Volvo V40 problems, reliability and years to avoid
If you are considering buying a used Volvo V40, these are the common problems worth knowing about first. Our garage database tracks 2 known faults for this model, 1 of them rated high severity. Every one below is a repair bill a seller has good reason not to mention.
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Is the Volvo V40 reliable?
The Volvo V40 has 2 known faults in our database, 1 of them rated high severity. The most serious are engine (the EGR system on Volvo's 2.0 four-cylinder diesel clogs with soot) and engine (the diesel particulate filter on the 1.6 diesel (1.6D). None of them makes the car a bad buy on its own; the risk is a seller who knows and says nothing.
That is a count of the faults we hold, not a reliability score. Popular cars get written about more, and a newer generation has had less time to show its faults.
Which Volvo V40 years should you avoid?
No year is a write-off on its own. What matters is which serious faults a given year and engine can have, and whether the car in front of you has had them fixed.
Years and engines with a serious known fault
2014 to 2019, 2.0 four-cylinder diesel (VEA / Drive-E: D2, D3, D4 and D5, 1969cc), fitted from 2014. Not the 1.6 D2 or the five-cylinder diesels sold in the V40 and XC70 before it: the EGR system on Volvo's 2.0 four-cylinder diesel clogs with soot
Each one is set out in full below, with the symptoms, the typical mileage and a rough repair cost.
Generation 1 of 12 known faults · 29 owner reports · 1 good note
Volvo V40 Mk2 (2012 to 2019) problems
Engine/EmissionsMedium severity💬 2 owner reports, 2014 to 2019
The diesel particulate filter on the 1.6 diesel (1.6D and D2) struggles on cars used for short trips. One 2009 C30 covering about 4,000 miles a year needed a forced regeneration and then a new DPF, followed by an engine warning light traced to the additive reservoir used by the filter system. A 44,000 mile 2010 S60 D2 used mostly for 25 mile journeys needed a new DPF and injectors. Volvo itself issued improved software to help the D2 regenerate.
Rough guide
£241-745
Typical symptoms
DPF or engine warning light
engine warning light that stays on after a service
loss of power until the filter is cleared
Affected vehicles
Engines:
1.6D and 1.6 D2 (PSA-sourced 1.6 diesel, 1560cc; in the 2012 to 2015 V40 the D2 is this engine, before the 2.0 Volvo D2 replaced it)
Typical mileage:
44000-50000 miles
🔍 We have a specific pre-purchase check for this faultCheck an advert →
Engine/EmissionsHigh severity📝 Editorial
The EGR system on Volvo's 2.0 four-cylinder diesel clogs with soot, and a weak EGR cooler is a known part of it. In 2019 Volvo recalled around 70,000 UK cars with this engine built from 2014, the V40, S90 and XC70 among them, because the soot build-up can make the plastic inlet manifold melt and, at worst, catch fire. V40 owners have reported EGR valves gummed up with carbon at about 40,000 miles, EGR valve, cooler and pipework replaced under warranty with a redesigned system, and smoke from the engine at 62,000 miles blamed on a leaking head gasket that was more likely the EGR cooler.
Typical symptoms
engine warning light
a burning or unusual smell while driving
loss of power or limp mode
engine cutting out
Affected vehicles
Engines:
2.0 four-cylinder diesel (VEA / Drive-E: D2, D3, D4 and D5, 1969cc), fitted from 2014. Not the 1.6 D2 or the five-cylinder diesels sold in the V40 and XC70 before it
Typical mileage:
unknown miles
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What owners report on the Mk2
29 single reports, unconfirmed
One owner each, in their own words rewritten as a line, and not counted in our risk scoring. A fault joins the list above once a second report or an editorial source backs it.
Gearbox and clutch · December 2019A 2016 V40 2.0 petrol model at 25,000 miles had clutch issues, with the dealer suspecting a failed slave cylinder requiring a £1,600 repair.
Gearbox and clutch · December 2019The clutch pedal on a 2016 V40 D2 became stuck down at 70,000 miles, possibly due to a fluid leak from the slave cylinder or engine seals.
Engine · November 2019Smoke poured from the engine of a 2015 V40 D2 1,969cc at 62,000 miles; a Volvo dealer diagnosed a leaking head gasket.
Gearbox and clutch · November 2019A 2014 V40 D2 Powershift transmission had problems with gear changes since its first year, but the dealer only offered software updates.
Engine · October 2019The engine of a January 2019 V40 T2 stuttered when cold, making it unsafe to pull out onto main roads; the issue was escalated to Volvo Sweden.
Exhaust · October 2019A 2014/64 V40 D2 failed its MoT and re-test due to excessive emissions, with a DPF issue suggested despite no warning lights.
Interior · October 2019A 2017 V40 Cross Country had a bubbling, hissing noise from behind the dashboard when the air conditioning was on.
Engine · August 2019The turbos on a 2018 V40 D4 failed suddenly at 20,000 miles, causing white smoke, power loss, and engine over-revving.
Gearbox and clutch · June 2019The clutch slave cylinder, external to the bell-housing, failed on a 2016 V40 T3 manual just after its warranty expired.
Cooling · May 2019A 2013 V40's air conditioning pump leaked onto the auxiliary belt, which then shredded and damaged the timing belt, scrapping the engine.
