2012 Volvo C30 diesel: common problems and MOT failures

What goes wrong more than usual on a 2012 Volvo C30 diesel?

Parts flagged at MOT more often on the 2012 Volvo C30 diesel than on all cars registered in 2012.

• Drive shaft (CV) joints3.6× usual
  Volvo C30

  13.8% All 2012 cars

  3.8%

  Failed outright at MOT: 8.4%, against 1.9% 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.

• Number plate lights2.4× usual
  Volvo C30

  15.8% All 2012 cars

  6.7%

  Failed outright at MOT: 3.4%, against 2% 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 joints1.8× usual
  Volvo C30

  16.6% All 2012 cars

  9.1%

  Failed outright at MOT: 4%, against 1.9% 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.

• Individual direction indicators2.3× usual
  Volvo C30

  6.7% All 2012 cars

  2.9%

  Failed outright at MOT: 2.6%, against 1.1% 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.

• Sidelights1.7× usual
  Volvo C30

  8% All 2012 cars

  4.7%

  Failed outright at MOT: 6.9%, against 4.1% 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.

Common 2012 Volvo C30 diesel MOT failures and advisories

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

• Tyres
  36% 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.

• Suspension
  35% 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.

• 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
  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.

• Driveshafts and joints
  14% 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
  9% of testsRough price £15–£250

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

Known faults on the 2012 Volvo C30 diesel

Reported by owners, mechanics and buying guides for this model and age. Check which engine the car has, as some apply to one engine only.

• Brake, steering and cooling recalls

  All engines

  There were several recalls, covering brakes, steering and engine cooling.

  At the viewing: Run the free DVSA recall check on the reg.

  Source: What Car?: Volvo C30 (2007-2013) reliability

• Stability control failure

  All engines

  Older cars can suffer a stability control failure that is expensive to fix.

  At the viewing: Make sure no stability control or ABS warning lights show.

  Source: What Car?: Volvo C30 (2007-2013) reliability

• Rattling trim and air con

  All engines

  Listen for rattling trim, and check the ventilation and air con work properly.

  At the viewing: Listen for rattles on rough roads and test the air con.

  Source: What Car?: Volvo C30 (2007-2013) reliability

Questions to ask the seller before buying a 2012 Volvo C30 diesel

Ask before you travel to see it. A seller who knows the car will have answers, and receipts.

1. Has all the recall work been done?
2. Any recent work on the drive shaft (cv) joints? (Flagged at MOT 3.6× as often on the 2012 Volvo C30 diesel as on other cars the same age.)
3. Any recent work on the number plate lights? (Flagged at MOT 2.4× as often on the 2012 Volvo C30 diesel as on other cars the same age.)
4. Any recent work on the suspension arm bushes and joints? (Flagged at MOT 1.8× as often on the 2012 Volvo C30 diesel as on other cars the same age.)
5. Can I see the service history and receipts for any big jobs?