1998 Volvo S40 1.7L Petrol · S178 RKE
1998 Volvo S40 (1.7L, petrol). First registered 01 Aug 1998. Recorded mileage 143,616 miles. MOT expired on 30 Aug 2010. Currently declared SORN.
- Make & Model
- VOLVO S40
- Year / Origin
- 1998 · Glasgow
- Safety Recall
- Unknown
- MOT Status
- Expired on 30 Aug 2010
- Road Tax
- SORN
- Recorded Mileage
- 143,616 mi
- ULEZ Compliance
- Check Required (Pre-Euro 4 Petrol)
- Fuel & Engine
- PETROL · 1.7L
- Reliability Guide
- Common Faults
Thinking of buying this vehicle? Free MOT and tax checks do not cover legal ownership. If outstanding finance exists, finance companies have legal right to repossess without compensation.
S178 RKE Key Findings
- 6 MOT tests recorded
- Latest MOT passed on 20/08/2009
- 143,616 miles recorded at latest MOT
- 2 historical MOT failures
- 2 defects noted at the latest MOT
- Recurring lighting items (8 mentions)
Derived directly from the recorded DVSA and DVLA data shown on this page.
S178 RKE MOT History
Interpretation generated from the recorded test data above — not an official DVSA statement and not a substitute for an independent inspection.
6 MOT tests are recorded for this 1998 Volvo S40 (S178 RKE) between August 2006 and August 2009.
The record contains 4 passes and 2 failures.
The most recent test on 20 August 2009 was a pass, although the earlier record includes 2 failures that buyers may want to investigate.
Across all tests, the most frequently flagged areas are: Lighting (8 issues), Brakes (6 issues), Suspension (3 issues), Windscreen (2 issues), Tyres (2 issues). Repeated mentions in one area can indicate an ongoing pattern worth checking in person.
In total 10 advisory notices are recorded. Advisories flag items that passed but may need attention before the next test; they are not evidence of how well the vehicle has been serviced.
Recorded failure items include: “Parking brake: efficiency below requirements (3.7.B.7)”; “Front Brake pad(s) less than 1.5 mm thick (3.5.1g)”; “Offside Rear fog lamp not working (1.3.2b)”.
S178 RKE Mileage History
- 31/08/2006111,650 mi
- 25/08/2007125,673 mi+14,023 mi
- 25/08/2007123,567 mi-2,106 mi
- 08/08/2008137,793 mi+14,226 mi
- 18/08/2009143,597 mi+5,804 mi
- 20/08/2009143,616 mi+19 mi
Average of roughly 10,763 miles per year across 6 recorded odometer readings.
Recorded mileage decreased between one or more tests — a potential clocking indicator worth verifying before purchase.
Technical Specifications
Core Specifications
Identification & Status
Dimensions & Weights
Diagnostic & Valuation Intelligence
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Known faults for Volvo S40 (Gen 1)
Our database tracks 3 specific mechanical faults and recurring failure patterns identified across UK MOT testing stations for this generation.
MOT Roadworthiness: Below Average
This rating reflects historical MOT pass rates and recurring advisory wear patterns from official DVSA test logs. Note that roadworthiness does not verify outstanding finance, insurance write-offs, or stolen records.
Verify lender finance agreements, insurance write-offs, police stolen registers, and mileage rollback.
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VOLVO S40 Model Intelligence & Reliability
Verified MOT failure trends, buying advice, and technical directory specifications.
Owner-reported defects, recurring MOT failure points, and estimated repair costs.
Browse production generations, registration statistics, and trim variants.
Historical MOT pass rates and DVLA records for 1998 model year cars.
- Front suspension bush and top mount wearModerate
Wishbone bushes, drop links and top mounts wear steadily on UK roads, leaving the S40 noisy at the front and less settled at motorway speeds.
- ABS module and speed signal faultsModerate
ABS control units and related wiring can fail intermittently, bringing warning lights, lost speed signal and awkward-to-diagnose electrical gremlins.
- Rear arch and sill corrosionSerious
Rust around the rear arches, sill ends and lower body mounts is a major reason otherwise usable S40s fail MOTs or become uneconomical to save.
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