Gearbox and clutch · April 2019The Powershift transmission of a 2014 V40 Cross Country 1.6 D2 snatched when pulling away from a standstill or slow roll.
Gearbox and clutch · March 2019The clutch pack on a 2014 V40 Cross Country D2 115 Powershift slipped when pulling away and caused jerking at steady speeds.
Brakes · January 2019A 2014 V40 D2 Powershift owner was quoted £2,500 by a Volvo dealer to replace the ABS/ESP module.
Electrics · September 2018A 2014 V40 D3 experienced battery drain when stationary, due to the RDAR Satellite system repeatedly searching with the engine off.
Electrics · August 2018A V40 Cross Country displayed multiple dashboard warnings, but diagnostics at a Volvo dealer found no fault.
Gearbox and clutch · July 2018A 2014 V40 D4 R Design had a wheel bearing fail at 3,000 miles and later required a new clutch, DMF, and slave cylinder.
Engine · May 2018The engine light on a 2014 V40 D4 illuminated at 40,000 miles, with diagnostics indicating an air leak due to carbon build-up on the EGR valve.
Engine · May 2018A 2014 V40 with a 1.6 Ford diesel engine suffered cylinder head gasket failure and severe corrosion at 47,000 miles, requiring a new engine.
Engine · May 2018The EGR system on a 2015 V40 D2 with the 1,969cc Volvo engine gummed up and was replaced under warranty with a redesigned system.
Electrics · January 2018A 2013 V40 T3 lost power on the motorway with a DSTC message; an ECM replacement costing £1,300+ did not resolve the issue.
Gearbox and clutch · December 2017The clutch pedal on a 2016 V40 D2 stuck at 14,400 miles, caused by a faulty slave cylinder and a leaking crankshaft seal; repaired free of charge.
Bodywork · October 2017The pedestrian airbag on a 2014 V40 was triggered by a pigeon strike, costing £3,500 to rectify the damage.
Electrics · September 2017A 2014 V40 displayed multiple dashboard warnings, including no traction control, no air conditioning, and a non-functional speedometer.
Electrics · September 2017A wiring glitch on a 2012 V40 caused loss of power steering, speedometer issues, and SRS warning lights, often resolved by wiggling a connector.
Gearbox and clutch · August 2017A 2014 V40 D2 R Design made an unpleasant noise at 49,000 miles, with a mechanic diagnosing a gearbox problem.
Gearbox and clutch · May 2017A 2013 V40 T4 required a replacement clutch and a new single mass flywheel after 24,500 miles of use.
Bodywork · April 2017The door locks on a 2014 V40 intermittently stuck just after its three-year warranty expired; a dealer quoted £1,000 for replacement.
Exhaust · February 2017A 2015 V40 D4 (2.0 litre 184PS twin turbo) reported an emissions problem and was at the dealer for nine weeks.
Interior · October 2016The gearlever in a Volvo V40, only three weeks old, became detached from its mounting.
What owners like about the Mk2
1 note
The V40 achieved a five-star Euro NCAP rating, with high scores for adult occupants, pedestrians, child occupants, and safety assist systems.
Sellers rarely admit these faults outright
We track 7 specific phrases sellers use in adverts to soft-pedal these exact issues. Paste any Volvo V40 advert and we check it in seconds.
An overdue cambelt is the most expensive thing a seller can fail to mention on a used V40. These are the figures UK specialists work to.
Timing belt (cambelt)Belt
2.0 D4, D4204T
90,000 miles or 10 years, whichever comes first
Volvo VEA 4-cylinder engines have a timing belt interval of 90,000 miles or 10 years (whichever comes first). The auxiliary belt and tensioner must also be checked or replaced simultaneously.
Always confirm against the vehicle handbook. Intervals vary by engine, and several manufacturers revised theirs after failures in service.
Repair costs are typical UK ranges, not quotes. Actual cost depends on condition and garage.Data last verified: October 2026
Volvo V40 buying questions
Which Volvo V40 years should I avoid?
No Volvo V40 year is a write-off, but the Mk2 (2012 to 2019) carries the most serious faults: engine. Year matters less than whether the specific car has had the known fixes, so check the history for them.
What should I check when viewing a used Volvo V40?
Ask the seller about the engine faults on this page and whether they have been fixed, with invoices. On the test drive watch for engine warning light and DPF or engine warning light. Read the MOT history for repeat advisories, then paste the advert into the free check, which reads it against its known faults before you travel. Check a Volvo V40 advert →
What is the real MPG of a Volvo V40?
Owners report 50.3 mpg on average across the Volvo V40 engines with data, about 80% of the official combined figure. The gap between official and real-world economy varies a lot by engine, so the Real MPG page lists every engine and generation separately, from 1,334 owner submissions. Volvo V40 Real MPG by engine →
If you used to check the Honest John “Good & Bad” section before the site closed in 2026, this page is where that information now lives. We rebuilt the Volvo V40 owner-report history from the archived Honest John dataset, added our own research, specialist and owner-club sources and DVSA recall data, and we keep it free. Each fault above is badged with its source. The same data feeds our free advert check, which reads a listing against every known fault for the exact engine and year.