Petrol Volvo S40: MOT pass rate

64.6% of petrol Volvo S40s pass the MOT first time, measured across 9,606 DVSA tests on that fuel type alone. Average mileage at test was 99,736.

Petrol against the other Volvo S40 versions

Why the fuel type changes the number

Petrol cars avoid the DPF and emissions failures that catch diesels, and usually fail on the same consumables as any other car.

On the Volvo S40 specifically, petrol is the strongest at 64.6%, and this petrol version sits 1 points above the 63.6% model average.

What it means if you are buying one

The petrol Volvo S40 is the stronger side of this model on MOT data. Still judge the individual car, but the fuel type is a mild point in its favour. Buying a damaged one? run it through the analyzer, check the exact car, decode the VIN and check the mileage before you bid.

Mileage is part of the answer

The average petrol Volvo S40 had covered 99,736 miles at test, against 121,966 for the diesel. That is above average and into the range where cambelts and water pumps are due if they have not already been done, so ask for the service history rather than take the mileage on trust.

Fuel type and mileage are tangled together: diesels are usually bought by higher-mileage drivers, so some of any gap between fuels is the miles rather than the engine. The per-year figures on the Volvo S40 page separate age from fuel if you want to isolate one.

Most common MOT failures on a petrol Volvo S40

1. Steering rack gaiter or ball joint dust cover missing or no longer prevents the ingress of dirt etc, 3.1% of tests (4.2x the national rate for this defect)
2. Exhaust system leaking or insecure, 3% of tests (2.96x the national rate for this defect)
3. A rear registration plate lamp or light source missing or inoperative in the case of a single lamp or all lamps, 2.6% of tests (2.87x the national rate for this defect)
4. A transmission shaft constant velocity joint boot missing or no longer prevents the ingress of dirt etc, 4% of tests (2.59x the national rate for this defect)
5. A lamp missing, inoperative or in the case of a multiple light source more than 1/2 not functioning, 5.4% of tests (2.41x the national rate for this defect)
6. Parking brake efficiency below minimum requirement, 2.9% of tests (2.25x the national rate for this defect)
7. A suspension joint dust cover missing or no longer prevents the ingress of dirt etc, 3.8% of tests (2.08x the national rate for this defect)
8. The aim of a headlamp is not within limits laid down in the requirements, 4.7% of tests (1.99x the national rate for this defect)
9. A spring or spring component fractured or seriously weakened, 4.4% of tests (1.93x the national rate for this defect)
10. A suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn, 9.2% of tests (1.83x the national rate for this defect)

From 9,684 DVSA-tracked petrol Volvo S40 tests, 2024, split out from the Volvo S40's other fuel types. DVSA testers marked 4.78% of these flagged defects as "dangerous", against 5.11% nationally. See which fuel type fails on the most dangerous defects nationally for how that compares across the whole fleet.

Most common MOT advisories on a petrol Volvo S40

Flagged but doesn't fail the car, a different list from the failures above.

1. Power steering fluid leaking or system malfunctioning, 2.9% of tests (12.1x the national rate for this defect)
2. Lamp emitted colour, position or intensity not in accordance with the requirements, 5.5% of tests (4.03x the national rate for this defect)
3. Exhaust system leaking or insecure, 10% of tests (3.52x the national rate for this defect), also fails
4. Number plate inscription missing or illegible, 6.9% of tests (2.59x the national rate for this defect)
5. A suspension component excessively damaged or corroded, 12.5% of tests (2.41x the national rate for this defect)
6. A spring or spring component fractured or seriously weakened, 9.9% of tests (2.09x the national rate for this defect), also fails
7. A suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn, 23.7% of tests (1.77x the national rate for this defect), also fails
8. Fluid leaking excessively and likely to harm the environment or to pose a safety risk to other road users, 8.7% of tests (1.56x the national rate for this defect)
9. Brake pipe damaged or excessively corroded, 8.4% of tests (1.35x the national rate for this defect)
10. Brake disc or drum excessively weakened, insecure or fractured, 16.3% of tests (1.33x the national rate for this defect)

From 9,684 DVSA-tracked petrol Volvo S40 tests, 2024.

Other Volvo S40 fuel types

• Diesel Volvo S40 - 62.5%

All Volvo S40 MOT data · Every model