Volvo S40 vs Volvo S420: 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 S420
57%
MOT pass rate · 1 vehicles
Verdict: On MOT pass rate the Volvo S40 (70%) and Volvo S420 (57%) are very close — weigh the individual measures below, and remember condition depends on age, mileage and upkeep.
Head to head
| Measure | Volvo S40 | Volvo S420 |
|---|---|---|
| MOT pass rate | 70% ✓ | 57% |
| MOT failure rate | 30% ✓ | 43% |
| Faults & advisories per test | 2.1 | 1.6 ✓ |
| Dangerous-fault share | 1% | 0% ✓ |
| Average mileage | 123,409 mi | 131,400 mi |
| Sample size (vehicles) | 104,637 | 1 |
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 S420
- advert above tax disc repositioned , should be removed
- front brake discs worn , close to wear limit
- front inner brake pads appear low
- fuel filter corroded
- fuel tank support straps corroded
- n/s/f tyre wall damaged
Reliability FAQ
On MOT pass rate the Volvo S40 (70%) and Volvo S420 (57%) are very close — weigh the individual measures below, and remember condition depends on age, mileage and upkeep.
Full Volvo S40 report Full Volvo S420 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.