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2011 Volvo XC60 problems: engine and transmission complaints and recalls

NO ELEVATED SIGNAL
23%
6 of 26 relevant owner complaints are about the engine, transmission or fuel system

No elevated drivetrain complaint concentration in the available NHTSA records for the 2011 Volvo XC60. Engine, transmission and fuel system account for 23% of relevant complaints.

Better than 82% of the 1,789 model years we track (2010–2023).

Excludes 10 airbag, lighting and seat-belt recall complaints that would otherwise mask the signal (unadjusted: 17%).

NHTSA data checked October 3, 2026
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Does the 2011 Volvo XC60 have engine or transmission problems?

Not as a pattern, going by owner complaints. 6 of 26 relevant complaints filed with NHTSA about the 2011 Volvo XC60 concern the engine, transmission or fuel system (23%). For comparison, the 2010 scores 16% and the 2012 scores 9%. This describes the model year, not any one car: a well-maintained or already-repaired example can be fine, and a clean model year can still have a bad car in it.

Drivetrain complaints
6
engine, transmission, fuel
Total complaints
36
this model year
Fires reported
0
owner-reported
Recall campaigns
4
2 crashes · 0 injuries

Complaints by component

SEAT BELTS8 · 22%
VISIBILITY/WIPER6 · 17%
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM6 · 17%
UNKNOWN OR OTHER6 · 17%
ENGINE3 · 8%
STRUCTURE3 · 8%

The years either side

2010
16%
8 of 56
2011
23%
6 of 36
2012
9%
4 of 46
2013
9%
5 of 66
2014
too few complaints
2015
33%
14 of 47
2016
64%
18 of 38
2017
too few complaints
2018
13%
4 of 36
2019
18%
5 of 36
2020
too few complaints
2021
24%
7 of 31
2022
13%
9 of 74
2023
16%
8 of 54

Manufacturers fix things mid-generation. A bad year next to a clean one is common; the fix usually arrived in between.

What owners reported

ENGINE08/08/2022
The contact owns a 2011 Volvo XC60. The contact stated that she noticed an oil leak underneath the vehicle. The contact stated no warning light was illuminated. The contact had taken the vehicle to a local dealer, where it was diagnosed and determined that the turbo needed to be replaced. The vehicle had not been repai…
ENGINE08/20/2014
LOW OIL LIGHT - TWO INCIDENTS. PISTONS HAD TO BE REPLACED AND THEN ENTIRE ENGINE. BOUGHT IT BRAND NEW. DOESN'T SEEM TO BE SAFE OR RELIABLE. A VOLVO? *TR
ENGINE08/12/2013
I WAS DRIVING ON INTERSTATE 84 IN CONNECTICUT WHEN THE LOW OIL LIGHT CAME ON. THE CAR, WHICH IS DEALER SERVICED, UNDER WARRANTY, NEEDED ALMOST 2 QUARTS OF OIL. I ADDED THE OIL AND BROUGHT IT TO THE SERVICING DEALER, WHO TOLD ME THAT THE CAR NEEDED NEW RINGS, AND THAT THEY WOULD ALSO REPLACE THE PISTONS. THEY TOLD ME…

Three of 6 drivetrain complaints. The full report shows more, with quotes about the engine in the car you are looking at first.

Recall campaigns on the 2011 Volvo XC60 (4)

SEAT BELTS:FRONT
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 …
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
VOLVO IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2011, S80, S60, XC70 AND XC60 VEHICLES. THE SOFTWARE CALIBRATION FOR THE FUEL CUT-OFF FUNCTIONALITY IN THE ENGINE CONTROL MODULE (…
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL
VOLVO IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2010-2011 S80, XC70, MODEL YEAR 2011 XC60 AND MODEL YEAR 2010 V70 VEHICLES. THERE MAY BE AN INTERMITTENT FAULT IN THE DRIVER'S AIRB…

This does not say whether a particular car has an open, unrepaired recall. That depends on the VIN.

Before you buy a 2011 Volvo XC60

Questions people ask about the 2011 Volvo XC60

Does the 2011 Volvo XC60 have engine or transmission problems?

Not as a pattern, going by owner complaints. 6 of 26 relevant complaints filed with NHTSA about the 2011 Volvo XC60 concern the engine, transmission or fuel system (23%). It describes the model year, not any one car, so an inspection still matters.

Are there engine or transmission recalls on the 2011 Volvo XC60?

NHTSA lists 4 recall campaigns on the 2011 Volvo XC60. Whether a specific car still has one open depends on its VIN.

Which Volvo XC60 years are better?

Among the Volvo XC60 years we track, the 2012 (9%), the 2013 (9%) and the 2018 (13%) have a lower engine and transmission complaint share than the 2011 (23%). Manufacturers fix things mid-generation, so the year before or after can be a different car.

Should I buy a 2011 Volvo XC60?

That depends on the car in front of you, not just the model year. The 2011 Volvo XC60 shows no elevated engine or transmission pattern in owner complaints, which is a good starting point. It is still one car with its own history, so get an independent pre-purchase inspection and a vehicle history report before you commit.

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Experimental model-level information. This is not a vehicle inspection, vehicle-history report, financial advice or purchase recommendation. It describes patterns across a model year, not the condition of any individual vehicle.