Common problems
Volvo V40 (before 2012) body and structure problems
How often MOT testers find body and structure faults on the Volvo V40 (before 2012) at each age, against all cars of the same age, and which items come up most. From 15,100 DVSA MOT tests taken 2022 to 2025. These figures cover cars first used before 2012. Later cars sold under the same name are not included; see Volvo V40 cars first used 2012 or later.
MOT data updated
At 21 years, the most tested age
What stands out
- At 21 years, 10.4 of every 100 MOTs of the Volvo V40 (before 2012) found a body and structure fail (n=3,179), against 9.3 for all cars of that age (n=1,321,417).
- It is above the all-car rate at every age with at least 1,000 tests (7 ages).
- The gap is widest at 24 years: 12.3 per 100 MOTs against 9.4 for all cars.
- The body and structure fail item recorded most often at 21 years: driveshaft CV boot split, on 5.1 per 100 MOTs.
- The most common body and structure advisory or minor defect: drive shaft joints: constant velocity boot severely deteriorated, on 6.6 per 100 MOTs.
Body and structure fails by age
Solid line: this model. Dashed line: all cars at the same age.
| Age | Tests (n) | Fails | All cars | Advisories | All cars |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 18 years | 1,192 | 9.3 | 8.7 | 12.4 | 14.7 |
| 19 years | 2,485 | 9.1 | 9.0 | 13.7 | 15.2 |
| 20 years | 3,059 | 10.1 | 9.2 | 15.7 | 15.6 |
| 21 years | 3,179 | 10.4 | 9.3 | 16.8 | 16.0 |
| 22 years | 2,453 | 10.9 | 9.4 | 18.0 | 16.3 |
| 23 years | 1,694 | 9.6 | 9.5 | 17.1 | 16.6 |
| 24 years | 1,038 | 12.3 | 9.4 | 18.1 | 16.6 |
Body and structure fail items at 21 years
| Item | Per 100 MOTs | All cars | Typical repair (estimate) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Driveshaft CV boot split | 5.1 | 3.0 | £88 to £196 per boot (rough guide) |
| Exhaust system: has a major leak of exhaust gases | 2.4 | 2.2 | £182 to £263 per section |
Body and structure advisories and minor defects at 21 years
Advisories and minor defects are recorded, but the car still passes. Across all cars, a part with an advisory or minor defect failed at the next MOT 5.5 times in 100 (n=88,666,940 pairs of consecutive MOTs), against 0.3 times in 100 when the same part had none (n=12,936,860,350).
| Item | Per 100 MOTs | All cars | If it needs replacing (estimate) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Drive shaft joints: constant velocity boot severely deteriorated | 6.6 | 3.8 | |
| Exhaust system: has a minor leak of exhaust gases | 5.5 | 5.5 | £182 to £263 per section |
Repair estimates are a guide for an independent garage: labour at the national median local garage rate (median £78 an hour from 65 garages, ONS price quotes) times estimated labour hours, plus a parts band. Labour hours and most parts bands are estimates, not quotes, and prices vary by model, engine and region. A warning light fault shows the cost of the diagnosis only.
What to check on a viewing
On the Volvo V40 (before 2012), the body and structure items testers fail most are driveshaft CV boot split; exhaust system: has a major leak of exhaust gases.
- Look underneath at the sills, floor, subframes and jacking points for corrosion, or for fresh underseal that may hide it.
- Check that doors, bonnet and boot open, close and latch properly.
- Look for loose trim, sharp edges or damage around the bumpers and wheel arches.
Ask for the car's MOT history: a body and structure advisory that repeats from year to year has not been fixed. GOV.UK MOT history.
Questions
What are the common body and structure problems on the Volvo V40 (before 2012)?
At 21 years (3,179 MOTs), the body and structure fail items testers record most often are driveshaft CV boot split (5.1 per 100 MOTs), exhaust system: has a major leak of exhaust gases (2.4 per 100 MOTs). The most common body and structure advisories or minor defects are drive shaft joints: constant velocity boot severely deteriorated (6.6) and exhaust system: has a minor leak of exhaust gases (5.5).
Does the Volvo V40 (before 2012) have more body and structure problems than other cars?
At 21 years it has 10.4 body and structure fails per 100 MOTs against 9.3 for all cars of the same age (1.1 more). It is above the all-car rate at every age with enough tests (7 ages).
What does a body and structure repair cost on the Volvo V40 (before 2012)?
For driveshaft CV boot split, an independent garage estimate is £88 to £196 per boot (rough guide). This is a guide built from the national median garage labour rate and estimated labour hours, not a quote.
More on the Volvo V40 (before 2012)
- All Volvo V40 (before 2012) common problems
- V40 (before 2012) suspension problems
- V40 (before 2012) brake problems
- V40 (before 2012) electrical and lighting problems
- V40 (before 2012) steering problems
- V40 (before 2012) exhaust and emissions problems
- V40 (before 2012) tyre problems
- Volvo V40 MOT fail rate by age
- Volvo V40 ULEZ and clean air zone rules
- Volvo V40 recalls
Body and structure problems on other Volvo models
The all cars figures cover all class 4 vehicles (cars and light vans) tested at the same age.
Looking at a Volvo V40 (before 2012)?
These figures describe the model, not the car in front of you. Found one you might buy? See what the VetTheCar Buying Report covers, or use the tools that work without a registration.
See a sample report Car tools · MOT fail rates by model · Compare models by MOT record
Repair estimates: ONS consumer price quotes for local garage labour (09/2025 to 08/2026), the MOT inspection manual for defect wording, and estimated labour hours and parts bands. Not affiliated with or endorsed by ONS.
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 28 September 2026.
Not affiliated with or endorsed by DVSA. How we calculate these figures · Data sources