1997 Volvo V40 — MOT History by Age

How cars manufactured in 1997 perform at MOT as they age

29 years

Current Age

57.6%

Latest Pass Rate

29,470

Total Tests (All Years)

102,595 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 1997 Volvo V40 as it ages.

12 yrs40.7%

→ ↓3.4%

13 yrs37.3%

→ ↓1.5%

14 yrs35.8%

→ ↓0.0%

15 yrs35.8%

→ ↑1.1%

16 yrs36.9%

→ ↑0.3%

17 yrs37.2%

→ ↑2.6%

18 yrs39.8%

→ ↑1.7%

19 yrs41.5%

→ ↓2.1%

20 yrs39.4%

→ ↓1.7%

21 yrs37.7%

→ ↑5.9%

22 yrs43.6%

→ ↑3.2%

23 yrs46.8%

→ ↓0.3%

24 yrs46.5%

→ ↑2.1%

25 yrs48.6%

→ ↑1.4%

26 yrs50.0%

→ ↑7.6%

27 yrs57.6%

📊 View as table

Age	Pass Rate	Tests
12 yrs	40.7%	6,817
13 yrs	37.3%	5,919
14 yrs	35.8%	4,746
15 yrs	35.8%	3,440
16 yrs	36.9%	2,507
17 yrs	37.2%	1,743
18 yrs	39.8%	1,325
19 yrs	41.5%	947
20 yrs	39.4%	677
21 yrs	37.7%	353
22 yrs	43.6%	264
23 yrs	46.8%	190
24 yrs	46.5%	172
25 yrs	48.6%	105
26 yrs	50.0%	100
27 yrs	57.6%	165

Pass Rate Trend

How the 1997 Volvo V40 pass rate changes as it ages, from first MOT to most recent.

📊 View as table

Built	Pass Rate	Tests
2024 (27 yrs)	57.6%	165
2023 (26 yrs)	50%	100
2022 (25 yrs)	48.6%	105
2021 (24 yrs)	46.5%	172
2020 (23 yrs)	46.8%	190
2019 (22 yrs)	43.6%	264
2018 (21 yrs)	37.7%	353
2017 (20 yrs)	39.4%	677
2016 (19 yrs)	41.5%	947
2015 (18 yrs)	39.8%	1,325
2014 (17 yrs)	37.2%	1,743
2013 (16 yrs)	36.9%	2,507
2012 (15 yrs)	35.8%	3,440
2011 (14 yrs)	35.8%	4,746
2010 (13 yrs)	37.3%	5,919
2009 (12 yrs)	40.7%	6,817

Year-by-Year MOT Results

2009High Fail Rate

40.7%

Age (yrs) 12Tests 6,817Avg Mileage 118,179Top Failure Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 43.6%

2010High Fail Rate

37.3%

Age (yrs) 13Tests 5,919Avg Mileage 122,639Top Failure Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 45.9%

2011High Fail Rate

35.8%

Age (yrs) 14Tests 4,746Avg Mileage 124,216Top Failure Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 48.1%

2012High Fail Rate

35.8%

Age (yrs) 15Tests 3,440Avg Mileage 123,578Top Failure Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 48.4%

2013High Fail Rate

36.9%

Age (yrs) 16Tests 2,507Avg Mileage 123,769Top Failure Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 119.9%

2014High Fail Rate

37.2%

Age (yrs) 17Tests 1,743Avg Mileage 122,555Top Failure Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 115.4%

2015High Fail Rate

39.8%

Age (yrs) 18Tests 1,325Avg Mileage 121,247Top Failure Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 108.2%

2016High Fail Rate

41.5%

Age (yrs) 19Tests 947Avg Mileage 117,943Top Failure Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 99.0%

2017High Fail Rate

39.4%

Age (yrs) 20Tests 677Avg Mileage 120,256Top Failure Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 91.4%

2018High Fail Rate

37.7%

Age (yrs) 21Tests 353Avg Mileage 113,653Top Failure Brakes — 102.0%

2019High Fail Rate

43.6%

Age (yrs) 22Tests 264Avg Mileage 111,202Top Failure Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment — 99.6%

2020High Fail Rate

46.8%

Age (yrs) 23Tests 190Avg Mileage 113,734Top Failure Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment — 103.7%

2021High Fail Rate

46.5%

Age (yrs) 24Tests 172Avg Mileage 109,477Top Failure Suspension — 85.5%

2022High Fail Rate

48.6%

Age (yrs) 25Tests 105Avg Mileage 109,883Top Failure Suspension — 87.6%

2023High Fail Rate

50.0%

Age (yrs) 26Tests 100Avg Mileage 104,321Top Failure Brakes — 84.0%

2024High Fail Rate

57.6%

Age (yrs) 27Tests 165Avg Mileage 102,595Top Failure Brakes — 53.9%

MOT results for 1997 Volvo V40 by test year
Test Year▲	Age (yrs)▲▼	Pass Rate▲▼	Tests▲▼	Avg Mileage▲▼	Top Failure▲▼
2009	12	40.7%	6,817	118,179	Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 43.6%
2010	13	37.3%	5,919	122,639	Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 45.9%
2011	14	35.8%	4,746	124,216	Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 48.1%
2012	15	35.8%	3,440	123,578	Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 48.4%
2013	16	36.9%	2,507	123,769	Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 119.9%
2014	17	37.2%	1,743	122,555	Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 115.4%
2015	18	39.8%	1,325	121,247	Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 108.2%
2016	19	41.5%	947	117,943	Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 99.0%
2017	20	39.4%	677	120,256	Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 91.4%
2018	21	37.7%	353	113,653	Brakes — 102.0%
2019	22	43.6%	264	111,202	Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment — 99.6%
2020	23	46.8%	190	113,734	Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment — 103.7%
2021	24	46.5%	172	109,477	Suspension — 85.5%
2022	25	48.6%	105	109,883	Suspension — 87.6%
2023	26	50.0%	100	104,321	Brakes — 84.0%
2024	27	57.6%	165	102,595	Brakes — 53.9%

Common MOT Failures

Top failure categories across all test years for 1997 Volvo V40, with age trends.

Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment

75.9%

↓ Decreases with age

Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment

73.9%

↓ Decreases with age

Brakes

71.4%

↑ Increases with age

Suspension

61.4%

↑ Increases with age

Tyres

32.3%

↑ 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
Brakes	35.2% (12 yrs)	53.9% (27 yrs)	+18.7%	🔴 ↑
Suspension	21.3% (12 yrs)	38.2% (27 yrs)	+16.9%	🔴 ↑
Tyres	22.0% (12 yrs)	27.9% (27 yrs)	+5.9%	🔴 ↑

Other Manufacture Years

1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019

← Back to Volvo V40 overview

Looking for the best year to buy? See the full comparison on the Volvo V40 page →

About This Data

This page shows how Volvo V40 cars manufactured in 1997 perform at MOT as they age. Data spans from 2009 to 2024, covering 29,470 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.