2004 Volvo V70 2.4L Diesel · LR54 AKN

The 2026‑05‑27 MOT at 278,881 miles resulted in a pass, but the presence of a frayed offside front seat belt, slightly distorted front and rear wheels, a cut near‑side tyre, corroded coil springs on all four corners and a lagging parking brake demonstrates that the vehicle’s condition remains compromised. These recurring defects, together with the earlier failure on 2026‑05‑27 for an insecure near‑side front anti‑roll bar linkage, show a persistent, worsening trend rather than improvement. The mileage trajectory over the past two years reflects heavy use for a 22‑year‑old Volvo. After the April 2024 pass at 275,794 miles, the next test in April 2025 recorded 277,434 miles, a gain of only 1,640 miles in a year, followed by a minimal increase to 277,459 miles by May 2025. The most recent jump to 278,881 miles in May 2026 adds another 1,422 miles, indicating that the vehicle has accumulated roughly 12,600 miles annually since 2023, a rate that far exceeds typical usage for its age and suggests extensive component wear. A buyer should therefore focus on the suspension system, examining the condition of the coil springs, bushes and ball joints on both front and rear axles, as well as the steering rack inner joint for play. The brake assembly warrants close inspection of disc thickness, pitting or scoring, and pad wear, especially given the repeated notes on worn discs and thin pads since 2023. Additional checks should verify the integrity of the seat belt webbing, the operation of the parking brake, the alignment and distortion of the wheels, and the security of anti‑roll bar linkages and mounting points, all of which have been flagged repeatedly across the MOT history.