Volvo XC60 Reliability by YearBest & worst years, problems & recalls — NHTSA data
Comparing used Volvo XC60 options? We analyzed 10 model years (2017–2026) using real NHTSA complaint and recall data so you can spot stronger years, avoid riskier ones, and know what to inspect before buying.
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Model-year trends show patterns — they can't tell you whether this car was crashed, flooded, or rolled back. A VIN check can.
- Accident & damage history
- Odometer rollback records
- Open recalls & title brands
Based on NHTSA complaint data, the Volvo XC60 has 1,052 owner complaints and 44 safety recalls across model years 2017–2026. The most reported issue area is ELECTRICAL SYSTEM. 2022 drew the most complaints; 2017 drew the fewest.
- Make
- Volvo
- Model
- XC60
- Model years analyzed
- 2017–2026 (10 years)
- Total NHTSA complaints
- 1,052
- Safety recall campaigns
- 44
- Crash-related complaints
- 70
- Fire-related complaints
- 1
- Worst model year (by complaints)
- 2022 (340 complaints)
- Best model year (fewest complaints)
- 2017 (15 complaints)
- Top reported issue area
- ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
- Reliability signal
- Poor
By model year
Volvo XC60: which years to avoid & which to buy
Based on total NHTSA owner complaints per model year. Higher complaint counts indicate a riskier year to buy used — lower counts suggest a cleaner reliability record.
These years have the most owner complaints. Inspect carefully and always run a VIN check.
These years have the fewest owner complaints on record — lower risk starting points.
Crash test ratings
NHTSA NCAP crash test ratings
New Car Assessment ProgramNCAP crash tests measure how well a vehicle protects occupants in controlled frontal crash, side crash, and rollover scenarios. Stars are awarded per category (5 = safest). These laboratory results are independent of owner complaints and are performed by NHTSA engineers on new production vehicles.
NCAP crash test ratings for this model are not yet loaded or this vehicle was not tested in the years analyzed. NHTSA tests a subset of new vehicles each year. Check nhtsa.gov/ratings directly for the latest results.
What the complaint data suggests
PoorThe VOLVO XC60 has 1,052 NHTSA complaints and 44 recalls on record. 70 complaints involve crash-related incidents. This data reflects owner-reported issues submitted to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.
- 1,052 total complaints filed with NHTSA
- 44 federal recall campaigns
- 70 crash-related complaints on record
- Review NHTSA complaint history for the most-reported components
- Check recall completion status at nhtsa.gov/recalls
- Verify service records for frequently complained components
Consult the by-year breakdown to identify model years with elevated complaint rates.
Consult the by-year breakdown to identify model years with fewer reported issues.
- Run a VIN check on the specific vehicle you are considering
- Verify all open recalls are completed at nhtsa.gov/recalls
- Request service records for the most-reported complaint components
- Have a certified mechanic inspect the vehicle before purchase
Problems by model year (best vs. worst)
Source: NHTSA public complaints database. Updated: Jul 2026
Safety recalls
NHTSA safety recalls
44 recalls foundSafety recalls are mandatory repair campaigns ordered by NHTSA when a vehicle defect poses an unreasonable risk to safety. Manufacturers are required to fix recalled vehicles free of charge. Always verify open recalls before buying a used car.
BACK OVER PREVENTION:SOFTWARE
BACK OVER PREVENTION:SOFTWARE
STEERING
STEERING
AIR BAGS
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:FUSES AND CIRCUIT BREAKERS
SEAT BELTS:FRONT:RETRACTOR
FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE: AUTOMATIC EMERGENCY BRAKING
AIR BAGS
SEAT BELTS:FRONT:BUCKLE ASSEMBLY
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:SOFTWARE
AIR BAGS
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP
VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD WIPER/WASHER:LINKAGES
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:SOFTWARE
SEATS:CRITICAL FASTENERS
BACK OVER PREVENTION:SOFTWARE
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:SOFTWARE
BACK OVER PREVENTION:SOFTWARE
Source: NHTSA Recalls Database. Data covers model years 2017–2026. Always run a VIN-specific check below for the most up-to-date open recall status.
Common problems
What goes wrong most often
The vehicle systems owners complain about most, ranked from all 1,052 NHTSA complaints — these are the areas to inspect first on a used car.
Owner complaints
NHTSA complaint reports
1,052 totalThese are consumer-submitted safety complaints filed directly with NHTSA. Each complaint describes a real owner's experience. Complaints flagged as crash-related or fire-related are highlighted.
