Used car guide

2006 Volvo V50: common problems and what to check

What gets flagged at MOT on 2006 Volvo V50s, from 2,287 tests in 2025, plus known faults and what to look at before you buy one.

2,287MOT tests in 2025
53%pass first time (all 2006 cars: 57%)
7,300typical miles a year
1.7×the usual rate for drive shaft (cv) joints

What stands out

Parts flagged at MOT more often on 2006 Volvo V50s than on all cars registered in 2006.

  • Drive shaft (CV) joints1.7× usual
    Volvo V50
    12.8% All 2006 cars
    7.6%

    Failed outright at MOT: 7.2%, against 3.4% of all 2006 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.

  • Suspension arm1.9× usual
    Volvo V50
    7.1% All 2006 cars
    3.8%

    Failed outright at MOT: 0.4%, against 0.3% of all 2006 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.

  • Wheels2.3× usual
    Volvo V50
    4.5% All 2006 cars
    2%

    Failed outright at MOT: 1%, against 0.5% of all 2006 cars. The rest were advisories or minor defects.

    Rough price £70–£150 our estimate

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

  • Side repeaters2.3× usual
    Volvo V50
    3.5% All 2006 cars
    1.5%

    Failed outright at MOT: 2.5%, against 0.9% of all 2006 cars. The rest were advisories or minor defects.

    Rough price £10–£80 our estimate

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

Better than most

Rigid brake pipes: 3.2% here, against 14.1% of all 2006 cars. Brake lights: 1% here, against 5.9% of all 2006 cars.

By area

The share of 2006 Volvo V50 MOT tests where testers flagged each area, as a fail or an advisory. Rough prices are typical independent-garage costs.

  • Suspension
    51% 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
    39% 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
    38% 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
    34% 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.

  • Exhaust and emissions
    15% of testsRough price £100–£1,200

    At the viewing: Look for black soot in the tailpipe, listen for blowing from the exhaust and check for engine or DPF warning lights.

  • Oil and fluid leaks
    13% of testsRough price £80–£600

    At the viewing: Look under the engine and on the ground where the car is usually parked for fresh oil or fluid.

Looking at a Volvo V50?

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Other years

YearMOT testsMost flagged
20123,015Suspension 41%
20113,895Suspension 45%
20104,099Suspension 46%
20094,024Suspension 45%
20084,449Suspension 50%
20072,306Suspension 52%
20051,502Suspension 55%
2004642Suspension 51%

Where this comes from: the DVSA's anonymised results for every MOT test in Great Britain in 2025, counting tests of 2006 Volvo V50s registered in 2006. "Flagged" includes advisories, so it isn't the same as a fail rate. How we score