2005 Volvo S40 — MOT failures & pass rate
12,208 MOT tests on the 2005 Volvo S40 are in this dataset, and 71.5% of them passed. That is effectively the same as small family cars of a similar age (27.8% fail rate), so the MOT record here is unremarkable in either direction. Failures cluster in suspension, lighting & signalling and brakes.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — suspension (15.3%) and lighting & signalling (13.2%) are close, so failures are spread across several systems rather than one weak point.
At component level the recurring items are headlamp aim, coil spring and rbt (sp) — headlamp aim alone was recorded 677 times.
Mileage is the strongest signal on the record: 16.1% of 0-30k cars fail, rising to 30.6% once past 150k.
The petrol cars hold up better: 27.6% fail against 30.0% for diesel, a 2.4-point gap across 12,206 tests.
Suspension is the most common advisory, noted on 34.6% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Suspension | 15.3% | 1,872 |
| 2 | Lighting & signalling | 13.2% | 1,608 |
| 3 | Brakes | 9.6% | 1,172 |
| 4 | Tyres | 7.1% | 866 |
| 5 | Body, structure & corrosion | 6.0% | 732 |
| 6 | Visibility | 4.8% | 588 |
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 | 677 |
| 2 | Coil spring | 653 |
| 3 | Rbt (sp) | 647 |
| 4 | Joints | 532 |
| 5 | Pins and bushes | 511 |
| 6 | Headlamp | 470 |
Top advisory categories
Advisories aren't failures, but they flag work likely needed soon — useful when budgeting.
| # | Category | % of tests with advisory | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Suspension | 34.6% | 4,230 |
| 2 | Tyres | 30.8% | 3,759 |
| 3 | Brakes | 25.4% | 3,096 |
| 4 | Lighting & signalling | 13.1% | 1,593 |
| 5 | Body, structure & corrosion | 12.3% | 1,496 |
| 6 | Other defects | 11.9% | 1,459 |
Failure rate by mileage
Higher-mileage cars tend to fail more — often the most useful guide to real condition.
| Mileage band | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 0-30k | 124 | 16.1% |
| 30-60k | 901 | 22.6% |
| 60-90k | 2,341 | 24.9% |
| 90-120k | 3,461 | 29.5% |
| 120-150k | 3,003 | 30.8% |
| 150k+ | 2,369 | 30.6% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Petrol | 7,425 | 27.6% |
| Diesel | 4,781 | 30.0% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 3,564 | 28.6% |
| 2022 | 2,884 | 28.5% |
| 2023 | 2,353 | 28.5% |
| 2024 | 1,925 | 28.9% |
| 2025 | 1,482 | 27.9% |
What to check before buying a 2005 S40
The failure pattern for this year is specific enough to inspect against: suspension accounted for 15.3% of tests. Start there.
- Suspension (15.3% 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.
- Lighting & signalling (13.2% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Brakes (9.6% 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 2005 Volvo S40s pass their MOT?
71.5% of the 12,208 2005 Volvo S40 MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 28.5% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2005 Volvo S40?
Suspension, recorded in 15.3% of tests, followed by lighting & signalling (13.2%).
Does the 2005 S40 get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 16.1% in the 0-30k band to 30.6% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 12,208 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.