Head-to-head reliability
Volvo S60 vs Toyota Camry
How the Volvo S60 and Toyota Camry 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 Toyota Camry: Volvo has 296 complaints over 10 years (29.6/yr) with 36 recalls, while Camry has 2143 complaints (214.3/yr) with 31 recalls. Volvo reports electrical and brake failures, Camry reports transmission and engine issues. Source: NHTSA owner complaints.
The picture
Is the Volvo S60 or Toyota Camry more reliable?
A plain-English read on what the NHTSA record says about living with each vehicle.
Volvo S60
The Volvo S60, over a decade of ownership, shows a moderate complaint rate with a heavy emphasis on electrical gremlins, brake anomalies, and steering noises. Owners describe sudden power losses, SRS warnings, and brake failures that can undermine confidence, though the overall volume is lower than the Camry's. It's a car that may offer premium comfort but demands vigilance for intermittent electronic and braking issues.
Toyota Camry
The Toyota Camry, with a much higher complaint volume, reveals a pattern of powertrain and engine troubles, including transmission grinding and sudden acceleration reports, alongside brake failures and HVAC odors. While these issues are more frequent, they are spread across a larger owner base, and the Camry's reputation for reliability is challenged by these real-world reports. Buyers should be prepared for potential major repairs, especially in the transmission and braking systems.
The numbers
Side-by-side NHTSA record
Lower is better in every category. The highlighted cell is the stronger result.
| Category | Volvo S60 | Toyota Camry |
|---|---|---|
| Total complaintsAll model years combined | 296 Better | 2,143 |
| Safety recallsFederal recall campaigns | 36 | 31 Better |
| Crash reportsCrash-related complaints | 12 Better | 181 |
| Complaints per yearAveraged across model years | 29.6 Better | 214.3 |
| Reported injuriesTied to owner complaints | 7 Better | 163 |
| 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 SRS warning lights and complete power loss while driving, leading to blackouts and loss of steering and lights. This can be alarming and poses safety risks, especially on highways.
Sudden loss of braking power, with the pedal going to the floor and air leaking sounds, indicates potential master cylinder or vacuum issues. This is critical for safety and requires immediate attention.
Steering wheel squeaks and creaks, often traced to the airbag spring or trim, requiring multiple repairs. While not a safety failure, it indicates build quality issues that can be annoying.
“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…”
Toyota Camry
- 01POWER TRAIN395
- 02UNKNOWN OR OTHER342
- 03ENGINE315
- 04SERVICE BRAKES290
- 05ELECTRICAL SYSTEM246
Transmission grinding noises and the need for replacement are reported, especially in 2021 models. This is a costly repair and suggests a systemic issue with certain transmissions.
Uncontrollable sudden acceleration incidents have been reported, leading to crashes. Also, engine maintenance lights and coolant valve bypass codes appear, indicating potential engine management problems.
Brake failure on hills, with no response from the pedal, is a serious safety concern. Owners also report issues with braking in parking lots, suggesting possible brake booster or ABS problems.
“I turned into a restaurant’s parking lot, found a spot and slowly drove into the lot, I eased off the gas pedal and gently applying the brake as the lot has a slight downward slope. When I reach the chunk (the parking block), I added more force to the brake,…”
“Grinding noise coming from front end upon acceleration. Brought to dealership who confirmed noises coming from transmission. Transmission needs to be replaced per dealer recommendation. Recalls on 2021 Toyota Camry for same issue. Transmissions on backorder a…”
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.…
Toyota Camry — 31 recalls
The defect: Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing (Toyota) is recalling certain 2020-2021 Avalon, Avalon Hybrid, Corolla, Highlander, Highlander Hybrid, RAV4, RAV4 Hybrid, Lexus ES350, Lexus RX350, Lexus RX450H, 2021 Sienna Hybrid, Lexus ES250, 2020-2022 Camry, Camry Hybrid, and ES300H vehicles. A short cir…
The risk: An air bag that does not deploy during a crash increases the risk of injury.
