2008 Volvo S40 — MOT failures & pass rate
The 2008 Volvo S40 passed 73.2% of its 21,715 recorded MOT tests. Small family cars of a similar age fail at 26.2%, so the 2008 S40 sits squarely on the average. Failures cluster in lighting & signalling, suspension and brakes.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — lighting & signalling (15.7%) and suspension (13.6%) are close, so failures are spread across several systems rather than one weak point.
At component level the recurring items are position lamp, coil spring and headlamp aim — position lamp alone was recorded 1,632 times.
A 150k+ example is materially riskier than a 0-30k one: 29.7% versus 13.8%.
Split by fuel, diesel examples fail 1.9pp more often than petrol ones (28.0% vs 26.1%) — worth weighing if you have a choice.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: tyres was flagged on 30.1% of tests without failing them.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 15.7% | 3,399 |
| 2 | Suspension | 13.6% | 2,963 |
| 3 | Brakes | 7.6% | 1,652 |
| 4 | Tyres | 6.7% | 1,456 |
| 5 | Body, structure & corrosion | 5.6% | 1,221 |
| 6 | Visibility | 4.2% | 920 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Position lamp | 1,632 |
| 2 | Coil spring | 1,109 |
| 3 | Headlamp aim | 1,014 |
| 4 | Pins and bushes | 1,000 |
| 5 | Joints | 766 |
| 6 | Headlamp | 743 |
Top advisory categories
Advisories aren't failures, but they flag work likely needed soon — useful when budgeting.
| # | Category | % of tests with advisory | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tyres | 30.1% | 6,534 |
| 2 | Suspension | 29.6% | 6,418 |
| 3 | Brakes | 23.6% | 5,136 |
| 4 | Body, structure & corrosion | 14.3% | 3,109 |
| 5 | Lighting & signalling | 13.9% | 3,025 |
| 6 | Other defects | 11.1% | 2,413 |
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 | 167 | 13.8% |
| 30-60k | 1,589 | 20.0% |
| 60-90k | 4,890 | 24.1% |
| 90-120k | 6,975 | 27.5% |
| 120-150k | 4,666 | 29.1% |
| 150k+ | 3,423 | 29.7% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Petrol | 13,708 | 26.1% |
| Diesel | 8,007 | 28.0% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 5,422 | 26.8% |
| 2022 | 4,883 | 25.9% |
| 2023 | 4,438 | 27.4% |
| 2024 | 3,790 | 27.4% |
| 2025 | 3,182 | 26.6% |
What to check before buying a 2008 S40
On a 2008 S40, lighting & signalling is what the MOT record says goes wrong most — it appeared in 15.7% of tests. Check these areas before you commit.
- Lighting & signalling (15.7% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Suspension (13.6% 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 (7.6% 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 2008 Volvo S40s pass their MOT?
73.2% of the 21,715 2008 Volvo S40 MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 26.8% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2008 Volvo S40?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 15.7% of tests, followed by suspension (13.6%).
Does the 2008 S40 get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 13.8% in the 0-30k band to 29.7% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 21,715 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.