Best and worst Volvo S60 years — which to avoid

Buying a used Volvo S60 can be a great choice if you are looking for a compact executive-style sedan, but how do you choose the best possible model year? That’s the question that commonly bothers potential buyers, and it’s no secret that despite its great reliability scores in general, there are some Volvo S60 years to avoid.

Our team will try to present you with an overview of differences between the best and worst Volvo S60 years, and further explain the common problems negatively affecting the reliability of some. We’ll focus on NHTSA ratings, first-hand driver reviews, and other details to demonstrate the value of the model over the years and help you make a well-informed purchase decision.

Why you can trust REREV’s advice on which car model years to avoid: Our car experts look at official data, ask real drivers what they think, and talk to experienced mechanics to make sure our list is useful. This reliable info can make buying a car easier for you. Want to know how we do it? Find out more about our research methodology.

How we rated the best and worst Volvo S60 years

In the making of this guide, our team used a plethora of resources to figure out which years of the S60 were worse than others. Among those, we mainly focused on verified information provided through NHTSA complaints and ratings, but we also valued first-hand experiences and opinions of drivers who had a chance to own one of these, so we listened to what they had to say on Volvo forums.

Of course, we double-checked every bit of information by going through driving safety logs and ratings, and we used reviews from sites like Edmunds, CR, KBB, and Cars.com with a proven track record of offering reliable reviews of models like the S60. That being said, here’s our final list of the best and worst Volvo S60 years:

Most common Volvo S60 problems

Like any Volvo from that era, the first S60 was quite a reliable car with a low number of repairs needed other than regular maintenance. Quite unexpectedly for a Volvo, this car had a fair share of airbag-related issues and a few other reliability concerns. There’s the matter of steering linkages and bad control arm studs and nuts that couldn’t properly secure the front control arm.

1. Airbag problems

Even though Volvo was one of the first car brands to develop a passenger restraint system in a car, the S60 had a few problems with airbags. This often caused the SRS light to show up on the dashboard and the problems mostly started with the second generation of the S60.

It included numerous recalls in 2012, 2016, and 2019 concerning airbags that would not deploy. On top of that, there were notable passenger-side inflator bag ruptures that often posed a security threat due to inflator bag explosions during deployment. All of the airbag-related issues were sorted out through recalls, so you should at least make sure to check if the car you are willing to buy has gone through one.

2. Steering issues

On some early Volvo S60 models, drivers have reported severe steering system faults like control arms separated from the spindle. This condition often led to a complete control loss over the vehicle, so there was a recall in 2004 by the Swedish automotive giant to resolve the problems.

The control arm problem was sorted out during the recall but it’s still worth checking the suspension and steering components before buying the car.

3. Faulty ABS module

The anti-lock braking system is responsible for preventing wheel lockout while braking and allowing some traction to give you more control over your vehicle when slowing down. With that in mind, many S60 owners have wondered – why is the ABS light on?

It was mostly due to the faulty ABS module which is responsible for controlling the system. In case this module fails, drivers would be left with an inoperable ABS and the wheels would lock up while braking. On top of that, additional braking effort may be needed and it’s also worth inspecting the speed sensors on wheels to see if the ABS failure was caused by that.

4. Fuel delivery system faults

Problems with engine stalling or hesitation due to a bad fuel pump are common for S60 models, and it all started with the second generation. It was mostly a matter of bad fuel pump software that caused the insufficient pull of fuel into the pump.

The issue kept on going with newer models concerning the low-pressure fuel pump, so things got even worse for the Volvo S60 drivers. Luckily, Volvo issued a recall to deal with the problem and most of these issues have been sorted out for the third generation.

Worst Volvo S60 years to avoid

To buy a decent S60 model, it’s not enough to simply know about all the major drawbacks and known faults. You have to be aware that some model years are simply overall worse than others, so you’ve probably asked yourself – what are the worst Volvo S60 years?