Pulling into a gas station, a turtle warning light (limp mode) came on in the dash, and the car started moving very slowly. Moments later the engine was on fire. Basically the entire front end of the car melted away before the fire department in New Buffalo, Mich., could put it out.
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 egg, a very strong smell that gives me a headache and makes me dizzy. This smell comes and go.I had to open the windows and switch to recycled air, this helps a little bit. I brought my Volvo to 2 shops about 3 weeks ago before I went to the dealer on Feb 16, 2024. The first shop smelled it and said they checked the catalytic converter and run a diagnostics and emission and they said emission is very good and there is no problem with the catalytic converter and suggested to bring it to the dealer. They said it could be coming from the battery and I told them that the battery is new and main battery has a box casing so the strong smell is definitely not coming from the main battery. I didn't know that there was another battery. I brought it to an exhaust shop and said the same thing, no leaks in the pipe and catalytic converter and smoke coming from the exhaust looks normal and smells normal. Next I brought it to the dealer and they did nothing and simply stated they could not duplicate the problem. I had no choice but to do an extensive research to find out where the location of the support battery so I can change it myself. I always wondered why the smell is so strong in the passenger side intake screen cover of the cowling. I couldn't believe where Volvo had placed the second battery/support battery. It was on the passenger side, right next to the air intake for the AC/heat of the car and is covered by the cowling between the windshield and the engine. Harmful gases that can potentially come out from the battery is directly suck in to the intake of the car's air conditioner.
SRS Airbag light came on three times in a month but did not stay on. Took it to Volvo dealership to see what the issue was. According to dealership- there was loose pin tension in the left front door harness. They checked for codes and received SRS B11A081 left side pressure sensor message failures. Followed VIDa fault tracing and found the loose tension in SRS pins in the driver door harness. They had to replace the SRS terminal pins and splice wiring. The dealership did mention that this has happened with 3 or 4 different Volvo models already this year. It sounds like it's a defect in the manufacturing of the SRS system within the doors. However, Volvo warranty will not cover this repair. My primary concern was that the airbag was deactivated this entire time, even when the light was off. Again, the warning only came on for three trips in an entire month. I had assumed it was a software glitch, since when my software needs updating electrical things start to happen (i.e. spacial sensors going off when nothing is around me and I'm parked).
I pulled my car out of the garage, I saw I had not taken the trash out and had my foot on brake. the car has an automatic shut off at stops to save gas. It shut off, I jumped out thinking it was "off" as there was no engine sound. The car started back up and started going forward. I attempted to jump in to hit the brakes ... it kept going and hit side mirror, door, me and then kept going! it never stopped! crushed me half in half out of door. my friend jumped in stopped it from passenger side and then started it up to back it up and remove me. I was taken to trauma with fractured pelvis, broken lumbar, cracked ribs and a concussion and stitches! this is supposed to be one of thee safest cars. my family owns 3! the sensors did not stop the car! period! called volvo and they blew me off after several drawn out forms. Said the car will not stop in reverse. I was going forward! I paid for the black box to be downloaded and it shows NO collision recorded but I need two new doors its so bad! it has been since first week of feb that I have been rehabilitating and several of my doctors have asked why this was not a case with a lawyer? so far most do not want to fight volvo I guess. I need help with this. I have proof it did not stop or even show collision from sensors. Thank you Kimberly Bradshaw
Got into my car, pulled out of a parking spot and approached a stop sign. The brakes suddenly became extremely mushy and the brake peddle went all the way to the floor. I didn't notice an issue when I pulled out of the parking spot. I was unable to continue driving as the brakes were not usable. I had the car towed to the dealer and they indicated the brake booster and vacuum pump failed due to "normal wear and tear". The vehicle was purchased at, and always maintained at our local Volvo dealer. Luckily no accident occurred.
I will followup once I have a report from a mechanic. My car stalled while driving in heavy traffic; a pedestrian ran in front of me and I braked. I didn't hit anything or anyone, not even a pothole. My car stalled and all the dashlights went off. I put the car in park and tried to restart, but it would not start. My emergency lights wouldn't work and because I was on a busy thoroughfare in DC, my daughter and I were nearly rear ended by a bus. Even after we got out of the car, we watched other cars nearly hit it because it couldn't be pulled over and the emergency flashers wouldn't turn on. The mechanic said that the battery was fine. I had a regularly serviced oil change 2k miles ago, and everything was fine. The mechanic will replace the starter since the car will no longer start, but said that a bad starter would not cause the car to just die in heavy traffic. I called Volvo to report the issue, but they said they wouldn't take safety reports unless it was towed to a Volvo dealer. Of course, my car stalled out far away from a Volvo dealer, and roadside assistance only tows to the nearest mechanic.
