MOT History from tests of petrol VOLVO S40s year 1996

Review the list of common VOLVO S40 failures below or to perform a specific mot history check on your VOLVO then use our popular KnowYourCar service

mot history

Pass percent:43.04%

(The average a petrol VOLVO S40 year 1996 passes without issue)

Based on:13,680 MOT Tests

Most common failures	No# failures
Registration plate lamp issues	3385
Headlamp aim out of alignment	1526
Brake pipe excessively corroded	1496
Parking brake: efficiency below requirements \|3.7.B.7\|	1001
Exhaust emissions carbon monoxide content after 2nd fast idle excessive \|7.3.D.3\|	983
Windscreen wiper does not clear the windscreen effectively	918
Nearside Front position lamp\|s\| not working \|1.1.A.3b\|	763
Offside Front position lamp\|s\| not working \|1.1.A.3b\|	734
Brakes imbalanced across an axle	615
Exhaust emissions Lambda reading after 2nd fast idle outside specified limits \|7.3.D.3\|	568
Exhaust emissions carbon monoxide content at idle excessive \|7.3.D.4\|	464
Rear parking brake recording little or no effort	440
Registration plate issues	390
Offside Rear fog lamp not working \|1.3.2b\|	318
Offside Headlamp not working on dipped beam \|1.7.5a\|	309
Offside Rear position lamp\|s\| excessively deteriorated so that it is not visible from a reasonable distance \|1.1.A.3d\|	299
Nearside Rear Direction indicator incorrect colour \|1.4.A.2f\|	292
Offside Rear Direction indicator incorrect colour \|1.4.A.2f\|	284
Nearside Rear position lamp\|s\| excessively deteriorated so that it is not visible from a reasonable distance \|1.1.A.3d\|	265
Offside Steering rack gaiter split \|2.2.D.2d\|	261
Nearside Headlamp not working on dipped beam \|1.7.5a\|	260
Nearside Front Front position lamp\|s\| not working \|1.1.A.3b\|	247
Offside Front Front position lamp\|s\| not working \|1.1.A.3b\|	246
Offside Front Direction indicator incorrect colour \|1.4.A.2f\|	229
Exhaust has a major leak of exhaust gases \|7.1.2\|	200
Nearside Front Direction indicator incorrect colour \|1.4.A.2f\|	199
Exhaust emissions hydrocarbon content after 2nd fast idle excessive \|7.3.D.3\|	190
Service brake: efficiency below requirements \|3.7.B.7\|	188
Front brake disc in such a condition that it is seriously weakened	179
Nearside Front suspension has excessive play in a lower suspension ball joint \|2.5.B.1a\|	169
Nearside Front Anti-roll bar linkage has excessive play in a ball joint \|2.4.G.2\|	165
Offside Front suspension has excessive play in a lower suspension ball joint \|2.5.B.1a\|	161
Offside Stop lamp not working \|1.2.1b\|	152
Front brake application uneven	148
Nearside Steering rack gaiter split \|2.2.D.2d\|	145
Nearside Stop lamp not working \|1.2.1b\|	145
Offside Headlamp not in good working order adversely affecting beam image \|1.2.4a\|	140
Nearside Front Suspension arm has excessive play in a ball joint \|2.4.G.2\|	136
Nearside Front Track rod end ball joint has excessive play \|2.2.B.1f\|	129
Nearside Headlamp not in good working order adversely affecting beam image \|1.2.4a\|	125
Rear brake binding	123
Nearside Track rod end ball joint has excessive play \|2.2.B.1f\|	122
Offside Rear Rear position lamp\|s\| excessively deteriorated so that it is not visible from a reasonable distance \|1.1.A.3d\|	121
Offside Front Suspension arm has excessive play in a ball joint \|2.4.G.2\|	121
Rear Exhaust has a major leak of exhaust gases \|7.1.2\|	119
Nearside Front constant velocity joint gaiter split \|2.5.C.1a\|	119
Nearside Rear Rear position lamp\|s\| excessively deteriorated so that it is not visible from a reasonable distance \|1.1.A.3d\|	117
Centre Exhaust has a major leak of exhaust gases \|7.1.2\|	111
