2021 Volvo Xc40 Inscription Exp T4Rchrg A — MOT failures & pass rate

Across 621 MOT tests analysed for the 2021 Volvo Xc40 Inscription Exp T4Rchrg A, the most common recorded failure areas were tyres, visibility and lighting & signalling. Its pass rate of 92.0% was in line with the average for cars of a similar age (91.2%). Higher-mileage examples failed more often — 11.6% in the 60-90k group versus 6.2% in the 0-30k group.

92%
Pass rate
621
MOT tests analysed
8.1%
Fail rate
in line with
vs cars of similar age
3.5
Avg age at test (yrs)

How it compares

Fail rate vs benchmarks (lower is better) 2021 Xc40 Inscription Exp T4Rchrg A 8.1% cars avg 8.8% National avg 8.7%
Fail rate for this model-year against the segment and national averages for cars of a similar age.

Top failure categories

Most common MOT failure areas — 2021 Volvo Xc40 Inscription Exp T4Rchrg A
# Category % of tests affected Tests
1 Tyres 6.3% 39
2 Visibility 1.6% 10
3 Lighting & signalling 1.1% 7
4 Body, structure & corrosion 0.6% 4
5 Brakes 0.5% 3
6 Seat belts & restraints 0.2% 1
Share of tests failing on each category Tyres 6.3% Visibility 1.6% Lighting & signalling 1.1% Body, structure & corrosion 0.6% Brakes 0.5% Seat belts & restraints 0.2%
Percentage of tests with at least one failure recorded in each category.

Most common specific failures

The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.

Most frequently recorded failure items — 2021 Volvo Xc40 Inscription Exp T4Rchrg A
#Failure itemTimes recorded
1Tread depth26
2Joints5
3Headlamp aim4
4Wipers4
5Washers4
6Individual direction indicators2

Top advisory categories

Advisories aren't failures, but they flag work likely needed soon — useful when budgeting.

Most common MOT advisories — 2021 Volvo Xc40 Inscription Exp T4Rchrg A
# Category % of tests with advisory Tests
1 Tyres 22.1% 137
2 Other defects 10.0% 62
3 Brakes 5.8% 36
4 Visibility 3.2% 20
5 Seat belts & restraints 0.6% 4
6 Emissions & environmental 0.3% 2

Failure rate by mileage

Higher-mileage cars tend to fail more — often the most useful guide to real condition.

MOT fail rate by recorded mileage 0-30k 6.2% 30-60k 7.6% 60-90k 11.6%
MOT fail rate by recorded mileage band.
Fail rate by recorded mileage — 2021 Xc40 Inscription Exp T4Rchrg A
Mileage band Tests Fail rate
0-30k 226 6.2%
30-60k 277 7.6%
60-90k 86 11.6%

Failure rate by age

MOT fail rate by vehicle age at test 3 yrs 8.6% 4 yrs 7.6%
How this model-year's MOT fail rate climbs as the cars get older.

Trend over time

Fail rate by dataset year — 2021 Xc40 Inscription Exp T4Rchrg A
Dataset year Tests Fail rate
2024 304 8.6%
2025 316 7.6%

What to check before buying a 2021 Xc40 Inscription Exp T4Rchrg A

Before buying a 2021 Volvo Xc40 Inscription Exp T4Rchrg A, focus on the areas it most often fails on. Tyres accounted for 6.3% of tests for this year.

Repair costs are rough UK ballpark ranges to set expectations, not quotes — actual prices vary widely by car, parts and garage.

Frequently asked questions

How many 2021 Volvo Xc40 Inscription Exp T4Rchrg As pass their MOT?

92.0% of the 621 2021 Volvo Xc40 Inscription Exp T4Rchrg A MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 8.1% fail rate.

What is the most common MOT failure on a 2021 Volvo Xc40 Inscription Exp T4Rchrg A?

Tyres, recorded in 6.3% of tests, followed by visibility (1.6%).

Does the 2021 Xc40 Inscription Exp T4Rchrg A get worse with mileage?

Its MOT fail rate rises from 6.2% in the 0-30k band to 11.6% in the 60-90k band.

Methodology & source. Based on 621 MOT tests. Dataset: DVSA MOT testing data (2021,2022,2023,2024,2025). Data last updated 2026-07-01. Figures reflect MOT-testable defects only — read the methodology for how these are calculated and what they don't measure.

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