured (1.4.A.2f)

Offside Rear Direction indicators slightly discoloured (1.4.A.2f)

in and outter sides of front tyres low

n/s front fog light insecure +o/s cracked

o/s/f brake slightly binding

side marker lights not working

slight play o/s steering rack

Pass 12 Feb 2009 59,794 miles

Nearside Rear Brake pad(s) wearing thin (3.5.1g)

Fail 25 Feb 2008 50,780 miles

Nearside Headlamp aim too low (1.8)

Nearside Registration plate lamp not working (1.1.5c)

Pass 25 Feb 2008 50,780 miles
Pass 26 Feb 2007 40,231 miles

unable to access n/s and o/s body sills due to plastic covers

Fail 26 Feb 2007 40,231 miles

Nearside Headlamp aim too low (1.8)

Offside Headlamp aim too low (1.8)

unable to access n/s and o/s body sills due to plastic covers

How Reliable is the Volvo S40?

Based on 1,390,271 MOT tests across 104,646 vehicles.

69.9%
Pass Rate
6,355
Miles/Year
30
Year Lifespan
104,646
On UK Roads

Top MOT Failure Points

position lamp(s) not working 60,127
Tyre tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm 53,645
Registration plate lamp not working 51,350
Brake pipe excessively corroded 36,593
Direction indicator incorrect colour 29,671
Full Volvo S40 reliability report

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Not all vehicle check providers are the same. Some don't offer a data guarantee, which means if their information is wrong, you're on your own. Every CarVerify report is backed by a £30,000 finance data guarantee.

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SL53 ZBC is a 2003 Volvo S40 in Grey with a 1,783cc petrol engine. This vehicle has been through 28 MOT tests with a personal pass rate of 67.9%.

Across all 2003 Volvo S40 models, the average MOT pass rate is 68.9% with a typical mileage of 76,229 miles. This particular vehicle has a lower pass rate than the average for its year, which may indicate maintenance issues worth investigating.

The most common reason a Volvo S40 fails its MOT is position lamp(s) not working, accounting for 60,127 recorded failures. If you're considering buying SL53 ZBC, it's worth having these areas checked by a mechanic before committing.

The Volvo S40 typically stays on UK roads for around 30 years. At 23 years old, this Volvo S40 is well into its expected lifespan but still has years ahead.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I check the history of SL53 ZBC?

You can check the full history of SL53 ZBC by running a full vehicle check. This shows you finance, stolen, write-off, MOT history, mileage records and more.

What year was SL53 ZBC registered?

SL53 ZBC is a 2003 Volvo S40, first registered on 30 September 2003.

Is SL53 ZBC safe to buy?

The MOT history for SL53 ZBC shows 28 tests with a 67.9% pass rate. To check for outstanding finance, stolen markers, write-off history and mileage discrepancies, run a full vehicle check.

Does SL53 ZBC have outstanding finance?

Finance checks require a premium vehicle report. This checks against all major UK finance providers to see if there is any outstanding finance on SL53 ZBC. If you buy a car with outstanding finance, the finance company can repossess it.

No warranty or guarantee of accuracy is provided for any free data on this page. The data guarantee applies only to information obtained through the purchase of a full check.