Volvo S40 vs Volvo S40 se: reliability comparison
MOT pass rates, common faults and mileage compared from real UK MOT data.
Volvo S40
70%
MOT pass rate · 104,637 vehicles
Volvo S40 se
79%
MOT pass rate · 184 vehicles
More reliable
Verdict: On MOT pass rate, the Volvo S40 se is the more reliable of the two — 79% pass first time versus 70%. It's one signal among several; check the full breakdown below.
Head to head
| Measure | Volvo S40 | Volvo S40 se |
|---|---|---|
| MOT pass rate | 70% | 79% ✓ |
| MOT failure rate | 30% | 21% ✓ |
| Faults & advisories per test | 2.1 | 0.0 ✓ |
| Dangerous-fault share | 1% | — ✓ |
| Average mileage | 123,409 mi | 131,598 mi |
| Sample size (vehicles) | 104,637 | 184 |
Most common faults
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)
Volvo S40 se
No fault breakdown available.
Reliability FAQ
On MOT pass rate, the Volvo S40 se is the more reliable of the two — 79% pass first time versus 70%. It's one signal among several; check the full breakdown below.
Full Volvo S40 report Full Volvo S40 se 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.