2003 Volvo S40 — MOT History by Age

How cars manufactured in 2003 perform at MOT as they age

23 years

Current Age

48.1%

Latest Pass Rate

52,837

Total Tests (All Years)

105,329 mi

Avg Mileage (Latest)

Data from official DVSA MOT testing records

Insufficient data for same-age comparison.

How This Car Ages

Pass rate progression for the 2003 Volvo S40 as it ages.

6 yrs59.0%

→ ↓2.7%

7 yrs56.3%

→ ↓3.7%

8 yrs52.6%

→ ↓1.9%

9 yrs50.7%

→ ↓5.7%

10 yrs45.0%

→ ↑2.4%

11 yrs47.4%

→ ↑1.7%

12 yrs49.1%

→ ↓2.3%

13 yrs46.8%

→ ↓0.2%

14 yrs46.6%

→ ↓1.2%

15 yrs45.4%

→ ↑2.0%

16 yrs47.4%

→ ↑2.4%

17 yrs49.8%

→ ↑0.6%

18 yrs50.4%

→ ↑1.1%

19 yrs51.5%

→ ↓2.1%

20 yrs49.4%

→ ↓1.3%

21 yrs48.1%

📊 View as table

Age	Pass Rate	Tests
6 yrs	59.0%	5,787
7 yrs	56.3%	5,671
8 yrs	52.6%	5,629
9 yrs	50.7%	5,433
10 yrs	45.0%	5,224
11 yrs	47.4%	4,942
12 yrs	49.1%	4,506
13 yrs	46.8%	4,016
14 yrs	46.6%	3,381
15 yrs	45.4%	1,858
16 yrs	47.4%	1,604
17 yrs	49.8%	1,277
18 yrs	50.4%	1,272
19 yrs	51.5%	773
20 yrs	49.4%	815
21 yrs	48.1%	649

Pass Rate Trend

How the 2003 Volvo S40 pass rate changes as it ages, from first MOT to most recent.

📊 View as table

Built	Pass Rate	Tests
2024 (21 yrs)	48.1%	649
2023 (20 yrs)	49.4%	815
2022 (19 yrs)	51.5%	773
2021 (18 yrs)	50.4%	1,272
2020 (17 yrs)	49.8%	1,277
2019 (16 yrs)	47.4%	1,604
2018 (15 yrs)	45.4%	1,858
2017 (14 yrs)	46.6%	3,381
2016 (13 yrs)	46.8%	4,016
2015 (12 yrs)	49.1%	4,506
2014 (11 yrs)	47.4%	4,942
2013 (10 yrs)	45%	5,224
2012 (9 yrs)	50.7%	5,433
2011 (8 yrs)	52.6%	5,629
2010 (7 yrs)	56.3%	5,671
2009 (6 yrs)	59%	5,787

Year-by-Year MOT Results

2009High Fail Rate

59.0%

Age (yrs) 6Tests 5,787Avg Mileage 62,810Top Failure Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 29.8%

2010High Fail Rate

56.3%

Age (yrs) 7Tests 5,671Avg Mileage 70,614Top Failure Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 32.4%

2011High Fail Rate

52.6%

Age (yrs) 8Tests 5,629Avg Mileage 77,698Top Failure Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 35.0%

2012High Fail Rate

50.7%

Age (yrs) 9Tests 5,433Avg Mileage 84,202Top Failure Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 35.9%

2013High Fail Rate

45.0%

Age (yrs) 10Tests 5,224Avg Mileage 90,476Top Failure Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 89.8%

2014High Fail Rate

47.4%

Age (yrs) 11Tests 4,942Avg Mileage 95,757Top Failure Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 85.4%

2015High Fail Rate

49.1%

Age (yrs) 12Tests 4,506Avg Mileage 99,983Top Failure Brakes — 78.5%

2016High Fail Rate

46.8%

Age (yrs) 13Tests 4,016Avg Mileage 103,711Top Failure Brakes — 81.1%

2017High Fail Rate

46.6%

Age (yrs) 14Tests 3,381Avg Mileage 106,075Top Failure Brakes — 81.3%

2018High Fail Rate

45.4%

Age (yrs) 15Tests 1,858Avg Mileage 105,906Top Failure Brakes — 86.2%

2019High Fail Rate

47.4%

Age (yrs) 16Tests 1,604Avg Mileage 105,943Top Failure Brakes — 86.2%

2020High Fail Rate

49.8%

Age (yrs) 17Tests 1,277Avg Mileage 104,901Top Failure Brakes — 81.2%

2021High Fail Rate

50.4%

Age (yrs) 18Tests 1,272Avg Mileage 105,214Top Failure Brakes — 80.4%

2022High Fail Rate

51.5%

Age (yrs) 19Tests 773Avg Mileage 104,893Top Failure Brakes — 84.2%

2023High Fail Rate

49.4%

Age (yrs) 20Tests 815Avg Mileage 105,290Top Failure Brakes — 86.4%

2024High Fail Rate

48.1%

Age (yrs) 21Tests 649Avg Mileage 105,329Top Failure Brakes — 63.6%

MOT results for 2003 Volvo S40 by test year
Test Year▲	Age (yrs)▲▼	Pass Rate▲▼	Tests▲▼	Avg Mileage▲▼	Top Failure▲▼
2009	6	59.0%	5,787	62,810	Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 29.8%
2010	7	56.3%	5,671	70,614	Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 32.4%
2011	8	52.6%	5,629	77,698	Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 35.0%
2012	9	50.7%	5,433	84,202	Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 35.9%
2013	10	45.0%	5,224	90,476	Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 89.8%
2014	11	47.4%	4,942	95,757	Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 85.4%
2015	12	49.1%	4,506	99,983	Brakes — 78.5%
2016	13	46.8%	4,016	103,711	Brakes — 81.1%
2017	14	46.6%	3,381	106,075	Brakes — 81.3%
2018	15	45.4%	1,858	105,906	Brakes — 86.2%
2019	16	47.4%	1,604	105,943	Brakes — 86.2%
2020	17	49.8%	1,277	104,901	Brakes — 81.2%
2021	18	50.4%	1,272	105,214	Brakes — 80.4%
2022	19	51.5%	773	104,893	Brakes — 84.2%
2023	20	49.4%	815	105,290	Brakes — 86.4%
2024	21	48.1%	649	105,329	Brakes — 63.6%

Common MOT Failures

Top failure categories across all test years for 2003 Volvo S40, with age trends.

Brakes

65.6%

↑ Increases with age

Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment

60.3%

— Consistent

Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment

56.5%

— Consistent

Suspension

41.9%

↑ Increases with age

Tyres

24.9%

↑ Increases with age

How Failures Change With Age

Comparing failure rates between the youngest and oldest test years.

Category	At Youngest	At Oldest	Change	Trend
Suspension	9.5% (6 yrs)	58.9% (21 yrs)	+49.4%	🔴 ↑
Brakes	16.2% (6 yrs)	63.6% (21 yrs)	+47.4%	🔴 ↑
Tyres	11.1% (6 yrs)	32.7% (21 yrs)	+21.6%	🔴 ↑

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 2003 perform at MOT as they age. Data spans from 2009 to 2024, covering 52,837 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.