Head-to-head reliability
Volvo S60 vs FORD F 150
How the Volvo S60 and FORD F 150 compare on NHTSA complaints, recalls and crash reports — and which is the lower-risk used buy.
Based on NHTSA owner-complaint & recall records
Volvo S60 vs FORD F 150: The Volvo S60 has 296 complaints over 10 years (avg 29.6/yr) and 36 recalls, while the Ford F-150 has 11,311 complaints (avg 1,131.1/yr) and 145 recalls. The F-150's transmission issues are common, but the S60's electrical and brake problems are serious. Source: NHTSA owner complaints.
The picture
Is the Volvo S60 or FORD F 150 more reliable?
A plain-English read on what the NHTSA record says about living with each vehicle.
Volvo S60
The Volvo S60, as a used luxury sedan, shows a moderate complaint rate of about 30 per year over the last decade. Owners report issues that can affect safety and convenience, including sudden power loss, brake failures, and steering noises. While not as numerous as some rivals, the nature of these complaints suggests that electrical gremlins and brake system problems are worth investigating before purchase.
FORD F 150
The Ford F-150, a popular full-size pickup, has a much higher complaint volume, averaging over 1,100 per year. The dominant issue is the powertrain, particularly the 10-speed automatic transmission, which owners describe as jerky, hard-shifting, and sometimes prone to sudden power loss. Electrical system problems, including camera and sensor malfunctions, are also common, indicating that the truck's complex systems may be a source of frustration.
The numbers
Side-by-side NHTSA record
Lower is better in every category. The highlighted cell is the stronger result.
| Category | Volvo S60 | FORD F 150 |
|---|---|---|
| Total complaintsAll model years combined | 296 Better | 11,311 |
| Safety recallsFederal recall campaigns | 36 Better | 145 |
| Crash reportsCrash-related complaints | 12 Better | 328 |
| Complaints per yearAveraged across model years | 29.6 Better | 1131.1 |
| Reported injuriesTied to owner complaints | 7 Better | 287 |
| Reported deathsTied to owner complaints | 0 Better | 1 |
Source: NHTSA owner complaints & recall records.
What actually goes wrong
The problems owners report
The most-complained-about systems on each vehicle — what fails, and what owners say in their own words.
Volvo S60
- 01ELECTRICAL SYSTEM77
- 02UNKNOWN OR OTHER61
- 03SERVICE BRAKES46
- 04STEERING32
- 05FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE32
Owners report the SRS warning light illuminating, and in one case, a complete loss of power, steering, and lights while driving, which is a serious safety concern. This suggests potential issues with the vehicle's electrical architecture and safety systems.
Complaints describe sudden loss of braking power, with the pedal going to the floor and a sound of air leaking, indicating possible master cylinder or brake booster failure. This is a critical safety issue that requires immediate attention.
A common annoyance is a squeaking and creaking steering wheel when cold, often related to the airbag spring or trim. While not a safety hazard, it indicates a potential issue with steering column components that may need repeated repairs.
“The contact owns a 2016 Volvo S60. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the SRS warning light illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the local dealer who repaired the vehicle under NHTSA Campaign Number: 20V378000 (Seat Belts) and 16V…”
“PURCHASED A BRAND NEW 2016 VOLVO S60 - THE CAR AT INCIDENT DATE HAD 200 MILES ON IT. WHILE DRIVING IN TRAFFIC ON A CALIFORNIA FREEWAY - THE CAR LOST ALL POWER, STEERING, LIGHTS, ETC WHILE IN THE NUMBER 4 OF 7 LANE FREEWAY AT NIGHT. THE CAR WAS BLACKED OUT, NO…”
FORD F 150
- 01POWER TRAIN3,553
- 02ELECTRICAL SYSTEM2,071
- 03UNKNOWN OR OTHER1,401
- 04EXTERIOR LIGHTING1,164
- 05ENGINE847
The most frequent complaints involve the 10R80 automatic transmission, with owners reporting hard and delayed shifts, jerking, clunking, and even sudden loss of power. These issues can be unpredictable and may lead to dangerous situations, especially in traffic.
Many owners see warnings like 'Front Camera Malfunction' and 'Pre Collision Assist Not Available' on startup, indicating problems with the advanced driver assistance systems. These malfunctions can disable safety features and may require dealer visits.
While not detailed in the sample, the high number of complaints in this category suggests issues with headlights or other exterior lights, which could affect visibility and safety at night.
