Volvo XC60: Years to Avoid and Best Years (Engine & Transmission)
Volvo XC60 problems by model year, from 574 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.
Years to avoid: 2016 (64%, 18 drivetrain complaints) and 2015 (33%, 14 drivetrain complaints). 2 of the 11 Volvo XC60 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.
Best years on this measure: 2013 (9%), 2012 (9%) and 2022 (13%). 2012 rests on fewer than 60 complaints, so treat it as provisional. A low share means owners complained about other things more than the drivetrain, not that nothing ever fails.
By raw volume, the 2016 drew the most drivetrain complaints (18 of 88 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.
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 XC60 year
| Model year | Signal | Drivetrain share | Drivetrain complaints | All complaints | Rank (1 = worst) | Recalls |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2010 XC60 | no elevated signal | 16% | 8 | 56 | 6/11 | 7 |
| 2011 XC60 | no elevated signal | 23% | 6 | 36 | 4/11 | 4 |
| 2012 XC60 | no elevated signal | 9% | 4 | 46 | 10/11 | 3 |
| 2013 XC60 | no elevated signal | 9% | 5 | 66 | 11/11 | 3 |
| 2014 XC60 | too few to score | – | 5 | 16 | – | 2 |
| 2015 XC60 | elevated | 33% | 14 | 47 | 2/11 | 1 |
| 2016 XC60 | very high | 64% | 18 | 38 | 1/11 | 3 |
| 2017 XC60 | too few to score | – | 5 | 16 | – | 4 |
| 2018 XC60 | no elevated signal | 13% | 4 | 36 | 8/11 | 5 |
| 2019 XC60 | no elevated signal | 18% | 5 | 36 | 5/11 | 8 |
| 2020 XC60 | too few to score | – | 4 | 22 | – | 6 |
| 2021 XC60 | no elevated signal | 24% | 7 | 31 | 3/11 | 5 |
| 2022 XC60 | no elevated signal | 13% | 9 | 74 | 9/11 | 6 |
| 2023 XC60 | no elevated signal | 16% | 8 | 54 | 7/11 | 5 |
What owners complain about most, all years
Categories as NHTSA files them, summed across the Volvo XC60 years with data. A complaint can name more than one component, so the shares overlap. Red is engine, transmission or fuel.
Volvo XC60 engine recalls: timeline
NHTSA lists 3 recall campaigns on the Volvo XC60 involving the engine, transmission or fuel system, out of 33 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dec 2009 | 09V477000 | fuel system, other | 2010 |
| Nov 2010 | 10V579000 | engine and engine cooling | 2011 |
| Oct 2022 | 22V793000 | engine and engine cooling: engine: engine control module (ecu/ecm) | 2022–2023 |
30 other recalls (airbags, lighting, brakes and the rest)
| Date | Campaign | Component | Model years |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sep 2009 | 09V343000 | electrical system: software | 2010 |
| Nov 2009 | 09V445000 | seats | 2010 |
| Dec 2009 | 09V463000 | structure: body: roof and pillars | 2010 |
| Oct 2010 | 10V489000 | air bags: frontal | 2011 |
| Nov 2010 | 10V564000 | air bags | 2010 |
| Nov 2010 | 10V591000 | seats | 2010–2011 |
| 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 |
| Sep 2015 | 15V555000 | electrical system: wiring: fuses and circuit breakers | 2016 |
| Nov 2016 | 16V798000 | seat belts: front: buckle assembly | 2016 |
| Sep 2018 | 18V589000 | equipment: electrical | 2019 |
| Nov 2018 | 18V800000 | electrical system: software | 2018–2019 |
| Jan 2019 | 19V046000 | structure: body: tailgate | 2018–2019 |
| Mar 2019 | 19V220000 | seats | 2018–2019 |
| Mar 2020 | 20V144000 | forward collision avoidance: automatic emergency braking | 2019 |
| Jun 2020 | 20V378000 | seat belts: front | 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2015, 2016 |
| Aug 2020 | 20V503000 | visibility: windshield wiper/washer: linkages | 2018–2019 |
| Jan 2021 | 21V001000 | air bags | 2021 |
| Jun 2021 | 21V414000 | electrical system: wiring: fuses and circuit breakers | 2019 |
| Sep 2021 | 21V682000 | seat belts: front: retractor | 2021–2022 |
| Sep 2021 | 21V716000 | service brakes, hydraulic: antilock/traction control/electronic limited slip | 2021 |
| Jan 2023 | 23V001000 | steering | 2019, 2021, 2022 |
| Jan 2023 | 23V012000 | service brakes, hydraulic | 2023 |
| Mar 2023 | 23V188000 | electrical system | 2023 |
| Mar 2025 | 25V179000 | electrical system: software | 2021–2022 |
| May 2025 | 25V282000 | back over prevention: software | 2022–2023 |
| Nov 2025 | 25V818000 | seats: critical fasteners | 2018 |
| Dec 2025 | 25V908000 | back over prevention: software | 2022–2023 |
What the free pages leave out on the Volvo XC60
- 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 XC60
What are the worst years for the Volvo XC60?
On engine and transmission complaints, the worst Volvo XC60 years are the 2016 (64% of relevant complaints, very high) and the 2015 (33% of relevant complaints, elevated). 2 of 11 scored years are elevated in all.
What are the best years for the Volvo XC60?
On engine and transmission complaints, the best Volvo XC60 years are the 2013 (9%), the 2012 (9%) and the 2022 (13%). That describes the model year; any one car still needs an inspection.
Does the Volvo XC60 have engine problems?
In some years. Across the 11 scored years, 88 of 481 relevant NHTSA complaints (18%) concern the engine, transmission or fuel system; the largest drivetrain category is engine. The years with an elevated share are 2015 and 2016.
Is the Volvo XC60 reliable?
On the engine and transmission it depends on the year: 2 of 11 Volvo XC60 years we score have an elevated complaint share and 9 do not. Pooled across those years, 18% 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 XC60?
Yes. NHTSA lists 3 recall campaigns involving the engine, transmission or fuel system across the Volvo XC60 years we track, out of 33 in total: 09V477000 (Dec 2009, 2010), 10V579000 (Nov 2010, 2011), 22V793000 (Oct 2022, 2022–2023). 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.