Used car guide

2000 Volvo V40: common problems and what to check

What gets flagged at MOT on 2000 Volvo V40s, from 197 tests in 2025, plus known faults and what to look at before you buy one.

Small sample: only 197 of these were MOT tested in 2025, so treat the percentages as rough. The known faults below don't depend on it.

197MOT tests in 2025
54%pass first time (all 2000 cars: 63%)
4,400typical miles a year
2.5×the usual rate for number plates

What stands out

Parts flagged at MOT more often on 2000 Volvo V40s than on all cars registered in 2000.

  • Number plates2.5× usual
    Volvo V40
    16.8% All 2000 cars
    6.7%

    Failed outright at MOT: 1.5%, against 0.7% of all 2000 cars. The rest were advisories or minor defects.

    Rough price £5–£40 our estimate

    At the viewing: Check the number plate lights work and the plates are clean and legal.

By area

The share of 2000 Volvo V40 MOT tests where testers flagged each area, as a fail or an advisory. Rough prices are typical independent-garage costs.

  • Suspension
    52% 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
    44% 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
    32% 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.

  • Wipers, windscreen and mirrors
    18% of testsRough price £15–£250

    At the viewing: Check for chips in the driver's view, and test the wipers and washers.

  • Oil and fluid leaks
    15% 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 V40?

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Other years

YearMOT testsMost flagged
20198,207Tyres 34%
201812,945Tyres 33%
201713,524Tyres 32%
201615,351Tyres 33%
201515,423Tyres 34%
201415,917Tyres 34%
201311,074Tyres 36%
20122,260Tyres 38%
2004629Suspension 54%
2003737Suspension 56%
2002516Suspension 53%
2001375Suspension 49%
1999121Suspension 53%

Where this comes from: the DVSA's anonymised results for every MOT test in Great Britain in 2025, counting tests of 2000 Volvo V40s registered in 2000. "Flagged" includes advisories, so it isn't the same as a fail rate. How we score