2017 Volvo V40 — MOT failures & pass rate
79,562 MOT tests on the 2017 Volvo V40 are in this dataset, and 84.8% of them passed. Against small family cars of a similar age (11.9% fail rate), the 2017 V40 comes out 3.3pp worse. Failures cluster in suspension, tyres and brakes.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — suspension (6.9%) and tyres (6.3%) 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 brake pads — coil spring alone was recorded 5,297 times.
A 150k+ example is materially riskier than a 0-30k one: 22.7% versus 11.0%.
Fuel type barely separates them — petrol fails 14.6% of the time against 15.8% for diesel.
Tyres is the most common advisory, noted on 24.8% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
The trend is worsening — 11.9% of tests failed in 2021 against 16.6% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Suspension | 6.9% | 5,464 |
| 2 | Tyres | 6.3% | 4,974 |
| 3 | Brakes | 2.7% | 2,159 |
| 4 | Visibility | 1.8% | 1,438 |
| 5 | Lighting & signalling | 1.7% | 1,366 |
| 6 | Body, structure & corrosion | 0.7% | 530 |
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 | 5,297 |
| 2 | Tread depth | 2,033 |
| 3 | Brake pads | 1,841 |
| 4 | Wipers | 1,060 |
| 5 | Headlamp aim | 1,006 |
| 6 | Joints | 462 |
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 | 24.8% | 19,759 |
| 2 | Brakes | 14.6% | 11,615 |
| 3 | Other defects | 5.9% | 4,726 |
| 4 | Suspension | 3.5% | 2,826 |
| 5 | Visibility | 2.5% | 2,027 |
| 6 | Road wheels | 1.6% | 1,264 |
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 | 18,216 | 11.0% |
| 30-60k | 38,559 | 15.7% |
| 60-90k | 16,935 | 17.2% |
| 90-120k | 4,484 | 18.6% |
| 120-150k | 991 | 20.2% |
| 150k+ | 348 | 22.7% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Petrol | 43,186 | 14.6% |
| Diesel | 36,376 | 15.8% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 15,481 | 11.9% |
| 2022 | 15,929 | 14.6% |
| 2023 | 16,100 | 16.2% |
| 2024 | 16,008 | 16.6% |
| 2025 | 16,044 | 16.6% |
What to check before buying a 2017 V40
The failure pattern for this year is specific enough to inspect against: suspension accounted for 6.9% of tests. Start there.
- Suspension (6.9% 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 (6.3% 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.
- Brakes (2.7% 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 2017 Volvo V40s pass their MOT?
84.8% of the 79,562 2017 Volvo V40 MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 15.2% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2017 Volvo V40?
Suspension, recorded in 6.9% of tests, followed by tyres (6.3%).
Does the 2017 V40 get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 11.0% in the 0-30k band to 22.7% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 79,562 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.