Head-to-head reliability
Volvo V60 vs FORD F 150
How the Volvo V60 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 V60 vs FORD F 150: The V60 averages 5.8 complaints per year with 32 recalls, while the F-150 averages 1,162 complaints per year with 151 recalls. The F-150 also has 330 crash-related reports and 297 injuries, versus 1 crash and 1 injury for the V60. Source: NHTSA owner complaints.
The picture
Is the Volvo V60 or FORD F 150 more reliable?
A plain-English read on what the NHTSA record says about living with each vehicle.
Volvo V60
The Volvo V60 is a luxury wagon that averages just 5.8 complaints per year over a decade, with 32 recalls and one crash-related report. Owners often write about electrical and brake problems, including a high-pressure fuel pump that can shut the car down and a brake control module that fails early. Living with a V60 means dealing with fewer but potentially serious issues, such as a sunroof that can shatter and software glitches that affect shifting.
FORD F 150
The Ford F-150 is a full-size pickup with a massive 11,621 complaints over 10 years—about 1,162 per year—and 151 recalls, including 330 crash-related reports and 297 injuries. The most common trouble spots are the powertrain and electrical system, with owners describing transmission limp mode, lead frame failures, and rear window defroster shorts that can shatter glass. For a buyer, this means the F-150 is a high-volume truck with a long list of recurring, sometimes dangerous, problems.
The numbers
Side-by-side NHTSA record
Lower is better in every category. The highlighted cell is the stronger result.
| Category | Volvo V60 | FORD F 150 |
|---|---|---|
| Total complaintsAll model years combined | 58 Better | 11,621 |
| Safety recallsFederal recall campaigns | 32 Better | 151 |
| Crash reportsCrash-related complaints | 1 Better | 330 |
| Complaints per yearAveraged across model years | 5.8 Better | 1162.1 |
| Reported injuriesTied to owner complaints | 1 Better | 297 |
| 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 V60
- 01ELECTRICAL SYSTEM20
- 02SERVICE BRAKES13
- 03UNKNOWN OR OTHER7
- 04VISIBILITY/WIPER7
- 05FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM6
Owners report the high-pressure fuel pump failing and shutting the car down in traffic, with no manual override to shift into neutral. This can leave you stranded and is a serious safety concern.
The brake control module can fail prematurely, as one owner reported at only 55,188 miles, causing trouble codes and potential braking issues. Another owner noted failure to accelerate and a low battery indicator, pointing to electrical gremlins affecting braking.
The sunroof can explode without warning, as one owner described at highway speed, and rearview mirrors may drift downward over time, requiring constant adjustment. These issues affect safety and driver awareness.
Fuel pump failures are reported under electrical system complaints, but they directly affect propulsion, causing sudden shutdowns. This is a critical reliability concern for any buyer.
“Me and my partners safety was put at risk when the vehicle’s high pressure fuel pump went out, shut the car down, and left us stranded in the middle of two lane traffic. What was scarier was how the vehicle couldn’t be manually overridden to shift into neutra…”
“Me and my partners safety was put at risk when the vehicle’s high pressure fuel pump went out, shut the car down, and left us stranded in the middle of two lane traffic. What was scarier was how the vehicle couldn’t be manually overridden to shift into neutra…”
FORD F 150
- 01POWER TRAIN3,648
- 02ELECTRICAL SYSTEM2,100
- 03UNKNOWN OR OTHER1,431
- 04EXTERIOR LIGHTING1,224
- 05ENGINE880
Owners describe a recurring lead frame issue that can cause near collisions, and transmissions that go into limp mode and stick in 5th gear almost daily. These problems can leave you without power when you need it most.
The lead frame problem also appears here, along with output speed sensor failures that trigger limp mode. One owner reported a rear window defroster short that caused the back window to explode outward.
Complaints include a rear window defroster short that shattered the back glass within minutes of use. This is a surprising and potentially dangerous defect.
While fewer complaints than powertrain, engine issues appear in recalls and complaints, often related to the same lead frame or sensor problems that affect drivability. Buyers should be aware of potential stalling or power loss.
“This lead frame issue is never ending. Well over a decade without a proper remedy. I’m very familiar with it. but this one nearly ended my life. After the near collision I called my mechanic and bought a new ford lead frame from a dealership. It’s doing fine…”
“My 2017 Ford F-150 V8 with the 6-speed automatic transmission has been experiencing a serious and recurring transmission malfunction. The truck has consistently, almost on a daily basis, gone into limp mode and become stuck in 5th gear. It also frequently fai…”
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 V60 — 32 recalls
The defect: Volvo Car USA, LLC (Volvo Car) is recalling certain 2021-2025 XC40, 2022 V90, 2022-2025 S90, V90CC, C40, XC60, 2023-2025 S60, V60, V60CC, XC90, and 2025 EC40 and EX40 vehicles. The rearview camera image may not display when the vehicle is placed in reverse. As such, these vehicles fail to comply wi…
The risk: A rearview camera image that does not display reduces the driver's view of what is behind the vehicle, increasing the risk of a crash.
The fix: The software will be updated by a dealer or through an over-the-air (OTA) update, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed June 27, 2025. Owners may contact Volvo Car customer service at 1-800-458-1552. Volvo Car's number for…
The defect: Volvo Car USA, LLC (Volvo Car) is recalling certain 2021-2025 XC40, 2022 V90, 2022-2024 C40BEV, 2022-2025 S90, V90CC, XC60, 2023-2025 S60, V60, V60CC, XC90, and 2025 EC40, and EX40 vehicles. The rearview camera image may not display when the vehicle is placed in reverse. As such, these vehicles fai…
The risk: A rearview camera image that does not display reduces the driver's view behind the vehicle, increasing the risk of a crash.
