2010 Volvo S40 — MOT failures & pass rate
Across 14,142 MOT tests, the 2010 Volvo S40 recorded a 73.9% pass rate. Small family cars of a similar age fail 24.1% of the time, so this is 2.0pp worse than the group it competes with. Failures cluster in lighting & signalling, suspension and tyres.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — lighting & signalling (14.3%) 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 coil spring, position lamp and headlamp aim — coil spring alone was recorded 791 times.
Condition tracks the odometer closely. Failures run at 10.1% in the 0-30k band and 28.4% in the 150k+ band, a 18.3-point spread — more than double.
The petrol cars hold up better: 22.9% fail against 26.9% for diesel, a 4.0-point gap across 14,142 tests.
Tyres is the most common advisory, noted on 31.0% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
The trend is worsening — 24.5% of tests failed in 2021 against 26.8% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 14.3% | 2,028 |
| 2 | Suspension | 13.6% | 1,923 |
| 3 | Tyres | 7.0% | 995 |
| 4 | Brakes | 6.3% | 889 |
| 5 | Visibility | 3.8% | 532 |
| 6 | Steering | 3.8% | 530 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Coil spring | 791 |
| 2 | Position lamp | 772 |
| 3 | Headlamp aim | 753 |
| 4 | Pins and bushes | 680 |
| 5 | Tread depth | 514 |
| 6 | Headlamp | 437 |
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 | 31.0% | 4,379 |
| 2 | Suspension | 24.5% | 3,469 |
| 3 | Brakes | 21.8% | 3,082 |
| 4 | Lighting & signalling | 12.8% | 1,810 |
| 5 | Other defects | 9.6% | 1,360 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 8.8% | 1,244 |
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 | 207 | 10.1% |
| 30-60k | 1,414 | 18.7% |
| 60-90k | 3,579 | 24.9% |
| 90-120k | 4,555 | 27.9% |
| 120-150k | 2,876 | 28.3% |
| 150k+ | 1,505 | 28.4% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Diesel | 11,504 | 26.9% |
| Petrol | 2,638 | 22.9% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 3,230 | 24.5% |
| 2022 | 3,137 | 25.7% |
| 2023 | 2,894 | 26.8% |
| 2024 | 2,642 | 27.4% |
| 2025 | 2,239 | 26.8% |
What to check before buying a 2010 S40
The failure pattern for this year is specific enough to inspect against: lighting & signalling accounted for 14.3% of tests. Start there.
- Lighting & signalling (14.3% 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.
- Tyres (7.0% 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 2010 Volvo S40s pass their MOT?
73.9% of the 14,142 2010 Volvo S40 MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 26.1% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2010 Volvo S40?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 14.3% of tests, followed by suspension (13.6%).
Does the 2010 S40 get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 10.1% in the 0-30k band to 28.4% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 14,142 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.