Used car guide

2001 Volvo V40: common problems and what to check

What gets flagged at MOT on 2001 Volvo V40s, from 375 tests in 2025, plus known faults and what to look at before you buy one.

Small sample: only 375 of these were MOT tested in 2025, so treat the percentages as rough. The known faults below don't depend on it.

375MOT tests in 2025
52%pass first time (all 2001 cars: 61%)
4,700typical miles a year
2.9×the usual rate for ball joint dust cover

What stands out

Parts flagged at MOT more often on 2001 Volvo V40s than on all cars registered in 2001.

  • Ball joint dust cover2.9× usual
    Volvo V40
    10.9% All 2001 cars
    3.8%

    Failed outright at MOT: 4.3%, against 1.3% of all 2001 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.

  • Seat belts4.3× usual
    Volvo V40
    8.5% All 2001 cars
    2%

    Failed outright at MOT: 1.1%, against 0.6% of all 2001 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.

  • Sidelights2.2× usual
    Volvo V40
    11.5% All 2001 cars
    5.2%

    Failed outright at MOT: 8%, against 4.5% of all 2001 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.

  • Brake pads2.1× usual
    Volvo V40
    11.5% All 2001 cars
    5.6%

    Failed outright at MOT: 3.2%, against 1.2% of all 2001 cars. The rest were advisories or minor defects.

    Rough price £75–£175 (one axle) ClickMechanic

    At the viewing: Listen for squealing or grinding when braking, and look through the wheel at how much pad is left.

By area

The share of 2001 Volvo V40 MOT tests where testers flagged each area, as a fail or an advisory. Rough prices are typical independent-garage costs.

  • Suspension
    49% 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.

  • Brakes
    49% 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.

  • Lights and electrics
    37% of testsRough price £10–£80

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

  • 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.

  • Oil and fluid leaks
    16% 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.

  • 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.

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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%
2000197Suspension 52%
1999121Suspension 53%

Where this comes from: the DVSA's anonymised results for every MOT test in Great Britain in 2025, counting tests of 2001 Volvo V40s registered in 2001. "Flagged" includes advisories, so it isn't the same as a fail rate. How we score