Does the Volvo S40 fail the MOT on seat belts and airbags more than it should?
The Volvo S40 records 1.50 seat belts and airbags failure items per 100 initial MOT tests (2019–2024), against 2.17 expected for a car of the same age mix: less than expected for its class and age (−0.67, 95% interval −0.74 to −0.59). It ranks 480 of 627 models on seat belts and airbags (1 = most failures above expected).
Data release dvsa-2024-v2 (24 Sep 2026) · page updated 30 Sep 2026 · all models on seat belts and airbags · check a Volvo S40 by registration
What exactly fails on seat belts and airbags?
The most frequent DVSA defect wording in this group on the Volvo S40 is “An SRS malfunction indicator lamp (MIL) indicates a system malfunction”, recorded 1,419 times in 2019–2024.
| DVSA defect wording | Items | Per 100 tests |
|---|---|---|
| An SRS malfunction indicator lamp (MIL) indicates a system malfunction | 1,419 | 0.91 |
| Seat belt buckle missing, damaged or not functioning as intended | 300 | 0.19 |
| The strength or continuity of the load bearing structure within 30cm of any seat belt anchorage (a 'prescribed area') is significantly reduced or inadequately repaired | 181 | 0.12 |
| A seat belt webbing or flexible stalk significantly stretched or weakened | 130 | 0.08 |
| A seat belt or flexible stalk damaged | 116 | 0.07 |
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 seat belts and airbags advisory, how often does it fail next time?
7.1% of Volvo S40 MOTs with a seat belts and airbags advisory were followed by a fail in the same group at the next MOT, typically 12.1 months and 3,512 miles later (1,615 advisories followed).
Source: DVSA MOT bulk data (OGL v3.0) · Window: 2019–2024 · n = 1,615 (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 lamps, reflectors and electrics failures · Volvo S40 noise, emissions and leaks failures · Volvo S40 road wheels failures · Volvo S40 steering failures · Volvo S40 suspension failures · Volvo S40 tyres failures · Volvo S40 visibility failures