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What to check: Volvo V50

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Ranked across all years of the Volvo V50, from its own MOT record and from what owners report. Tick it off at the car.

From this model's MOT record

The physical checks its own defect data says are worth your time, most telling first.

Bushes and ball jointsRuns high on this modelDrive slowly over broken tarmac with the windows down and listen for clonks from either end. Back at the car, have someone rock the steering wheel while you rest a hand on each front wheel; play you can feel through the tyre is a worn joint.Recorded on 19.7% of tests at age 10-15 · class average 9.0%

Coil springsRuns high on this modelLook through the wheel spokes at the bottom coil of each spring; when springs snap it is usually there, and the break is visible. Step back and check the car sits level too. A dropped corner is often a broken spring.Recorded on 8.8% of tests at age 10-15 · class average 5.0%

Lights and horn walkroundRuns high on this modelWith a helper, run every light: dipped, main beam, indicators, brake lights including the high-level one, reverse, fog, and the horn. On newer cars a dead LED section can mean replacing the whole lamp unit rather than a bulb.Recorded on 8.7% of tests at age 10-15 · class average 3.3%

LeaksRuns high on this modelLook at the ground where the car usually stands, then glance under the engine after your test drive. Fresh drips of oil or coolant are the cheapest warning you will ever get about a car.Recorded on 8.4% of tests at age 10-15 · class average 4.8%

Rubber boots and gaitersRuns high on this modelOn full steering lock, look in behind each front wheel at the concertina rubber boots on the driveshafts and steering rack. Splits, or grease flung around the arch, mean dirt is getting into a joint that costs far more than the boot protecting it.Recorded on 7.5% of tests at age 10-15 · class average 1.4%

Steering playRuns high on this modelWith the engine running and the car parked, waggle the wheel lightly about the straight-ahead. The wheels should respond almost at once. A dead zone before anything happens means wear in the rack or the track rod ends.Recorded on 5.8% of tests at age 10-15 · class average 1.7%

Headlamp lensesRuns high on this modelCheck for condensation inside the headlamps and for cloudy or yellowed lenses. Both attract MOT trouble, and moisture inside a sealed LED unit generally means a whole new lamp.Recorded on 4.8% of tests at age 10-15 · class average 1.1%

Worth doing on any used car

These judge the seller's upkeep rather than the model.

Tyres, all fourRuns high on this modelCheck the tread across the full width of each tyre, inner edge included, and look for cracking and mismatched brands. A set of decent tyres is £500 or more on most cars, which makes this the easiest money to take off a price. If the pressure warning light is on, budget for sensors too.Recorded on 38.5% of tests at age 10-15 · class average 20.9%

Pads and discsLook through the wheel spokes at the brake disc. A pronounced lip on its outer edge, or a rusty and scored face, means discs and pads are due all round, a few hundred pounds on most cars. A haggling point rather than a reason to walk away.Recorded on 14.1% of tests at age 10-15 · class average 11.4%

Windscreen and wipersRuns high on this modelScan the glass in daylight for chips, especially in the driver's line of sight where even a small one can fail the MOT. Run the washers and check the wipers clear without smearing.Recorded on 4.0% of tests at age 10-15 · class average 2.6%

Because of what owners report

Drawn from the owner reports rather than the MOT data. These are the model-specific ones.

Drive it from cold and listen for a clunk from underneath as it pulls away.Points to a worn dual-mass flywheel on 1.6D DRIVe manuals.

Check the service history for turbo-friendly oil changes and cambelt/tensioner work.Gaps raise the risk of turbo oil starvation, or on 2.5-litre petrols, a wrecked engine from a failed tensioner.

Drive over some bumps and turn the wheel lock to lock in a car park.Clunks or creaks from the front point to worn drop links, bushes or strut mounts, the model's known suspension weak spot.

On an automatic, check gearchanges are smooth and reverse selects promptly.Hesitation or a slow reverse suggests a neglected Powershift box overdue its fluid and filter change.

Look for a DPF or engine warning light and ask what the car is mainly used for.A diesel used mostly on short trips is more likely to have a clogged DPF or gummed-up EGR.

Test every window, the central locking and the infotainment screen.Intermittent electrical faults are a recurring owner complaint and can be fiddly to trace.

Check the MOT history for repeat suspension advisories.The same advisory coming back year after year backs up how common suspension wear is on this model.

Full Volvo V50 reliability report