Volvo S40 vs Volvo V70 d5 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 V70 d5 se
72%
MOT pass rate · 136 vehicles
More reliable
Verdict: On MOT pass rate, the Volvo V70 d5 se is the more reliable of the two — 72% pass first time versus 70%. It's one signal among several; check the full breakdown below.
Head to head
| Measure | Volvo S40 | Volvo V70 d5 se |
|---|---|---|
| MOT pass rate | 70% | 72% ✓ |
| MOT failure rate | 30% | 28% ✓ |
| Faults & advisories per test | 2.1 | 0.1 ✓ |
| Dangerous-fault share | 1% | 0% ✓ |
| Average mileage | 123,409 mi | 200,436 mi |
| Sample size (vehicles) | 104,637 | 136 |
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 V70 d5 se
- Front brakes slightly out of balance
- Central exhaust flange & mounts corroded
- Offside Front Headlamp lens slightly defective (4.1.1 (b) (i))
- Rear Coil spring corroded both (5.3.1 (b) (i))
- Offside Obligatory mirror damaged, but not seriously affecting the rear view (8.1.2a)
- Offside Side repeater damaged, but still visible from a reasonable distance (1.4.A.2e)
Reliability FAQ
On MOT pass rate, the Volvo V70 d5 se is the more reliable of the two — 72% pass first time versus 70%. It's one signal among several; check the full breakdown below.
Full Volvo S40 report Full Volvo V70 d5 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.