2012 Volvo V40 — MOT failures & pass rate
Across 15,258 MOT tests, the 2012 Volvo V40 recorded a 76.9% pass rate. Small family cars of a similar age fail 21.3% of the time, so this is 1.9pp worse than the group it competes with. Failures cluster in suspension, lighting & signalling and brakes.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — suspension (9.6%) and lighting & signalling (9.6%) are close, so failures are spread across several systems rather than one weak point.
At component level the recurring items are coil spring, individual direction indicators and headlamp aim — coil spring alone was recorded 750 times.
A 150k+ example is materially riskier than a 0-30k one: 27.0% versus 14.4%.
Split by fuel, diesel examples fail 4.0pp more often than petrol ones (23.3% vs 19.4%) — worth weighing if you have a choice.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: tyres was flagged on 29.8% of tests without failing them.
The trend is worsening — 21.0% of tests failed in 2021 against 25.5% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Suspension | 9.6% | 1,465 |
| 2 | Lighting & signalling | 9.6% | 1,459 |
| 3 | Brakes | 7.5% | 1,147 |
| 4 | Tyres | 6.5% | 987 |
| 5 | Visibility | 2.7% | 415 |
| 6 | Body, structure & corrosion | 2.4% | 365 |
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 | 750 |
| 2 | Individual direction indicators | 685 |
| 3 | Headlamp aim | 642 |
| 4 | Tread depth | 504 |
| 5 | Brake pads | 422 |
| 6 | Anti-lock braking system | 372 |
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 | 29.8% | 4,541 |
| 2 | Brakes | 19.4% | 2,952 |
| 3 | Suspension | 18.6% | 2,842 |
| 4 | Other defects | 9.6% | 1,466 |
| 5 | Lighting & signalling | 7.5% | 1,150 |
| 6 | Visibility | 3.5% | 537 |
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 | 292 | 14.4% |
| 30-60k | 1,904 | 17.1% |
| 60-90k | 4,240 | 21.3% |
| 90-120k | 4,451 | 24.3% |
| 120-150k | 2,765 | 26.6% |
| 150k+ | 1,585 | 27.0% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Diesel | 14,488 | 23.3% |
| Petrol | 770 | 19.4% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 3,119 | 21.0% |
| 2022 | 3,112 | 21.8% |
| 2023 | 3,061 | 23.2% |
| 2024 | 3,010 | 24.3% |
| 2025 | 2,956 | 25.5% |
What to check before buying a 2012 V40
On a 2012 V40, suspension is what the MOT record says goes wrong most — it appeared in 9.6% of tests. Check these areas before you commit.
- Suspension (9.6% 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.
- Lighting & signalling (9.6% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Brakes (7.5% 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 2012 Volvo V40s pass their MOT?
76.9% of the 15,258 2012 Volvo V40 MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 23.1% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2012 Volvo V40?
Suspension, recorded in 9.6% of tests, followed by lighting & signalling (9.6%).
Does the 2012 V40 get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 14.4% in the 0-30k band to 27.0% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 15,258 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.