Volvo Xc40: MOT pass rate and reliability data

The Volvo Xc40 passes its MOT first time more often than the average UK car, by 13.8 percentage points. These figures come from the DVSA's full year of anonymised MOT results, covering 49,112 individual Volvo Xc40 tests. Nothing here is an estimate or a survey.

The numbers

First-time pass rate90.5%
UK national average76.7%
Difference+13.8 points
Tests analysed49,112
Average mileage at test35,442 miles
Average year of manufacture2020
Reliability rank617 of 2,005 models

What this means if you are buying one

A 90.5% first-time pass rate means roughly 10 in every 100 Volvo Xc40s presented for MOT fail on the first attempt. That is better than average, so a well-kept example is a reasonably safe used buy. The average Volvo Xc40 tested had covered 35,442 miles and was built around 2020.

What this means at salvage auction

Pass rate is a proxy for what a car costs to keep on the road. The Volvo Xc40 sits 13.8 points above the national average, ranked 617 of 2,005 models. On one bought as repairable salvage, the mechanical side is less likely to spring surprises, so your repair estimate should hold up reasonably well.

Before you bid: run the lot through the analyzer, check the car's own record, check the mileage, decode the VIN, and if it carries a marker use the write-off value calculator. Or compare it against another model.

Looking at a specific Volvo Xc40 rather than the model in general? The free check covers its MOT and mileage history, and the full HPI report confirms the insurance write-off category, outstanding finance and whether it is recorded stolen, from licensed data for 5 credits. Already own one that has been damaged? Work out whether fixing it beats selling it with the repair or scrap calculator, and see recorded closing bids for damaged Volvo Xc40s at UK salvage auction.

Most common MOT failures on a Volvo Xc40

  1. a brake lining or pad worn below 1.5mm, 4.7% of tests (2.17x the national rate for this defect)
  2. A suspension component fractured or likely to fail, 0.2% of tests (1.99x the national rate for this defect)
  3. A tyre seriously damaged, 2.3% of tests
  4. Tyre tread depth not in accordance with the requirements, 1.7% of tests
  5. Wiper blade missing or obviously not clearing the windscreen, 0.7% of tests
  6. A tyre cords visible or damaged, 0.6% of tests
  7. Brake disc or drum significantly and obviously worn, 0.3% of tests
  8. Engine MIL illuminated indicating a malfunction, 0.3% of tests
  9. A transmission shaft constant velocity joint boot missing or no longer prevents the ingress of dirt etc, 0.1% of tests
  10. An obligatory rear fog lamp missing, or a front or rear fog lamp inoperative or in the case of a multiple light source more than 1/2 not functioning, 0.1% of tests

From 49,045 DVSA-tracked Volvo Xc40 tests, 2024. DVSA testers marked 9.15% of these flagged Volvo Xc40 defects as "dangerous", meaning the tester judged the car unsafe to drive away, against 5.11% nationally.

Most common MOT advisories on a Volvo Xc40

An advisory doesn't fail the car - the tester flags it as worth watching, but it still passes. A different list from the failures above: what testers are noting on a Volvo Xc40 before it actually fails on it.

  1. Brake disc or drum significantly and obviously worn, 6.2% of tests (1.95x the national rate for this advisory), also fails
  2. a brake lining or pad worn below 1.5mm, 17.9% of tests (1.91x the national rate for this advisory), also fails
  3. Tyre tread depth not in accordance with the requirements, 24.2% of tests, also fails
  4. A tyre seriously damaged, 12.3% of tests, also fails
  5. Brake disc or drum excessively weakened, insecure or fractured, 6.2% of tests
  6. Number plate inscription missing or illegible, 0.4% of tests
  7. A suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn, 0.4% of tests
  8. A seat belt webbing or flexible stalk significantly stretched or weakened, 0.2% of tests
  9. A shock absorber damaged to the extent that it does not function or showing signs of severe leakage, 0.2% of tests
  10. Fluid leaking excessively and likely to harm the environment or to pose a safety risk to other road users, 0.1% of tests

From 49,045 DVSA-tracked Volvo Xc40 tests, 2024.

Volvo Xc40 pass rate by model year

From its 2018 to its 2021 model year, the Volvo Xc40's first-time pass rate has risen 2.7 points, from 89% to 91.7%, the usual pattern: a newer model year is a younger car today, so it fails less. First-time pass rate for each Volvo Xc40 year:

Volvo Xc40 by fuel type

The Volvo Xc40's two most-tested fuel types split by 1.7 points: petrol passes first time 91.3% of the time (37,428 tests) against 89.6% for diesel (11,433 tests).

Other Volvo models

Models with a similar pass rate

If this car is a salvage or write-off

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Volvo Xc40 MOT pass rate badge: 90.5%

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Volvo Xc40 most common MOT failure: a brake lining or pad worn below 1.5mm (4.7% of tests)

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All 2,005 models ranked by MOT pass rate