2015 VOLVO V401.6L Diesel

The vehicle's recent MOT history shows a worsening trend in maintenance standards, culminating in a significant failure in July 2025. While the car passed its most recent test on 24 July 2025 at 117,687 miles, the tester flagged several advisories including a perishing nearside rear tyre, worn and pitted rear brake discs, and thinning rear inner brake pads. These issues were present during the failure on 22 July 2025 at 117,685 miles, where the vehicle also failed on more serious grounds such as an ABS fault, electronic stability control errors, and a front tyre with exposed cords. The mileage accumulation appears consistent with a typical 11-year-old vehicle, averaging approximately 10,700 miles per year. The record shows steady usage, moving from 90,687 miles in January 2023 to 108,391 miles in May 2024, and finally reaching 117,687 miles in July 2025. This steady progression suggests regular road use rather than long periods of inactivity. However, the sudden cluster of failures in July 2025 suggests that routine consumable replacement has been neglected in recent months. A prospective buyer must prioritise a thorough inspection of the braking system and electronic safety components. The recent ABS and electronic stability control faults indicate potential sensor or module issues that require verification. The recurring advisories regarding pitted brake discs and thin pads, dating back to at least May 2024, suggest the braking hardware is nearing the end of its service life. The tester also noted an offside front anti-roll bar linkage ball joint dust cover failure, so the suspension bushings and linkages should be checked for play or damage. The history of tyre tread depth failures and perishing rubber indicates a pattern of deferred tyre maintenance. Beyond the tyres, the repeated mentions of undertrays restricting the view of components since 2019 mean that any underlying corrosion on the chassis or exhaust system may have gone unobserved by previous testers. An inspection of the vehicle's underside is necessary to ensure no structural rust has developed beneath these covers.