Volvo XC40 MOT pass rate & common failures
The Volvo XC40 appears in 255,006 MOT tests spanning model years 2013–2024, and 92.3% of them passed. That is effectively the same as small SUVs of a similar age (8.2% fail rate), so the MOT record here is unremarkable in either direction. Its most common failure areas are tyres, brakes and lighting & signalling.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — tyres (3.8%) and brakes (3.0%) are close, so failures are spread across several systems rather than one weak point.
At component level the recurring items are brake pads, tread depth and headlamp aim — brake pads alone was recorded 8,209 times.
A 150k+ example is materially riskier than a 0-30k one: 17.7% versus 5.3%.
Split by fuel, diesel examples fail 3.5pp more often than hybrid ones (9.3% vs 5.8%) — worth weighing if you have a choice.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: tyres was flagged on 20.2% of tests without failing them.
How it compares
By model year
Every XC40 model year with a usable sample. Years with their own detailed report are linked.
| Year | Tests | Pass rate | Fail rate | Most common failure |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2017 | 44 | 90.9% | 9.1% | Tyres |
| 2018 | 36,064 | 91.4% | 8.6% | Brakes |
| 2019 | 66,262 | 91.3% | 8.7% | Brakes |
| 2020 | 79,229 | 92.6% | 7.4% | Tyres |
| 2021 | 54,161 | 93.0% | 7.0% | Tyres |
| 2022 | 18,348 | 94.1% | 5.9% | Tyres |
| 2023 | 879 | 96.0% | 4.0% | Tyres |
Most common failures (all years)
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tyres | 3.8% | 9,760 |
| 2 | Brakes | 3.0% | 7,609 |
| 3 | Lighting & signalling | 1.1% | 2,937 |
| 4 | Visibility | 1.1% | 2,723 |
| 5 | Suspension | 0.4% | 1,065 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 0.3% | 826 |
| 7 | Body, structure & corrosion | 0.2% | 580 |
| 8 | Seat belts & restraints | 0.2% | 510 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Brake pads | 8,209 |
| 2 | Tread depth | 3,656 |
| 3 | Headlamp aim | 2,470 |
| 4 | Wipers | 2,383 |
| 5 | Brake discs | 730 |
| 6 | Malfunction indicator lamp | 668 |
| 7 | Washers | 632 |
| 8 | Linkage | 565 |
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 | 20.2% | 51,587 |
| 2 | Brakes | 14.5% | 37,016 |
| 3 | Other defects | 6.0% | 15,215 |
| 4 | Visibility | 2.7% | 6,874 |
| 5 | Suspension | 0.5% | 1,257 |
| 6 | Body, structure & corrosion | 0.4% | 933 |
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 | 121,548 | 5.3% |
| 30-60k | 109,350 | 9.4% |
| 60-90k | 20,198 | 11.6% |
| 90-120k | 3,283 | 13.3% |
| 120-150k | 530 | 11.7% |
| 150k+ | 96 | 17.7% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Petrol | 132,387 | 7.9% |
| Hybrid | 65,031 | 5.8% |
| Diesel | 50,778 | 9.3% |
| Electric | 6,810 | 9.2% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 7,527 | 7.3% |
| 2022 | 24,210 | 7.4% |
| 2023 | 51,082 | 7.4% |
| 2024 | 76,767 | 7.8% |
| 2025 | 95,420 | 7.9% |
What to check before buying a Volvo XC40
- Tyres (3.8% 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 (3.0% 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.
- Lighting & signalling (1.1% 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
What is the MOT pass rate for the Volvo XC40?
92.3% of the 255,006 Volvo XC40 MOT tests in this dataset passed, a 7.7% fail rate, across model years 2013–2024.
What does the Volvo XC40 most often fail its MOT on?
Tyres, recorded in 3.8% of tests, then brakes (3.0%).
How much does mileage affect XC40 MOT results?
Fail rates run at 5.3% for cars in the 0-30k band and 17.7% for 150k+, a 12.4-point difference.
Is the hybrid or diesel XC40 more reliable at MOT time?
On MOT-testable defects the hybrid fails 5.8% of the time against 9.3% for the diesel. This covers testable items only, not engine or gearbox reliability.
Methodology & source. Based on 255,006 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.