Used car guide

2009 Volvo XC60: common problems and what to check

What gets flagged at MOT on 2009 Volvo XC60s, from 2,747 tests in 2025, plus known faults and what to look at before you buy one.

2,747MOT tests in 2025
66%pass first time (all 2009 cars: 58%)
8,600typical miles a year
2.4×the usual rate for side repeaters

What stands out

Parts flagged at MOT more often on 2009 Volvo XC60s than on all cars registered in 2009.

  • Side repeaters2.4× usual
    Volvo XC60
    3.6% All 2009 cars
    1.5%

    Failed outright at MOT: 2.1%, against 0.9% of all 2009 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.

  • Anti-roll bar link bushes2.8× usual
    Volvo XC60
    2.2% All 2009 cars
    0.8%

    Failed outright at MOT: 0.2%, against 0.2% of all 2009 cars. The rest were advisories or minor defects.

    Rough price £100–£280 (pair of drop links) Checkatrade

    At the viewing: Drive slowly over bumps and listen for a knock or rattle from the front. Worn anti-roll bar links are a cheap fix.

Better than most

Rigid brake pipes: 0.8% here, against 7.5% of all 2009 cars. Exhaust system: 1.9% here, against 8.4% of all 2009 cars.

By area

The share of 2009 Volvo XC60 MOT tests where testers flagged each area, as a fail or an advisory. Rough prices are typical independent-garage costs.

  • Suspension
    41% 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
    31% 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
    27% 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
    25% 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.

  • Wipers, windscreen and mirrors
    7% of testsRough price £15–£250

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

  • Oil and fluid leaks
    7% 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 XC60?

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Other years

YearMOT testsMost flagged
2023519Tyres 16%
20227,152Tyres 24%
20219,856Tyres 25%
20207,890Tyres 27%
201911,293Tyres 27%
201810,775Tyres 25%
201714,724Tyres 29%
201614,700Tyres 29%
201512,584Tyres 30%
20148,746Tyres 31%
20135,129Tyres 29%
20124,791Suspension 31%
20114,276Suspension 34%
20103,973Suspension 36%

Where this comes from: the DVSA's anonymised results for every MOT test in Great Britain in 2025, counting tests of 2009 Volvo XC60s registered in 2009. "Flagged" includes advisories, so it isn't the same as a fail rate. How we score