2018 Volvo XC60 2.0L Hybrid electric (clean) · DS18 AVU

The defining mechanical thread in this Volvo XC60's MOT history is a persistent steering rack concern, with an offside inner joint play advisory recorded three times across three separate tests in 2024, 2026 (fail), and 2026 (pass), suggesting a wear pattern that has not yet deteriorated to a failure point but warrants close attention. A further mechanical concern is the tyre condition history: the vehicle has been flagged for tyre cuts on the nearside front in 2021, nearside front and rear cuts exceeding ply depth in the 2026 failure, and a dangerous dual front tyre cord exposure failure in 2022, indicating recurring tyre deterioration that may relate to alignment, suspension geometry, or simply regular use on degraded rubber. The most recent test on 24 April 2026 returned a pass, and aside from the steering rack advisory and a wiper smearing observation from the preceding day, the structure of the record shows a generally passable vehicle with isolated but repeated component-level issues rather than systemic structural or corrosion problems. With 81,380 miles recorded over approximately eight years, the vehicle has accumulated around 10,172 miles annually, which sits comfortably within typical usage parameters for a family SUV of this age and means the major mechanical assemblies — engine, gearbox, drivetrain, and braking hardware — have experienced regular working cycles that should have kept lubricants circulated and internal surfaces mobilised. There are no prolonged testing gaps visible in the MOT sequence, with annual tests recorded from 2021 through 2026, indicating the vehicle has been in continuous use and likely subject to consistent wear patterns. The mileage progression between tests appears steady rather than exhibiting the sharp jumps that can indicate clock inconsistencies or major towing or long-distance driving episodes, supporting a relatively conventional usage profile for this class of vehicle. For a prospective buyer, the steering rack inner joint advisory is the priority item to interrogate physically during a test drive. With play already documented on the offside inner joint, attention should be paid to any vagueness or slack in the steering response, particularly around the central straight-ahead position where wear in the inner tie rod or rack end typically manifests as a slight delay before the front wheels react to steering input. Listen for clonking or knocking noises from the front suspension over uneven road surfaces, and check for uneven tyre wear across the front axle — particularly inner or outer edge wear — which would corroborate deteriorating steering or suspension geometry. On a stationary test with the engine running, a second person should rotate the steering wheel slightly while you observe the offside front wheel for any lost motion or jumpy response. The repeated tyre cut advisories deserve their own inspection focus. With ply exposed on multiple occasions across the lifespan of the record, the wheels and tyres should be examined for kerb scuffs, sidewall impact damage, and irregular wear patterns that might suggest alignment drift, camber issues, or a tendency to track misaligned on the road. All four tyres should be inspected for manufacture date, tread depth across full width, and any bulges or cuts in the sidewalls, with particular attention to the nearside front position which has appeared in three separate advisories. The wiper smearing advisory from April 2026 suggests the wiper blades are nearing the end of their service life and should be replaced, while a general check of brake pedal feel, any pulling under braking, and the condition of brake discs and pads through the wheels will round out a test drive focused on the specific components this vehicle's MOT history has actually flagged.