Volvo C40 reliability: MOT pass rate and common faults

1,840 initial MOT tests in 2025 on cars first used in 2022 · DVSA data · For guidance only · How we count

Volvo C40 cars first used in 2022 had an MOT pass rate within the margin of error of the average for their age.

The MOT pass rate is one signal, not the whole story. An MOT checks safety and emissions on the day of the test. It doesn't record gearbox or engine faults, and a pass rate also reflects mileage and upkeep, so the table shows median mileage too. Whatever the year, the car in front of you matters more than its model's average.

89.6%passed first time

First-time pass rate, all years together: initial tests passed with no repairs. 95% range 88.1% to 90.9%.

Volvo C40, all years89.6%
Same-age average, all vehicles88.5%

In 2025, 89.6% of the 1,840 initial MOT tests on Volvo C40 cars were passed with no repairs. The same-age average, for all vehicles first used in the same years, was 88.5%. That is about average: the difference from the same-age average is within the margin of error.

Check a specific C40

Its own MOT history, free.

Volvo C40 MOT pass rate by year

Year is when the car was first used. Older vehicles fail more often, so each year is compared with all vehicles first used that year.

Year	Chart	Testsmedian miles	Passed first time	Against all vehicles that year
2022age 3		1,84027,300	89.6%±1.5	+1.1 ptsall: 88.5%

Tests are initial MOT tests in 2025, not retests. Median miles is the middle odometer reading at the test: half had more, half had less. ± is the 95% margin of error in points (Wilson interval): a difference smaller than that could be chance. Years without a link have fewer than 10,000 tests, so they are listed here but don't have their own page.

When a car's mileage doesn't add up

Common C40 problems at the MOT

Share of the 192 failed tests with a fault in each area, all years together. A test can count in more than one area, so these can add up to more than 100%.

Tyres84.4%

MOT records show roadworthiness faults, not engine or gearbox problems. An MOT doesn't test an electric car's battery health or range.

What to check when viewing a C40

Based on the areas where Volvo C40 MOT tests fail most often. These are general checks anyone can do, not a mechanical inspection.

Tyres
In 84.4% of failed C40 tests
- Check the tread on every tyre. The legal minimum for cars is 1.6 mm across the central three-quarters of the tread.
- Look for cuts, bulges, and wear on only the inner or outer edge, which can point to an alignment problem.
- Check that the spare wheel or the tyre repair kit is there.

Then read the car's own MOT history. Advisories in the same area at several tests are worth asking about.

Check a C40's MOT history

Volvo C40 questions

Is the Volvo C40 reliable?

MOT results show only part of the picture. In 2025, 89.6% of initial MOT tests on Volvo C40 cars were passed with no repairs, against a same-age average of 88.5%. That is about average. An MOT checks safety and emissions on the day of the test. It doesn't measure breakdowns, engine or gearbox faults, or repair costs.

What are the most common Volvo C40 problems at the MOT?

The most common failure area is tyres (in 84.4% of failed tests). A failed test can count in more than one area.

What mileage is normal for a 3-year-old Volvo C40?

At their 2025 MOT tests, Volvo C40 cars first used in 2022, about 3 years old, had a median of 27,300 miles. Half had more and half had less.

How do I check a specific C40's MOT history?

Enter its registration in our free check. It lists that car's own MOT results, the faults and advisories recorded and the mileage at each test, and flags repeated advisories and mileage that goes down.

Check a car's MOT history for free

What MOT data can't tell you about any Volvo C40

Outstanding finance, write-offs, theft and plate changes aren't in MOT records. For a particular car, you need a history check.

Compare history checks What MOT history doesn't show

Other Volvo models

Points above (+) or below (−) the same-age average for all vehicles.

All 15 Volvo models Cars ranked by MOT pass rate, by age

Source: DVSA anonymised MOT tests, 2025. For guidance only: these figures describe all Volvo C40 cars tested, not the one you're looking at. How we count