2021 Volvo S60 problems, complaints & recalls
Most-reported problem areas: Visibility/Wiper (3) · Service Brakes (2) · Steering (1)
🧭 Reliability snapshot
Compared against other Volvo S60 model years — complaint volume vs the model's median year, recalls and severity. How we score →
Safety recalls (3)
Electrical System:propulsion System:traction Battery 2025-03-24 · campaign 25V179000 · 7,483 vehicles
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.
Fix: 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:frontal 2023-11-21 · campaign 23V780000 · 346 vehicles
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.
Fix: 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:retractor 2021-09-01 · campaign 21V682000 · 19,149 vehicles
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.
Fix: 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.
Service bulletins (199)
Technical service bulletins are repair instructions manufacturers send dealers for known issues. Unlike recalls, the fix is not automatically free — but naming the bulletin at the service desk can save diagnosis time and support goodwill repairs.
Exterior Lighting 2026-07-28 · 37774.1.0 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
this is a tj - text plus 1 pdf attachment - f the headlamp horizontal light aim cannot be adjusted via the set screw, if the horizontal light aim cannot be adjusted because the cogwheel knob is broken, do not replace the entire headlamp. instead, use the spare part kit part number 32476677 to replac
Exterior Lighting 2026-07-28 · 37631.3.0 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
this is a tj - text only no attachments - if customer complains of a headlamp error message in dim, in combination with any of the dtcs stated below, follow advice under "service".
Unknown Or Other 2026-05-23 · 37839.1.1 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
this is a tj - text plus two .mov attachments - if the customer is experiencing a frozen sirius radio banner, meaning in the app view the title of the song and station name will stay on the previous selected station; the audio will be for the station that is selected and not what is shown on the scr
Unknown Or Other 2026-05-23 · 33031.6.0 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
this is a technical journal: text plus 1 .jpg attachment - if remote control key is not detected by the car and shows message in dim "car key not found" or if functions such as lock/unlock are not working, please follow advice for detecting key
Unknown Or Other 2026-05-20 · 37839.1.1 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
this is a tj - text plus two .mov attachments - if the customer is experiencing a frozen sirius radio banner, meaning in the app view the title of the song and station name will stay on the previous selected station; the audio will be for the station that is selected and not what is shown on the scr
Power Train 2026-05-07 · 36496.10.0 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
this is a technical journal: intermittent knocking noise during acceleration. if the sound corresponds to attached sound file, change front drive shafts to the below part numbers.
Showing the 6 most recent of 199 bulletins. Search all of them free at nhtsa.gov.
What owners report
2026-08-19 · Visibility/Wiper“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 bee…”
2026-05-15 · Unknown Or Other“air conditioning evaporator core is leaking refrigerant into cabin…”
2026-02-27 · Visibility/Wiper“the high voltage coolant heater failed. it will not heat when running solely on battery. defrost therefore will not get warm to clear windshield…”
2025-11-29 · Visibility/Wiper“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 an…”
2023-12-14 · Service Brakes“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…”
2022-11-20 · Service Brakes“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…”
2021-05-29 · Steering“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 …”
Excerpts of consumer complaints filed with NHTSA, lightly truncated. They are owner statements, not verified findings.