Volvo Xc40 MOT Pass Rate
Overall pass rate across all manufacture years, based on 148,374 real MOT test results. Failure rate: 9.7%.
Data from official DVSA MOT testing records
Volvo Xc40 MOT Reliability Overview
The Volvo Xc40 is a well-known vehicle in the UK, with 148,374 MOT test results recorded in our database spanning 6 manufacture years. It has an overall MOT pass rate of 90.3% and a failure rate of 9.7%, which is well above the UK average of approximately 37%.
Based on this data, the Volvo Xc40 earns a "Excellent" reliability rating. The average Volvo Xc40 presents for MOT with approximately 32,043 miles on the clock. Manufacture year matters: 2022 models achieve the highest pass rate at 91.7%, while 2017 models have the lowest at 86.8%. This 4.9 percentage point difference suggests notable variation in build quality or component durability across production years.
The most common MOT failure for the Volvo Xc40 is Brakes, affecting 9.4% of all tests. Brake-related failures include worn brake pads, corroded brake discs, leaking brake lines, and faulty brake servos. These are safety-critical components — any brake deficiency will result in an MOT fail. The second most common issue is Tyres at 8.9%. Visibility rounds out the top three at 1.7%. Together, these top 3 failure categories account for a significant portion of all MOT failures for this model.
Top failures across all manufacture years combined. Individual year pages may show different top failures.
What Fails Most
Best Year to Buy
All manufacture years perform similarly at ~91.3%.
Based on 2024 MOT test results only — the most recent data available. "Built" = year of manufacture. Cars need their first MOT at 3 years old, so the newest cars shown are from ~3 years ago.
Bar chart showing pass rate by manufacture year from 2018 to 2021
📈 How Each Vintage Ages
Tracking how each manufacture year's MOT pass rate changes as the car ages. Showing 3 vintages — click year chips to highlight.
Multi-line chart showing how different Volvo Xc40 vintages degrade over time, from age 2 to 20 years.
Only vintages with 100+ tests in at least 3 different test years are shown. Fleet average is the UK-wide pass rate for all cars at each age.
* High Fail Rate badge indicates an MOT pass rate below 65% (failure rate above 35%).
What Fails on This Car?
Click a category to see specific failure items.
View as table
| Rank | Failure Category | Rate (%) | Count |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Brakes | 9.4% | 13,948 |
| 2 | Tyres | 8.9% | 13,210 |
| 3 | Visibility | 1.7% | 2,507 |
| 4 | Lamps, Reflectors And Electrical Equipment | 1.5% | 2,226 |
| 5 | Non-component Advisories | 0.9% | 1,363 |
| 6 | Suspension | 0.4% | 628 |
| 7 | Noise, Emissions And Leaks | 0.4% | 566 |
| 8 | Identification Of The Vehicle | 0.3% | 377 |
| 9 | Body, Chassis, Structure | 0.2% | 320 |
| 10 | Seat Belts And Supplementary Restraint Systems | 0.2% | 310 |
| 11 | Road Wheels | 0.1% | 75 |
Failures per 10,000 Miles
avg. 32,043 miFor every 10,000 miles driven, this shows what percentage of MOT tests fail for each category. This accounts for how far cars are actually driven, not just raw pass/fail counts.
View as table
| Category | Rate / 10K mi | Raw % | Count |
|---|---|---|---|
| Brakes | 2.93 | 9.4% | 13,948 |
| Tyres | 2.78 | 8.9% | 13,210 |
| Visibility | 0.53 | 1.7% | 2,507 |
| Lamps & Electrical | 0.47 | 1.5% | 2,226 |
| Non-component advisories | 0.29 | 0.9% | 1,363 |
| Suspension | 0.13 | 0.4% | 628 |
| Noise, emissions and leaks | 0.12 | 0.4% | 566 |
| Identification of the vehicle | 0.08 | 0.3% | 377 |
| Body & Structure | 0.07 | 0.2% | 320 |
| Seat Belts | 0.07 | 0.2% | 310 |
| Wheels | 0.02 | 0.1% | 75 |
| Steering | 0.01 | 0.0% | 45 |
🚗 Similar Cars to Consider
Mileage at MOT
The average Volvo Xc40 has 32,043 miles when tested for MOT.