Read 14 more owner reports
The fuel pump regulator failed causing the fuel pump to fail way to early (car has less than 60K miles). In addition, the floats in the fuel tank itself stick making the fuel gauge unreliable. We have had to replace the fuel pump regulator, fuel pump and also have an unreliable gas gauge now unfortunately. The car failed while we were driving through the canyon in southern CA which was terrifying and very dangerous. We are fortunate we were able to steer off the road and get out of the way.
2017 VOLVO XC60. CONSUMER STATED THAT VOLVO VEHICLES ARE UNSAFE DUE TO NO LONGER HAVING SPARE TIRES IN VEHICLES. *LD *JS
TL* THE CONTACT OWN A 2017 VOLVO XC60. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED AND THE VEHICLE SWERVED TO THE LEFT AND THE RIGHT. THE CONTACT RELEASED THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL AND THE VEHICLE OPERATED AS DESIGNED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO A DEALER NOR AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC TO BE DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER HAD BEEN INFORMED OF FAILURE, HOWEVER NO ASSISTANCE WAS OFFERED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 56,000.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2017 VOLVO XC60. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE STEERING WHEEL FAILED TO TURN. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO SMOLISH VOLVO (20360 GRANDVIEW DRIVE BEND, OREGON 97701, (541)-639-3005) TO BE DIAGNOSED. THE DEALER REPLACED THE STEERING WHEEL COMPUTER SENSOR, THE STEERING WHEEL RACK, AND THE STEERING WHEEL FLUID RESERVOIR; HOWEVER, THE REPAIRS DID NOT CORRECT THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AND PROVIDED CASE NUMBER: 191112-000964. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 20,000.
I WAS T-BONED BY ANOTHER SUV IN THE DRIVER'S DOOR, DAMAGING FRONT & REAR DOORS, FRONT PANEL AND BACK PANEL. MY CAR WAS STOPPED GETTING READY TO MAKE A LEFT TURN AND THE OTHER VEHICLE STOMPED THE GAS TO MAKE A LEFT TURN AND HIT ME DIRECTLY. DOOR WOULD NOT CLOSE AFTER IMPACT AND ALL OF THESE PARTS REPLACED. AIR BAGS NEVER DEPLOYED AND INSURANCE ADJUSTER INDICATED THAT THIS MODEL VOLVO DOES NOT HAVE SIDE AIRBAGS. PLEASE ADVISE..
THE VEHICLE DOES NOT REPORT THE FUEL LEVEL ACCURATELY. OVER THE PAST 6 MONTHS THE VEHICLE HAS RUN OUT OF GAS 3 TIMES, ALL WHEN THERE WERE TWO BARS OF FUEL ON THE GAUGE, AND THE REMAINING MILEAGE HAS BEEN BETWEEN 80-90 MILES. THERE CLEARLY SEEMS TO BE A PROBLEM. THE SECOND TIME THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A VOLVO DEALER AND THEY SAID THE VEHICLE WAS WORKING FINE. I'LL TAKE IT BACK AGAIN AND MAYBE THEY WILL FIX IT THIS TIME. THE LAST TIME IT RAN OUT WAS YESTERDAY ON AN OFF-RAMP OF AN INTERSTATE HIGHWAY AT 10:00 PM. IT WAS DARK BECAUSE THERE WERE NO STREET LIGHTS AND THERE WAS NO SHOULDER TO PULL THE CAR ONTO. THERE WERE NUMEROUS CLOSE CALL WITH VEHICLE NOT SEEING THE STOPPED VEHICLE UNTIL THE LAST SECOND. MY TWO KIDS AND I WERE LEFT STRANDED IN A VERY DANGEROUS SITUATION.
ENGINE CONTROL MODULE (ECM) FAILED AT 56,000 MILES. CAR HAS BECOME INOPERABLE.
