Volvo 3 axle artic vs Volvo S40: reliability comparison
MOT pass rates, common faults and mileage compared from real UK MOT data.
Volvo 3 axle artic
90%
MOT pass rate · 12 vehicles
Volvo S40
70%
MOT pass rate · 104,637 vehicles
Verdict: On MOT pass rate the Volvo 3 axle artic (90%) and Volvo S40 (70%) are very close — weigh the individual measures below, and remember condition depends on age, mileage and upkeep.
Head to head
| Measure | Volvo 3 axle artic | Volvo S40 |
|---|---|---|
| MOT pass rate | 90% ✓ | 70% |
| MOT failure rate | 10% ✓ | 30% |
| Faults & advisories per test | 0.0 ✓ | 2.1 |
| Dangerous-fault share | — ✓ | 1% |
| Average mileage | 728,849 mi | 123,409 mi |
| Sample size (vehicles) | 12 | 104,637 |
Most common faults
Volvo 3 axle artic
No fault breakdown available.
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 3 axle artic (90%) and Volvo S40 (70%) are very close — weigh the individual measures below, and remember condition depends on age, mileage and upkeep.
Full Volvo 3 axle artic 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.