2016 Volvo V40 1.5L Petrol · SO16 WLC

The Volvo V40 holds a current, valid MOT certificate issued on 28 May 2026 at 90,881 miles, but the maintenance trend over the preceding twelve months is mixed rather than consistently improving. The most recent pass came just nineteen days after a failure on 22 May 2026 at 90,880 miles, where the tester flagged a major rear exhaust leak, an out-of-specification Lambda reading after the second fast idle, and a worn offside rear trailing arm front bush. That same bush advisory carried forward into the pass, meaning the suspension wear was not remedied and remains a live item. The Lambda failure points to a combustion or emissions control issue that was evidently corrected in the short gap between tests, yet the exhaust leak and the suspension bush suggest the car has not been maintained to a high standard recently. The mileage progression is broadly consistent with roughly 9,000 miles per year for a ten-year-old vehicle. Between the May 2025 test at 85,420 miles and the May 2026 tests at 90,880 to 90,881 miles, the car covered approximately 5,460 miles in twelve months, which is slightly below the long-term average but not unusually low. There are no alarming gaps or sudden jumps in the recorded data, and the annual test pattern has been maintained without significant lapses. The record itself is sparse, with only five tests spanning from 2024 to 2026, so a buyer cannot rely on a dense service history to fill in the mechanical picture. The recurring advisory on the offside rear trailing arm front bush is the most telling item. A worn bush at this mileage is not unexpected, but the fact that it appeared as a failure-level defect and then persisted into the next test suggests the suspension components on that side have not been replaced and may now be allowing movement that accelerates tyre wear and affects handling. A buyer should physically inspect the rear suspension bushes, coil springs, and shock absorbers for deterioration, and check the offside rear tyre for uneven tread wear. The major exhaust leak and Lambda fault from the May 2026 failure also warrant a close look at the full exhaust system, particularly the rear section and any flexi joints, along with a live emissions diagnostic scan to confirm the Lambda readings are stable under varying engine loads. The rear brake pads were noted as wearing thin in May 2024 at 80,357 miles, meaning they have now done another 10,000 miles since that advisory. A physical check of remaining pad material and disc condition is essential before purchase.