Volvo C30 se vs Volvo S40: reliability comparison
MOT pass rates, common faults and mileage compared from real UK MOT data.
Volvo C30 se
78%
MOT pass rate · 21 vehicles
Volvo S40
70%
MOT pass rate · 104,637 vehicles
Verdict: On MOT pass rate the Volvo C30 se (78%) 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 C30 se | Volvo S40 |
|---|---|---|
| MOT pass rate | 78% ✓ | 70% |
| MOT failure rate | 22% ✓ | 30% |
| Faults & advisories per test | 0.2 ✓ | 2.1 |
| Dangerous-fault share | 0% ✓ | 1% |
| Average mileage | 106,785 mi | 123,409 mi |
| Sample size (vehicles) | 21 | 104,637 |
Most common faults
Volvo C30 se
- Nearside Front Lower Suspension arm pin or bush worn but not resulting in excessive movement (5.3.4 (a) (i))
- Nearside Front Headlamp light intensity severely reduced (4.1.4 (a))
- Nearside Front Tyre worn close to legal limit/worn on edge (5.2.3 (e))
- Offside Front Tyre worn close to legal limit/worn on edge (5.2.3 (e))
- 205/50R17
- Nearside Front Tyre worn close to legal limit/worn on edge 2.52mm (5.2.3 (e))
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 C30 se (78%) and Volvo S40 (70%) are very close — weigh the individual measures below, and remember condition depends on age, mileage and upkeep.
Full Volvo C30 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.