Volvo Fl vs Volvo S40: reliability comparison
MOT pass rates, common faults and mileage compared from real UK MOT data.
Volvo Fl
83%
MOT pass rate · 238 vehicles
More reliable
Volvo S40
70%
MOT pass rate · 104,637 vehicles
Verdict: On MOT pass rate, the Volvo Fl is the more reliable of the two — 83% pass first time versus 70%. It's one signal among several; check the full breakdown below.
Head to head
| Measure | Volvo Fl | Volvo S40 |
|---|---|---|
| MOT pass rate | 83% ✓ | 70% |
| MOT failure rate | 17% ✓ | 30% |
| Faults & advisories per test | 0.0 ✓ | 2.1 |
| Dangerous-fault share | 3% | 1% ✓ |
| Average mileage | 449,455 mi | 123,409 mi |
| Sample size (vehicles) | 238 | 104,637 |
Most common faults
Volvo Fl
- Nearside Front Leaf spring has slight wear in a shackle pin and/or bush (2.4.B.2)
- Offside Front Leaf spring has slight wear in a shackle pin and/or bush (2.4.B.2)
- Fuel cap/sealing device sealing washer missing (7.2.4c)
- Nearside Rear Anti-roll bar attachment bracket/mounting insecure (2.4.G.1)
- Windscreen has a sticker or other obstruction encroaching by more than 10mm within zone 'A' (8.3.1b)
- Nearside Headlamp aim too low and too far to the left. (1.8)
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 Fl is the more reliable of the two — 83% pass first time versus 70%. It's one signal among several; check the full breakdown below.
Full Volvo Fl 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.