1998 Volvo V40 — MOT failures & pass rate
Across 881 MOT tests, the 1998 Volvo V40 recorded a 66.9% pass rate. Small family cars of a similar age fail 27.1% of the time, so this is 6.0pp worse than the group it competes with. Failures cluster in lighting & signalling, suspension and brakes.
What the MOT record shows
Lighting & signalling dominates the failure mix at 21.1% of all tests — 7.6 points clear of suspension, so it is the first thing to check.
At component level the recurring items are position lamp, catalyst emissions and headlamp aim — position lamp alone was recorded 104 times.
Mileage is the strongest signal on the record: 25.0% of 30-60k cars fail, rising to 38.6% once past 150k.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: brakes was flagged on 37.1% of tests without failing them.
The trend is improving — the fail rate fell from 32.3% in 2021 to 28.9% in 2025, as the worst-kept examples leave the fleet.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 21.1% | 186 |
| 2 | Suspension | 13.5% | 119 |
| 3 | Brakes | 12.5% | 110 |
| 4 | Emissions & environmental | 9.2% | 81 |
| 5 | Body, structure & corrosion | 8.8% | 78 |
| 6 | Visibility | 7.8% | 69 |
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 | 104 |
| 2 | Catalyst emissions | 88 |
| 3 | Headlamp aim | 87 |
| 4 | Component mounting prescribed areas | 77 |
| 5 | Headlamp | 66 |
| 6 | Wipers | 52 |
Top advisory categories
Advisories aren't failures, but they flag work likely needed soon — useful when budgeting.
| # | Category | % of tests with advisory | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Brakes | 37.1% | 327 |
| 2 | Suspension | 31.6% | 278 |
| 3 | Tyres | 22.9% | 202 |
| 4 | Lighting & signalling | 16.4% | 144 |
| 5 | Body, structure & corrosion | 15.2% | 134 |
| 6 | Other defects | 15.0% | 132 |
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 | 80 | 25.0% |
| 60-90k | 267 | 27.7% |
| 90-120k | 225 | 37.8% |
| 120-150k | 168 | 36.9% |
| 150k+ | 132 | 38.6% |
Failure rate by age
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 310 | 32.3% |
| 2022 | 228 | 34.6% |
| 2023 | 152 | 35.5% |
| 2024 | 115 | 32.2% |
| 2025 | 76 | 28.9% |
What to check before buying a 1998 V40
On a 1998 V40, lighting & signalling is what the MOT record says goes wrong most — it appeared in 21.1% of tests. Check these areas before you commit.
- Lighting & signalling (21.1% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Suspension (13.5% 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 (12.5% 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 1998 Volvo V40s pass their MOT?
66.9% of the 881 1998 Volvo V40 MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 33.1% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 1998 Volvo V40?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 21.1% of tests, followed by suspension (13.5%).
Does the 1998 V40 get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 25.0% in the 30-60k band to 38.6% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 881 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.