Volvo 850 t5 se vs Volvo S40: reliability comparison
MOT pass rates, common faults and mileage compared from real UK MOT data.
Volvo 850 t5 se
100%
MOT pass rate · 22 vehicles
Volvo S40
70%
MOT pass rate · 104,637 vehicles
Verdict: On MOT pass rate the Volvo 850 t5 se (100%) 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 850 t5 se | Volvo S40 |
|---|---|---|
| MOT pass rate | 100% ✓ | 70% |
| MOT failure rate | 0% ✓ | 30% |
| Faults & advisories per test | 0.0 ✓ | 2.1 |
| Dangerous-fault share | — ✓ | 1% |
| Average mileage | 158,707 mi | 123,409 mi |
| Sample size (vehicles) | 22 | 104,637 |
Most common faults
Volvo 850 t5 se
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 850 t5 se (100%) and Volvo S40 (70%) are very close — weigh the individual measures below, and remember condition depends on age, mileage and upkeep.
Full Volvo 850 t5 se 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.