2014 Volvo V60 diesel: common problems and MOT failures

What goes wrong more than usual on a 2014 Volvo V60 diesel?

Parts flagged at MOT more often on the 2014 Volvo V60 diesel than on all cars registered in 2014.

• Wheels2.3× usual
  Volvo V60

  2.8% All 2014 cars

  1.2%

  Failed outright at MOT: 0.4%, against 0.4% of all 2014 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.

• Engine warning light2.1× usual
  Volvo V60

  3% All 2014 cars

  1.4%

  Failed outright at MOT: 3%, against 1.4% of all 2014 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.

• Individual direction indicators2.5× usual
  Volvo V60

  2% All 2014 cars

  0.8%

  Failed outright at MOT: 0.5%, against 0.3% of all 2014 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 2014 Volvo V60 diesel MOT failures and advisories

The share of 2014 Volvo V60 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.

• 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.

• Suspension
  22% 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
  14% of testsRough price £10–£80

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

• 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
  4% 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.

Known faults on the 2014 Volvo V60 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.

• Engine fire recalls

  All engines

  About 70,000 UK 2.0 diesels are recalled for a fire risk, five-cylinder engines for fuel lines that could leak, cars built July 2010 to April 2015 for a coolant leak that could start a fire, and 2015–16 cars for a cracked fuel hose.

  At the viewing: Ask a Volvo dealer to check the VIN for outstanding recalls.

  Source: What Car?: used Volvo V60 (2010-2018) reliability

• Parking brake and steering recalls

  Built 2010 to 2016

  On manuals with stop-start built Dec 2010 to Feb 2015 the parking brake could release, and cars built Jan 2015 to Feb 2016 could lose power steering through a software fault.

  At the viewing: Ask for proof the updates were done.

  Source: What Car?: used Volvo V60 (2010-2018) reliability

• EGR faults (D4) and particulate filter

  Diesel

  D4 diesels can have EGR faults and go into limp mode, and early diesels can clog their particulate filter.

  At the viewing: Watch for the engine light and lost power.

  Source: What Car?: used Volvo V60 (2010-2018) reliability

• Gearbox oil every three years

  Automatic

  The automatic gearbox needs its fluid changed every three years.

  At the viewing: Check the paperwork for gearbox oil changes.

  Source: What Car?: used Volvo V60 (2010-2018) reliability

Questions to ask the seller before buying a 2014 Volvo V60 diesel

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

1. Have the fire-risk recalls been done?
2. Have the parking brake and steering updates been done?
3. Any recent work on the wheels? (Flagged at MOT 2.3× as often on the 2014 Volvo V60 diesel as on other cars the same age.)
4. Any recent work on the engine warning light? (Flagged at MOT 2.1× as often on the 2014 Volvo V60 diesel as on other cars the same age.)
5. Any recent work on the individual direction indicators? (Flagged at MOT 2.5× as often on the 2014 Volvo V60 diesel as on other cars the same age.)
6. Can I see the service history and receipts for any big jobs?