Volvo Citybus vs Volvo S40: reliability comparison
MOT pass rates, common faults and mileage compared from real UK MOT data.
Volvo Citybus
85%
MOT pass rate · 4 vehicles
Volvo S40
70%
MOT pass rate · 104,637 vehicles
Verdict: On MOT pass rate the Volvo Citybus (85%) 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 Citybus | Volvo S40 |
|---|---|---|
| MOT pass rate | 85% ✓ | 70% |
| MOT failure rate | 15% ✓ | 30% |
| Faults & advisories per test | 0.7 ✓ | 2.1 |
| Dangerous-fault share | 0% ✓ | 1% |
| Average mileage | 646,814 mi | 123,409 mi |
| Sample size (vehicles) | 4 | 104,637 |
Most common faults
Volvo Citybus
- Coolant leak
- Offside Front Axle king pin has slight play in pin and/or bush (2.5.A.3a)
- Nearside Rear position lamp(s) not working (1.1.A.3b)
- Offside Headlamp not working on dipped beam (1.7.5a)
- Windscreen washer provides insufficient washer liquid (8.2.3)
- Parking brake: efficiency below requirements (3.7.B.7)
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 Citybus (85%) and Volvo S40 (70%) are very close — weigh the individual measures below, and remember condition depends on age, mileage and upkeep.
Full Volvo Citybus 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.