Used car guide

2012 Volvo C30: common problems and what to check

What gets flagged at MOT on 2012 Volvo C30s, from 2,799 tests in 2025, plus known faults and what to look at before you buy one.

2,799MOT tests in 2025

62%pass first time (all 2012 cars: 63%)

7,100typical miles a year

2.1×the usual rate for number plate lights

What stands out

Parts flagged at MOT more often on 2012 Volvo C30s than on all cars registered in 2012.

Number plate lights2.1× usual

Volvo C30
15.2% All 2012 cars
7.3%

Failed outright at MOT: 3.4%, against 2.1% of all 2012 cars. The rest were advisories or minor defects.

Rough price £5–£40 our estimate

At the viewing: Check the number plate lights work and the plates are clean and legal.
Suspension arm bushes and joints1.7× usual

Volvo C30
17.6% All 2012 cars
10.1%

Failed outright at MOT: 3.8%, against 2% of all 2012 cars. The rest were advisories or minor defects.

Rough price £120–£180 (one arm) ClickMechanic

At the viewing: Listen for clunks over bumps and feel for the steering wandering. Worn arm bushes show as cracked rubber near the wheels.
Drive shaft (CV) joints2.1× usual

Volvo C30
9.2% All 2012 cars
4.4%

Failed outright at MOT: 5.2%, against 2.1% of all 2012 cars. The rest were advisories or minor defects.

Rough price £60–£350 our estimate

At the viewing: Drive slowly on full steering lock in both directions and listen for clicking. Look for split rubber boots behind the front wheels.
Individual direction indicators2.3× usual

Volvo C30
7% All 2012 cars
3%

Failed outright at MOT: 2.6%, against 1.2% of all 2012 cars. The rest were advisories or minor defects.

Rough price £10–£80 our estimate

At the viewing: Ask a friend to check every light while you work the switches: indicators, brake lights, fog lights and reversing lights.
Anti-roll bar link joints1.8× usual

Volvo C30
5.8% All 2012 cars
3.2%

Failed outright at MOT: 1.3%, against 1.2% of all 2012 cars. The rest were advisories or minor defects.

Rough price £60–£150 (one joint) ClickMechanic

At the viewing: Listen for knocking over bumps and check the rubber boots behind the wheels aren't split.

Better than most

Shock absorbers: 2% here, against 6.5% of all 2012 cars. Rigid brake pipes: 1.6% here, against 5.5% of all 2012 cars.

By area

The share of 2012 Volvo C30 MOT tests where testers flagged each area, as a fail or an advisory. Rough prices are typical independent-garage costs.

Suspension

38% of testsRough price £120–£400

At the viewing: Listen for knocks over speed bumps, and look behind each front wheel for a snapped coil spring.
Tyres

34% of testsRough price £70–£150

At the viewing: Check the tread on all four tyres, including the inside edges, and look for cracks or bulges.
Lights and electrics

32% of testsRough price £10–£80

At the viewing: Ask a friend to check every light, including brake lights and indicators, while you operate them.
Brakes

26% of testsRough price £150–£350

At the viewing: Look for a lip on the disc edges and feel for judder or pulling when braking firmly from about 40mph.
Driveshafts and joints

9% of testsRough price £60–£350

At the viewing: On full steering lock, drive slowly and listen for clicking from the front wheels.
Wipers, windscreen and mirrors

8% of testsRough price £15–£250

At the viewing: Check for chips in the driver's view, and test the wipers and washers.

Looking at a Volvo C30?

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Other years

Year	MOT tests	Most flagged
2013	961	Tyres 35%
2011	2,983	Suspension 40%
2010	4,594	Suspension 42%
2009	4,646	Suspension 43%
2008	2,638	Suspension 46%
2007	1,942	Suspension 46%

Where this comes from: the DVSA's anonymised results for every MOT test in Great Britain in 2025, counting tests of 2012 Volvo C30s registered in 2012. "Flagged" includes advisories, so it isn't the same as a fail rate. How we score