📊 Mileage-Adjusted Failure Rate
How often this car fails MOT relative to how much it's driven — a fairer comparison than raw pass rate.
The Volvo Xc40 has a mileage-adjusted failure rate of 3.03% per 10,000 miles driven. The average across all makes is 5.38%, so this model is better than average.
About Volvo Xc40 MOT Data
The Volvo Xc40 is a well-known vehicle in the UK, with 148,374 MOT test results recorded in our database spanning 6 manufacture years. It has an overall MOT pass rate of 90.3% and a failure rate of 9.7%, which is well above the UK average of approximately 37%.
For Volvo Xc40 owners, these results suggest a reliable vehicle that generally passes its MOT without major issues. Focus your pre-MOT checks on brakes and tyres for the best chance of a first-time pass. Use our detailed year-by-year breakdown and failure analysis below to understand how your specific Xc40 is likely to perform.
Brakes — 9.4% of failures
Brakes issues account for 9.4% of MOT failures on the Volvo Xc40. Brake-related failures include worn brake pads, corroded brake discs, leaking brake lines, and faulty brake servos. These are safety-critical components — any brake deficiency will result in an MOT fail. Typical repair costs: £150–400. Pre-MOT check: Listen for squealing or grinding noises. Check brake pedal feel — if it feels spongy or goes to the floor, have the system inspected immediately. Look at brake pad thickness through the wheel spokes (minimum 3mm).
Tyres — 8.9% of failures
Tyres issues account for 8.9% of MOT failures on the Volvo Xc40. Tyre failures include tread depth below the legal minimum of 1.6mm, cuts, bulges, exposed cords, and incorrect tyre pressure. Tyres are one of the most common and easiest-to-prevent MOT failures. Typical repair costs: £50–200 per tyre. Pre-MOT check: Check tread depth with a 20p coin — if the outer band is visible, the tyre is too worn. Look for bulges, cuts, or embedded objects. Ensure all tyres match the recommended size and load rating.
Visibility — 1.7% of failures
Visibility issues account for 1.7% of MOT failures on the Volvo Xc40. Visibility failures relate to the windscreen, wipers, washers, mirrors, and view-obstructing damage. Cracks in the windscreen swept area, ineffective wipers, or empty washer bottles are common causes. Typical repair costs: £10–300. Pre-MOT check: Check the windscreen for chips and cracks — damage larger than 10mm in the driver's swept area or 40mm elsewhere will fail. Test washers and wipers. Ensure both door mirrors are intact and adjustable.
Compare Volvo Xc40
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the MOT pass rate for the Volvo Xc40?
Based on 148,374 MOT tests in our database, the Volvo Xc40 has an overall pass rate of 90.3% (9.7% fail rate).
What are the most common MOT failures on a Volvo Xc40?
The top 3 reasons a Volvo Xc40 fails its MOT are: 1. Brakes (9.4%), 2. Tyres (8.9%), 3. Visibility (1.7%). Check these areas before booking your MOT.
Is the Volvo Xc40 reliable?
With a 9.7% MOT failure rate, the Xc40 is more reliable than average compared to the UK average of ~40%.
What should I check before an MOT on my Volvo Xc40?
Based on failure data, focus on: Brakes (9.4%); Tyres (8.9%); Visibility (1.7%). These are the areas most likely to cause a fail. Also check all lights, tyres (minimum 1.6mm tread), and windscreen condition — these are quick wins that apply to all cars.
Based on DVSA anonymised MOT test data (2005–2024). Crown copyright, Open Government Licence v3.0.