2014 Volvo V40 — MOT failures & pass rate
Across 101,279 MOT tests, the 2014 Volvo V40 recorded a 78.6% pass rate. That is 3.9 percentage points worse than small family cars of a similar age, which fail at 17.5%. Failures cluster in suspension, tyres and lighting & signalling.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — suspension (8.6%) and tyres (6.4%) are close, so failures are spread across several systems rather than one weak point.
At component level the recurring items are coil spring, tread depth and on or after 01/01/2014 — coil spring alone was recorded 7,597 times.
Condition tracks the odometer closely. Failures run at 14.6% in the 0-30k band and 25.4% in the 150k+ band, a 10.7-point spread.
Split by fuel, diesel examples fail 5.4pp more often than petrol ones (21.7% vs 16.3%) — worth weighing if you have a choice.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: tyres was flagged on 27.8% of tests without failing them.
The trend is worsening — 20.7% of tests failed in 2021 against 23.0% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Suspension | 8.6% | 8,716 |
| 2 | Tyres | 6.4% | 6,447 |
| 3 | Lighting & signalling | 6.2% | 6,290 |
| 4 | Brakes | 4.9% | 4,946 |
| 5 | Emissions & environmental | 4.1% | 4,189 |
| 6 | Visibility | 2.0% | 2,069 |
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 | 7,597 |
| 2 | Tread depth | 3,476 |
| 3 | On or after 01/01/2014 | 3,384 |
| 4 | Headlamp aim | 3,306 |
| 5 | Brake pads | 2,520 |
| 6 | Position lamp | 2,194 |
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 | 27.8% | 28,103 |
| 2 | Brakes | 19.0% | 19,268 |
| 3 | Suspension | 10.6% | 10,703 |
| 4 | Other defects | 8.1% | 8,155 |
| 5 | Visibility | 3.1% | 3,142 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 2.9% | 2,932 |
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 | 3,470 | 14.6% |
| 30-60k | 24,096 | 18.3% |
| 60-90k | 37,727 | 21.5% |
| 90-120k | 23,561 | 23.2% |
| 120-150k | 9,010 | 24.8% |
| 150k+ | 3,329 | 25.4% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Diesel | 94,487 | 21.7% |
| Petrol | 6,786 | 16.3% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 20,536 | 20.7% |
| 2022 | 20,157 | 19.9% |
| 2023 | 20,442 | 21.6% |
| 2024 | 20,059 | 21.6% |
| 2025 | 20,085 | 23.0% |
What to check before buying a 2014 V40
On a 2014 V40, suspension is what the MOT record says goes wrong most — it appeared in 8.6% of tests. Check these areas before you commit.
- Suspension (8.6% 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 (6.4% 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.
- Lighting & signalling (6.2% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
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 2014 Volvo V40s pass their MOT?
78.6% of the 101,279 2014 Volvo V40 MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 21.4% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2014 Volvo V40?
Suspension, recorded in 8.6% of tests, followed by tyres (6.4%).
Does the 2014 V40 get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 14.6% in the 0-30k band to 25.4% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 101,279 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.