Volvo S60 Engine Problems by Year
By CarWhere Research · Updated
Yes. 154 of the 438 owner complaints filed with NHTSA for the 2008–2024 Volvo S60 (35.2%) name the engine, 1.8× the median share across the 152 models we track. We have no published sales figures for this model, so there is no per-1,000 rate. The worst years are 2012, 2013 and 2015.
Engine complaints
154
Filed with NHTSA, 2008–2024 models
Per 1,000 sold
No sales data
Not computed without a published sales figure
Share of all complaints
35.2%
of 438 complaints for this model
Engine recalls
3
NHTSA campaigns, all years
Volvo S60 engine complaints by model year
Owner complaints filed with NHTSA whose component list includes Engine and Engine Cooling. Worst years are highlighted.
| Model year | Engine complaints | Share of all complaints | Crash / fire / injury | Engine recalls | Engine TSBs* |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2008 | 2 | 20% | 0 | — | 6 |
| 2009 | 0 | 0% | 0 | — | 0 |
| 2011 | 1 | 20% | 0 | 13V59200010V579000 | 0 |
| 2012WORST | 62 | 51.2% | 1 | 13V592000 | 29 |
| 2013WORST | 36 | 42.4% | 0 | — | 13 |
| 2014 | 12 | 48% | 0 | — | 27 |
| 2015WORST | 24 | 41.4% | 2 | — | 46 |
| 2016 | 9 | 33.3% | 1 | — | 46 |
| 2017 | 1 | 6.3% | 0 | — | 13 |
| 2018 | 1 | 25% | 0 | — | 23 |
| 2019 | 1 | 4.3% | 0 | — | 20 |
| 2020 | 0 | 0% | 0 | — | 15 |
| 2021 | 1 | 12.5% | 0 | — | 15 |
| 2022 | 3 | 18.8% | 0 | 22V793000 | 26 |
| 2023 | 0 | 0% | 0 | 22V793000 | 8 |
| 2024 | 1 | 4.5% | 0 | — | 10 |
- Older model years have had more time on the road to collect complaints, so compare neighboring years, not 2010 against 2024.
- Crash / fire / injury = complaints where the owner reported a crash, a fire or an injury.
- No row for 2010: NHTSA's complaints data returned no records for that year under this model's names.
- *Technical service bulletins in the year's leading TSB categories that name the engine.
Common Volvo S60 engine problems owners describe
We searched the narratives of all 154 engine complaints for symptom keywords. One complaint can mention several, so the shares don't add up to 100%.
Volvo S60 years to avoid for the engine
2012 Volvo S60
62 engine complaints (51.2% of the year's 121). Most often described: oil consumption or oil leaks. Covered by engine recall 13V592000.
2013 Volvo S60
36 engine complaints (42.4% of the year's 85). Most often described: oil consumption or oil leaks.
2015 Volvo S60
24 engine complaints (41.4% of the year's 58). Most often described: oil consumption or oil leaks.
Worst years are those with at least 10 engine complaints and at least 1.5 times the model's median year. For every year's overall verdict, including other systems, see the Volvo S60 years to avoid.
Volvo S60 engine recalls
NHTSA recall campaigns filed under Engine for any Volvo S60 model year. Recall repairs are free at a dealer. Check a specific car by VIN on NHTSA's site.
- 22V793000 · 2022-10-20 · 2022–2023 models
An electronic control module (ECM) software error may prevent the combustion engine from starting, causing a loss of drive power.
- 13V592000 · 2013-11-22 · 2011–2012 models
In the affected vehicles, the vehicle may not alert the driver of a low oil pressure situation.
- 10V579000 · 2010-11-17 · 2011 models
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 (ECM) IS TOO SENSITIVE.
Related research
Frequently asked questions
Does the 2012 Volvo S60 have engine problems?
Yes, it is one of the worst years. Owners filed 62 engine complaints with NHTSA for the 2012 Volvo S60, 51.2% of all 121 complaints for that year. The most common description is "oil consumption or oil leaks" (35 complaints). One engine-related recall covers it: 13V592000. 1 of those complaints report a crash, fire or injury.
Does the 2013 Volvo S60 have engine problems?
Yes, it is one of the worst years. Owners filed 36 engine complaints with NHTSA for the 2013 Volvo S60, 42.4% of all 85 complaints for that year. The most common description is "oil consumption or oil leaks" (24 complaints).
Does the 2015 Volvo S60 have engine problems?
Yes, it is one of the worst years. Owners filed 24 engine complaints with NHTSA for the 2015 Volvo S60, 41.4% of all 58 complaints for that year. The most common description is "oil consumption or oil leaks" (11 complaints). 2 of those complaints report a crash, fire or injury.
Which Volvo S60 years have the most engine complaints?
2012 (62), 2013 (36) and 2015 (24), by owner complaints filed with NHTSA that name the engine. Raw counts favor older and higher-selling years, so treat them as a signal, not a rate.
What are the most common Volvo S60 engine problems?
In the 154 engine complaints, owners most often describe oil consumption or oil leaks (51.9%), engine failure, seizure or replacement (29.2%) and stalling or shutting off while driving (19.5%). One complaint can mention several symptoms.
Is this a engine failure rate?
No. These are complaints owners chose to file with NHTSA. Many failures are never reported, and one complaint is not a confirmed defect. Without sales figures, a high count can simply mean a high-selling model.
How we count
Counts are unique owner complaints (by NHTSA ODI number) filed with NHTSA for each Volvo S60 model year, from NHTSA's public complaints data fetched July 2026 to November 2026. A complaint counts as a engine complaint when NHTSA's component list for it includes Engine and Engine Cooling.
Per 1,000 sold divides complaints by published U.S. calendar-year sales for that year. A year needs at least 5,000 sales to get a rate, and a model needs at least 3 such years for its overall rate. The comparison median covers every model with at least 50 engine complaints that clears those floors.
These are complaint rates, not failure rates. Owners report some problems more than others, and a complaint is not a confirmed defect.
Sources
- NHTSA complaints by vehicle (owner complaints API) — National Highway Traffic Safety Administration
- NHTSA recalls by vehicle — National Highway Traffic Safety Administration
- Report a vehicle safety problem — National Highway Traffic Safety Administration