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What to check: Volvo V60

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Ranked across all years of the Volvo V60, 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.

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 4.0% of tests at age 6-9 · class average 1.2%

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 3.3% of tests at age 6-9 · class average 0.6%

Bushes and ball jointsDrive 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 3.4% of tests at age 6-9 · class average 5.9%

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 2.0% of tests at age 6-9 · class average 1.3%

DampersLook for oil misting on the damper body behind each wheel, then push down hard on each corner of the car. It should settle in one bounce. A floaty or crashy ride on the test drive is the same fault felt from the driver's seat.Recorded on 2.4% of tests at age 6-9 · class average 2.3%

Warning lights on ignitionRuns high on this modelTurn the ignition on without starting the engine and watch the dash. Every warning light should appear, then go out once it is running. Be more suspicious of a light that never comes on at all than of one that stays on; warning bulbs have been known to vanish before a sale.Recorded on 1.6% of tests at age 6-9 · class average 0.4%

WheelsRuns high on this modelLook at each rim for kerb damage and check no wheel nuts are missing. A steering wheel that shimmies between 50 and 60 on the test drive often turns out to be a buckled or badly balanced wheel.Recorded on 1.4% of tests at age 6-9 · class average 0.6%

Worth doing on any used car

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

Tyres, all fourCheck 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 30.0% of tests at age 6-9 · class average 20.1%

Pads and discsRuns high on this modelLook 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 14.9% of tests at age 6-9 · class average 8.7%

Windscreen and wipersScan 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 2.3% of tests at age 6-9 · class average 2.0%

Because of what owners report

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

Check the VIN against Volvo's recall records with a dealer.An unactioned crankshaft recall on affected cars means a real risk of sudden, catastrophic engine failure.

Turn the wheel lock to lock and drive slowly over a speed bump or rough patch.Knocks or clonks from the front point to worn mounts, springs or bushes, the model's biggest MOT-data weak spot.

Check the oil level against the dipstick max mark, especially on diesel cars.Oil sitting at or above max on a diesel points to fuel dilution from DPF regeneration cycles.

Ask for service history showing any EGR cooler, valve or cam cover work on D4 diesels.Recent EGR or oil-consumption work on a pre-2017 D4 means it's already had its expensive fix, or still needs one.

Pair a phone over Bluetooth and run through the satnav and Apple/Android connectivity.Dropouts or a dead traffic data feed point to the infotainment gremlins owners report repeatedly.

Lift the front passenger carpet and check the footwell for damp or a musty smell.A history of windscreen water ingress often leaves staining or mould even after the screen's been rebonded.

Read the full MOT history, not just the pass or fail.Repeated suspension advisories year after year back up the model's known weak spot.

Full Volvo V60 reliability report