2018 Volvo V40 — MOT failures & pass rate
The 2018 Volvo V40 passed 86.8% of its 74,365 recorded MOT tests. Against small family cars of a similar age (10.4% fail rate), the 2018 V40 comes out 2.8pp worse. Failures cluster in tyres, suspension and brakes.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — tyres (6.5%) and suspension (4.8%) 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 3,470 times.
A 150k+ example is materially riskier than a 0-30k one: 16.0% versus 9.7%.
Split by fuel, diesel examples fail 1.6pp more often than petrol ones (14.4% vs 12.8%) — worth weighing if you have a choice.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: tyres was flagged on 24.8% of tests without failing them.
The trend is worsening — 9.0% of tests failed in 2021 against 16.2% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tyres | 6.5% | 4,838 |
| 2 | Suspension | 4.8% | 3,556 |
| 3 | Brakes | 2.3% | 1,675 |
| 4 | Visibility | 1.8% | 1,360 |
| 5 | Lighting & signalling | 1.7% | 1,266 |
| 6 | Body, structure & corrosion | 0.4% | 295 |
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 | 3,470 |
| 2 | Tread depth | 1,538 |
| 3 | Brake pads | 1,501 |
| 4 | Wipers | 1,090 |
| 5 | Headlamp aim | 999 |
| 6 | Washers | 352 |
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% | 18,452 |
| 2 | Brakes | 13.2% | 9,830 |
| 3 | Other defects | 5.5% | 4,113 |
| 4 | Suspension | 2.5% | 1,867 |
| 5 | Visibility | 2.5% | 1,853 |
| 6 | Road wheels | 1.7% | 1,236 |
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 | 29,335 | 9.7% |
| 30-60k | 33,483 | 14.8% |
| 60-90k | 9,456 | 17.7% |
| 90-120k | 1,687 | 17.3% |
| 120-150k | 282 | 15.6% |
| 150k+ | 106 | 16.0% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Petrol | 54,665 | 12.8% |
| Diesel | 19,700 | 14.4% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 14,336 | 9.0% |
| 2022 | 14,749 | 11.2% |
| 2023 | 15,019 | 14.0% |
| 2024 | 15,014 | 15.3% |
| 2025 | 15,247 | 16.2% |
What to check before buying a 2018 V40
On a 2018 V40, tyres is what the MOT record says goes wrong most — it appeared in 6.5% of tests. Check these areas before you commit.
- Tyres (6.5% 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.
- Suspension (4.8% 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 (2.3% 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 2018 Volvo V40s pass their MOT?
86.8% of the 74,365 2018 Volvo V40 MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 13.2% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2018 Volvo V40?
Tyres, recorded in 6.5% of tests, followed by suspension (4.8%).
Does the 2018 V40 get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 9.7% in the 0-30k band to 16.0% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 74,365 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.