2021 Volvo S60

Routine

Owners filed 8 complaints about this vehicle with federal regulators, most often about the electrical system. It has been recalled 3 times.

What fails
ComponentReportsCrashesFiresInjuries
Electrical System3
000
Unknown or Other2
000
Service Brakes2
000
Visibility/Wiper1
000

3 safety recalls

Part 573 reports
Electrical System › Propulsion System › Traction Battery25V179000
Filed Mar 24, 20257,483 vehiclesVolvo Car Usa, Llc

Defect. Volvo Car USA, LLC (Volvo Car) is recalling certain 2020-2021 S90, 2020-2022 S60, V60, XC60, XC90, and 2022 V90 plug-in hybrid vehicles. The high-voltage battery may experience a short circuit within the battery module when the battery is fully charged and the vehicle is parked.

Risk. A short circuit in a high-voltage battery increases the risk of a fire.

Remedy. Owners are advised not to charge their vehicles until the remedy has been completed. Dealers will inspect and replace the high-voltage battery module as necessary. In addition, dealers will update the software to monitor the battery. All repairs will be performed free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed May 28, 2025. Owners may contact Volvo Car's customer service at 1-800-458-1552. Volvo Car's number for this recall is R10312.

Air Bags › Frontal23V780000
Filed Nov 21, 2023346 vehiclesVolvo Car Usa, Llc

Defect. Volvo Car USA, LLC. (Volvo Car) is recalling certain 2019-2024 S60 vehicles. The passenger air bag may not be secured properly, which can cause the air bag to deploy improperly.

Risk. An air bag that does not deploy properly in a crash increases the risk of injury.

Remedy. Dealers will inspect and tighten the bolts securing the passenger air bag, as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed January 5, 2024. Owners may contact Volvo Car customer service at 1-800-458-1552. Volvo Car's number for this recall is R10254.

Seat Belts › Rear/Other › Retractor21V682000
Filed Sep 1, 202119,149 vehiclesVolvo Car Usa, Llc

Defect. Volvo Car USA, LLC (Volvo Car) is recalling certain 2021 XC40, XC 40 Recharge, V60CC, V90, V90CC, XC90, and 2021-2022 V60, XC60, S60 vehicles. The seat belt automatic locking retractors may deactivate early, which can prevent the child restraint system from securing properly. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 208, "Occupant Crash Protection."

Risk. An unsecured child restraint system can increase the risk of injury during a crash.

Remedy. Dealers will inspect and replace the seat belt assemblies, as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed October 13, 2021. Owners may contact Volvo Car customer service at 1-888-458-1552. Volvo Car's number for this recall is R10111.

What owners reported

Newest filings
Visibility/Wiper
Filed Aug 19, 2026CA

The "Maintenance Mode" required to change the wiper blades malfunctioned, and the wipers- without the rubber blades attached- suddenly smashed onto the windshield, creating a large star crack/shatter, which spread across the entire windshield in two long cracks by the next day. If someone's hand had been in the path of the wipers, it would have been cut or broken by the force/sharp edge. The "Maintenance Mode" should not disengage unless the car is seriously jostled or put into gear (did not occur). This malfunction of the system is a safety concern in itself and has created a secondary safety concern with the severely damaged windshield. A case was opened with Volvo Corporate on XXX (case #XXX). Volvo has NEVER contacted me regarding this. I have called [XXX] and [XXX]) each week to check in and have been told that my case manager is not available, I can not change case managers to someone available or speak to anyone other than the phone operator. I have waited up to 1.5 hours on hold or received an automated return call 2+ hours later, often missing it. I emailed ([XXX]) as recommended by an operator with pictures and video of the incident and damage. I visited our local dealer ([XXX] in [XXX]) and spoke with the service manager. He did not have an open case for our vehicle. He said he would email the local headquarters. When I followed up with him the next week- after he did not respond to my email a week after he supposedly emailed them- he told me there was no local hea

Unknown or Other
Filed May 15, 2026IA

Air conditioning evaporator core is leaking refrigerant into cabin

Electrical System
Filed Feb 27, 2026IA

The high voltage coolant heater failed. It will not heat when running solely on battery. Defrost therefore will not get warm to clear windshield

Electrical System
Filed Nov 29, 2025CA

2021 Volvo S60 T8 AWD, VIN [XXX] , ~71k miles Component: SUNROOF / DRAINAGE SYSTEM / ELECTRICAL SYSTEM Summary: Water entered the passenger compartment through clogged sunroof drain hoses and accumulated under the front passenger seat, causing catastrophic failure of wide angle module (WAM) and related electronic components (incl. front camera and wipers). Description: After moderate rain, a large amount of water was discovered under the front passenger seat. The vehicle began displaying multiple warning messages (camera faults, wiper faults). The authorized Volvo retailer diagnosed failure of the WAM and other modules due to water intrusion originating from the sunroof drainage system. This is a known, recurring defect acknowledged by Volvo in multiple Technical Service Bulletins: - TJ 31372-2 (Water leakage via sunroof drain hoses) - TJ 35382 (Updated drain hoses - new part number) - TJ 29322-3 (Water ingress passenger footwell / CEM area) The original drain hoses are too narrow and prone to clogging, causing water to overflow into the passenger compartment instead of exiting the vehicle. This creates a serious safety risk: - Potential failure of SRS airbag system - Loss of electronic stability control and ABS - Loss of 360 camera and blind-spot monitoring - Risk of electrical fire or short-circuit - Failure of wipers (mine stopped working when I was driving under the rain) Repair estimate: $17,825 Repair is going to be delayed over 2 months awaiting parts from Sweden. Vehi

