1998 Volvo S40 — MOT failures & pass rate
The 1998 Volvo S40 passed 70.1% of its 1,168 recorded MOT tests. That is 2.8 percentage points worse than small family cars of a similar age, which fail at 27.1%. Failures cluster in lighting & signalling, suspension and brakes.
What the MOT record shows
One area stands out: lighting & signalling, recorded in 21.8% of tests against 11.6% for the next-worst category.
At component level the recurring items are headlamp aim, position lamp and component mounting prescribed areas — headlamp aim alone was recorded 130 times.
A 150k+ example is materially riskier than a 30-60k one: 34.9% versus 28.0%.
Brakes is the most common advisory, noted on 38.7% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 21.8% | 254 |
| 2 | Suspension | 11.6% | 135 |
| 3 | Brakes | 9.5% | 111 |
| 4 | Emissions & environmental | 7.4% | 87 |
| 5 | Body, structure & corrosion | 7.1% | 83 |
| 6 | Visibility | 6.2% | 72 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Headlamp aim | 130 |
| 2 | Position lamp | 108 |
| 3 | Component mounting prescribed areas | 95 |
| 4 | Catalyst emissions | 91 |
| 5 | Headlamp | 74 |
| 6 | Individual direction indicators | 67 |
Top advisory categories
Advisories aren't failures, but they flag work likely needed soon — useful when budgeting.
| # | Category | % of tests with advisory | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Brakes | 38.7% | 452 |
| 2 | Suspension | 35.6% | 416 |
| 3 | Tyres | 25.8% | 301 |
| 4 | Lighting & signalling | 24.7% | 288 |
| 5 | Other defects | 19.4% | 226 |
| 6 | Body, structure & corrosion | 15.5% | 181 |
Failure rate by mileage
Higher-mileage cars tend to fail more — often the most useful guide to real condition.
| Mileage band | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 30-60k | 193 | 28.0% |
| 60-90k | 365 | 29.0% |
| 90-120k | 307 | 30.0% |
| 120-150k | 186 | 31.7% |
| 150k+ | 106 | 34.9% |
Failure rate by age
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 392 | 32.4% |
| 2022 | 291 | 28.9% |
| 2023 | 210 | 27.6% |
| 2024 | 142 | 25.4% |
| 2025 | 133 | 33.1% |
What to check before buying a 1998 S40
The failure pattern for this year is specific enough to inspect against: lighting & signalling accounted for 21.8% of tests. Start there.
- Lighting & signalling (21.8% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Suspension (11.6% of tests): Worn drop links, bushes, springs or shocks — listen for knocks over bumps and check for uneven tyre wear. Typical repair: £150–£450 per corner.
- Brakes (9.5% of tests): Pads/discs are routine wear; binding, imbalance or corroded pipes are more serious — test for pulling under braking. Typical repair: £100–£350 per axle.
Repair costs are rough UK ballpark ranges to set expectations, not quotes — actual prices vary widely by car, parts and garage.
Frequently asked questions
How many 1998 Volvo S40s pass their MOT?
70.1% of the 1,168 1998 Volvo S40 MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 29.9% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 1998 Volvo S40?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 21.8% of tests, followed by suspension (11.6%).
Does the 1998 S40 get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 28.0% in the 30-60k band to 34.9% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 1,168 MOT tests. Dataset: DVSA MOT testing data (2021,2022,2023,2024,2025). Data last updated 2026-07-27. Figures reflect MOT-testable defects only — read the methodology for how these are calculated and what they don't measure.