Volvo S40 - 2002
403.7 faults per 100 tests
Year average for all cars of 2002 is 375.3 faults per 100 tests
Dataset: MOT tests in Great Britain (period: 2024-01-01 to 2025-09-10) for Volvo S40, model year 2002.
Sample size: 439 cars, 979 tests and 3,952 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: 439 cars
The 2002 Volvo S40 has an overall defect rate of 404 per 100 vehicles, which is 8% higher than the average for cars of the same year. Notably, it shows a significant increase in defects as mileage increases, peaking at 600 defects per 100 vehicles for those with over 124,000 miles. While this model performs better in the "Other" category with a defect rate significantly lower than average, it struggles with brakes, lights and electrics, and equipment, where its defect rates exceed the average. Overall, the S40's performance highlights both specific weaknesses and a relatively stronger showing in certain non-standard categories.
Cars by mileage segment
Total: 439 cars
More model years for Volvo S40
Other models from Volvo
Categories
Brakes
▼ 26.1% worse
210.6 faults / 100 tests
Year avg: 167.0 / 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
▼ 5.1% worse
26.6 faults / 100 tests
Year avg: 25.3 / 100 tests
- Steering rack gaiter or ball joint dust cover: missing or no longer prevents the ingress of dirt etc.
- A steering ball joint: with excessive wear or free play
- Steering rack gaiter or ball joint dust cover: damaged or deteriorated
- A steering ball joint: with excessive wear or free play
- Power steering fluid leaking or system malfunctioning
Visibility
▼ 0.7% worse
29.8 faults / 100 tests
Year avg: 29.6 / 100 tests
- Windscreen or window damaged or seriously discoloured: but not adversely affecting driver’s view
- Wiper blade: defective
- Windscreen washers not working or not providing sufficient fluid to clear the windscreen
- Wiper blade: missing or obviously not clearing the windscreen
- A bonnet: which cannot be safely secured in the closed position
Lights & Electrics
▼ 21.3% worse
116.4 faults / 100 tests
Year avg: 96.0 / 100 tests
- A rear registration plate lamp or light source missing or inoperative: when rear registration plate has 2 or more lamps or light sources
- Lamp: missing, inoperative or in the case of a multiple light source more than a half not functioning
- Lamp: multiple light source up to a half not functioning
- Lamp emitted colour, position or intensity not in accordance with the requirements
- A headlamp: missing, inoperative or more than ½ not functioning in the case of LED
Wheels & Suspension
▼ 0.7% worse
297.2 faults / 100 tests
Year avg: 295.2 / 100 tests
- Tyre tread depth not in accordance with the requirements
- A suspension joint dust cover: severely deteriorated
- A suspension pin, bush, joint or bearing: excessively worn
- A tyre: with a lump, bulge or tear … or with cords exposed or damaged
- A suspension component: excessively damaged or corroded
Body/Structure
▲ 11.3% better
61.1 faults / 100 tests
Year avg: 68.9 / 100 tests
- Exhaust system has a major leak or is insecure
- A transmission shaft constant velocity joint boot: missing, split, insecure or no longer prevents the ingress of dirt
- 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
▼ 114.1% worse
31.9 faults / 100 tests
Year avg: 14.9 / 100 tests
- An SRS malfunction indicator lamp (MIL) indicates a system malfunction
- A seat belt: or flexible stalk damaged
- A seat belt: webbing or flexible stalk significantly stretched or weakened
- A seat belt:
- 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
▲ 37.1% better
33.7 faults / 100 tests
Year avg: 53.6 / 100 tests
- Lambda coefficient outside the default limits or the range specified by the manufacturer
- Engine MIL inoperative or indicating a malfunction
- Fluid: leaking excessively and likely to harm the environment or to pose a safety risk to other road users
- Emissions test unable to be completed
- 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: 306
A suspension pin, bush, joint or bearing: excessively worn
ADVISORY
Occurrences: 274
Tyre tread depth not in accordance with the requirements
ADVISORY
Occurrences: 245
Brake disc or drum: insecure, fractured or otherwise likely to fail
ADVISORY
Occurrences: 242
A tyre: with a lump, bulge or tear … or with cords exposed or damaged
ADVISORY
Occurrences: 180
A suspension joint dust cover: severely deteriorated
MINOR
Occurrences: 175
A suspension component: excessively damaged or corroded
ADVISORY
Occurrences: 108
Fluid: leaking excessively and likely to harm the environment or to pose a safety risk to other road users
ADVISORY
Occurrences: 104
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: 96
Brake lining or pad: worn below 1.5mm
ADVISORY
Occurrences: 80
Serious faults (Top 10)
Lamp: missing, inoperative or in the case of a multiple light source more than a half not functioning
FAIL
Occurrences: 76
A suspension joint dust cover: missing or no longer prevents the ingress of dirt etc.
FAIL
Occurrences: 66
A suspension pin, bush, joint or bearing: excessively worn
FAIL
Occurrences: 53
A spring: or spring component fractured or seriously weakened
FAIL
Occurrences: 41
Steering rack gaiter or ball joint dust cover: missing or no longer prevents the ingress of dirt etc.
FAIL
Occurrences: 40
A transmission shaft constant velocity joint boot: missing, split, insecure or no longer prevents the ingress of dirt
FAIL
Occurrences: 36
Wiper blade: missing or obviously not clearing the windscreen
FAIL
Occurrences: 36
Flexible brake hose: excessively damaged, deteriorated, chafed, twisted or stretched
FAIL
Occurrences: 34
Parking brake efficiency: below minimum requirement
FAIL
Occurrences: 31
A headlamp: missing, inoperative or more than ½ not functioning in the case of LED
FAIL
Occurrences: 31