The fix: The software will be updated by a dealer or through an over-the-air (OTA) update, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed February 24, 2026. Owners may contact Volvo Car’s customer service at 1-800-458-1552. Volvo Car's numb…
The defect: Volvo Car USA LLC (Volvo) is recalling certain 2017-2019 Volvo XC90, S90, V60, V60 Cross Country, V90, XC40, XC60, and V90 Cross Country vehicles. The software installed in the Vehicle Connectivity Module (VCM) may have an error causing the Telematics and Driver Support Systems to function improper…
The risk: If the GPS location is not provided to emergency personnel it can inhibit emergency response in the event of a crash or injury.
The fix: Volvo will notify owners, and dealers will correct the software, free of charge. The recall began December 26, 2018. Owners may contact Volvo customer service at 1-800-458-1552. Volvo's number for this recall is R39917.
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 — 151 recalls
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 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 and previously remedied under recall 18V894. During the previous repair, the block he…
The risk: A damaged cable could cause a resistive short, increasing the risk of overheated or melted wiring, increasing the risk of a fire.
The fix: Ford will notify owners, and dealers will disable the engine block heater from being used. When replacement cables become available, a second notice will be mailed and dealers will replace the engine block heater cord, free of charge. The…
The defect: Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2015-2018 Ford F-150 Regular Cab and SuperCrew Cab vehicles. If a front seat belt pretensioner deploys as the result of a crash, the sparks may ignite materials such as carpeting or insulation within the B-pillar area.
The risk: A vehicle fire could result if materials ignite inside the vehicle.
The fix: Ford will notify owners, and dealers will remove the B-pillar insulation material and wiring harness tape, and install heat resistant tape, free of charge. The recall began September 28, 2018. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-…
The defect: Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2015-2017 Ford F-150, and 2017 F-250, F-350, F-450, and F-550 Super Duty trucks. The doors on these vehicles may have a bent or kinked actuation cable or the door latches may freeze after water gets into the latch. Either condition can result in the do…
The risk: A door that opens while driving can increase the risk of injury.
The fix: Ford will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the door latch actuation cables and repair if necessary, and install water shields over the door latches, free of charge. The recall began October 12, 2018. Owners may contact Ford customer…
Buyer analysis
Volvo V60 or FORD F 150: which should you buy?
The Volvo V60 has far fewer issues per year—5.8 complaints annually versus 1,162 for the Ford F-150. In practice, this means a V60 owner is much less likely to face frequent repair visits, but when problems occur they can still be serious, such as fuel pump failure or sunroof shattering. The F-150's much higher complaint rate reflects a pattern of recurring, sometimes dangerous, powertrain and electrical faults.
Key differences
- The Volvo V60 averages 5.8 complaints per year, while the Ford F-150 averages 1,162 per year—a huge gap in reported problems.
- Volvo V60 owners report high-pressure fuel pump failures that shut the car down, while Ford F-150 owners report lead frame and transmission limp mode issues that can cause near collisions.
- The Ford F-150 has 330 crash-related complaints and 297 injuries, compared to 1 crash-related and 1 injury for the Volvo V60.
- Both have electrical problems, but the F-150's are more frequent and include rear window defroster shorts that shatter glass, while the V60's include brake control module failures and sunroof explosions.
- Check for any history of high-pressure fuel pump replacement or stalling incidents, as owners report sudden shutdowns in traffic.
- Inspect the sunroof for cracks or prior replacement, and test the rearview mirror memory function, since owners report exploding sunroofs and mirrors that drift downward.
- Ask about lead frame replacement and transmission behavior—test drive for limp mode, rough shifting, or getting stuck in 5th gear.
- Inspect the rear window defroster and glass for cracks or prior shattering, as owners report the window exploding after defroster use.
Before you buy
- Obtain a full vehicle history report and check for open recalls on both models, especially the Volvo's back-over prevention software and the Ford's engine and airbag recalls.
- Have a mechanic scan for stored trouble codes, particularly brake control module codes on the Volvo and output speed sensor codes on the Ford.
- Test drive the Volvo V60 extensively, including highway speeds, to check for sudden power loss or transmission hesitation.
- Test drive the Ford F-150 through all gears and at highway speeds to detect limp mode or shifting problems.
- Inspect the sunroof on the Volvo and the rear window on the Ford for any signs of cracking, shattering, or prior repair.
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 V60 | FORD F 150 |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 0 | 345 |
| 2024 | 6 | 638 |
| 2023 | 3 | 1527 |
| 2022 | 1 | 3493 |
| 2021 | 6 | 5349 |
| 2020 | 18 | 44 |
| 2019 | 3 | 52 |
| 2018 | 1 | 79 |
| 2017 | 6 | 59 |
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 V60 or FORD F 150 in front of you — accident history, open recalls and title records.
Go deeper
Full reliability reports
- Comparison
- Volvo V60 vs FORD F 150
- Volvo V60 total complaints
- 58
- FORD F 150 total complaints
- 11,621
- Volvo V60 total recalls
- 32
- FORD F 150 total recalls
- 151
- Volvo V60 avg complaints/year
- 5.8
- FORD F 150 avg complaints/year
- 1162.1
- More reliable overall
- Volvo V60
- Volvo V60 top complaint area
- ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
- FORD F 150 top complaint area
- POWER TRAIN