Used car guide

2010 Volvo XC60: common problems and what to check

What gets flagged at MOT on 2010 Volvo XC60s, from 3,973 tests in 2025, plus known faults and what to look at before you buy one.

3,973MOT tests in 2025
67%pass first time (all 2010 cars: 59%)
9,000typical miles a year
3×the usual rate for side repeaters

What stands out

Parts flagged at MOT more often on 2010 Volvo XC60s than on all cars registered in 2010.

  • Side repeaters3× usual
    Volvo XC60
    4.2% All 2010 cars
    1.4%

    Failed outright at MOT: 2.7%, against 0.9% of all 2010 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.

  • Nail or damage in a tyre1.8× usual
    Volvo XC60
    3% All 2010 cars
    1.7%

    Failed outright at MOT: 0%, against 0% of all 2010 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. Uneven wear can point to tracking or suspension problems.

Better than most

Sidelights: 1.2% here, against 6.8% of all 2010 cars. Exhaust system: 2% here, against 7.6% of all 2010 cars.

By area

The share of 2010 Volvo XC60 MOT tests where testers flagged each area, as a fail or an advisory. Rough prices are typical independent-garage costs.

  • Suspension
    36% 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
    32% 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
    24% 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
    8% 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
    7% 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 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%
20092,747Suspension 41%

Where this comes from: the DVSA's anonymised results for every MOT test in Great Britain in 2025, counting tests of 2010 Volvo XC60s registered in 2010. "Flagged" includes advisories, so it isn't the same as a fail rate. How we score