Used car guide

2008 Volvo S40: common problems and what to check

What gets flagged at MOT on 2008 Volvo S40s, from 2,447 tests in 2025, plus known faults and what to look at before you buy one.

2,447MOT tests in 2025
58%pass first time (all 2008 cars: 57%)
6,600typical miles a year
1.8×the usual rate for individual direction indicators

What stands out

Parts flagged at MOT more often on 2008 Volvo S40s than on all cars registered in 2008.

  • Individual direction indicators1.8× usual
    Volvo S40
    5.7% All 2008 cars
    3.1%

    Failed outright at MOT: 2.4%, against 1.3% of all 2008 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.

  • Steering rack2.8× usual
    Volvo S40
    3.1% All 2008 cars
    1.1%

    Failed outright at MOT: 2.4%, against 0.6% of all 2008 cars. The rest were advisories or minor defects.

    Rough price £100–£450 our estimate

    At the viewing: On a straight road the steering wheel should sit straight. Listen for knocks when turning, and check the steering feels even.

  • Power steering pipes and hoses4.2× usual
    Volvo S40
    2.1% All 2008 cars
    0.5%

    Failed outright at MOT: 0.2%, against 0.1% of all 2008 cars. The rest were advisories or minor defects.

    Rough price £100–£400 our estimate

    At the viewing: Ask to see underneath, or check the MOT advisories: corroded brake or fuel pipes get worse every year and fail the MOT when they do.

Better than most

Rigid brake pipes: 1.6% here, against 9.6% of all 2008 cars. Headlights: 5% here, against 10.7% of all 2008 cars.

By area

The share of 2008 Volvo S40 MOT tests where testers flagged each area, as a fail or an advisory. Rough prices are typical independent-garage costs.

  • Suspension
    47% 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.

  • Tyres
    37% 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.

  • Lights and electrics
    35% 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
    31% 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.

  • Exhaust and emissions
    15% of testsRough price £100–£1,200

    At the viewing: Look for black soot in the tailpipe, listen for blowing from the exhaust and check for engine or DPF warning lights.

  • Oil and fluid leaks
    12% 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%
20071,500Suspension 50%
20061,338Suspension 48%
20051,142Suspension 52%
2004910Suspension 47%
2003515Suspension 48%

Where this comes from: the DVSA's anonymised results for every MOT test in Great Britain in 2025, counting tests of 2008 Volvo S40s registered in 2008. "Flagged" includes advisories, so it isn't the same as a fail rate. How we score