The worst Volvo S60 years are 2001 and 2013, but here’s a complete overview of the worst-rated years:

• 2001
• 2004
• 2005
• 2012
• 2013
• 2015

It’s important to note that none of these model years had critical issues and the manufacturer faults directly related to engine faults and problems of that magnitude, but we’ll explain why you should still avoid them below.

First-generation Volvo S60 (2001, 2004, and 2006 model years)

The first generation of the Volvo S60 was pretty reliable except for a few model years. These are the 2001, 2004, and 2006 models, with 2001 being the worst-rated first-gen S60, and the second-worst model overall. That’s why you should avoid the 2001 Volvo S60 if possible since it comes with a lot of issues including the failing control arm connecting to the spindle.

Besides, 2001, 2004, and 2006 models are also affected by the excessive oil consumption of turbocharged petrol engines. Because of this, it’s much safer to go for later model years of the first-gen S60 to avoid the issues affecting the early model years.

Second-generation Volvo S60 (2012-2013 and 2015 model years)

The second-gen S60 made its debut in 2011 and right after the initial model year, serious problems followed for the 2012 model. It’s the worst S60 model year yet, so we advise you to skip this one, and the following 2013 model as well if possible.

These were plagued by faulty fuel delivery system components and frequently falling fuel pumps. Also, these received bad ratings due to problems with airbag deployment, and seat belt buckle assembly. There were also some issues with electrical connections and equipment such as faulty windshield wipers, so these model years are best avoided.

What are the best Volvo S60 years to buy?

If the S60 now doesn’t seem as reliable as you expected it to be due to all these issues, hold that thought for now. Our team simply wanted you to have a complete overview of major issues and, well, these were pretty much all the problems that the car had over 20 production years and three generations. Because of that, there are quite a few reliable S60 years, so take a look at the list below:

• 2002
• 2003
• 2005
• 2007
• 2008
• 2009
• 2010
• 2011
• 2014
• 2016
• 2017
• 2018
• 2019
• 2020
• 2021
• 2022

The most common problems of the first-gen S60 such as steering and fuel consumption issues were sorted out for the 2009 model which received the least complaints by far.

At this point, you could also get a five-cylinder turbocharged fury in the form of an S60 R, a car that more and more earns its respect among automotive experts these days. Regardless of the engine option and trim, the most reliable Volvo S60 models are 2009 and 2016 years.

2009 Volvo S60

As already pointed out, the 2009 is the most reliable Volvo S60 by a long shot. The Swedish automotive giant managed to sort out all of the engine cooling, steering, and even airbag issues by this point in production, so the 2009 model received less than a dozen NHTSA complaints.

It’s an exceptional score for any car model, and being a Volvo, you can trust this one to easily push high mileage without having to visit a mechanic too often. With regular maintenance, its four-cylinder and five-cylinder engines are both equally reliable, and there’s nothing to worry about.

2016 Volvo S60

Faulty fuel pumps and problems with latches and interior components of the second-gen S60 were successfully solved starting with the 2016 model. It also got a facelift update in terms of looks and interior, but the key thing is that there were no issues reported by previous owners rather than some minor problems.

These include A/C heater malfunctions and issues with wheel hubs that can at least easily be fixed, while the engine, transmission, and fuel delivery systems were all significantly better starting with this model year.

Is Volvo S60 worth buying?

As the time comes to make a final decision on whether this model is worth buying or not, let’s take a step back and recap the findings of this guide. Not only is the S60 a comfortable mid-size sedan, but it’s also a car that received some of the best safety ratings in the category, having earned a 5-star crash rating for the second-gen on the NHTSA testing.

Because of this and the fact that only six production years had known problems over the course of 21 years of production, we can confirm that this car is a great bargain for all generations.

While many models boast luxury and performance, certain years might not live up to expectations due to reliability concerns or other issues. Our guides like Acura TL years to avoid, Lexus IS 250 years to avoid, and Audi A4 years to avoid highlight the years to bypass, guiding you towards a smarter, more informed purchase.