Volvo S40 2013: MOT failure rate for its age
38.3% of 209 MOT tests of the Volvo S40 first registered in 2013 failed at the first attempt (2019–2024; retests excluded). Against this model's own normal rate at the same ages the index is 107.7 (95% CI 84.1–131.4; 100 = normal for this model at that age): the 2013 build year is no different from other years of the same model at the same age. This is a rough estimate from a smaller sample.
| Measure | Value | Unit | Compared with | Years | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Failed first time | 38.3 | % | all ages tested | 2019–2024 | 209 |
| Index against this model at the same age (95% CI 84.1–131.4) | 107.7 | index | 100 = normal for this model at that age | 2019–2024 | 209 |
| Rank among this model's 16 build years | 16 | of 16 | 1 = fails least for its age | 2019–2024 | 209 |
| Tested in 2024 | 37 | tests | median 93,933 miles | 2024 | 37 |
Data release dvsa-2024-v2 (24 Sep 2026) · page updated 30 Sep 2026 · full dataset (v5).
How does the 2013 Volvo S40 fail at each age?
Cars built in 2013 were tested at ages 6 to 11 between 2019 and 2024. Each row compares their first-time failure share with what this model normally shows at that age, after allowing for the overall failure level of each test year.
| Age | Tests | Failed, % | 95% interval | Normal for this model at that age, % | Index (100 = normal) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 6 | 42 (rough estimate) | 23.8 | 13.5–38.5 | not available | not available |
| 7 | 42 (rough estimate) | 33.3 | 21–48.4 | 33.3 | 100.2 |
| 8 | 52 (rough estimate) | 46.2 | 33.3–59.5 | 34.7 | 133 |
| 9 | 41 (rough estimate) | 34.1 | 21.6–49.5 | 35.1 | 97.3 |
| 10 | 37 (rough estimate) | 35.1 | 21.8–51.2 | 36.4 | 96.4 |
| 11 | 37 (rough estimate) | 40.5 | 26.3–56.5 | 38.8 | 104.4 |
Source: DVSA MOT bulk data · Window: 2019–2024 · n = 251 (initial tests) · Method: normal rate = this model's first-time failure share at that age across its build years (cells of 400+ tests), adjusted for each test year's overall level; cells of 30+ tests, under 500 marked rough · Updated: 30 Sep 2026 · Release: dvsa-2024-v2 · CSV
What fails most on the 2013 Volvo S40?
The most common failure group on cars built in 2013 is lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment: 23.1 items per 100 first tests, against 34.6 across all build years of the Volvo S40. These counts are not age-adjusted: cars built in 2013 were tested at ages 6 to 11.
| Failure group | Built 2013, per 100 | All build years, per 100 | Items |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment | 23.1 | 34.6 | 58 |
| Suspension | 16.7 | 30 | 42 |
Source: DVSA MOT bulk data · Window: 2019–2024 · n = 251 (initial tests of this build year) · Method: failure items grouped by DVSA's top-level defect groups, per 100 initial tests; groups with 30+ items · Updated: 30 Sep 2026 · Release: dvsa-2024-v2 · CSV
How does 2013 compare with the years around it?
Among the 16 published build years of the Volvo S40, 2013 ranks 16 (1 = fails least for its age). 2012: index 96.2.
| Build year | Index (100 = normal) | 95% interval | Verdict | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1998 | 98.7 | 89.4–107.9 | no different (rough estimate) | 859 |
| 1999 | 99.4 | 92.2–106.7 | no different (rough estimate) | 1,413 |
| 2000 | 93.8 | 88.3–99.3 | better (rough estimate) | 2,356 |
| 2001 | 96.7 | 92.1–101.4 | no different (rough estimate) | 3,474 |
| 2002 | 101.7 | 97.8–105.6 | no different | 5,242 |
| 2003 | 106.8 | 103.3–110.2 | worse | 7,423 |
| 2004 | 104.6 | 101.9–107.3 | worse | 12,121 |
| 2005 | 98.9 | 96.5–101.2 | no different | 14,965 |
| 2006 | 93.4 | 91.2–95.7 | better | 15,515 |
| 2007 | 95.8 | 93.4–98.1 | better | 15,558 |
| 2008 | 100.0 | 98.0–102.0 | no different | 23,065 |
| 2009 | 98.0 | 95.7–100.3 | no different | 17,663 |
| 2010 | 99.9 | 97.3–102.5 | no different | 14,269 |
| 2011 | 102.5 | 99.3–105.8 | no different | 9,827 |
| 2012 | 96.2 | 92.8–99.7 | better | 8,219 |
| 2013 | 107.7 | 84.1–131.4 | no different (rough estimate) | 209 |
Source: DVSA MOT bulk data · Window: 2019–2024 · n = 152,178 (initial tests) · Method: observed failures against those expected for the same model at the same ages, test-year level adjusted; verdict follows the printed one-decimal bound · Updated: 30 Sep 2026 · Release: dvsa-2024-v2 · CSV
How to cite this page
MOT Risk Index (2026). Volvo S40 2013 MOT statistics (data release dvsa-2024-v2; full dataset motriskindex-families-2024-v5, DOI 10.5281/zenodo.22975051), updated 30 September 2026. motriskindex.co.uk/cars/volvo-s40/2013/
How every figure is calculated: methodology. Age, test year and build year are tied together (age = test year − build year), so the test-year level is taken as observed, not estimated.
Other pages for this model
Volvo S40 1998 · Volvo S40 1999 · Volvo S40 2000 · Volvo S40 2001 · Volvo S40 2002 · Volvo S40 2003 · Volvo S40 2004 · Volvo S40 2005 · Volvo S40 2006 · Volvo S40 2007 · Volvo S40 2008 · Volvo S40 2009 · Volvo S40 2010 · Volvo S40 2011 · Volvo S40 2012 · Volvo S40 in Norway · Volvo S40 in Finland · Volvo S40 in the Netherlands · Volvo S40 by postcode area · Volvo S40 body, chassis and structure failures · Volvo S40 brakes failures · Volvo S40 vehicle identification failures · Volvo S40 lamps, reflectors and electrics failures · Volvo S40 noise, emissions and leaks failures · Volvo S40 road wheels failures · Volvo S40 seat belts and airbags failures · Volvo S40 steering failures · Volvo S40 suspension failures · Volvo S40 tyres failures · Volvo S40 visibility failures