Reliability, safety, running costs and what to check before you buy.
Enter a registration number to see MOT history, tax status, mileage, recalls and more for any Volvo XC40.
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With 161,871 currently licensed in the UK, the Volvo XC40 is one of Britain's most popular cars.
Euro NCAP awarded the XC40 5 stars in 2018, with 97% adult occupant and 87% child protection scores.
It has a 84.2% first-time MOT pass rate — above the UK national average of 72%. Common MOT failure areas include brakes, lighting, tyres.
Annual running costs are estimated at £1,945 for a typical 5-year-old example, breaking down to £162/month or 24p/mile.
NCAP Safety
2018
MOT Pass Rate
84.2%
35,000 tests
Monthly Cost
£162
est. annual total
New From
£37,000
Euro NCAP tested the XC40 in 2018 and awarded it 5 out of 5 stars.
Adult Occupant
97%
Child Occupant
87%
Pedestrian
71%
Safety Assist
76%
There are 14 known DVSA recalls affecting the Volvo XC40. Enter a registration number to check whether a specific vehicle is affected.
R/2025/211
Affected vehicles may experience a temporary loss of braking functionality after coasting downhill with ‘B’ mode selected or when using One Pedal Drive. This could potentially lead to a collision.
Build dates: 2020-10-27 to 2025-06-11
R/2024/012
Due to a software error the left rear indicator may stop working. Should this happen it will be an intermittent issue and a message will be shown in the driver display. By turning the indictor off and back on again the indicator should return to full functionality: if the warning message is no longer displayed the indicator has full functionality.
Build dates: 2022-10-13 to 2023-12-20
R/2023/263
During driving or idle the O-Ring may become twisted or break. Should this occur there could be an oil leak a message for low engine oil level displayed in the vehicle or an unusual smell in the cabin. In a worst case scenario this could cause a thermal event.
Build dates: 2021-05-12 to 2023-06-21
R/2023/025
There may be a potential software error in the brake control module.
Build dates: 2022-08-19 to 2023-01-13
R/2021/429
The starter motor may engage incorrectly and this may lead to a noise when starting the engine or even non-start.
Build dates: 2017-10-02 to 2019-04-18
+ 9 more recalls. Check a specific vehicle to see the full list.
Based on 35,000 MOT tests, the XC40 has a first-time pass rate of 84.2% — above the UK national average of 72%.
This is a positive sign for reliability. The XC40 is less likely to have issues at MOT time than the average car on UK roads.
Annual running costs for a typical 5-year-old Volvo XC40 are estimated at around £1,945 per year, or £162 per month.
Fuel
£0
/year
Road Tax
£195
/year
Depreciation
£1,495
/year
MOT
£55
/year
Estimated annual running costs based on available data. Excludes insurance, parking, and finance costs. Actual costs depend on your driving habits and circumstances.
Battery
82 kWh
Range (WLTP)
300 mi
Motor
185 kW
248 bhp
Drive
FWD
Rapid charge: 28 min (10-80%) | Home charge: 8h (0-100%)
Starting from £37,000 new, a Volvo XC40 typically retains about 56% after 3 years and 46% after 5 years.
| Age | Retained | Est. Value | Lost |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 year | 75% | £27,750 | −£9,250 |
| 2 years | 64% | £23,600 | −£13,400 |
| 3 years | 56% | £20,750 | −£16,250 |
| 4 years | 50% | £18,700 | −£18,300 |
| 5 years | 46% | £17,200 | −£19,800 |
| 6 years | 43% | £16,000 | −£21,000 |
| 7 years | 41% | £15,000 | −£22,000 |
| 8 years | 39% | £14,250 | −£22,750 |
| 9 years | 37% | £13,550 | −£23,450 |
| 10 years | 35% | £12,900 | −£24,100 |
There are currently 161,871 licensed and 1,208 SORN XC40s in the UK (163,079 total). This makes it a very common vehicle on UK roads.
The XC40 has a 84.2% first-time MOT pass rate based on 35,000 tests — above the UK national average of 72%. This suggests good overall reliability.
Euro NCAP awarded the XC40 5 out of 5 stars when tested in 2018. It scored 97% for adult occupant protection, 87% for child occupant protection, 71% for vulnerable road users, and 76% for safety assist features.
Annual running costs for a typical 5-year-old XC40 are estimated at around £1,945 per year (£162/month). This includes fuel, road tax, depreciation, and MOT fees — but excludes insurance, servicing, and repairs.
There are 14 known safety recalls affecting the XC40. These are issued by the DVSA when a safety defect is found. You can check if a specific vehicle is affected by entering its registration number.
A new XC40 starts from around £37,000. After 5 years, a typical example retains about 46% of its original value.
Enter the registration to check its full MOT history, tax status, mileage, recalls and estimated value — all free.
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