Volvo P220 vs Volvo S40: reliability comparison
MOT pass rates, common faults and mileage compared from real UK MOT data.
Volvo P220
74%
MOT pass rate · 50 vehicles
More reliable
Volvo S40
70%
MOT pass rate · 104,637 vehicles
Verdict: On MOT pass rate, the Volvo P220 is the more reliable of the two — 74% pass first time versus 70%. It's one signal among several; check the full breakdown below.
Head to head
| Measure | Volvo P220 | Volvo S40 |
|---|---|---|
| MOT pass rate | 74% ✓ | 70% |
| MOT failure rate | 26% ✓ | 30% |
| Faults & advisories per test | 1.8 ✓ | 2.1 |
| Dangerous-fault share | 1% | 1% |
| Average mileage | 68,172 mi | 123,409 mi |
| Sample size (vehicles) | 50 | 104,637 |
Most common faults
Volvo P220
- Oil leak
- Parking brake: efficiency below requirements (3.7.B.7)
- Nearside Front Suspension component mounting prescribed area is corroded but not considered excessive (2.4.A.3)
- Offside Front Suspension component mounting prescribed area is corroded but not considered excessive (2.4.A.3)
- Nearside Rear Suspension component mounting prescribed area is corroded but not considered excessive (2.4.A.3)
- Offside Rear Suspension component mounting prescribed area is corroded but not considered excessive (2.4.A.3)
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 P220 is the more reliable of the two — 74% pass first time versus 70%. It's one signal among several; check the full breakdown below.
Full Volvo P220 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.