Volvo S40 - 2012
217.4 faults per 100 tests
Year average for all cars of 2012 is 249.2 faults per 100 tests
Dataset: MOT tests in Great Britain (period: 2024-01-01 to 2025-09-10) for Volvo S40, model year 2012.
Sample size: 1,310 cars, 3,122 tests and 6,788 recorded faults.
0%
Less faults compared to the average car of same model year
Less faults compared to the average car of same model year
Quick summary
Total: 1,310 cars
The 2012 Volvo S40 has an overall defect rate of 217 per 100 vehicles, which is notably lower than the average of 246 per 100 vehicles for the same year, marking a 12% improvement. This model performs particularly well in categories such as brakes, steering, equipment, and other defects, showing significantly fewer issues compared to average rates in these areas. However, it has a higher rate of body and structure defects at 31% compared to the average of 25%. Mileage trends indicate that as the odometer increases, the defect rate also rises notably, particularly in the 124,000+ miles segment. Overall, while the S40 excels in certain safety-related categories, it faces challenges with body integrity as mileage increases.
Cars by mileage segment
Total: 1,310 cars
More model years for Volvo S40
Other models from Volvo
Categories
Brakes
▲ 21.6% better
81.4 faults / 100 tests
Year avg: 103.8 / 100 tests
- Brake disc or drum: insecure, fractured or otherwise likely to fail
- Brake disc or drum: significantly and obviously worn
- Brake hose ferrules: excessively corroded
- Brake lining or pad: worn below 1.5mm
- Excessive fluctuation in brake effort through each wheel revolution
Steering
▲ 40.9% better
7.8 faults / 100 tests
Year avg: 13.2 / 100 tests
- A steering ball joint: with excessive wear or free play
- Power steering fluid leaking or system malfunctioning
- A steering ball joint: with excessive wear or free play
- Power steering pipe, hose or wiring: excessively damaged or corroded
- Steering rack gaiter or ball joint dust cover: missing or no longer prevents the ingress of dirt etc.
Visibility
▲ 13.5% better
16.6 faults / 100 tests
Year avg: 19.2 / 100 tests
- Windscreen washers not working or not providing sufficient fluid to clear 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
- Wiper blade: missing or obviously not clearing the windscreen
- Wiper blade: defective
Lights & Electrics
▲ 13.4% better
53.6 faults / 100 tests
Year avg: 61.9 / 100 tests
- Lamp emitted colour, position or intensity not in accordance with the requirements
- Lamp emitted colour, position or intensity not in accordance with the requirements
- Reflector defective or damaged: by up to 50% of the reflecting surface
- A rear registration plate lamp or light source missing or inoperative: when rear registration plate has 2 or more lamps or light sources
- The aim of a headlamp is not within limits laid down in the requirements
Wheels & Suspension
▲ 6.5% better
228.6 faults / 100 tests
Year avg: 244.4 / 100 tests
- Tyre tread depth not in accordance with the requirements
- A tyre: with a lump, bulge or tear … or with cords exposed or damaged
- A spring: or spring component fractured or seriously weakened
- A suspension pin, bush, joint or bearing: excessively worn
- A suspension pin, bush, joint or bearing: excessively worn
Body/Structure
▼ 18.7% worse
31.1 faults / 100 tests
Year avg: 26.2 / 100 tests
- A transmission shaft constant velocity joint boot: missing, split, insecure or no longer prevents the ingress of dirt
- Exhaust system has a major leak or is insecure
- A transmission shaft constant velocity joint boot: severely deteriorated
- Exhaust system has a major leak or is insecure
- Vehicle structure corroded to the extent that: the rigidity of the assembly is significantly reduced
Equipment
▲ 53.2% better
2.9 faults / 100 tests
Year avg: 6.2 / 100 tests
- A seat belt: or flexible stalk damaged
- Seat belt buckle missing, damaged or not functioning as intended
- A seat belt:
- A seat belt: webbing or flexible stalk significantly stretched or weakened
- An SRS malfunction indicator lamp (MIL) indicates a system malfunction
Other
▲ 46.2% better
12.7 faults / 100 tests
Year avg: 23.6 / 100 tests
- Engine MIL inoperative or indicating a malfunction
- 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
- Smoke opacity levels exceed the manufacturer’s specified limit
- Any part of the noise suppression system: insecure
Fault rate by mileage segment
Model
Year average
* Metric: faults per 100 tests.
Most common faults (Top 10)
Tyre tread depth not in accordance with the requirements
ADVISORY
Occurrences: 1,064
A suspension pin, bush, joint or bearing: excessively worn
ADVISORY
Occurrences: 716
Brake disc or drum: insecure, fractured or otherwise likely to fail
ADVISORY
Occurrences: 412
A tyre: with a lump, bulge or tear … or with cords exposed or damaged
ADVISORY
Occurrences: 339
Brake lining or pad: worn below 1.5mm
ADVISORY
Occurrences: 329
A suspension pin, bush, joint or bearing: excessively worn
FAIL
Occurrences: 242
Lamp emitted colour, position or intensity not in accordance with the requirements
ADVISORY
Occurrences: 189
A transmission shaft constant velocity joint boot: severely deteriorated
MINOR
Occurrences: 173
A spring: or spring component fractured or seriously weakened
ADVISORY
Occurrences: 173
A suspension component: excessively damaged or corroded
ADVISORY
Occurrences: 171
Serious faults (Top 10)
A suspension pin, bush, joint or bearing: excessively worn
FAIL
Occurrences: 242
A spring: or spring component fractured or seriously weakened
FAIL
Occurrences: 169
A transmission shaft constant velocity joint boot: missing, split, insecure or no longer prevents the ingress of dirt
FAIL
Occurrences: 164
A tyre: with a lump, bulge or tear … or with cords exposed or damaged
FAIL
Occurrences: 111
Tyre tread depth not in accordance with the requirements
FAIL
Occurrences: 70
Lamp emitted colour, position or intensity not in accordance with the requirements
FAIL
Occurrences: 66
Windscreen washers not working or not providing sufficient fluid to clear the windscreen
FAIL
Occurrences: 53
Brake lining or pad: worn below 1.5mm
FAIL
Occurrences: 52
A suspension component: fractured or likely to fail
FAIL
Occurrences: 52
The aim of a headlamp is not within limits laid down in the requirements
FAIL
Occurrences: 45