2011 Volvo XC60 Reliability
The 2011 Volvo XC60 has 36 owner complaints and 4 recall campaigns on file with NHTSA, most often about visibility / wipers and seat belts. Compared with other XC60 model years, it rates as a solid year: complaints are in line with the XC60's typical year.
By CarWhere Research · Updated 2026-11-04 · Source: NHTSA
36
NHTSA owner complaints
4
Recall campaigns
2
Complaints citing a crash
0
Complaints citing a fire
2011 Volvo XC60 complaints by component
Owner complaints filed with NHTSA for the 2011 model year, filed between 2010 and 2024. A complaint can name more than one component.
| Component | Complaints | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Visibility / wipers | 8 | 22% |
| Seat belts | 8 | 22% |
| Electrical system | 6 | 17% |
| Unknown or other | 6 | 17% |
| Engine | 3 | 8% |
| Body structure | 3 | 8% |
| Steering | 3 | 8% |
| Stability control | 2 | 6% |
2011 Volvo XC60 recalls
4 recall campaigns on NHTSA record for the 2011 model year, by the date NHTSA received the manufacturer's report. Recall repairs are free at a dealer.
| NHTSA campaign | Date | Component | Summary |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10V489000 | Oct 13, 2010 | 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 airbag clockspring wiring connector for the supplemental restraint system. |
| 10V579000 | Nov 17, 2010 | 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 (ecm) is too sensitive. |
| 10V591000 | Nov 22, 2010 | Seats | Volvo is recalling certain passenger vehicles equipped with power front passenger seats. The front seat rail's detection system was manufactured incorrectly and may permit the passenger to forward the seat beyond the intended maximum. |
| 20V378000 | Jun 30, 2020 | 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 S80L, 2009-2016 XC60 and 2015-2018 V60 Cross Country vehicles. The flexible steel cable… |
How the 2011 compares with nearby XC60 years
Verdicts come from CarWhere's year-by-year XC60 analysis where it covers the year, otherwise from the years shown here.
| Model year | Complaints | Recalls | Most-reported area | Verdict |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2009 | 0 | 1 | — | Too few reports |
| 2010 | 56 | 7 | Unknown or other | Caution |
| 2011 (this page) | 36 | 4 | Visibility / wipers | Solid |
| 2012 | 46 | 3 | Visibility / wipers | Solid |
| 2013 | 66 | 3 | Visibility / wipers | Solid |
Complaints are unverified owner reports filed with NHTSA and are not adjusted for how many of each year were sold, so they compare years of the same model rather than different models.
What to check on a used 2011 Volvo XC60
- Visibility: test the wipers at every speed, washers, defrosters and the climate system (fogging is a common complaint).
- Seat belts: pull each belt fully, make sure it retracts and latches, and check the belt warning light.
- Electrical: test every light, window, lock, the infotainment screen and the charging system; scan for stored fault codes.
- Engine: cold-start it yourself, listen for ticking or knocking, check for oil leaks and oil consumption, and ask for oil-change records.
- Recalls: confirm each of the 4 campaigns above was completed on this VIN; open recalls are repaired free at a dealer.
- History: run the VIN for salvage, theft and odometer records, and have an independent mechanic inspect the car before you pay.
Check this exact car
Any 2011 Volvo XC60 can be better or worse than its model year. The CarWhere Used Car Report checks one VIN for salvage records, salvage-auction records (with damage photos when the auction published them), stolen-vehicle records, the odometer trail and its listing and price history since 2015. Free preview first; the full report is $12.99, one time.
2011 Volvo XC60 reliability FAQ
Is the 2011 Volvo XC60 reliable?
The 2011 Volvo XC60 has 36 owner complaints and 4 recall campaigns on file with NHTSA, most often about visibility / wipers and seat belts. Compared with other XC60 model years, it rates as a solid year: complaints are in line with the XC60's typical year.
What are the most common 2011 Volvo XC60 problems?
The most-reported problem areas in NHTSA owner complaints for the 2011 Volvo XC60 are visibility / wipers (8), seat belts (8), electrical system (6), unknown or other (6). One complaint can name more than one component.
Does the 2011 Volvo XC60 have recalls?
NHTSA lists 4 recall campaigns for the 2011 Volvo XC60, including 10V489000 (air bags — frontal) and 10V579000 (engine & cooling). Recall repairs are free at a dealer, and whether one was done is tracked by VIN.
How does the 2011 Volvo XC60 compare with the 2010 and 2012 models?
By NHTSA records, the 2010 has 56 complaints and 7 recalls (caution); the 2012 has 46 complaints and 3 recalls (solid). The 2011 has 36 complaints and 4 recalls.
How do I check a specific used 2011 Volvo XC60?
Run its VIN. The CarWhere Used Car Report checks one VIN for salvage records, salvage-auction records (with damage photos when the auction published them), stolen-vehicle records, the odometer trail and its listing and price history since 2015, with a free preview first and the full report at $12.99, one time. Pair it with an independent pre-purchase inspection.
More Volvo XC60 research
Other Volvo XC60 model years:
Sources: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation owner complaints (all body-style listings for the 2011 XC60, de-duplicated by complaint number) and NHTSA recall campaigns, retrieved 2026-11-04.