CONSTANT PROBLEMS/FAILURES WITH START/STOP FUNCTION. CAR'S ELECTRICAL SYSTEM WILL COMPLETELY SHUT DOWN FOR NO REASON WHILE IN TRAFFIC AND ENGINE WILL NOT RESTART. CAR HAS TO BE SHUT OFF AND SYSTEM HAS TO BE RE-BOOTED. DEALER SERVICE DEPT CAN FIND NO PROBLEM. MOST RECENTLY, CAR'S STARTER MOTOR FAILED AND HAD TO BE REPLACED UNDER WARRANTY BY THE DEALER. HAVING THE CAR'S ENGINE START/STOP SYSTEM CONSTANT FAIL IS A SERIOUS SAFETY RISK. WE HAD SERVERAL NEAR-MISS ACCIDENTS CAUSED BY THIS FAILURE. THE WORK AROUND HAS BEEN TO MANUALLY DISABLE THE START/STOP FUNCTION, WHICH HAS TO BE DONE EACH TIME THE CAR IS STARTED FOR THE FIRST TIME.
TWO TIMES NOW, DRIVING THROUGH THE SAME ONE-WAY INTERSECTION, THE CITY SAFETY AUTO-BRAKING FUNCTION ACTIVATED FOR NO REASON. I WAS GOING STRAIGHT THROUGH THE INTERSECTION, WITH NO NEED TO TURN LEFT OR RIGHT. HOWEVER, THE CITY SAFETY AUTO-BRAKED TO A COMPLETE STOP, PLACING ME AT RISK FROM BEING HIT FROM BEHIND. AN ERROR MESSAGE APPEARED IN MY INFORMATION CENTER CONFIRMING THE CITY SAFETY AUTO-BRAKING FUNCTION WAS ACTIVATED. I BROUGHT TO A VOLVO DEALER AND THEY DID NOT SEE ANY ERROR MESSAGES. I ASKED TO DISABLE THIS FUNCTION, BUT THEY WEREN'T ABLE TO AND STATED I WOULD HAVE TO MANUALLY DO THIS EVERY TIME I GOT IN THE VEHICLE, WHICH IS A 5-STEP PROCESS. ATTACHED IS A MAP OF THE AREA WHERE THIS OCCURRED. I BELIEVE IT WAS THE E 11TH ST AND CEDAR INTERSECTION (MARKED AS #1), AS THE INTERSECTION DOES LOOK MORE COMPLICATED AND VEERS TO THE RIGHT (CLOSE-UP ALSO INCLUDED). THE OTHER TWO ARE ALSO POSSIBILITIES FOR WHERE THE AUTO-BRAKING COULD'VE OCCURRED. HOWEVER, IT HAPPENED VERY FAST AND MY BEST RECOLLECTION IN THE INTERSECTION OF 11TH AND CEDAR, TRAVELING EAST.
Recall identified over a year ago during Q1 2025. Manufacturer and dealer have failed to provide appropriate updates for the repair, and no ETA has been given for repair. The only direction received from manufacturer and dealer was to not plug in the vehicle until the recall is completed. So as it stands, I paid for a plug in hybrid vehicle I haven’t been able to plug it in for over a year as it has a flawed hybrid system that apparently can’t be repaired.
The seal on my 2020 Volvo XC60 moonroof allowed water to leak under the floorboards. My car is only 6 years old. We had a lot of rain over a short period and I noticed the sound of water sloshing around under the floor. Nothing was wet inside the car. My Check Engine light came on as well. I took it to the Volvo service dept. They are now saying wires are corroded and that it will cost me over $11,000 to fix this problem. Again - my car is only 6 years old, and less than 70K miles. With my previous Volvo, that I had for 18 years, I never had this problem.
Volvo has failed to repair or compensate me for the NHTSA Recall 25V-179. I received a notification of te recall in a letter dated May 14, 2025. I have repeatedly visited the local dealership as well as called Volvo Customer Care. Today, in a conversation with a Volvo Customer Care representative, I was told there is no timeline for the batteries to be replaced. I would like Volvo to rectify the issue by replacing my battery or car in a timely matter. Thank you for your help, [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)
Vehicle with 34,000 miles has started to have surging of rotors when applying brakes at 33,000. Vehicle has had brake disc kit replaced due to warping at 13,058 miles. Vehicle had brake disc kits and front and rear brake rotors replaced due to high spots for pad engagement at 22,996 miles. The vehicle has a continuous problem with brake/rotor system!
The passenger side window spontaneously shattered while we were driving normal speed on the highway. It was not hit by anything, and thankfully no one was hurt, but this concerns us because it makes us worry there's a defect in all the windows and they should be replaced. We also want to make sure no one else has this issue on their volvo.
