Used car guide

2012 Volvo V40: common problems and what to check

What gets flagged at MOT on 2012 Volvo V40s, from 2,260 tests in 2025, plus known faults and what to look at before you buy one.

2,260MOT tests in 2025
62%pass first time (all 2012 cars: 63%)
8,600typical miles a year
3×the usual rate for individual direction indicators

What stands out

Parts flagged at MOT more often on 2012 Volvo V40s than on all cars registered in 2012.

  • Individual direction indicators3× usual
    Volvo V40
    9.1% All 2012 cars
    3%

    Failed outright at MOT: 3.5%, against 1.2% of all 2012 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-lock braking system9.2× usual
    Volvo V40
    4.6% All 2012 cars
    0.5%

    Failed outright at MOT: 4.6%, against 0.5% of all 2012 cars. The rest were advisories or minor defects.

    Rough price £100–£350 our estimate

    At the viewing: On a quiet road, brake firmly from about 30mph. The car should stop straight without pulling.

  • Anti-roll bar links10.7× usual
    Volvo V40
    3.2% All 2012 cars
    0.3%

    Failed outright at MOT: 3.1%, against 0.2% of all 2012 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.

  • Wheels2.1× usual
    Volvo V40
    3.5% All 2012 cars
    1.7%

    Failed outright at MOT: 0.6%, against 0.5% of all 2012 cars. The rest were advisories or minor defects.

    Rough price £70–£150 our estimate

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

Better than most

Rigid brake pipes: 1.4% here, against 5.5% of all 2012 cars. Track rod ends: 1.1% here, against 4.9% of all 2012 cars.

By area

The share of 2012 Volvo V40 MOT tests where testers flagged each area, as a fail or an advisory. Rough prices are typical independent-garage costs.

  • Tyres
    38% 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.

  • Suspension
    36% 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
    28% 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
    27% of testsRough price £10–£80

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

  • Wipers, windscreen and mirrors
    7% 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
    5% 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%
2004629Suspension 54%
2003737Suspension 56%
2002516Suspension 53%

Where this comes from: the DVSA's anonymised results for every MOT test in Great Britain in 2025, counting tests of 2012 Volvo V40s registered in 2012. "Flagged" includes advisories, so it isn't the same as a fail rate. How we score