1998 Volvo S40 — MOT History by Age

How cars manufactured in 1998 perform at MOT as they age

28 years

Current Age

66.5%

Latest Pass Rate

36,351

Total Tests (All Years)

98,912 mi

Avg Mileage (Latest)

Data from official DVSA MOT testing records

Best vintage for S40

Insufficient data for same-age comparison.

How This Car Ages

Pass rate progression for the 1998 Volvo S40 as it ages.

11 yrs42.5%

→ ↓1.3%

12 yrs41.2%

→ ↓0.4%

13 yrs40.8%

→ ↓2.3%

14 yrs38.5%

→ ↑0.5%

15 yrs39.0%

→ ↑2.8%

16 yrs41.8%

→ ↑0.7%

17 yrs42.5%

→ ↑1.4%

18 yrs43.9%

→ ↓2.5%

19 yrs41.4%

→ ↑6.4%

20 yrs47.8%

→ ↓0.3%

21 yrs47.5%

→ ↑3.8%

22 yrs51.3%

→ ↓2.0%

23 yrs49.3%

→ ↑5.7%

24 yrs55.0%

→ ↑2.5%

25 yrs57.5%

→ ↑9.0%

26 yrs66.5%

📊 View as table

Age	Pass Rate	Tests
11 yrs	42.5%	8,028
12 yrs	41.2%	6,937
13 yrs	40.8%	5,670
14 yrs	38.5%	4,268
15 yrs	39.0%	3,166
16 yrs	41.8%	2,314
17 yrs	42.5%	1,735
18 yrs	43.9%	1,302
19 yrs	41.4%	943
20 yrs	47.8%	490
21 yrs	47.5%	377
22 yrs	51.3%	302
23 yrs	49.3%	290
24 yrs	55.0%	171
25 yrs	57.5%	167
26 yrs	66.5%	191

Pass Rate Trend

How the 1998 Volvo S40 pass rate changes as it ages, from first MOT to most recent.

📊 View as table

Built	Pass Rate	Tests
2024 (26 yrs)	66.5%	191
2023 (25 yrs)	57.5%	167
2022 (24 yrs)	55%	171
2021 (23 yrs)	49.3%	290
2020 (22 yrs)	51.3%	302
2019 (21 yrs)	47.5%	377
2018 (20 yrs)	47.8%	490
2017 (19 yrs)	41.4%	943
2016 (18 yrs)	43.9%	1,302
2015 (17 yrs)	42.5%	1,735
2014 (16 yrs)	41.8%	2,314
2013 (15 yrs)	39%	3,166
2012 (14 yrs)	38.5%	4,268
2011 (13 yrs)	40.8%	5,670
2010 (12 yrs)	41.2%	6,937
2009 (11 yrs)	42.5%	8,028

Year-by-Year MOT Results

2009High Fail Rate

42.5%

Age (yrs) 11Tests 8,028Avg Mileage 100,412Top Failure Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 44.9%

2010High Fail Rate

41.2%

Age (yrs) 12Tests 6,937Avg Mileage 105,093Top Failure Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 47.0%

2011High Fail Rate

40.8%

Age (yrs) 13Tests 5,670Avg Mileage 106,588Top Failure Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 47.0%

2012High Fail Rate

38.5%

Age (yrs) 14Tests 4,268Avg Mileage 106,476Top Failure Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 48.1%

2013High Fail Rate

39.0%

Age (yrs) 15Tests 3,166Avg Mileage 106,005Top Failure Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 120.1%

2014High Fail Rate

41.8%

Age (yrs) 16Tests 2,314Avg Mileage 104,766Top Failure Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 113.1%

2015High Fail Rate

42.5%

Age (yrs) 17Tests 1,735Avg Mileage 104,287Top Failure Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 103.5%

2016High Fail Rate

43.9%

Age (yrs) 18Tests 1,302Avg Mileage 101,865Top Failure Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 102.9%

2017High Fail Rate

41.4%

Age (yrs) 19Tests 943Avg Mileage 100,845Top Failure Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 105.5%

2018High Fail Rate

47.8%

Age (yrs) 20Tests 490Avg Mileage 99,516Top Failure Brakes — 72.9%

2019High Fail Rate

47.5%

Age (yrs) 21Tests 377Avg Mileage 99,238Top Failure Brakes — 82.8%

2020High Fail Rate

51.3%

Age (yrs) 22Tests 302Avg Mileage 98,283Top Failure Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment — 77.2%

2021High Fail Rate

49.3%

Age (yrs) 23Tests 290Avg Mileage 96,824Top Failure Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment — 96.2%

2022High Fail Rate

55.0%

Age (yrs) 24Tests 171Avg Mileage 96,823Top Failure Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment — 75.4%

2023High Fail Rate

57.5%

Age (yrs) 25Tests 167Avg Mileage 95,296Top Failure Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment — 76.0%

2024

66.5%

Age (yrs) 26Tests 191Avg Mileage 98,912Top Failure Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment — 59.2%

MOT results for 1998 Volvo S40 by test year
Test Year▲	Age (yrs)▲▼	Pass Rate▲▼	Tests▲▼	Avg Mileage▲▼	Top Failure▲▼
2009	11	42.5%	8,028	100,412	Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 44.9%
2010	12	41.2%	6,937	105,093	Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 47.0%
2011	13	40.8%	5,670	106,588	Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 47.0%
2012	14	38.5%	4,268	106,476	Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 48.1%
2013	15	39.0%	3,166	106,005	Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 120.1%
2014	16	41.8%	2,314	104,766	Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 113.1%
2015	17	42.5%	1,735	104,287	Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 103.5%
2016	18	43.9%	1,302	101,865	Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 102.9%
2017	19	41.4%	943	100,845	Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 105.5%
2018	20	47.8%	490	99,516	Brakes — 72.9%
2019	21	47.5%	377	99,238	Brakes — 82.8%
2020	22	51.3%	302	98,283	Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment — 77.2%
2021	23	49.3%	290	96,824	Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment — 96.2%
2022	24	55.0%	171	96,823	Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment — 75.4%
2023	25	57.5%	167	95,296	Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment — 76.0%
2024	26	66.5%	191	98,912	Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment — 59.2%

Common MOT Failures

Top failure categories across all test years for 1998 Volvo S40, with age trends.

Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment

76.3%

↓ Decreases with age

Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment

74.7%

— Consistent

Brakes

62.6%

↑ Increases with age

Suspension

49.0%

↑ Increases with age

Tyres

28.1%

— Consistent

How Failures Change With Age

Comparing failure rates between the youngest and oldest test years.

Category	At Youngest	At Oldest	Change	Trend
Suspension	17.9% (11 yrs)	44.0% (26 yrs)	+26.1%	🔴 ↑
Brakes	33.1% (11 yrs)	46.6% (26 yrs)	+13.5%	🔴 ↑
Tyres	19.9% (11 yrs)	21.5% (26 yrs)	+1.6%	⚪ —

Other Manufacture Years

1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013

← Back to Volvo S40 overview

Looking for the best year to buy? See the full comparison on the Volvo S40 page →

About This Data

This page shows how Volvo S40 cars manufactured in 1998 perform at MOT as they age. Data spans from 2009 to 2024, covering 36,351 tests. Pass rates naturally decline with age as components wear.

Based on DVSA anonymised MOT test data (2005–2024). Crown copyright, Open Government Licence v3.0.