Unknown or Other
Filed Jul 25, 2025CA

Tire has a defect

Service Brakes
Filed Dec 14, 2023ME

I believe that there is a material or design defect in the front brakes of this car that is leading to the premature failure of the front brake rotors. Two sets of front brake rotors have been replaced on the car due to excessive warping in the first 15K miles of operation. I purchased the car in June 2022 as a certified used car with roughly 9K miles on it. As soon as I drove it I could tell the brakes had a problem due to a high vibration level in steering wheel and throughout the car upon brake application above 30 mph. The dealer agreed and replaced the front rotors. The replaced parts were retained by the dealers under Volvo's warranty terms In November 2023, after roughly 4500 miles on the new rotors, the car again developed a noticable, although less severe, steering wheel vibration upon braking. In December 2023, with 6K miles on the front rotors, a dealer (different from the original one) again replaced them under warranty due to warping. I can't speak to the care given in operating the car prior to my acquiring it, but my wife and I are very gentle drivers. For comparison, we owned a 2001 Volvo S80, purchased new, for 16 years and about 120K miles and in that time replaced the front pads once, and never had to replace the rotors.

Service Brakes
Filed Nov 20, 2022OH

My car developed a severe shake in the steering wheel and pulsing in the brake pedal while under braking. The problem has worsened to the point that braking at high speed creates a serious shaking. I took the car to the dealership and they diagnosed the problem as warped rotors. The car started this with less than 15000 miles on the car. The dealer contacted Volvo to fix under warranty due to the defective parts. Volvo declined to fix the rotors because they are a "wear item". This is not normal wear. In fact, during the inspection (10/8) it was noted that the pads still have plenty of life and would not need to be replaced. If the situation were that I had worn out the pads and rotors, I would understand Volvo's position but the warpage is abnormal. When I called in to schedule the initial inspection the technician I spoke with agreed that this is unusual for an S60. When I asked if the rotors would warp again after replacement, I was told by the dealership they have never seen someone come back with warped rotors after replacing them. If it were environmental or driving habits, you would expect this problem to return after replacing the rotors. The warped rotors are a known issue with Volvo. If you search the swedespeed.com website, you will see numerous reports of S60 owners having the same problem. The dealership claims the reason my rotors are warped is because of rust build up causing hot spots and that the car must have sat outside in the rain a long time. This car has

Electrical System
Filed May 29, 2021NJ

While I was going down a small side street that is a hill, the air conditioning system suddenly went off and immediately the entire car's mechanisms ceased. The engine stopped and the car was unstearable and the brakes were not working. I had my foot on the brake and that was not responsive, the car slid with all electrical systems not working and the brake not holding the car or stopping the movement of the car. I could not start the car to get the engine going.I could not stop nor start the car that slid into a major street that is a thoroughfare for a hospital. I had no control of the car at all. I attempted at least 7 times to start the Volvo that requires keeping your foot on the brake and turning a small switch that is located right next to the cup holder. Nothing would work. I called Volvo On Call who instead of immediately helping told me to call 911 since the car slid into the middle of the major street and it was an emergency regarding my safetly . A police officer came after a few minutes and blocked the traffic. Meanwhile, I was suddenly able by the 9 or 10th time to start the car and move it to the side of the road. The police officer drove in back of me literally a block away from where the Volvo dealer just happened to be located. There were no warning messages prior to the car ceasing. The car is now in the Volvo dealership who upon receiving it said that I must have gotten the ignition switch wet. This is totally false. I did not have any liquids nor should t

8 of 8 complaints, reproduced as filed.

Across model years

Worst on record: 2001
YearComplaintsRecallsFiresDeathsAssessment
20250200Routine
202420300Routine
20233600Routine
202215400Routine
2021 — this page8300Routine
202011400Routine
201925420Routine
20184100Routine
201716500Routine
201625400Routine
201557220Routine
201425300Routine
201387410Routine
2012121800Routine
20115600Routine
20097300Routine
200810200Routine
200721210Routine
200631410Routine
200544400Routine
20041986120Routine
2003120710Routine
2002186930Routine
2001223950Above average
20001000Routine

Compare every S60 year →

Reading this record

No unusual pattern of severe incidents in the complaint record.

Complaint counts track how many cars were sold and how long they have been on the road as much as they track quality. A common model from 2013 has had a decade to accumulate reports; a rare one from last year has not. The signal worth weighing is in the severity columns, in whether the same component keeps appearing, and in whether the manufacturer eventually opened a recall for it.

Recall repairs are free for as long as the recall stands. Check whether a specific car still has open work at NHTSA's VIN lookup.

Most recent recall on file: Mar 24, 2025. Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation.