Volvo V60 Years to Avoid
Based on federal records, the Volvo V60 years to avoid are 2015, 2016, 2017: the 2015 alone has 21 NHTSA owner complaints and 329 manufacturer service bulletins on file, led by engine issues. The cleanest recent records so far belong to the 2013 and 2014 model years.
Sources: NHTSA complaints, manufacturer service bulletins, recall campaigns, CarWhere verified buyer prices · Updated 2026-07-14 · By Sam Reynolds, Lead Researcher
| Model year | NHTSA complaints | Service bulletins | Recall campaigns | Avg. price buyers paid |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2013BEST | 0 | 30 | 2 | — |
| 2014BEST | 0 | 34 | 2 | — |
| 2015AVOID | 21 | 329 | 2 | — |
| 2016AVOID | 13 | 349 | 4 | — |
| 2017AVOID | 6 | 261 | 6 | — |
| 2018 | 1 | 204 | 2 | — |
| 2019 | 0 | 283 | 3 | — |
| 2020 | 0 | 201 | 3 | — |
| 2021 | 0 | 177 | 3 | — |
| 2022 | 0 | 179 | 3 | — |
| 2023 | 0 | 134 | 4 | — |
| 2024 | 0 | 63 | 2 | — |
Methodology: complaint counts are owner reports filed with NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation; service bulletins are manufacturer communications filed with NHTSA; counts are raw federal filings, not adjusted for sales volume. Prices are averages of CarWhere verified buyer transactions (shown when 3+ deals exist for the year).
Common Volvo V60 problems by year
Across NHTSA owner complaints, the most-reported problem areas on the Volvo V60 are electrical system, equipment, unknown or other, engine. The years below carry the highest combined complaint and service-bulletin counts on federal record.
2015 Volvo V60: 21 owner complaints, 329 service bulletins, 2 recall campaigns — most-reported areas: engine, electronic stability control (esc), power train.
2016 Volvo V60: 13 owner complaints, 349 service bulletins, 4 recall campaigns — most-reported areas: engine, electrical system, structure.
2017 Volvo V60: 6 owner complaints, 261 service bulletins, 6 recall campaigns — most-reported areas: unknown or other, power train, fuel/propulsion system.
2013 Volvo V60: cleanest recent federal record (0 complaints, 30 bulletins).
2014 Volvo V60: cleanest recent federal record (0 complaints, 34 bulletins).
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FAQ
What are the worst years for the Volvo V60?
Based on federal records, the Volvo V60 years to avoid are 2015, 2016, 2017: the 2015 alone has 21 NHTSA owner complaints and 329 manufacturer service bulletins on file, led by engine issues. The cleanest recent records so far belong to the 2013 and 2014 model years. Counts are raw federal filings (NHTSA complaints, manufacturer communications, open recall campaigns) and are not adjusted for sales volume.
What are the best years for the Volvo V60?
Among recent model years, the 2013 and 2014 Volvo V60 show the lowest combined complaint and service-bulletin counts on federal record.
Is the Volvo V60 reliable?
The Volvo V60's reliability varies by model year. Across 41 NHTSA owner complaints on federal record, 2015, 2016, 2017 stand out as the years to avoid, while the 2013 and 2014 model years show the cleanest records — see the year-by-year table above. Counts are raw federal filings, not adjusted for sales volume.
What are the most common problems with the Volvo V60?
The most-reported problem areas for the Volvo V60 are electrical system, equipment, unknown or other, based on NHTSA owner complaints. See the year-by-year table above for how these cluster by model year.
How do I check a specific Volvo V60 before buying?
Decode the VIN free at carwhere.com/tools/vin-decoder to confirm the exact year and build, then run the $9.99 CarWhere Full VIN Report for that VIN — it includes the recall, complaint, and service-bulletin record for the exact model year, the original window sticker where the manufacturer publishes one, and a market price check from verified buyers. One-time purchase, no subscription.
Where does this data come from?
Three federal sources — NHTSA owner complaints (ODI), manufacturer service bulletins filed with NHTSA, and open recall campaigns — plus CarWhere's verified buyer-paid transaction prices. Counts are presented raw and refreshed regularly.