Should I check the MOT history before buying a 2014 Volvo V40?

Yes. Look for recurring advisories — slow-building issues like corrosion or brake wear patterns show up years before they become failures. A full MOT history analysis will highlight patterns that a single test result won't reveal.

What corrosion should I look for when inspecting a 2014 Volvo V40?

Check brake pipes, sills, subframes, and chassis legs. Surface rust is normal at this age; structural rust is a serious problem that is expensive to fix and can fail an MOT.

How are tyres and brakes typically on a 2014 Volvo V40?

Tyres and brakes are the most common advisory items on vehicles of this age. Budget for replacement if they are near the limit, and factor this into your offer price.

How many 2014 Volvo V40 vehicles have had dangerous defects recorded?

43% of these vehicles have had a dangerous defect recorded. Search the registration on CarHunch — the full MOT history will show exactly what was flagged and whether it was resolved.

Is the 2014 Volvo V40 reliable?

Based on MOT data from 17,346 vehicles, the 2014 Volvo V40 has a first-time MOT pass rate of 80.9%, indicating generally reliable for its class. Always check the full MOT history of any specific vehicle before buying.

What are common problems with the 2014 Volvo V40?

The most frequently recorded MOT issues on the 2014 Volvo V40 are: Offside Front Tyre worn close to legal limit/worn on edge (57.7% of vehicles), Nearside Front Tyre worn close to legal limit/worn on edge (56.1% of vehicles), Rear Brake pad(s) wearing thin (35.9% of vehicles). These figures are based on actual MOT test records — search a specific registration on CarHunch to see its individual history.

Do I need an HPI check when buying a 2014 Volvo V40?

Yes. The MOT history will not show outstanding finance, insurance write-offs, or stolen status. An HPI check covers these areas and should be part of any used car purchase.

CarHunch

Get Started

Volvo V40 (2014)

17,346 real MOT outcomes analysed • 80.9% first-time pass rate

2014 Volvo V40

CarHunch analysed 17,346 real MOT records for the 2014 Volvo V40. Real test outcomes — pass rates, defect profiles, mileage data — from verified DVLA records. Updated as new MOTs are recorded.
Which year to buy? →

On this page

AI Analysis Reliability Overview Common Issues Check a Specific Reg Petrol vs Diesel Buyer's Checklist Pass Rate by Fuel Mileage Distribution Still on the Road MOT Averages Colour Breakdown Compare Models

The 2014 Volvo V40 marginally outperforms the UK average with an 80.9% first-time pass rate, but a serious concern emerges in the safety data: 43.2% of these vehicles have recorded a dangerous defect at some point, well above typical thresholds. Petrol models are notably more reliable than diesels, passing 86.3% versus 80.5%, so fuel choice matters here.

At 63,853 miles median, these V40s are running typical mileage for their age, yet they average 2.24 failures per MOT cycle and 11.3 advisories, suggesting wear accumulation is relatively brisk. Before committing to one, get a full pre-purchase inspection focused on suspension, braking, and electrical systems—those dangerous defect patterns don't appear by accident, and the advisory count signals components need close scrutiny.

The 2014 Volvo V40 has a decent first-time pass rate (80.9%), but a higher-than-average share of vehicles have had serious defects recorded — the individual vehicle's history matters a lot here.

⚠️ Over 1 in 5 of these vehicles have had a dangerous MOT failure at some point — usually tyres or brakes, and often a one-off issue rather than a persistent problem. The group stats won't tell you which one you're looking at.

First-time pass

80.9%

UK average ~80%

Around average

Dangerous (ever)

43.2%

At least once in MOT history

Check this vehicle

Avg failures / car

2.24

Over 10.7 tests on record

High

Typical mileage

64k

Middle half: 49k–82k

For context

🔧 Average reliability. Passes at roughly the UK rate — not a standout, not a problem vehicle. Individual history makes all the difference.

🔧 Expect consumable spend. An average of 11.3 advisories per vehicle tells you wear items (tyres, brakes) get flagged regularly. Budget for them — they're not surprises.

🔍 The dangerous defect figure is real. Most are one-off tyre failures or brake issues — not structural problems. But it's exactly why checking the individual vehicle's history is essential, not optional.

These stats describe 17,346 vehicles as a group. The specific vehicle you're looking at could be the one good example or the one outlier. Run its registration to find out.

Watch for defects — worth knowing

What tends to go wrong

Across 17,346 vehicles — figures show how many had each issue flagged at least once in their MOT history.

