2013 Volvo S40 — MOT failures & pass rate
277 MOT tests on the 2013 Volvo S40 are in this dataset, and 72.9% of them passed. That is 8.0 percentage points worse than small family cars of a similar age, which fail at 19.1%. Failures cluster in suspension, lighting & signalling and body, structure & corrosion.
What the MOT record shows
Suspension dominates the failure mix at 13.4% of all tests — 3.6 points clear of lighting & signalling, so it is the first thing to check.
At component level the recurring items are coil spring, joints and headlamp aim — coil spring alone was recorded 27 times.
Mileage matters less than usual here: the 2013 S40 fails 23.6% of the time in the 30-60k band and 27.3% at 120-150k, a spread of only 3.6 points.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: tyres was flagged on 30.0% of tests without failing them.
The trend is worsening — 28.8% of tests failed in 2021 against 30.8% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Suspension | 13.4% | 37 |
| 2 | Lighting & signalling | 9.8% | 27 |
| 3 | Body, structure & corrosion | 7.9% | 22 |
| 4 | Tyres | 6.1% | 17 |
| 5 | Brakes | 5.4% | 15 |
| 6 | Visibility | 2.9% | 8 |
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 | 27 |
| 2 | Joints | 21 |
| 3 | Headlamp aim | 19 |
| 4 | Registration plate lamp(s) | 9 |
| 5 | Pins and bushes | 9 |
| 6 | Tread depth | 8 |
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 | 30.0% | 83 |
| 2 | Brakes | 23.5% | 65 |
| 3 | Suspension | 22.4% | 62 |
| 4 | Lighting & signalling | 10.5% | 29 |
| 5 | Other defects | 6.5% | 18 |
| 6 | Body, structure & corrosion | 5.8% | 16 |
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 | 55 | 23.6% |
| 60-90k | 80 | 27.5% |
| 90-120k | 65 | 27.7% |
| 120-150k | 44 | 27.3% |
Failure rate by age
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 73 | 28.8% |
| 2022 | 54 | 25.9% |
| 2023 | 49 | 24.5% |
| 2024 | 49 | 24.5% |
| 2025 | 52 | 30.8% |
What to check before buying a 2013 S40
On a 2013 S40, suspension is what the MOT record says goes wrong most — it appeared in 13.4% of tests. Check these areas before you commit.
- Suspension (13.4% 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 (9.8% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Body, structure & corrosion (7.9% of tests): The one to take seriously on older cars — corrosion to structural areas can be costly and is an MOT failure. Typical repair: £200–£1,500+.
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 2013 Volvo S40s pass their MOT?
72.9% of the 277 2013 Volvo S40 MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 27.1% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2013 Volvo S40?
Suspension, recorded in 13.4% of tests, followed by lighting & signalling (9.8%).
Does the 2013 S40 get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 23.6% in the 30-60k band to 27.3% in the 120-150k band.
Methodology & source. Based on 277 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.