2012 Volvo XC60 2.4L Diesel · FN12 CDV

A clean DVSA record across four tests within the past two years is the defining feature of this 2012 Volvo XC60's roadworthiness history, with no advisories or defects recorded on either of the pass certificates issued in July 2025 and May 2024, or on the prior pass from September 2023. Two failures do appear in the log, on 14 May 2024 and 25 September 2023, but critically both are recorded with no defects listed, which indicates they were administrative withdrawals rather than mechanical failures. This is a stable and reassuring pattern for a fourteen-year-old premium SUV approaching the upper end of its working life, and the latest pass at 136,870 miles with no advisories suggests the vehicle has been kept in compliant condition through to the present test. Annual mileage works out at roughly 9,800 miles per year, which is in line with typical UK usage for a car of this age. The two recorded test failures falling on the same day or within a day of corresponding passes further supports the administrative nature of those withdrawals, rather than any suggestion that the vehicle was off the road for extended periods or subjected to sporadic use. At 136,870 miles the drivetrain, suspension and braking components have accumulated moderate-to-heavy wear for the vehicle's age, but the consistent pass rate indicates that consumable replacement has been keeping pace with that mileage rather than being deferred. For a prospective buyer, the absence of advisories means there are no specific DVSA-flagged wear items requiring immediate investigation, so attention should turn to the components most likely to be approaching service intervals at this mileage on a Volvo XC60. The rear brake discs and pads are known wear points on this model and are prone to edge corrosion and binding calipers after prolonged service; on a test drive, listen for any scraping or grinding on light application, and feel for a spongy or uneven pedal that could indicate a sticking caliper. The suspension, particularly the rear spring seats, control arm bushes and anti-roll bar links, should be inspected for any knocking over uneven surfaces or vague, wandering steering response. Given the mileage, it is also prudent to check for any signs of oil seepage from the engine and gearbox, as these are common on higher-mileage XC60s, and to inspect the underside for the early stages of subframe and brake pipe corrosion, particularly around the rear axle and fuel filler area. The handbrake mechanism on the electronic parking brake variant should be confirmed as holding on an incline without excessive reapplication attempts, and the timing belt service history should be verified, as the five-cylinder diesel engine fitted to many XC60s of this era has a strict replacement interval. A thorough road test on mixed surfaces, paying attention to any suspension clonks, uneven braking, or warning lights on the dashboard, will be the best confirmation that the clean MOT record reflects the vehicle's true mechanical condition.