Used car guide

2009 Volvo S40: common problems and what to check

What gets flagged at MOT on 2009 Volvo S40s, from 2,114 tests in 2025, plus known faults and what to look at before you buy one.

2,114MOT tests in 2025
57%pass first time (all 2009 cars: 58%)
6,700typical miles a year
1.9×the usual rate for individual direction indicators

What stands out

Parts flagged at MOT more often on 2009 Volvo S40s than on all cars registered in 2009.

  • Individual direction indicators1.9× usual
    Volvo S40
    5.4% All 2009 cars
    2.9%

    Failed outright at MOT: 1.8%, against 1.2% of all 2009 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.

  • Anti-roll bar links7.3× usual
    Volvo S40
    2.2% All 2009 cars
    0.3%

    Failed outright at MOT: 2%, against 0.3% of all 2009 cars. The rest were advisories or minor defects.

    Rough price £100–£280 (pair of drop links) Checkatrade

    At the viewing: Drive slowly over bumps and listen for a knock or rattle from the front. Worn anti-roll bar links are a cheap fix.

  • Steering rack2.8× usual
    Volvo S40
    2.8% All 2009 cars
    1%

    Failed outright at MOT: 2%, against 0.5% of all 2009 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.

  • Rear reflectors4.2× usual
    Volvo S40
    2.1% All 2009 cars
    0.5%

    Failed outright at MOT: 0.2%, against 0.1% of all 2009 cars. The rest were advisories or minor defects.

    Rough price £10–£80 our estimate

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

Better than most

Rigid brake pipes: 1.4% here, against 7.5% of all 2009 cars. Brake lights: 1.9% here, against 5.4% of all 2009 cars.

By area

The share of 2009 Volvo S40 MOT tests where testers flagged each area, as a fail or an advisory. Rough prices are typical independent-garage costs.

  • Suspension
    44% 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
    36% 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
    33% 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
    30% 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
    13% 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%
20082,447Suspension 47%
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 2009 Volvo S40s registered in 2009. "Flagged" includes advisories, so it isn't the same as a fail rate. How we score