Emissions not tested \|7.0\|	108
Nearside Rear position lamp\|s\| not working \|1.1.A.3b\|	106
Offside Front Track rod end ball joint has excessive play \|2.2.B.1f\|	106
Brake hose excessively deteriorated	105
Offside Front Anti-roll bar linkage has excessive play in a ball joint \|2.4.G.2\|	104
Offside Front Headlamp not working on dipped beam \|1.7.5a\|	103
Offside Rear position lamp\|s\| not working \|1.1.A.3b\|	99
Offside Front Steering rack gaiter split \|2.2.D.2d\|	99
Offside Front constant velocity joint gaiter split \|2.5.C.1a\|	99
Parking brake lever has no reserve travel \|3.1.6b\|	98
Horn not working \|1.6.2a\|	96
Offside Track rod end ball joint has excessive play \|2.2.B.1f\|	91
Offside Front Lower Suspension arm has excessive play in a ball joint \|2.4.G.2\|	84
Front position lamp\|s\| not working \|1.1.A.3b\|	79
Anti-lock braking system warning lamp indicates an ABS fault	78
Offside Headlamp not working on main beam \|1.7.5a\|	78
Nearside Front Headlamp not working on dipped beam \|1.7.5a\|	77
Nearside Front Lower Suspension arm has excessive play in a ball joint \|2.4.G.2\|	77
Offside Rear Stop lamp not working \|1.2.1b\|	76
Offside Rear Rear fog lamp not working \|1.3.2b\|	75
Offside Front Headlamp not in good working order adversely affecting beam image \|1.2.4a\|	74
Rear brake disc in such a condition that it is seriously weakened	72
Direction indicators incorrect colour \|1.4.A.2f\|	71
Windscreen has damage	68
Nearside Rear Stop lamp not working \|1.2.1b\|	68
Nearside Rear Direction indicators incorrect colour \|1.4.A.2f\|	67
Rear brake application uneven	64
Rear fog lamp not working \|1.3.2b\|	62
Offside Headlamp aim beam image obviously incorrect \|1.8.A.1b\|	62
Front Exhaust has a major leak of exhaust gases \|7.1.2\|	61
Offside Rear brake disc excessively pitted \|3.5.1h\|	60
Offside Front Direction indicators incorrect colour \|1.4.A.2f\|	58
Offside Outer Rear position lamp\|s\| excessively deteriorated so that it is not visible from a reasonable distance \|1.1.A.3d\|	58
Nearside Front Headlamp not in good working order adversely affecting beam image \|1.2.4a\|	57
Nearside Front Direction indicators incorrect colour \|1.4.A.2f\|	57
Nearside Headlamp not working on main beam \|1.7.5a\|	57
Offside Inner Rear position lamp\|s\| excessively deteriorated so that it is not visible from a reasonable distance \|1.1.A.3d\|	56
Nearside Outer Rear position lamp\|s\| excessively deteriorated so that it is not visible from a reasonable distance \|1.1.A.3d\|	55
Rear fog lamp tell tale not working \|1.3.1b\|	54
Rear Rear fog lamp not working \|1.3.2b\|	54
Nearside Front Steering rack gaiter split \|2.2.D.2d\|	53
Nearside Windscreen wiper blade deteriorated \|8.2.2\|	53
Offside Rear Direction indicators incorrect colour \|1.4.A.2f\|	53
Offside rear brake recording little or no effort \|3.7.B.5a\|	53
Nearside Headlamp aim beam image obviously incorrect \|1.8.A.1b\|	52
Nearside Headlamp excessively deteriorated so that the light output is severely reduced \|1.7.5a\|	52
Nearside Side repeater not working \|1.4.A.2c\|	51
Offside Windscreen wiper blade deteriorated \|8.2.2\|	51
Nearside rear brake recording little or no effort \|3.7.B.5a\|	51
Nearside Rear passenger seat cannot be secured in the upright position. \|6.2.3\|	50
Offside Headlamp excessively deteriorated so that the light output is severely reduced \|1.7.5a\|	48
Windscreen wiper blade insecure	48
Nearside Inner Rear position lamp\|s\| excessively deteriorated so that it is not visible from a reasonable distance \|1.1.A.3d\|	47
Nearside Front Front constant velocity joint gaiter split \|2.5.C.1a\|	46