The fix: Dealers will inspect and replace the sensor as necessary, free of charge. Interim letters notifying owners of the safety risk were mailed in February 2024. Some final remedy owner letters were mailed October 31, 2024. Letters will continue…
The defect: Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing (Toyota) is recalling certain 2023-2024 Camry and Camry Hybrid vehicles. The second-row center and right-side seats may have insufficiently welded head restraint brackets. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle…
The risk: A head restraint bracket that is insufficiently welded may not properly restrain an occupant during a crash, increasing the risk of injury.
The fix: Dealers will replace the 60% rear seat-back frame sub-assembly, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed April 19, 2024. Owners may contact Toyota customer service at 1-800-331-4331. Toyota's numbers for this recall are 24TB0…
The defect: Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing (Toyota) is recalling certain 2023 Camry and Camry Hybrid vehicles. The lug nuts that attach the wheels to the vehicle may be loose, which can result in wheel detachment.
The risk: A wheel that detaches from a moving vehicle can cause a loss of vehicle control, increasing the risk of a crash.
The fix: Owners are advised not to drive their vehicles until the repair has been performed. Dealers will inspect and tighten the lug nuts, and replace any damaged components, free of charge. Owner notification letters are expected to be mailed on…
The defect: Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing (Toyota) is recalling certain 2023-2024 Camry and Camry Hybrid vehicles. The second-row center and right-side seats may have insufficiently welded head restraint brackets. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle…
The risk: A head restraint bracket that is insufficiently welded may not properly restrain an occupant during a crash, increasing the risk of injury.
The fix: Dealers will replace the 60% rear seat-back frame sub-assembly, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed April 19, 2024. Owners may contact Toyota customer service at 1-800-331-4331. Toyota's numbers for this recall are 24TB0…
Buyer analysis
Volvo S60 or Toyota Camry: which should you buy?
The Volvo S60 has fewer complaints per year (29.6) compared to the Toyota Camry (214.3), indicating a lower frequency of reported issues. However, the nature of the Volvo's problems—electrical and brake failures—can be more safety-critical. In practice, the Camry's higher volume may reflect its larger sales base, but the specific transmission and acceleration issues are concerning.
Key differences
- Volvo S60 has significantly fewer complaints per year (29.6) than Camry (214.3), but its issues are more concentrated in electrical and brake systems.
- Camry owners report transmission failures and sudden acceleration, which are major safety concerns, while Volvo owners report power loss and brake failures.
- Volvo has more recalls (36) than Camry (31), but Camry has more crash-related complaints (181 vs 12) and injuries (163 vs 7).
- Camry's engine and powertrain complaints (395+315) outnumber Volvo's top areas, indicating a higher likelihood of drivetrain issues.
- Inspect the electrical system for any warning lights or intermittent failures, especially SRS and power loss issues.
- Test the brakes thoroughly, including sudden stops, to check for pedal feel and any air leaks.
- Listen for grinding noises from the transmission during acceleration and check for any hesitation or slipping.
- Verify the engine's response to throttle inputs to rule out sudden acceleration risks, and check for any warning lights.
Before you buy
- Obtain a vehicle history report to check for open recalls and prior complaints.
- Have a pre-purchase inspection by an independent mechanic specializing in the brand.
- Test drive at various speeds, including highway, to feel for any power loss or brake issues.
- Check for any unusual odors from the AC system, as reported in Camry.
- Review the NHTSA website for the specific VIN's complaint and recall history.
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 | Toyota Camry |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 0 | 153 |
| 2024 | 40 | 48 |
| 2023 | 3 | 62 |
| 2022 | 75 | 59 |
| 2021 | 32 | 155 |
| 2020 | 32 | 270 |
| 2019 | 69 | 393 |
| 2018 | 4 | 736 |
| 2017 | 15 | 148 |
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 Toyota Camry in front of you — accident history, open recalls and title records.
Go deeper
Full reliability reports
- Comparison
- Volvo S60 vs Toyota Camry
- Volvo S60 total complaints
- 296
- Toyota Camry total complaints
- 2,143
- Volvo S60 total recalls
- 36
- Toyota Camry total recalls
- 31
- Volvo S60 avg complaints/year
- 29.6
- Toyota Camry avg complaints/year
- 214.3
- More reliable overall
- Volvo S60
- Volvo S60 top complaint area
- ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
- Toyota Camry top complaint area
- POWER TRAIN