MOT fail rates
Volvo XC40 MOT fail rate by age
How often the Volvo XC40 fails its MOT at each age, compared with all cars of the same age, and what it fails on. From 229,238 DVSA MOT tests taken 2022 to 2025.
MOT data updated
At 3 years, the most tested age
92 of 343 model groups with enough tests fail less often at 3 years.
What stands out
- At 3 years the Volvo XC40 fails 9.2% of MOTs (82,664 tests), 2.8 points below the 12.1% for all cars that age. At 7 years it fails 12.6% (6,715 tests), 8.0 points below the 20.6% average.
- The gap is widest at 7 years: 8.0 points below all cars.
- At 3 years its listed fail items are all wear items, led by Tyre condition: has a cut in excess of the requirements deep enough to reach the ply or cords at 2.5 per 100 MOTs.
MOT fail rate by age
Solid line: this model. Dashed line: all cars at the same age.
| Age | MOT fail rate | Tests (n) | All cars | Difference | Median mileage |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3 years | 9.2% | 82,664 | 12.1% | −2.8 pts | 23,839 miles |
| 4 years | 9.2% | 71,742 | 13.4% | −4.1 pts | 30,859 miles |
| 5 years | 10.4% | 46,359 | 15.3% | −4.9 pts | 37,696 miles |
| 6 years | 12.6% | 21,758 | 17.8% | −5.2 pts | 45,436 miles |
| 7 years | 12.6% | 6,715 | 20.6% | −8.0 pts | 52,663 miles |
Most common fail items at 3 years
Split into structural or mechanical items and wear items. Wear items (tyres, brake pads, wipers, bulbs) say more about upkeep than about the design.
Structural and mechanical
None among the ten most common fail items.
Wear and upkeep
| Fail item | Per 100 MOTs |
|---|---|
| Tyre condition: has a cut in excess of the requirements deep enough to reach the ply or cords Major | 2.5 |
| Brake pads under 1.5 mm Dangerous | 2.5 |
| Tyre tread below 1.6 mm Dangerous | 1.5 |
| Wipers not clearing screen Major | 1.1 |
| Headlight aimed too high Major | 1.1 |
| Tyre with cords exposed Dangerous | 0.8 |
| Tyre condition: has a bulge, caused by separation or partial failure of its structure Dangerous | 0.3 |
| Washers: provides insufficient washer liquid Major | 0.2 |
| Registration plates: does not conform to the specified requirements Major | 0.2 |
| Headlamp cleaning device: for LED or HID headlamp inoperative Major | 0.2 |
Out of 82,664 MOTs. A test with two faults counts twice.
Other models at 3 years
| Model | MOT fail rate | Tests (n) | All cars |
|---|---|---|---|
| Volvo XC60 | 9.5% | 36,887 | 12.1% |
| Volvo XC90 | 12.9% | 25,668 | 12.1% |
| Volvo V60 | 12.2% | 13,181 | 12.1% |
MOT fail rate by first-use year
Each year has its own page: the fail rate for cars first used that year at each MOT from 2022 to 2025 with at least 1,000 tests, the most common faults at that age, and the car tax and ULEZ rules for that year.
First-use year data updated .
More on the Volvo XC40
Looking at one Volvo XC40?
These are figures for the model, not for one car. The VetTheCar Buying Report looks at a single car: its MOT tests, defects, advisories and mileage readings.
Source
Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. Source: DVSA anonymised MOT test data, class 4 normal MOT tests, 2022 to 2025. MOT data updated 22 September 2026.
Not affiliated with or endorsed by DVSA. How we calculate these figures · Data sources