Tyre wear 57.7%

Offside Front Tyre worn close to legal limit/worn on edge · Nearside Front Tyre worn close to legal limit/worn on edge · Nearside Rear Tyre worn close to legal limit/worn on edge · …

Budget for a full set — on a vehicle this age, tyres are expected consumables. An inspection will confirm how much is left.

Brake wear 35.9%

Rear Brake pad(s) wearing thin · Front Brake pad(s) wearing thin · Front Brake disc worn, pitted or scored, but not seriously weakened · …

Ask the seller when brakes were last serviced. If they don't know, factor in the cost.

Suspension & steering 34.2%

Offside Front Coil spring fractured or broken · Nearside Front Coil spring fractured or broken

Harder to spot without a ramp — this is a good reason to book a pre-purchase inspection.

Other issues 17.5%

Nearside Rear Child Seat fitted not allowing full inspection of adult belt · Oil leak, but not excessive

Exhaust & emissions 12.5%

Exhaust emissions exceed manufacturer's specified limit

Data covers a 3-year window centred on 2014.

See this vehicle's full MOT history & AI hunches

Spot recurring advisories, hidden issues, and how it compares to 17,346 Volvo V40 cars.

Petrol vs Diesel

Pass rate difference of 5.8 percentage points — worth knowing if you're choosing between the two.

86.3%

Petrol

1,312 vehicles

80.5%

Diesel

16,033 vehicles

Before you buy a 2014 Volvo V40

Based on MOT data from 17,346 vehicles — here's what to check.

📋 Check the full MOT history. 43.2% of these vehicles have had a dangerous defect recorded - recurring advisories often signal problems years before they become failures.
Search the reg on CarHunch for the full MOT history, reliability stats and a free AI-powered analysis of that exact vehicle.
🔍 Brake pipes, sills and subframes are the key areas on a vehicle this age — structural rust is hard to spot without getting underneath. A mechanic will check all of this before you commit, and give you a concrete basis to negotiate on price. Inspection →
📄 Outstanding finance, insurance write-offs and clocking won't appear in the MOT records — a dedicated history check covers all of this. Our link gets you 20% off automatically. History Get 20% off via CarHunch

Pass Rate by Fuel Type

Fuel type	Vehicles	Pass rate	Avg failures
Diesel (92%)	16,033	80.5%	2.29
Petrol (8%)	1,312	86.3%	1.52

Colour Breakdown

Based on 169,766 Volvo V40 vehicles registered in the UK — across all years. From DVLA registration records.

Blue 20.8%

35,315

Silver 16.6%

28,152

Black 15%

25,474

Grey 12.6%

21,399

Red 12.1%

20,504

White 9.7%

16,458

Green 6.8%

11,503

Maroon 2%

3,339

Bronze 1.6%

2,663

Gold 1.3%

2,154

Purple 0.9%

1,527

Beige 0.8%

1,278

Mileage Distribution

Most 2014 Volvo V40 vehicles sit in the blue band. If the vehicle you're looking at is outside it, it's either unusually low or high mileage for its age.

63,853

typical

49,094

low mileage

81,633

high mileage

Half of all 2014 Volvo V40 vehicles fall between 49,094 and 81,633 miles.

Is the mileage you're seeing normal?

✓ Under 49,094 miles — lower than most. Could be great, or could be a vehicle that rarely moved. Check test frequency and mileage progression in the MOT history.

✓ 49,094–81,633 miles — normal for age. This is where most 2014 Volvo V40s sit.

⚠ Over 110,204 miles — higher than typical. Not necessarily a problem, but check service history and look out for advisory build-up on tyres and brakes.

2014 Volvo V40 — Still on the Road

Almost all 2014 Volvo V40s are still on the road.

Strong survival — 15,156 vehicles still getting MOTs in 2025, 91% of the peak.

Based on vehicles from this manufacture year that had at least one MOT test in each calendar year. Data from 2017–2025.
* The 2020 dip reflects the government's COVID-19 MOT exemption, which allowed certificates to be extended by six months — fewer tests were conducted that year.

MOT History Averages

10.7

Avg MOT tests per vehicle

2.24

Avg failures per vehicle

11.3

Avg advisories per vehicle

Other model years — Volvo V40: All V40 years → Which year to buy? →

1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2012 2013 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019

Or browse all models: Volvo →

Compare with another model

See how the 2014 Volvo V40 stacks up against a rival.

Watch for defects — worth knowing