Head-to-head reliability
Volvo XC60 vs Volvo V60
How the Volvo XC60 and Volvo V60 compare on NHTSA complaints, recalls and crash reports — and which is the lower-risk used buy.
Based on NHTSA owner-complaint & recall records
Volvo XC60 vs Volvo V60: The XC60 has 1,128 complaints over 10 years (113/year) and 44 recalls, while the V60 has 58 complaints (6/year) and 32 recalls. The XC60 reports more electrical and driver-assist issues, including unintended braking. Source: NHTSA owner complaints.
The picture
Is the Volvo XC60 or Volvo V60 more reliable?
A plain-English read on what the NHTSA record says about living with each vehicle.
Volvo XC60
The Volvo XC60 is a luxury compact SUV with a high complaint volume: 1,128 complaints over 10 years, averaging about 113 per year. Electrical system issues dominate, with 427 complaints, often involving battery problems and software glitches. Owners also report unexpected automatic braking and intermittent power loss, which can be alarming. With 44 recalls and 80 crash-related complaints, it's a vehicle that demands careful attention to its electronic systems.
Volvo V60
The Volvo V60 is a luxury wagon with far fewer complaints: 58 over 10 years, averaging about 6 per year. Electrical and brake issues are most common, including fuel pump failures that can strand drivers and brake control module faults. Visibility problems like exploding sunroofs and mirror drift are also reported. With 32 recalls and only 1 crash-related complaint, it appears less problematic overall, but specific safety defects still exist.
The numbers
Side-by-side NHTSA record
Lower is better in every category. The highlighted cell is the stronger result.
| Category | Volvo XC60 | Volvo V60 |
|---|---|---|
| Total complaintsAll model years combined | 1,128 | 58 Better |
| Safety recallsFederal recall campaigns | 44 | 32 Better |
| Crash reportsCrash-related complaints | 80 | 1 Better |
| Complaints per yearAveraged across model years | 112.8 | 5.8 Better |
| Reported injuriesTied to owner complaints | 79 | 1 Better |
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 XC60
- 01ELECTRICAL SYSTEM427
- 02UNKNOWN OR OTHER206
- 03SERVICE BRAKES165
- 04FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE158
- 05LANE DEPARTURE98
Owners report support battery failures for the start/stop system, causing warning messages and unpleasant odors from the AC/heater. These issues can leave you with a car that won't start or has annoying electrical gremlins.
Complaints describe the automatic braking system activating for no reason, such as while driving straight through an intersection. This sudden braking can surprise the driver and potentially cause a rear-end collision.
Some owners experience sudden unintended acceleration while braking, where the car surges forward even with strong brake pressure. This is a serious safety concern that could lead to a crash.
Reports include intermittent loss of power at highway speeds, making the vehicle feel like it may stall. This can be frightening and dangerous in fast-moving traffic.
“The support battery for start/stop started to show on the dash and tells me that service is required about 2 weeks ago. "THE LOCATION OF THE BATTERY IS MY CONCERN". A month ago, the air coming out from the vent of the ac/heater started to smell like a rotten…”
“Dear NHTSA, I would like to submit a safety complaint regarding my 2026 Volvo XC60 Ultra, purchased new and currently with approximately 5,939 miles. I am submitting this complaint because I have experienced repeated vehicle behaviors that I believe may have…”
Volvo V60
- 01ELECTRICAL SYSTEM20
- 02SERVICE BRAKES13
- 03UNKNOWN OR OTHER7
- 04VISIBILITY/WIPER7
- 05FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM6
The high-pressure fuel pump can fail, shutting down the engine and leaving you stranded. Owners also report the car cannot be shifted into neutral, complicating rescue.
The Brake Control Module may fail prematurely, causing trouble codes and braking issues. Some also report failure to accelerate and low battery warnings, pointing to electrical gremlins.
The sunroof can explode while driving, and rearview mirrors may drift downward over time. These issues affect visibility and can be dangerous if they occur suddenly.
Owners describe a 'free wheeling' sensation where the car unexpectedly loses power, which a retired software engineer attributed to a software problem. This can happen without warning.
“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…”
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 XC60 — 44 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 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.…
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, 2022-2025 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…
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.…
Buyer analysis
Volvo XC60 or Volvo V60: which should you buy?
The Volvo V60 has far fewer complaints per year (about 6) compared to the XC60 (about 113), suggesting it may be less troublesome overall. However, the V60 still has serious issues like fuel pump failures and brake module defects. In practice, the XC60 demands more frequent attention to electrical and driver-assist systems, while the V60's problems, though rarer, can be equally severe.
Key differences
- The XC60 has 1,128 complaints over 10 years, while the V60 has only 58, indicating a much higher complaint rate for the XC60.
- Electrical system issues are the top complaint for both, but the XC60's are more numerous (427 vs. 20) and include battery and software problems.
- The XC60 has 80 crash-related complaints and 79 injuries, compared to just 1 crash and 1 injury for the V60, suggesting more severe incidents reported for the XC60.
- The V60 has specific defects like exploding sunroofs and fuel pump failures, while the XC60 is plagued by unintended automatic braking and power loss.
- Check for frequent start/stop battery warnings or service messages, as these indicate electrical issues that can leave you stranded.
- Test the forward collision avoidance system in a safe environment to ensure it doesn't brake unexpectedly, a common complaint.
- Listen for fuel pump whine or hesitation, and check for any trouble codes related to the brake control module, as these can fail prematurely.
- Inspect the sunroof for cracks or signs of stress, and verify that the rearview mirrors hold their position, as both are reported problems.
Before you buy
- Obtain a full vehicle history report and ensure all recalls have been performed, especially for electrical and brake software.
- Have a certified mechanic scan for stored trouble codes, particularly in the electrical and brake systems.
- Test drive at highway speeds to check for intermittent power loss or hesitation.
- For the XC60, test the automatic emergency braking and lane-keeping systems in a controlled setting.
- For the V60, inspect the sunroof and rearview mirrors for proper function and condition.
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 XC60 | Volvo V60 |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 37 | 0 |
| 2024 | 46 | 6 |
| 2023 | 216 | 3 |
| 2022 | 370 | 1 |
| 2021 | 124 | 6 |
| 2020 | 88 | 18 |
| 2019 | 108 | 3 |
| 2018 | 108 | 1 |
| 2017 | 16 | 6 |
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 XC60 or Volvo V60 in front of you — accident history, open recalls and title records.
Go deeper
Full reliability reports
- Comparison
- Volvo XC60 vs Volvo V60
- Volvo XC60 total complaints
- 1,128
- Volvo V60 total complaints
- 58
- Volvo XC60 total recalls
- 44
- Volvo V60 total recalls
- 32
- Volvo XC60 avg complaints/year
- 112.8
- Volvo V60 avg complaints/year
- 5.8
- More reliable overall
- Volvo V60
- Volvo XC60 top complaint area
- ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
- Volvo V60 top complaint area
- ELECTRICAL SYSTEM