“I started noticing hard and delayed shifts from 7th into 8th gear. My RPM's were not increasing when this happened, and then on a very crowded major road I lost all power, vehicle shut off and drifted, then started up and jerked again very hard. This failure…”
“I am reporting a safety-related transmission problem I experienced with my 2020 Ford F-150 equipped with the 10R80 automatic transmission. While driving normally, the transmission shifts hard (ie: jerks, clunks) between 4-5 and 5-6 gears, and has on occasion…”
Official recalls
Safety recalls on record
Federal recall campaigns — the defect, the risk, and the fix. Confirm any open recall was completed before you buy.
Volvo S60 — 36 recalls
The defect: Volvo Cars of N.A., LLC (Volvo) is recalling certain 2008-2016 V70 and XC70, 2007-2016 S80, 2011-2018 S60 and V60, 2016-2018 S60 Cross Country, 2014-2020 S60L, 2009-2015 S80L, 2009-2016 XC60 and 2015-2018 V60 Cross Country vehicles. The flexible steel cable that connects the seat belt to the front…
The risk: An unsecured occupant has an increased risk of injury in the event of a crash.
The fix: Volvo will notify owners, and dealers will replace the seat belt anchor cable for both front seats. The recall began December 10, 2020. Owners may contact Volvo customer service at 1-800-458-1552. Volvo's number for this recall is R10029.
The defect: Volvo Cars of N.A., LLC (Volvo) is recalling certain 2008-2016 V70 and XC70, 2007-2016 S80, 2011-2018 S60 and V60, 2016-2018 S60 Cross Country, 2014-2020 S60L, 2009-2015 S80L, 2009-2016 XC60 and 2015-2018 V60 Cross Country vehicles. The flexible steel cable that connects the seat belt to the front…
The risk: An unsecured occupant has an increased risk of injury in the event of a crash.
The fix: Volvo will notify owners, and dealers will replace the seat belt anchor cable for both front seats. The recall began December 10, 2020. Owners may contact Volvo customer service at 1-800-458-1552. Volvo's number for this recall is R10029.
The defect: Volvo Car of USA LLC (Volvo) is recalling certain 2011-2017 S60, S60I, V60, S60CC and V60CC vehicles. A component within the door latches may break, making the doors difficult to latch and/or leading the driver or a passenger to believe a door is securely closed when, in fact, it is not.
The risk: A door that is not securely latched could open while the vehicle is in motion, increasing the risk of injury to a vehicle occupant.
The fix: Volvo will notify owners, and dealers will replace all four door latches, free of charge. The recall began April 9, 2020. Owners may contact Volvo customer service at 1-800-458-1552. Volvo's number for this recall is R89978.
The defect: Volvo Car USA LLC (Volvo) is recalling certain model year 2017 S60 and S60 Cross Country, V60 and V60 Cross Country, and XC60 vehicles manufactured August 16, 2016, through October 21, 2016. The affected vehicles have driver and front passenger seat side mounted side air bags (SAB) with inflator in…
The risk: If the air bag inflator initiator fails to ignite, the air bag will not deploy, increasing the risk of injury.
The fix: Volvo will notify owners, and dealers will inspect and, if necessary, replace the front seat side air bags, free of charge. The recall is expected to begin on February 13, 2017. Owners may contact Volvo customer service at 1-800-458-1552.…
FORD F 150 — 145 recalls
The defect: Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2018-2020 F-150 trucks equipped with high series LED headlamps with Autolamp (On/Off) functionality. The Daytime Running Lamps (DRL) may remain activated instead of dimming to parking lamps when the Master Lighting Switch (MLS) is manually rotated from…
The risk: DRL that cannot dim may reduce the visibility of other drivers, increasing the risk of a crash.
The fix: Ford will notify owners, and dealers will reprogram the body control module, free of charge. The recall began March 10, 2020. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 20C03.
The defect: Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2019-2020 F-150 vehicles. The fastener securing the Power Distribution Box (PDB) 12V cable and Battery Monitoring System (BMS) eyelets to the positive battery terminal may loosen and affect the vehicle's systems such as instrument panel displays and br…
The risk: Inoperative vehicle systems or an engine stall can increase the risk of a crash. Reduced braking and steering efforts increases the risk of a crash. This condition could also create a resistive short, increasing the risk of a fire.
