2003 Volvo V40 — MOT failures & pass rate
The 2003 Volvo V40 passed 67.3% of its 8,538 recorded MOT tests. Against small family cars of a similar age (28.1% fail rate), the 2003 V40 comes out 4.6pp worse. Failures cluster in lighting & signalling, suspension and brakes.
What the MOT record shows
Lighting & signalling dominates the failure mix at 19.3% of all tests — 3.6 points clear of suspension, so it is the first thing to check.
At component level the recurring items are position lamp, headlamp aim and rigid brake pipes — position lamp alone was recorded 910 times.
Mileage is the strongest signal on the record: 22.9% of 0-30k cars fail, rising to 36.4% once past 150k.
Fuel type barely separates them — petrol fails 32.2% of the time against 33.5% for diesel.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: brakes was flagged on 42.1% of tests without failing them.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 19.3% | 1,646 |
| 2 | Suspension | 15.7% | 1,339 |
| 3 | Brakes | 14.1% | 1,204 |
| 4 | Steering | 7.5% | 641 |
| 5 | Body, structure & corrosion | 7.3% | 622 |
| 6 | Visibility | 6.0% | 511 |
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 | 910 |
| 2 | Headlamp aim | 599 |
| 3 | Rigid brake pipes | 499 |
| 4 | Coil spring | 477 |
| 5 | Ball joint dust cover | 468 |
| 6 | Headlamp | 432 |
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 | 42.1% | 3,592 |
| 2 | Suspension | 33.0% | 2,819 |
| 3 | Tyres | 27.5% | 2,350 |
| 4 | Other defects | 17.6% | 1,500 |
| 5 | Lighting & signalling | 15.3% | 1,305 |
| 6 | Body, structure & corrosion | 14.8% | 1,261 |
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 | 48 | 22.9% |
| 30-60k | 501 | 24.3% |
| 60-90k | 1,377 | 29.0% |
| 90-120k | 2,119 | 31.9% |
| 120-150k | 2,064 | 33.6% |
| 150k+ | 2,425 | 36.4% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Petrol | 5,820 | 32.2% |
| Diesel | 2,716 | 33.5% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 2,591 | 32.8% |
| 2022 | 2,055 | 32.5% |
| 2023 | 1,637 | 32.7% |
| 2024 | 1,261 | 32.4% |
| 2025 | 994 | 32.9% |
What to check before buying a 2003 V40
On a 2003 V40, lighting & signalling is what the MOT record says goes wrong most — it appeared in 19.3% of tests. Check these areas before you commit.
- Lighting & signalling (19.3% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Suspension (15.7% 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 (14.1% 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 2003 Volvo V40s pass their MOT?
67.3% of the 8,538 2003 Volvo V40 MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 32.6% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2003 Volvo V40?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 19.3% of tests, followed by suspension (15.7%).
Does the 2003 V40 get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 22.9% in the 0-30k band to 36.4% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 8,538 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.