Volvo S40 - 1999
420.5 faults per 100 tests
Year average for all cars of 1999 is 349.1 faults per 100 tests
Dataset: MOT tests in Great Britain (period: 2024-01-01 to 2025-09-10) for Volvo S40, model year 1999.
Sample size: 130 cars, 264 tests and 1,110 recorded faults.
0%
More faults compared to the average car of same model year
More faults compared to the average car of same model year
Quick summary
Total: 130 cars
The 1999 Volvo S40 has an overall defect rate of 420 defects per 100 vehicles, which is 22% higher than the average rate of 345 defects for cars of the same year. Notably, the S40 performs better than average in body and structure issues, showing a 28% lower defect rate in this category. However, it struggles significantly with brakes, lights and electrics, and equipment, exhibiting defect rates well above the averages in these areas. Mileage trends indicate increasing defects as mileage rises, with the highest rates found in the 93,000 to 124,000-mile range. Overall, while the S40 has strengths in body integrity, it faces challenges that potential buyers should consider.
Cars by mileage segment
Total: 130 cars
More model years for Volvo S40
Other models from Volvo
Categories
Brakes
▼ 49.6% worse
229.5 faults / 100 tests
Year avg: 153.4 / 100 tests
- Brake pipe damaged or excessively corroded
- Brake lining or pad: worn below 1.5mm
- Flexible brake hose: excessively damaged, deteriorated, chafed, twisted or stretched
- Brake disc or drum: insecure, fractured or otherwise likely to fail
- Brake hose ferrules: excessively corroded
Steering
▼ 5.4% worse
27.3 faults / 100 tests
Year avg: 25.9 / 100 tests
- A steering ball joint: with excessive wear or free play
- A steering ball joint: with excessive wear or free play
- Steering rack gaiter or ball joint dust cover: damaged or deteriorated
- Power steering fluid leaking or system malfunctioning
- Steering rack gaiter or ball joint dust cover: missing or no longer prevents the ingress of dirt etc.
Visibility
▲ 11.7% better
23.5 faults / 100 tests
Year avg: 26.6 / 100 tests
- Wiper blade: missing or obviously not clearing the windscreen
- Windscreen washers not working or not providing sufficient fluid to clear the windscreen
- Windscreen or window damaged or seriously discoloured: but not adversely affecting driver’s view
- Obligatory mirror or device: slightly damaged or loose
- Wiper blade: defective
Lights & Electrics
▼ 116.8% worse
158.3 faults / 100 tests
Year avg: 73.0 / 100 tests
- Lamp emitted colour, position or intensity not in accordance with the requirements
- Beam image obviously incorrect
- Lamp: missing, inoperative or in the case of a multiple light source more than a half not functioning
- A rear registration plate lamp or light source missing or inoperative: when rear registration plate has 2 or more lamps or light sources
- Lamp emitted colour, position or intensity not in accordance with the requirements
Wheels & Suspension
▼ 9.0% worse
290.9 faults / 100 tests
Year avg: 266.9 / 100 tests
- A suspension pin, bush, joint or bearing: excessively worn
- A tyre: with a lump, bulge or tear … or with cords exposed or damaged
- The strength or continuity of the load bearing structure within 30cm … is significantly reduced or inadequately repaired
- Tyre tread depth not in accordance with the requirements
- The strength or continuity of the load bearing structure within 30cm … is significantly reduced or inadequately repaired
Body/Structure
▲ 31.6% better
52.3 faults / 100 tests
Year avg: 76.5 / 100 tests
- Exhaust system has a major leak or is insecure
- Vehicle structure corroded to the extent that: the rigidity of the assembly is significantly reduced
- Vehicle structure corroded to the extent that: the rigidity of the assembly is significantly reduced
- A transmission shaft constant velocity joint boot: severely deteriorated
- Exhaust system has a major leak or is insecure
Equipment
▼ 77.6% worse
34.1 faults / 100 tests
Year avg: 19.2 / 100 tests
- A seat belt: webbing or flexible stalk significantly stretched or weakened
- A seat belt:
- Seat belt buckle missing, damaged or not functioning as intended
- A seat belt: or flexible stalk damaged
- is significantly reduced or The strength or continuity of the load bearing structure within 30cm of any seat belt anchorage (a ’prescribed area’): inadequately repaired
Other
▲ 55.8% better
25.0 faults / 100 tests
Year avg: 56.5 / 100 tests
- Fluid: leaking excessively and likely to harm the environment or to pose a safety risk to other road users
- Lambda coefficient outside the default limits or the range specified by the manufacturer
- Emissions test unable to be completed
- Emissions levels exceed the manufacturer’s specified limits
- Emissions levels exceed default limits
Fault rate by mileage segment
Model
Year average
* Metric: faults per 100 tests.
Most common faults (Top 10)
Brake pipe damaged or excessively corroded
ADVISORY
Occurrences: 128
A suspension pin, bush, joint or bearing: excessively worn
ADVISORY
Occurrences: 98
Tyre tread depth not in accordance with the requirements
ADVISORY
Occurrences: 54
A tyre: with a lump, bulge or tear … or with cords exposed or damaged
ADVISORY
Occurrences: 51
Lamp emitted colour, position or intensity not in accordance with the requirements
ADVISORY
Occurrences: 35
Brake disc or drum: insecure, fractured or otherwise likely to fail
ADVISORY
Occurrences: 35
Brake lining or pad: worn below 1.5mm
ADVISORY
Occurrences: 29
Brake hose ferrules: excessively corroded
ADVISORY
Occurrences: 26
A rear registration plate lamp or light source missing or inoperative: when rear registration plate has 2 or more lamps or light sources
MINOR
Occurrences: 26
The strength or continuity of the load bearing structure within 30cm … is significantly reduced or inadequately repaired
FAIL
Occurrences: 24
Serious faults (Top 10)
The strength or continuity of the load bearing structure within 30cm … is significantly reduced or inadequately repaired
FAIL
Occurrences: 24
Beam image obviously incorrect
FAIL
Occurrences: 18
Lamp emitted colour, position or intensity not in accordance with the requirements
FAIL
Occurrences: 17
A suspension pin, bush, joint or bearing: excessively worn
FAIL
Occurrences: 15
A tyre: with a cut in excess of the requirements deep enough to reach the ply or cords
FAIL
Occurrences: 13
Lamp: missing, inoperative or in the case of a multiple light source more than a half not functioning
FAIL
Occurrences: 13
A rear registration plate lamp or light source missing or inoperative: when rear registration plate has only one lamp or all lamps not working
FAIL
Occurrences: 13
A headlamp: missing, inoperative or more than ½ not functioning in the case of LED
FAIL
Occurrences: 12
Steering rack gaiter or ball joint dust cover: missing or no longer prevents the ingress of dirt etc.
FAIL
Occurrences: 10
Exhaust system has a major leak or is insecure
FAIL
Occurrences: 8