Does the Volvo S40 fail the MOT on lamps, reflectors and electrics more than it should?
The Volvo S40 records 34.55 lamps, reflectors and electrics failure items per 100 initial MOT tests (2019–2024), against 31.47 expected for a car of the same age mix: more than expected for its class and age (+3.08, 95% interval +2.79 to +3.37). It ranks 189 of 729 models on lamps, reflectors and electrics (1 = most failures above expected).
Data release dvsa-2024-v2 (24 Sep 2026) · page updated 30 Sep 2026 · all models on lamps, reflectors and electrics · check a Volvo S40 by registration
What exactly fails on lamps, reflectors and electrics?
The most frequent DVSA defect wording in this group on the Volvo S40 is “A rear registration plate lamp or light source missing or inoperative in the case of multiple lamps or light sources”, recorded 9,150 times in 2019–2024.
| DVSA defect wording | Items | Per 100 tests |
|---|---|---|
| A rear registration plate lamp or light source missing or inoperative in the case of multiple lamps or light sources | 9,150 | 5.88 |
| The aim of a headlamp is not within limits laid down in the requirements | 7,877 | 5.06 |
| A lamp missing, inoperative or in the case of a multiple light source more than 1/2 not functioning | 7,465 | 4.80 |
| Lamp emitted colour, position or intensity not in accordance with the requirements | 5,340 | 3.43 |
| A rear registration plate lamp or light source missing or inoperative in the case of a single lamp or all lamps | 4,500 | 2.89 |
Source: DVSA MOT bulk data (OGL v3.0) · Window: 2019–2024 · n = 155,619 (initial tests) · Method: failure items (major and minor) grouped by DVSA's defect tree; wordings with 30+ items · Updated: 30 Sep 2026 · Release: dvsa-2024-v2 · CSV
If a Volvo S40 gets a lamps, reflectors and electrics advisory, how often does it fail next time?
30.1% of Volvo S40 MOTs with a lamps, reflectors and electrics advisory were followed by a fail in the same group at the next MOT, typically 12 months and 4,926 miles later (5,332 advisories followed).
Source: DVSA MOT bulk data (OGL v3.0) · Window: 2019–2024 · n = 5,332 (advisories followed) · Method: the same vehicles followed to their next ordinary MOT · Updated: 30 Sep 2026 · Release: dvsa-2024-v2 · CSV
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 2013 · 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 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