Volvo Black vs Volvo S40: reliability comparison
MOT pass rates, common faults and mileage compared from real UK MOT data.
Volvo Black
73%
MOT pass rate · 1 vehicles
Volvo S40
70%
MOT pass rate · 104,637 vehicles
Verdict: On MOT pass rate the Volvo Black (73%) 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 Black | Volvo S40 |
|---|---|---|
| MOT pass rate | 73% ✓ | 70% |
| MOT failure rate | 27% ✓ | 30% |
| Faults & advisories per test | 3.2 | 2.1 ✓ |
| Dangerous-fault share | 0% ✓ | 1% |
| Average mileage | 160,101 mi | 123,409 mi |
| Sample size (vehicles) | 1 | 104,637 |
Most common faults
Volvo Black
- Windscreen has damage to an area less than a 40mm circle outside zone 'A' (8.3.1d)
- Front Suspension arm rubber bush deteriorated but not resulting in excessive movement (2.4.G.2)
- Offside Front Brake hose slightly deteriorated (3.6.B.4d)
- Brakes imbalanced across an axle (3.7.B.5b)
- Front registration plate character(s) likely to be misread (6.3.4b)
- Offside Front Obligatory mirror seriously damaged, affecting the rear view (8.1.2a)
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 Black (73%) and Volvo S40 (70%) are very close — weigh the individual measures below, and remember condition depends on age, mileage and upkeep.
Full Volvo Black 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.