Minimalist style and excellent safety ratings come standard in the Volvo S60 – but does reliability? Volvo S60 owners have insight to share on common problems, repairs, and maintenance. 

What are the most common S60 problems?

The car care gurus and RepairPal compiled the most commonly reported issues with the Volvo S60. These reports come from real owners who have lived with and driven the S60 every day. Here are the most common problems they encountered.  

• Automatic Transmission Shifting Problems
• Front Strut Mount Failure
• Exterior Light Bulbs Burn Out Quickly
• Electronic Throttle Module Failure

1. Automatic Transmission Shifting Problems

Transmission performance issues are among the most common problems reported by Volvo S60 owners. According to RepairPal, the S60 is prone to developing hard shifts, long shift intervals between gears, or loss of transmission performance altogether. The check engine light may illuminate along with these issues. It’s best to have these check engine codes diagnosed to make sure the most up-to-date transmission performance software is installed. Transmission issues seem to be most common in model years from 2001 to 2014. 

2. Front upper strut mount premature failure 

Front upper strut mounts on Volvo S60s from the 2000s are likely to wear and fail prematurely. Strut mounts are part of the suspension system. As a result of their failure, S60 owners may experience loud noises when going over bumps or potholes. According to reports from owners, the problem is most common in model years between 2001 and 2009. 

3. Headlight bulbs burn out prematurely 

RepairPal says that certain S60 models may have their headlight bulbs burn out quickly. It’s not the most severe problem a car can have – but it’s certainly a disruptive one. Owners report that it typically costs about $200 to replace headlight bulbs in the S60, and that the phenomenon mostly occurs in model years between 2002 and 2012. According to RepairPal, there’s no fix available but to replace the bulb itself and move on. 

4. Electronic Throttle Module Failure 

Owners have reported that S60 model years from 2001 to 2008 are at higher risk of experiencing electronic throttle module failure. The problem is common enough that Volvo at one point extended its warranty coverage of the part to ten years or 200,000 miles. However, that ten-year period has lapsed for all of the affected model years. 

Is the Volvo S60 a reliable sedan?

Just like any car, the Volvo S60 is only as reliable as its service schedule. If they’re taken care of properly with help from a certified Volvo service center, S60s can run reliably. The opposite is true as well.

The Volvo S60 has a history of being a more complex car than the typical econobox, and it requires specialized OEM parts for proper maintenance. Buying knockoff parts, working with a generic mechanic, or deferring routine maintenance can lead to problems. But put in the time and effort on maintenance, and a Volvo S60 will reward you with excellent driving dynamics and standard-setting performance.