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What to check: Volvo V90

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Ranked across all years of the Volvo V90, 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 4.6% of tests at age 6-9 · class average 0.9%

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 3.2% of tests at age 6-9 · class average 0.6%

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 2.8% of tests at age 6-9 · class average 0.4%

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 2.2% of tests at age 6-9 · class average 0.1%

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 2.3% of tests at age 6-9 · class average 2.3%

LeaksLook 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 2.1% of tests at age 6-9 · class average 2.0%

Coil springsLook 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 1.4%

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 26.1% 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 17.3% 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 2.2% 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.

On a PHEV (T8), check the claimed electric range against a real short drive.A big gap from the WLTP figure points to battery degradation, ask about the remaining high-voltage warranty.

Play with the touchscreen and sat-nav for a few minutes.Lag, screen freezes or the map drifting off the actual road are the known Sensus niggles.

On a diesel, ask for proof of a timing belt change if it's higher-mileage or older.No record means budget for one, it's a belt not a chain and a snapped one wrecks the engine.

Cycle the ignition and watch the dash for ABS/ESC or engine warning lights.A light that clears itself on restart is one of the reported electrical gremlins, worth a dealer check either way.

Try both key fobs to unlock and start the car.A fob that fails first time has been reported by owners as an intermittent fault.

Check the headlining and door sills for damp or staining, especially around the sunroof.Signs of water ingress point to blocked panoramic sunroof drains.

Pull the full MOT history, not just the pass or fail.The same advisory repeating across years means nobody's fixing the underlying cause.

Full Volvo V90 reliability report