Used car guide

2019 Volvo V40: common problems and what to check

What gets flagged at MOT on 2019 Volvo V40s, from 8,207 tests in 2025, plus known faults and what to look at before you buy one.

8,207MOT tests in 2025
81%pass first time (all 2019 cars: 84%)
6,900typical miles a year
7×the usual rate for coil springs

What stands out

Parts flagged at MOT more often on 2019 Volvo V40s than on all cars registered in 2019.

  • Coil springs7× usual
    Volvo V40
    6.3% All 2019 cars
    0.9%

    Failed outright at MOT: 6.2%, against 0.7% of all 2019 cars. The rest were advisories or minor defects.

    Rough price £175–£400 (pair, one axle) ClickMechanic

    At the viewing: Look behind each wheel for a snapped spring coil, and listen for a clunk or twang when turning the wheel lock to lock with the car stopped.

  • Wheels2.6× usual
    Volvo V40
    2.1% All 2019 cars
    0.8%

    Failed outright at MOT: 0.2%, against 0.2% of all 2019 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.

By area

The share of 2019 Volvo V40 MOT tests where testers flagged each area, as a fail or an advisory. Rough prices are typical independent-garage costs.

  • Tyres
    34% 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.

  • Brakes
    17% 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.

  • Suspension
    10% 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
    5% 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
    4% of testsRough price £15–£250

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

  • Seats and seatbelts
    2% of testsRough price £80–£250

    At the viewing: Pull each seatbelt sharply. It should lock, and retract cleanly.

Looking at a Volvo V40?

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Other years

YearMOT testsMost flagged
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%

Where this comes from: the DVSA's anonymised results for every MOT test in Great Britain in 2025, counting tests of 2019 Volvo V40s registered in 2019. "Flagged" includes advisories, so it isn't the same as a fail rate. How we score