2009 Volvo S40 — MOT failures & pass rate
Across 17,339 MOT tests, the 2009 Volvo S40 recorded a 73.7% pass rate. That is effectively the same as small family cars of a similar age (25.3% fail rate), so the MOT record here is unremarkable in either direction. Failures cluster in lighting & signalling, suspension and tyres.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — lighting & signalling (14.4%) and suspension (13.0%) are close, so failures are spread across several systems rather than one weak point.
At component level the recurring items are position lamp, pins and bushes and coil spring — position lamp alone was recorded 1,017 times.
Mileage is the strongest signal on the record: 14.0% of 0-30k cars fail, rising to 28.4% once past 150k — 2.0× the risk.
The petrol cars hold up better: 25.0% fail against 27.1% for diesel, a 2.1-point gap across 17,339 tests.
Tyres is the most common advisory, noted on 30.1% 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 | 14.4% | 2,501 |
| 2 | Suspension | 13.0% | 2,261 |
| 3 | Tyres | 6.8% | 1,183 |
| 4 | Brakes | 6.6% | 1,142 |
| 5 | Visibility | 4.3% | 741 |
| 6 | Body, structure & corrosion | 4.0% | 698 |
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 | 1,017 |
| 2 | Pins and bushes | 927 |
| 3 | Coil spring | 866 |
| 4 | Headlamp aim | 792 |
| 5 | Headlamp | 587 |
| 6 | Tread depth | 559 |
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% | 5,223 |
| 2 | Suspension | 26.4% | 4,582 |
| 3 | Brakes | 22.2% | 3,854 |
| 4 | Lighting & signalling | 13.1% | 2,267 |
| 5 | Other defects | 10.2% | 1,762 |
| 6 | Body, structure & corrosion | 9.4% | 1,639 |
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 | 399 | 14.0% |
| 30-60k | 1,935 | 20.2% |
| 60-90k | 4,357 | 25.4% |
| 90-120k | 5,195 | 27.6% |
| 120-150k | 3,408 | 29.2% |
| 150k+ | 2,040 | 28.4% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Diesel | 10,537 | 27.1% |
| Petrol | 6,802 | 25.0% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 4,072 | 25.5% |
| 2022 | 3,798 | 25.4% |
| 2023 | 3,581 | 27.6% |
| 2024 | 3,130 | 26.4% |
| 2025 | 2,758 | 27.0% |
What to check before buying a 2009 S40
The failure pattern for this year is specific enough to inspect against: lighting & signalling accounted for 14.4% of tests. Start there.
- Lighting & signalling (14.4% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Suspension (13.0% 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.
- Tyres (6.8% of tests): Usually a quick, known-cost fix, but check tread, age and uneven wear (which can hint at alignment or suspension issues). Typical repair: £50–£120 per tyre.
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 2009 Volvo S40s pass their MOT?
73.7% of the 17,339 2009 Volvo S40 MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 26.3% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2009 Volvo S40?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 14.4% of tests, followed by suspension (13.0%).
Does the 2009 S40 get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 14.0% in the 0-30k band to 28.4% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 17,339 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.