Volvo 240 vs Volvo S40: reliability comparison
MOT pass rates, common faults and mileage compared from real UK MOT data.
Volvo 240
67%
MOT pass rate · 19,494 vehicles
Volvo S40
70%
MOT pass rate · 104,637 vehicles
More reliable
Verdict: On MOT pass rate, the Volvo S40 is the more reliable of the two — 70% pass first time versus 67%. It's one signal among several; check the full breakdown below.
Head to head
| Measure | Volvo 240 | Volvo S40 |
|---|---|---|
| MOT pass rate | 67% | 70% ✓ |
| MOT failure rate | 33% | 30% ✓ |
| Faults & advisories per test | 2.4 | 2.1 ✓ |
| Dangerous-fault share | 0% ✓ | 1% |
| Average mileage | 149,628 mi | 123,409 mi |
| Sample size (vehicles) | 19,494 | 104,637 |
Most common faults
Volvo 240
- Offside Front Brake hose slightly deteriorated (3.6.B.4d)
- Nearside Front Tyre worn close to the legal limit (4.1.E.1)
- Oil leak
- Nearside Front Brake hose slightly deteriorated (3.6.B.4d)
- Offside Rear Tyre worn close to the legal limit (4.1.E.1)
- Nearside Rear Tyre worn close to the legal limit (4.1.E.1)
Volvo S40
- Nearside Front Tyre worn close to the legal limit (4.1.E.1)
- Offside Front Tyre worn close to the legal limit (4.1.E.1)
- Nearside Rear Tyre worn close to the legal limit (4.1.E.1)
- Offside Rear Tyre worn close to the legal limit (4.1.E.1)
- Front Brake pad(s) wearing thin (3.5.1g)
- Parking brake: efficiency below requirements (3.7.B.7)
Reliability FAQ
On MOT pass rate, the Volvo S40 is the more reliable of the two — 70% pass first time versus 67%. It's one signal among several; check the full breakdown below.
Full Volvo 240 report Full Volvo S40 report Most reliable cars
Pass rates are computed over completed (pass/fail) MOT tests. Reliability also depends on age, mileage and upkeep — see each model's page for the full picture.