Volvo V40 Tail Lights: Specs, Fitment & Common Faults
On the V40, Volvo's own official UK statement genuinely says rear lights aren't sealed by design — yet owners have still had identical condensation replaced free under warranty when pushed.
Illustration for editorial purposes
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OEM Part Number: confirm via VIN — tail light (aftermarket) Van Wezel 5909921 / Diederichs 7615691
| Tail lights (aftermarket) | Van Wezel 5909921 (left, with bulb holder, right-hand pair 5909922); Diederichs 7615691 (left, LED, with bulb holder) |
|---|---|
| Genuine (OE) numbers quoted | None quoted in the catalogue listings — the genuine light varies by trim, bulb or LED type and facelift date, so order it against your VIN |
| Fitment notes | Left and right are separate parts; check LED or bulb type, whether the bulb holder is included, body style and facelift date before ordering. |
Volvo V40 Tail Lights: More Wiring Behind There Than Most People Assume
The Volvo V40's tail light unit combines several jobs in one housing — brake, indicator, reversing and rear fog light — so a single fault can knock out more than one function at once, and "the tail light's not working" isn't really one specific problem.
Volvo V40 Tail Lights: What It Does
Beyond basic rear visibility, tail light units on the V40 typically integrate brake lights, indicators, reversing lights and rear fog lights into a single housing. Higher trims may use LED units with a distinct light signature, which are not interchangeable with standard halogen units even if the physical mounting looks similar.
Volvo V40 Tail Lights: Watch: Replacing It
Fitment & Compatibility
Volvo V40 Tail Lights: Generations, Derivatives & Tail Light Type
| Standard trims | Halogen bulb-based units as standard on earlier generations |
|---|---|
| Higher trims, later model years | Full LED tail lights become standard, genuinely not interchangeable with the halogen units on older examples of the same model — Volvo's own parts listings distinguish cars by specific variant code, not just model year, so confirm before ordering |
Tail light design changed between generations of the V40, and facelifted versions within the same generation often use a revised light signature that isn't interchangeable with pre-facelift units. Always confirm the exact part for your specific model year before ordering. Whether you're sourcing a replacement tail lights for your Volvo V40 from a dealer, specialist, or online marketplace, always check compatibility against your registration or VIN before buying, and confirm you're ordering the correct side — driver's side (RH in the UK) or passenger side (LH in the UK) — since these are not interchangeable.
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A Genuinely Useful Piece of Context Worth Knowing About Tail Light Condensation — Volvo V40 Tail Lights
If you're seeing condensation in a tail light, this is genuinely worth knowing: Volvo Car UK's own official position on related models states that moisture can enter rear light assemblies because they are not sealed units by design, to allow heat to disperse — described as a property of the vehicle rather than a fault.
It's also worth knowing that despite this official "normal" position, documented cases describe owners having identical condensation issues replaced free under warranty when they pushed the matter.
Volvo V40 Tail Lights: Common Faults, DIY Difficulty & Aftermarket Advice
These are the same regardless of make or model — see our full Tail Lights Guide for diagnosing which circuit has failed, how easy this job is to DIY, and aftermarket advice.
More Volvo Tail Lights
The same part, covered across other Volvo models.