Does the Volvo V40 fail the MOT on lamps, reflectors and electrics more than it should?
The Volvo V40 records 7.92 lamps, reflectors and electrics failure items per 100 initial MOT tests (2019–2024), against 9.58 expected for a car of the same age mix: less than expected for its class and age (−1.66, 95% interval −1.74 to −1.58). It ranks 384 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 V40 by registration
What exactly fails on lamps, reflectors and electrics?
The most frequent DVSA defect wording in this group on the Volvo V40 is “The aim of a headlamp is not within limits laid down in the requirements”, recorded 9,254 times in 2019–2024.
| DVSA defect wording | Items | Per 100 tests |
|---|---|---|
| The aim of a headlamp is not within limits laid down in the requirements | 9,254 | 1.65 |
| A lamp missing, inoperative or in the case of a multiple light source more than 1/2 not functioning | 8,490 | 1.51 |
| Lamp emitted colour, position or intensity not in accordance with the requirements | 4,245 | 0.76 |
| A headlamp or light source missing, inoperative or more than ½ not functioning in the case of LED | 3,743 | 0.67 |
| A rear registration plate lamp or light source missing or inoperative in the case of multiple lamps or light sources | 2,491 | 0.44 |
Source: DVSA MOT bulk data (OGL v3.0) · Window: 2019–2024 · n = 561,232 (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 V40 gets a lamps, reflectors and electrics advisory, how often does it fail next time?
19.8% of Volvo V40 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 5,730 miles later (4,998 advisories followed).
Source: DVSA MOT bulk data (OGL v3.0) · Window: 2019–2024 · n = 4,998 (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 V40 1998 · Volvo V40 1999 · Volvo V40 2000 · Volvo V40 2001 · Volvo V40 2002 · Volvo V40 2003 · Volvo V40 2004 · Volvo V40 2012 · 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 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