Showing 20 of 1,052 total NHTSA complaints. Source: NHTSA Complaints Database
Check the exact car
Before you buy, check the exact Volvo XC60
These pages show model-year patterns across 10 years. Enter a VIN to verify the exact vehicle's accident history, title brands, odometer records, and open recall status before purchase.
The basics
How to read this data
Complaints, recalls, investigations — here’s what each number actually tells you about a used Volvo XC60, in plain English.
What is an NHTSA Complaint?
An NHTSA safety complaint is a report filed directly by a vehicle owner or driver describing a safety-related issue. Anyone can submit a complaint at NHTSA.gov. The number of complaints is a signal of how common a problem is — but complaints per model-year matter more than raw totals, since popular vehicles naturally receive more reports. The Volvo XC60 has 1,052 complaints on record across 10 model years.
What is a Safety Recall?
A safety recall is a mandatory campaign issued by NHTSA when a vehicle component poses an unreasonable risk to safety or does not comply with federal motor vehicle safety standards. Unlike complaints (which are owner-reported), recalls are formally investigated and confirmed by regulators. Manufacturers must fix recalled vehicles free of charge. The Volvo XC60 has 44 recall campaigns in the NHTSA database.
What Are Crash Complaints?
Crash complaints are NHTSA filings where the owner indicates a crash occurred as part of the incident. 70 of the Volvo XC60's 1,052 complaints involved a crash. This metric is particularly important because it indicates how often defects resulted in actual collisions — a key safety signal beyond general reliability.
How Is the Reliability Verdict Calculated?
The reliability verdict (Poor) is generated by analyzing the vehicle's total complaints, recall history, crash complaint ratio, fire complaint ratio, and top component failures relative to class averages. This verdict gives buyers a quick interpretation before they review year-level details and VIN-level history. It should be treated as one decision input, not a substitute for a VIN-specific report.
Why Do Newer Years Have Fewer Complaints?
Newer model years appear to have fewer complaints because there has been less time for owners to file them. Complaints accumulate over years of ownership. A 2020 model year vehicle will typically show fewer complaints than a 2015 model year even if it is less reliable — simply because fewer owners have had time to report issues. Focus on complaints per year of market presence when comparing across model years.
Fleet Data vs. Individual VIN
Everything on this page reflects aggregated data across all Volvo XC60 vehicles on the road — not any specific car. Two Volvo XC60 vehicles of the same year can have very different histories: one may have been in three accidents and have an open recall; another may be clean. A VIN check gives you the individual car's history: accidents, title brands, odometer records, service history, and real-time recall status.
What Are NHTSA Investigations?
When NHTSA receives a pattern of related safety complaints, it opens a formal investigation. A Preliminary Evaluation (PE) is the first stage — NHTSA determines if a safety defect may exist. If evidence is strong, it escalates to an Engineering Analysis (EA), which can result in a mandatory recall. The Volvo XC60 has 0 investigations on record (0 active). Investigations listed above may have already led to the recalls shown on this page.
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How does the Volvo XC60 stack up? Compare complaint history with similar vehicles.
By state
Check a Volvo XC60 by state
Title-branding rules, flood-damage exposure, and salvage laws vary by state. Run a free VIN check or explore state-specific vehicle history guidance before buying a used Volvo XC60.
Research more
Keep researching before you buy
Compare brands and categories, then check the exact car's history by VIN.
Volvo XC60 reliability — frequently asked questions
Is the Volvo XC60 reliable?
Poor. The Volvo XC60 has 1,052 NHTSA owner complaints and 44 recall campaigns across model years. A commonly reported issue area is ELECTRICAL SYSTEM. Use year-level data as a pattern guide, then verify the exact car with a VIN check before purchase.
Which Volvo XC60 years to avoid?
Years with the most NHTSA complaints: 2022 (340 complaints), 2023 (196 complaints), 2021 (124 complaints). Use these years as a shortlist for deeper inspection, and always run a VIN check on the exact vehicle before purchase.
What are the most common Volvo XC60 problems?
Top reported issues: ELECTRICAL SYSTEM (388 complaints); UNKNOWN OR OTHER (193 complaints); SERVICE BRAKES (161 complaints).
Does the Volvo XC60 have recalls?
Yes — 44 NHTSA recall campaigns have been issued for the Volvo XC60. Check nhtsa.gov/recalls or run a VIN check to see if your specific vehicle has open recalls.