Used car guide

2003 Volvo S40: common problems and what to check

What gets flagged at MOT on 2003 Volvo S40s, from 515 tests in 2025, plus known faults and what to look at before you buy one.

515MOT tests in 2025
52%pass first time (all 2003 cars: 59%)
4,500typical miles a year
5.8×the usual rate for seat belts

What stands out

Parts flagged at MOT more often on 2003 Volvo S40s than on all cars registered in 2003.

  • Seat belts5.8× usual
    Volvo S40
    10.5% All 2003 cars
    1.8%

    Failed outright at MOT: 1.9%, against 0.6% of all 2003 cars. The rest were advisories or minor defects.

    Rough price £80–£250 our estimate

    At the viewing: Pull each seatbelt sharply. It should lock and retract smoothly.

  • Sidelights2.4× usual
    Volvo S40
    14.8% All 2003 cars
    6.1%

    Failed outright at MOT: 9.1%, against 5.4% of all 2003 cars. The rest were advisories or minor defects.

    Rough price £10–£80 our estimate

    At the viewing: Ask a friend to check every light while you work the switches: indicators, brake lights, fog lights and reversing lights.

  • Drive shaft (CV) joints2.3× usual
    Volvo S40
    15.1% All 2003 cars
    6.6%

    Failed outright at MOT: 4.9%, against 2.9% of all 2003 cars. The rest were advisories or minor defects.

    Rough price £60–£350 our estimate

    At the viewing: Drive slowly on full steering lock in both directions and listen for clicking. Look for split rubber boots behind the front wheels.

  • Ball joint dust cover2.7× usual
    Volvo S40
    13% All 2003 cars
    4.8%

    Failed outright at MOT: 4.1%, against 1.8% of all 2003 cars. The rest were advisories or minor defects.

    Rough price £60–£150 (one joint) ClickMechanic

    At the viewing: Listen for knocking over bumps and check the rubber boots behind the wheels aren't split.

  • Individual direction indicators3× usual
    Volvo S40
    9.3% All 2003 cars
    3.1%

    Failed outright at MOT: 3.5%, against 1.4% of all 2003 cars. The rest were advisories or minor defects.

    Rough price £10–£80 our estimate

    At the viewing: Ask a friend to check every light while you work the switches: indicators, brake lights, fog lights and reversing lights.

Better than most

Headlights: 3.9% here, against 12.1% of all 2003 cars.

By area

The share of 2003 Volvo S40 MOT tests where testers flagged each area, as a fail or an advisory. Rough prices are typical independent-garage costs.

  • Suspension
    48% of testsRough price £120–£400

    At the viewing: Listen for knocks over speed bumps, and look behind each front wheel for a snapped coil spring.

  • Lights and electrics
    46% of testsRough price £10–£80

    At the viewing: Ask a friend to check every light, including brake lights and indicators, while you operate them.

  • Brakes
    46% of testsRough price £150–£350

    At the viewing: Look for a lip on the disc edges and feel for judder or pulling when braking firmly from about 40mph.

  • Tyres
    33% of testsRough price £70–£150

    At the viewing: Check the tread on all four tyres, including the inside edges, and look for cracks or bulges.

  • Driveshafts and joints
    15% of testsRough price £60–£350

    At the viewing: On full steering lock, drive slowly and listen for clicking from the front wheels.

  • Oil and fluid leaks
    11% of testsRough price £80–£600

    At the viewing: Look under the engine and on the ground where the car is usually parked for fresh oil or fluid.

Looking at a Volvo S40?

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Other years

YearMOT testsMost flagged
20121,220Suspension 37%
20111,333Suspension 43%
20101,691Suspension 44%
20092,114Suspension 44%
20082,447Suspension 47%
20071,500Suspension 50%
20061,338Suspension 48%
20051,142Suspension 52%
2004910Suspension 47%

Where this comes from: the DVSA's anonymised results for every MOT test in Great Britain in 2025, counting tests of 2003 Volvo S40s registered in 2003. "Flagged" includes advisories, so it isn't the same as a fail rate. How we score