The fix: Ford will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the positive battery cable/BMS/PDB joint for excess sealant adhesive and remove any excessive adhesive, reassemble the joint, and retorque the fastener, as necessary, free of charge. The re…
The defect: Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2015-2019 Ford F-150 and 2017-2019 Ford F-250 Super Duty, F-350 Super Duty, F-450 Super Duty, and F-550 Super Duty pick-up trucks equipped with an engine block heater. Water and contaminants may get into the block heater cable's splice connector causin…
The risk: When the heater is plugged in, prolonged corrosion could cause a resistive short, increasing the risk of overheated or melted wiring which can increase the risk of a fire.
The fix: Ford will notify owners, and dealers will disable the block heater cable, free of charge. Once parts are available, Dealers will replace the engine block heater cable, free of charge. The recall began June 3, 2019. Owners may contact Ford…
The defect: Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2018-2020 F-150 and 2019-2020 F-250, F-350, F-450, and F-550 Super Duty pickup trucks, and 2018-2019 Ford Explorer, 2019-2020 Expedition, and 2020 Escape vehicles equipped with driver and/or passenger's manual front seat back recliner mechanisms. Also…
The risk: A seat back with an improperly assembled recliner mechanism may have reduced strength and may not adequately restrain an occupant in a crash, increasing the risk of injury.
The fix: Ford will notify owners, and Ford and Lincoln dealers will inspect the seat structure and replace them, as necessary, free of charge. The recall began October 21, 2019. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's num…
Buyer analysis
Volvo S60 or FORD F 150: which should you buy?
The Volvo S60 has far fewer complaints per year (29.6) compared to the Ford F-150 (1,131.1), indicating a lower rate of reported issues. However, the S60's problems, such as brake failure and power loss, are serious. The F-150's transmission issues are widespread and can be costly to repair, but the truck's popularity means more data and potentially more known fixes.
Key differences
- The Volvo S60 has significantly fewer complaints per year (29.6) than the Ford F-150 (1,131.1), indicating a lower rate of reported issues.
- The F-150's most common problem is the 10-speed automatic transmission, with owners reporting hard shifts, jerking, and power loss, while the S60's top issue is electrical system failures, including sudden power loss.
- Brake failures are a notable concern for the S60, with reports of sudden loss of braking power, whereas the F-150's brake complaints are less prominent.
- The F-150 has a higher number of recalls (145) compared to the S60 (36), suggesting more widespread safety campaigns for the truck.
- Check for any signs of electrical issues, such as warning lights (SRS, etc.) or intermittent power loss, and have the battery and charging system tested.
- Inspect the brake system thoroughly, including the master cylinder and brake booster, for any leaks or unusual sounds when pressing the pedal.
- Test drive the truck through various speeds and gears, paying close attention to transmission shifts for any harshness, clunking, or hesitation.
- Verify that all driver assistance features (camera, pre-collision) work properly and do not show warning messages on startup.
Before you buy
- Obtain a vehicle history report to check for any open recalls and ensure they have been addressed.
- Have a trusted mechanic perform a pre-purchase inspection, focusing on the specific problem areas mentioned.
- For the Volvo S60, ask about the status of any seat belt or airbag recalls and verify they were completed.
- For the Ford F-150, check the transmission fluid condition and service records, and consider an extended warranty if possible.
- Take both vehicles for an extended test drive, including highway speeds and stop-and-go traffic, to feel for any issues.
Year by year
Which model years to avoid
Complaints per model year for both vehicles — lower is better. The spikes are the years to scrutinize.
| Year | Volvo S60 | FORD F 150 |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 0 | 329 |
| 2024 | 40 | 617 |
| 2023 | 3 | 1507 |
| 2022 | 75 | 3432 |
| 2021 | 32 | 5234 |
| 2020 | 32 | 33 |
| 2019 | 69 | 36 |
| 2018 | 4 | 56 |
| 2017 | 15 | 43 |
Check the actual car
Comparing models is smart. Checking the VIN is essential.
Brand averages tell you the trend. A VIN check tells you what's wrong with the specific Volvo S60 or FORD F 150 in front of you — accident history, open recalls and title records.
Go deeper
Full reliability reports
- Comparison
- Volvo S60 vs FORD F 150
- Volvo S60 total complaints
- 296
- FORD F 150 total complaints
- 11,311
- Volvo S60 total recalls
- 36
- FORD F 150 total recalls
- 145
- Volvo S60 avg complaints/year
- 29.6
- FORD F 150 avg complaints/year
- 1131.1
- More reliable overall
- Volvo S60
- Volvo S60 top complaint area
- ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
- FORD F 150 top complaint area
- POWER TRAIN