Used car guide

1998 Volvo V40: common problems and MOT failures

What MOT testers find on the Volvo V40 first registered in 1998: we looked at the 267 MOTs these cars had during 2023–2025. Plus known faults and what to look at before you buy one.

Small sample: there were only 267 MOTs of these cars during 2023–2025, so treat the percentages as rough. The known faults below don't depend on it.

267MOTs of 1998 cars, done in 2023–2025
51%pass first time (all 1998 cars: 65%)
3,400typical miles a year
3.2×the usual rate for sidelights

What goes wrong more than usual on a 1998 Volvo V40?

Parts flagged at MOT more often on the 1998 Volvo V40 than on all cars registered in 1998.

  • Sidelights3.2× usual
    Volvo V40
    12.7% All 1998 cars
    4%

    Failed outright at MOT: 9.7%, against 3.5% of all 1998 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.

Common 1998 Volvo V40 MOT failures and advisories

The share of 1998 Volvo V40 MOT tests where testers flagged each area, as a fail or an advisory. Rough prices are typical independent-garage costs.

  • Suspension
    47% 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
    42% 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
    39% 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
    26% 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.

  • Exhaust and emissions
    19% 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.

  • Wipers, windscreen and mirrors
    13% of testsRough price £15–£250

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

Questions to ask the seller before buying a 1998 Volvo V40

Ask before you travel to see it. A seller who knows the car will have answers, and receipts.

  1. Any recent work on the sidelights? (Flagged at MOT 3.2× as often on the 1998 Volvo V40 as on other cars the same age.)
  2. Can I see the service history and receipts for any big jobs?

Looking at a Volvo V40?

Check the actual car: its own MOT history, mileage and what to ask the seller. Free, no sign-up.

Other years

Every year of the Volvo V40 compared

YearMOT testsMost flagged
2026–Too new for MOT data
201924,382Tyres 32%
201838,335Tyres 33%
201740,228Tyres 32%
201645,842Tyres 33%
201546,343Tyres 33%
201448,044Tyres 34%
201333,553Tyres 35%
20126,965Tyres 36%
20042,391Suspension 51%
20032,858Suspension 51%
20021,980Suspension 53%
20011,484Brakes 49%
2000801Suspension 53%
1999488Brakes 49%
1997212Brakes 50%
1996–Too few tests

Where this comes from: the DVSA's anonymised results for every MOT test done in Great Britain during 2023–2025, counting the MOTs of Volvo V40 cars first registered in 1998. "Flagged" includes advisories, so it isn't the same as a fail rate. How we score