Volvo V40 2012: MOT failure rate for its age
31.2% of 14,681 MOT tests of the Volvo V40 first registered in 2012 failed at the first attempt (2019–2024; retests excluded). Against this model's own normal rate at the same ages the index is 101.7 (95% CI 98.8–104.7; 100 = normal for this model at that age): the 2012 build year is no different from other years of the same model at the same age.
| Measure | Value | Unit | Compared with | Years | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Failed first time | 31.2 | % | all ages tested | 2019–2024 | 14681 |
| Index against this model at the same age (95% CI 98.8–104.7) | 101.7 | index | 100 = normal for this model at that age | 2019–2024 | 14681 |
| Rank among this model's 15 build years | 11 | of 15 | 1 = fails least for its age | 2019–2024 | 14681 |
| Tested in 2024 | 2331 | tests | median 103,241 miles | 2024 | 2331 |
Data release dvsa-2024-v2 (24 Sep 2026) · page updated 30 Sep 2026 · full dataset (v5).
How does the 2012 Volvo V40 fail at each age?
Cars built in 2012 were tested at ages 7 to 12 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) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 7 | 2,539 | 25 | 23.4–26.7 | 28.4 | 88.1 |
| 8 | 2,473 | 28.1 | 26.3–29.9 | 28.6 | 98.3 |
| 9 | 2,489 | 31.3 | 29.5–33.1 | 30 | 104 |
| 10 | 2,465 | 32.5 | 30.7–34.4 | 30.5 | 106.6 |
| 11 | 2,384 | 34.4 | 32.5–36.3 | 31.6 | 108.8 |
| 12 | 2,331 | 36.3 | 34.4–38.3 | 35.1 | 103.5 |
Source: DVSA MOT bulk data · Window: 2019–2024 · n = 14,681 (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 2012 Volvo V40?
The most common failure group on cars built in 2012 is suspension: 12.7 items per 100 first tests, against 12.3 across all build years of the Volvo V40. These counts are not age-adjusted: cars built in 2012 were tested at ages 7 to 12.
| Failure group | Built 2012, per 100 | All build years, per 100 | Items |
|---|---|---|---|
| Suspension | 12.7 | 12.3 | 1,865 |
| Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment | 12.2 | 7.9 | 1,787 |
| Brakes | 11.3 | 7.9 | 1,659 |
| Tyres | 10.8 | 10 | 1,585 |
| Visibility | 5.9 | 5.1 | 860 |
Source: DVSA MOT bulk data · Window: 2019–2024 · n = 14,681 (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 2012 compare with the years around it?
Among the 15 published build years of the Volvo V40, 2012 ranks 11 (1 = fails least for its age). 2004: index 98.1. 2013: index 99.9.
| Build year | Index (100 = normal) | 95% interval | Verdict | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1998 | 109.0 | 99.2–118.9 | no different (rough estimate) | 812 |
| 1999 | 103.5 | 96.8–110.1 | no different (rough estimate) | 1,685 |
| 2000 | 96.0 | 91.0–101.1 | no different (rough estimate) | 2,754 |
| 2001 | 94.8 | 91.2–98.4 | better | 5,411 |
| 2002 | 97.5 | 94.6–100.5 | no different | 8,082 |
| 2003 | 99.5 | 97.0–102.1 | no different | 10,688 |
| 2004 | 98.1 | 95.2–101.1 | no different | 8,110 |
| 2012 | 101.7 | 98.8–104.7 | no different | 14,681 |
| 2013 | 99.9 | 98.5–101.3 | no different | 69,389 |
| 2014 | 106.7 | 105.5–108.0 | worse | 98,220 |
| 2015 | 108.0 | 106.7–109.4 | worse | 94,701 |
| 2016 | 98.4 | 97.1–99.8 | better | 93,137 |
| 2017 | 91.4 | 89.8–93.0 | better | 71,519 |
| 2018 | 93.7 | 91.8–95.7 | better | 52,113 |
| 2019 | 91.3 | 88.3–94.3 | better | 24,939 |
Source: DVSA MOT bulk data · Window: 2019–2024 · n = 556,241 (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 V40 2012 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-v40/2012/
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 V40 1998 · Volvo V40 1999 · Volvo V40 2000 · Volvo V40 2001 · Volvo V40 2002 · Volvo V40 2003 · Volvo V40 2004 · Volvo V40 2013 · Volvo V40 2014 · Volvo V40 2015 · Volvo V40 2016 · Volvo V40 2017 · Volvo V40 2018 · Volvo V40 2019 · Volvo V40 in Norway · Volvo V40 in Finland · Volvo V40 in the Netherlands · Volvo V40 by postcode area · Volvo V40 body, chassis and structure failures · Volvo V40 brakes failures · Volvo V40 vehicle identification failures · Volvo V40 lamps, reflectors and electrics failures · Volvo V40 noise, emissions and leaks failures · Volvo V40 road wheels failures · Volvo V40 seat belts and airbags failures · Volvo V40 steering failures · Volvo V40 suspension failures · Volvo V40 tyres failures · Volvo V40 visibility failures