2012 Volvo V60 2.4L Diesel · AJ61 MWM

A history of recent clean MOT certificates follows a period of significant mechanical failures and recurring tyre wear issues. While the vehicle has achieved passes without defects in its most recent tests on 30 January 2026, 15 February 2025, 10 February 2024, and 10 February 2023, the 2023 inspection recorded a dangerous failure due to nearside rear brake pads being below the legal thickness limit. This failure was accompanied by advisories regarding offside rear brake pad wear and critical tyre defects, including exposed cords on the nearside front inner tyre. The trend shows a transition from multiple advisories regarding uneven tyre wear and punctures in 2019 to a more recent period of zero recorded defects, suggesting the immediate safety-critical issues identified in 2023 have been addressed. The vehicle has covered 121,950 miles over its fourteen-year lifespan, representing an average annual usage of approximately 8,711 miles. This mileage profile is consistent with typical long-term usage for a vehicle of this age. From a mechanical standpoint, this level of accumulation suggests that while the car has not been subjected to excessive high-speed motorway mileage, it has been used enough to necessitate regular replacement of consumables. The steady accumulation of miles means that while the chassis and drivetrain have been regularly exercised, components subject to friction and environmental degradation, such as suspension bushes, brake discs, and various rubber seals, should be closely monitored for age-related fatigue. Prospective buyers should pay particular attention to the braking system and tyre management, given the previous dangerous failure and multiple advisories concerning pad thickness and uneven tyre wear. During a test drive, it is essential to check for any pulling to one side under braking, which could indicate binding calipers or uneven pad application, and to listen for any grinding noises from the rear axle. The history of tyres being worn on the inner edges suggests potential issues with wheel alignment or suspension geometry. You should feel for any steering wander or unevenness in the steering wheel when driving on a straight road, as this may indicate that the alignment issues noted in previous years have not been fully rectified or have recurred. Additional scrutiny should be applied to the suspension and steering components to ensure the uneven tyre wear noted in 2019 and 2021 was not symptomatic of deeper mechanical faults. Listen for knocks, clunks, or knocks from the front or rear suspension when driving over uneven surfaces or speed bumps, which could point to worn bushes or ball joints. Although the most recent records are clear, the previous pattern of uneven tyre wear warrants a visual inspection of the tyre tread profiles across all four wheels to ensure they are wearing uniformly. Any evidence of rapid wear on the inner edges of the tyres during the inspection would indicate that the underlying alignment or suspension issues remain a concern.