Nearside Front Front suspension has excessive play in a lower suspension ball joint \|2.5.B.1a\|	44
Nearside Rear brake disc excessively pitted \|3.5.1h\|	44
Offside Front Front constant velocity joint gaiter split \|2.5.C.1a\|	43
Offside Side repeater not working \|1.4.A.2c\|	42
Exhaust has part of the system excessively deteriorated \|7.1.1a\|	41
Offside Headlamp excessively damaged so that the light output is severely reduced \|1.7.5a\|	38
Offside Rear Suspension component mounting prescribed area is excessively corroded \|2.4.A.3\|	37
Headlamp switch faulty \|1.7.1\|	36
Front Direction indicator incorrect colour \|1.4.A.2f\|	36
Windscreen has a sticker or other obstruction encroaching into the swept area by more than 40mm outside zone `A` \|8.3.1e\|	36
Nearside Front Windscreen wiper blade deteriorated \|8.2.2\|	34
Front Front position lamp\|s\| not working \|1.1.A.3b\|	34
Nearside Headlamp aim aimed so that it dazzles other road users \|1.8.A.1a\|	34
Offside Front coil spring fractured \|2.4.C.1a\|	34
Offside Front Front suspension has excessive play in a lower suspension ball joint \|2.5.B.1a\|	33
Nearside Front Anti-roll bar linkage has excessive play in a pin/bush \|2.4.G.2\|	33
Rear Direction indicator incorrect colour \|1.4.A.2f\|	33
Offside Rear Rear position lamp\|s\| not working \|1.1.A.3b\|	32
Offside Front Windscreen wiper blade deteriorated \|8.2.2\|	31
Nearside Headlamp excessively damaged so that the light output is severely reduced \|1.7.5a\|	31
Nearside Outer Front constant velocity joint gaiter split \|2.5.C.1a\|	30
Offside front brake binding \|3.7.B.1\|	30
Battery insecure \|1.9.1\|	30
Fuel cap/sealing device does not fasten securely maintaining the sealing arrangement \|7.2.4b\|	30
Offside Front Lower Ball joint has excessive play \|2.2.B.1f\|	29
Offside Headlamp aim aimed so that it dazzles other road users \|1.8.A.1a\|	29
Nearside Rear Anti-roll bar has excessive play in a pin/bush \|2.4.G.2\|	28
Hazard warning switch faulty \|1.4.B.1d\|	27
Bonnet cannot be secured in the closed position \|8.4.1\|	27
Nearside Rear Suspension component mounting prescribed area is excessively corroded \|2.4.A.3\|	27
Offside front brake juddering severely \|3.7.A.2b\|	27
Brake pedal spongy \|3.3.B.1b\|	27
Rear Exhaust has part of the system excessively deteriorated \|7.1.1a\|	27
Offside Rear rear brake recording little or no effort \|3.7.B.5a\|	26
All position lamps not working \|1.1.A.3b\|	25
Nearside Rear Front position lamp\|s\| not working \|1.1.A.3b\|	25
Nearside Front Anti-roll bar has excessive play in a ball joint \|2.4.G.2\|	25
Offside Front Headlamp aim beam image obviously incorrect \|1.8.A.1b\|	25
Offside Front Shock absorber has a serious fluid leak \|2.7.3\|	25
Centre Exhaust has part of the system excessively deteriorated \|7.1.1a\|	25
Nearside Rear Rear position lamp\|s\| not working \|1.1.A.3b\|	24
Offside Front Ball joint has excessive play \|2.2.B.1f\|	24

We get to these numbers by trawling through over 1 billion MOT test results since 2004 and crunched the numbers. We remove anything to do with Tyres, as they are model independent and group together common non-model specific issues. We are trying to get to a picture of what models have what issues.

Please note: We take the data from the DVSA. This data is raw and can contain typos and spelling mistakes that garages may have entered while recording a MOT result. Specifically miss-match on names of models and makes. We are constantly cleaning the data so bear with the odd issue.

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MOT History from tests of petrol VOLVO S40s year 1996

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