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 Volvo V60 has 57 complaints over 10 years (5.7/yr), while the Ford F-150 has 11,311 (1,131.1/yr). Volvo owners report sudden shutdowns and brake loss; Ford owners report transmission hard shifts. 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, over a decade, has averaged 5.7 complaints per year, a relatively low figure, but the nature of the issues is concerning. Owners report sudden shutdowns, brake loss, and even an exploding sunroof, often linked to electrical system failures. This suggests that while problems are infrequent, they can be severe and potentially dangerous, making it a vehicle that requires careful inspection and maintenance history review.
FORD F 150
The Ford F-150, with an average of 1,131.1 complaints per year, is far more problematic in terms of frequency. The dominant issue is powertrain, specifically hard shifts and transmission failures, which can lead to loss of power. Electrical problems also abound, including camera and sensor malfunctions. This pattern indicates a vehicle that may be less reliable and more costly to maintain, especially for those who depend on it for work or daily driving.
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 | 57 Better | 11,311 |
| Safety recallsFederal recall campaigns | 32 Better | 145 |
| Crash reportsCrash-related complaints | 1 Better | 328 |
| Complaints per yearAveraged across model years | 5.7 Better | 1131.1 |
| Reported injuriesTied to owner complaints | 1 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 V60
- 01ELECTRICAL SYSTEM19
- 02SERVICE BRAKES12
- 03VISIBILITY/WIPER7
- 04UNKNOWN OR OTHER7
- 05FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM6
Owners report sudden shutdowns and stalling due to high-pressure fuel pump failures, leaving them stranded in traffic. Additionally, sunroof drain clogs can flood internal electronics, causing simultaneous failures like brake loss and airbag malfunction.
Brake issues are often linked to electrical problems, with reports of brake loss due to water damage to electronics. Some owners also mention a low battery indicator and failure to accelerate, which may be related to the braking system's electronic controls.
A notable complaint is the sunroof spontaneously exploding while driving, a safety hazard. Also, rearview mirrors fail to return to saved positions after reversing, which can impair visibility over time.
Some owners describe the car 'free wheeling' unexpectedly, a software issue that could lead to loss of control. Others report rapid tire tread wear, which may indicate alignment or suspension problems.
“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 TRAIN3,553
- 02ELECTRICAL SYSTEM2,071
- 03UNKNOWN OR OTHER1,401
- 04EXTERIOR LIGHTING1,164
- 05ENGINE847
The most common issue is harsh shifting and jerking, especially in the 10-speed automatic transmission. Owners report hard shifts between gears, and in some cases, a complete loss of power and shutdown while driving, which is a serious safety concern.
Electrical problems often manifest as warning lights for front camera malfunction and pre-collision assist not available, appearing every time the truck starts. These issues may indicate sensor or wiring problems that affect safety features.
Headlight issues are frequent, with recalls and complaints about poor visibility or malfunctioning lights, which can compromise nighttime driving safety.
Engine-related complaints include stalling, rough idling, and loss of power, which can be dangerous in traffic. Some owners report engine failure requiring major repairs.
“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 V60 — 32 recalls
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 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 USA LLC (Volvo) is recalling certain model year 2016-2017 XC90, S90, XC60, V60 Cross Country, V60, S60 Cross Country, S60, and S60 Inscription vehicles manufactured February 16, 2015, to August 22, 2016. On the affected vehicles, the front passenger seat belt buckle attaching stud may loo…
The risk: If the seat belt buckle separates from the bracket, the front seat passenger may not be adequately restrained in the event of a crash, increasing their risk of injury in the event of a crash.
The fix: Volvo will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the front passenger seat belt buckle stud, replacing the seat belt buckle as needed, free of charge. The recall began January 2017. Owners may contact Volvo customer service at 1-800-458-1…
The defect: Volvo Cars of North America, LLC. (Volvo) is recalling certain model year 2016 Volvo S60, V60, V60CC, XC60, XC70, and S80 vehicles manufactured April 8, 2015 to August 19, 2015. In certain driving conditions when using the automatic engine stop/start function, the starter motor fuse may blow, preve…
The risk: If the vehicle is unexpectedly unable to be started in the middle of traffic, such as when stopped at an intersection, there is an increased risk of a crash.
The fix: Volvo will notify owners, and dealers will replace the existing starter motor fuse with a higher amperage fuse, free of charge. The recall began on October 26, 2015. Owners may contact Volvo customer service at 1-800-458-1552 or by visitin…
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 V60 or FORD F 150: which should you buy?
The Volvo V60 has significantly fewer complaints per year (5.7) compared to the Ford F-150 (1,131.1), indicating a lower frequency of reported issues. However, the Volvo's problems, when they occur, can be severe, such as sudden shutdowns and brake loss. In practice, the F-150 may require more frequent repairs, but the Volvo's issues could be more critical to safety.
Key differences
- The Volvo V60 has far fewer complaints per year (5.7) than the Ford F-150 (1,131.1), indicating a lower rate of reported problems.
- Volvo owners report sudden shutdowns and brake loss, often linked to electrical issues, while Ford owners report transmission hard shifts and loss of power.
- The Volvo has a notable sunroof explosion complaint, while the Ford has frequent headlight and camera malfunctions.
- The Ford F-150 has a higher number of crash-related complaints (328) and injuries (287) compared to the Volvo (1 crash, 1 injury), suggesting more severe incidents.
- Inspect the sunroof for any signs of damage or prior repairs, and check for water leaks that could indicate drain clogs.
- Have the electrical system thoroughly checked, including the fuel pump and battery, to avoid sudden shutdowns.
- Test drive the truck to feel for any hard shifts or jerking, especially between 4th and 6th gears, and listen for unusual transmission noises.
- Check the operation of the front camera and pre-collision system, as these often malfunction and may require costly repairs.
Before you buy
- Obtain a vehicle history report and check for any open recalls on both models.
- Have a trusted mechanic perform a pre-purchase inspection, focusing on the electrical system and transmission.
- For the Volvo, specifically test the sunroof and check for water damage in the cabin.
- For the Ford, take it on a highway drive to assess transmission shifting and watch for warning lights.
- Consider the cost of potential repairs: the Volvo's electrical issues may be expensive, while the Ford's transmission problems are common and costly.
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 | 329 |
| 2024 | 6 | 617 |
| 2023 | 3 | 1507 |
| 2022 | 1 | 3432 |
| 2021 | 6 | 5234 |
| 2020 | 18 | 33 |
| 2019 | 3 | 36 |
| 2018 | 1 | 56 |
| 2017 | 6 | 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 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
- 57
- FORD F 150 total complaints
- 11,311
- Volvo V60 total recalls
- 32
- FORD F 150 total recalls
- 145
- Volvo V60 avg complaints/year
- 5.7
- FORD F 150 avg complaints/year
- 1131.1
- More reliable overall
- Volvo V60
- Volvo V60 top complaint area
- ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
- FORD F 150 top complaint area
- POWER TRAIN