Volvo S60: Years to Avoid and Best Years (Engine & Transmission)
Volvo S60 problems by model year, from 402 owner complaints filed with NHTSA. For each year: the share of complaints about the engine, transmission or fuel system, how many there were, and the recalls.
Worst years to avoid: 2012 (62%, 65 drivetrain complaints), 2013 (55%, 41 drivetrain complaints) and 2014 (52%, 12 drivetrain complaints). 5 of the 5 Volvo S60 years we score have an elevated engine, transmission or fuel-system complaint share; 1 of them is at the very high level (60% or more), where every model year we track has a documented failure behind it.
No Volvo S60 year we score is clear of an elevated signal. The lowest is the 2016 (43%).
By raw volume, the 2012 drew the most drivetrain complaints (65 of 156 across the scored years). Volume also tracks how many were sold and how long they have been on the road, which is why the share, not the count, sets the verdict.
2021, 2022 and 2023 have fewer than 25 complaints on record so far, too few to score. Newer cars have had less time to collect complaints.
Engine and transmission complaint share, 2010–2023
Share of relevant owner complaints about the engine, transmission or fuel system. 33% is elevated, 40% high, 60% very high. A dash means too few complaints to score.
Every Volvo S60 year
| Model year | Signal | Drivetrain share | Drivetrain complaints | All complaints | Rank (1 = worst) | Recalls |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2011 S60 | too few to score | – | 1 | 5 | – | 6 |
| 2012 S60 | very high | 62% | 65 | 121 | 1/5 | 8 |
| 2013 S60 | high | 55% | 41 | 86 | 2/5 | 4 |
| 2014 S60 | high | 52% | 12 | 25 | 3/5 | 3 |
| 2015 S60 | high | 51% | 28 | 59 | 4/5 | 2 |
| 2016 S60 | high | 43% | 10 | 27 | 5/5 | 4 |
| 2017 S60 | too few to score | – | 1 | 18 | – | 5 |
| 2018 S60 | too few to score | – | 1 | 4 | – | 1 |
| 2019 S60 | too few to score | – | 3 | 23 | – | 4 |
| 2020 S60 | too few to score | – | 1 | 8 | – | 4 |
| 2021 S60 | too few to score | – | 1 | 8 | – | 3 |
| 2022 S60 | too few to score | – | 5 | 15 | – | 4 |
| 2023 S60 | too few to score | – | 0 | 3 | – | 6 |
What owners complain about most, all years
Categories as NHTSA files them, summed across the Volvo S60 years with data. A complaint can name more than one component, so the shares overlap. Red is engine, transmission or fuel.
Volvo S60 engine recalls: timeline
NHTSA lists 3 recall campaigns on the Volvo S60 involving the engine, transmission or fuel system, out of 13 across the years we track. Each model-year page has the details. Whether a particular car still has a recall open depends on its VIN.
| Date | Campaign | Component | Model years |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jun 2011 | 11V303000 | fuel system, gasoline: delivery: fuel pump | 2012 |
| Jun 2011 | 11V311000 | fuel system, gasoline: delivery: hoses, lines/piping, and fittings | 2012 |
| Nov 2013 | 13V592000 | engine and engine cooling: engine | 2012 |
10 other recalls (airbags, lighting, brakes and the rest)
| Date | Campaign | Component | Model years |
|---|---|---|---|
| Oct 2011 | 11V508000 | equipment: other: labels | 2012 |
| Feb 2012 | 12V075000 | electrical system: wiring | 2012 |
| Mar 2012 | 12V101000 | structure: body | 2012 |
| Sep 2012 | 12V439000 | air bags: frontal: sensor/control module-inactive | 2013 |
| Mar 2013 | 13V084000 | equipment: other: labels | 2013 |
| Aug 2013 | 13V377000 | electrical system | 2014 |
| Sep 2015 | 15V555000 | electrical system: wiring: fuses and circuit breakers | 2016 |
| Nov 2016 | 16V798000 | seat belts: front: buckle assembly | 2016 |
| Nov 2019 | 19V849000 | latches/locks/linkages: doors: latch | 2012–2016 |
| Jun 2020 | 20V378000 | seat belts: front | 2012–2016 |
What the free pages leave out on the Volvo S60
- The mileage where it happens, for the model year you are looking at.
- What the repair costs, to price into your offer.
- Cleaner alternatives: similar cars with a better record.
- Up to 15 owner reports, with the ones about your car's own engine first.
- What to ask the seller and what to check on the test drive.
- Open recalls on the actual car, by VIN.
Questions people ask about the Volvo S60
What are the worst years for the Volvo S60?
On engine and transmission complaints, the worst Volvo S60 years are the 2012 (62% of relevant complaints, very high), the 2013 (55% of relevant complaints, high) and the 2014 (52% of relevant complaints, high). 5 of 5 scored years are elevated in all.
What are the best years for the Volvo S60?
No Volvo S60 year we score is below the 33% line. The lowest share is the 2016 (43%).
Does the Volvo S60 have engine problems?
In some years. Across the 5 scored years, 156 of 280 relevant NHTSA complaints (56%) concern the engine, transmission or fuel system; the largest drivetrain category is engine. The years with an elevated share are 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015 and 2016.
Is the Volvo S60 reliable?
On the engine and transmission it depends on the year: 5 of 5 Volvo S60 years we score have an elevated complaint share and 0 do not. Pooled across those years, 56% of relevant complaints are about the drivetrain, against a 33% line for an elevated signal. Complaint data does not measure overall reliability, so pick the year first, then inspect the car.
Are there transmission or engine recalls on the Volvo S60?
Yes. NHTSA lists 3 recall campaigns involving the engine, transmission or fuel system across the Volvo S60 years we track, out of 13 in total: 11V303000 (Jun 2011, 2012), 11V311000 (Jun 2011, 2012), 13V592000 (Nov 2013, 2012). Whether a car still has one open depends on its VIN.
Have the VIN?Paste it and get the full report for that car. First report free, then a 30-day pass covers a whole car search.
Check a VINExperimental model-level information. This is not a vehicle inspection, vehicle-history report, financial advice or purchase recommendation. It describes patterns across model years, not the condition of any individual vehicle. Model years with fewer than 25 complaints are not scored.