2018 Volvo XC90 2.0L Diesel · D942 SAM

A seven-test DVSA history spanning 2021 to 2026 presents a broadly positive roadworthiness picture, with six passes and a single dangerous failure, alongside a small cluster of advisories that point to the chassis and braking consumables beginning to show their age. The 2026-03-06 test was recorded as a clean pass with no advisories, which represents an improvement on the previous year when a slight play was noted in the nearside front track rod end ball joint. That advisory, combined with front and rear brake disc wear advisories from the 2023 test, suggests the early stages of suspension and brake component fatigue rather than any immediate safety concern. The only outright failure, a dangerous offside front tyre bulge caused by structural separation on 2021-03-12, was rectified and followed by a clean pass just seven days later, indicating the issue was addressed promptly rather than left to recur. Overall, the trajectory across the five-year window is stable, with no repeat advisories on the same component and no escalation in defect severity. The recorded mileage of 115,697 miles against an annualised rate of approximately 14,462 miles per year sits noticeably above the typical 8,000 to 12,000 mile benchmark for a vehicle of this age, pointing to sustained high-mileage use rather than periods of standing. This is consistent with the wear pattern observed in the MOT record, where brake discs and steering linkages have begun to register advisories, as these are precisely the components that accumulate fatigue proportional to distance covered. There are no extended gaps in the testing history, with annual tests recorded consistently from 2021 through 2026, and mileage accumulation between tests broadly tracks the annualised average, indicating continuous use rather than long lay-ups that could introduce separate concerns such as brake seizure or drivetrain fluid degradation. The vehicle therefore presents as a working, regularly-driven example rather than one with sporadic or inconsistent use. For a prospective buyer, the specific components flagged in the advisories warrant targeted physical inspection. The 2025 track rod end ball joint play advisory, while minor at the time, is the kind of wear that can progress; on a test drive, listen for clonking or knocking from the front end over speed humps and uneven surfaces, and check for any vagueness or wandering in the steering, particularly under braking. The front and rear brake disc advisories from 2023 mean the discs have now had a further three years and a substantial mileage accumulation to wear further; on inspection, feel for a pronounced lip on the outer edge of each disc, and during a test drive, watch for any vibration or pulsation through the brake pedal or steering wheel under firm braking, which would indicate disc run-out or warping. The front and rear pads should also be checked for remaining friction material, given the higher-than-average mileage. Beyond the flagged items, the high-mileage usage profile of this XC90 warrants attention to areas that MOT testing does not fully cover. The haldex-style all-wheel-drive system, if fitted, along with the rear differential and propshaft, should be inspected for any oil weep from seals or unusual noise on a road test, particularly when cornering or pulling away from rest. The timing chain, tensioner, and auxiliary drives on the higher-mileage variants of this engine family are known wear items, so any rattling on cold start or irregular idle behaviour should be taken seriously. A compression or leak-down test, alongside a service history review confirming timely oil and filter changes, would be prudent given the annual mileage this vehicle has been covering. Underneath, a check for any developing corrosion around the rear subframe mounting points, suspension arms, and exhaust hangers would round off a thorough inspection appropriate to the mileage and age of the vehicle.