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2020 Volvo S60: Complaints, Recalls & Known Issues

What the public record actually says about the 2020 Volvo S60 — every figure below is a NHTSA or EPA number, not an opinion.

The read

Fewer reported complaints than most sedan.

Owners filed 8 NHTSA complaints — fewer complaints than 71% of 2020 sedans. Electrical System leads the reports (25%). 4 safety recall campaigns on record — check the VIN and remedy terms with a dealer.

Based on NHTSA complaint volume against 2020 sedans, not adjusted for how many were sold. It describes the model year, not the individual car you are looking at.

Complaints filed

8

Reports to NHTSA, 2020

Safety recalls

4

NHTSA campaigns on record

NHTSA crash test

Not rated

Overall NCAP rating

Combined MPG

27

EPA estimate

Complaint volume vs. segment peers

Fewer complaints than 71% of 2020 sedans

The bar is this car's percentile among 2020 sedans by complaint volume — a full bar means the fewest complaints in its class. Not adjusted for sales.

Known issues

Electrical System issues lead owner complaints (25% of 8 reports), followed by service brakes (25%).

Electrical System25% · 2 reports
Service Brakes25% · 2 reports
Steering25% · 2 reports
Tires13% · 1 report
Vehicle Speed Control13% · 1 report

Share of all 8 NHTSA complaints for this model year, grouped by the component owners named. Bars are scaled to the largest category. Examples: ODI 11421793, ODI 11394308.

Recalls(4)

Open a recall to read what NHTSA says is wrong, what can happen, and how it gets fixed. Check the VIN and remedy eligibility with a dealer; federal no-charge requirements have an age limit, though a manufacturer may offer more coverage.

Electrical SystemFeb 2021 · 21V414000Details +

Volvo Car USA, LLC (Volvo Car) is recalling certain 2019-2020 V90, XC60, S60, V60, V60CC, S90, V90CC, S90L, and XC90 vehicles. The low-pressure fuel pump can blow a fuse and fail.

Risk: Failure of the low-pressure fuel pump can cause a stall, increasing the risk of a crash.

Remedy: Dealers will replace the fuse, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed July 2, 2021. Owners may contact Volvo Car customer service at 1-888-458-1552. Volvo Car's number for this recall is R10100.

Forward Collision AvoidanceDec 2020 · 20V144000Details +

Volvo Cars USA LLC (Volvo Cars) is recalling certain 2019-2020 S60, V60, V60 Cross Country, S90L, V90, V90 Cross Country, XC40, XC60, and XC90 vehicles. Due to a software/hardware incompatibility, the Automatic Emergency Brake (AEB) system may not detect obstacles and engage as intended.

Risk: If the automatic emergency braking system does not engage as intended, it can increase the risk of a crash.

Remedy: Volvo will notify owners, and dealers will update the Active Safety Domain Master (ASDM) software, free of charge. The recall began April 9, 2020. Owners may contact Volvo customer service at 1-800-458-1552. Volvo's number for this recall is R29998.

Air Bags · 23V780000Details +

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.

Electrical System · 25V179000Details +

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.

A campaign can apply to this model year without being incomplete on a specific vehicle. Check the VIN with NHTSA or a dealer to confirm whether a particular car needs repair.

Investigations

1 NHTSA investigation on record

Investigations are agency reviews, not findings that a vehicle is defective.

Pedestrian alert sounds

NHTSA received a petition on or about July 18, 2022, requesting that Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) 141 be applied to all electric and hybrid vehicles operating in the United States. The petition can be reviewed at NHTSA.gov under ODI Number 11486072. FMVSS 141 establishes performance requirements for pedestrian alert sounds for motor vehicles. The standard applies to hybrid and electric vehicles that have a gross vehicle weight rating of 4,536 KG or less or are defined as low-speed vehicles. The standard became fully applicable to all such vehicles manufactured on or after March 1, 2021.On January 27, 2023, NHTSA opened Defect Petition (DP) 22-005 to evaluate the subject matter described in the petition. On June 24, 2023 and as supplemented on June 25, 2023, the petitioner notified NHTSA he was withdrawing his petition. The petitioner indicated that, based on his review of data, there is no justification for asserting potential benefits that could be derived from actions sought by my petition. Based on the petitioner's withdrawal, DP22-005 is closed. Closure of this DP does not represent a determination by NHTSA regarding the subject matter of the petition.

Crash-test ratings

No NHTSA crash test is on record for this year. Some vehicles and model years were not tested or do not have a published NCAP result.

Fuel economy by trim

TrimEngineDrivetrainCityHwyCombined
S60 AWD PHEV2.0L 4-cylAll-Wheel Drive283330
S60 FWD2.0L 4-cylFront-Wheel Drive233427
S60 AWD2.0L 4-cylAll-Wheel Drive213225

EPA laboratory estimates by trim and engine. Actual mileage varies with driving, weather, load, and maintenance. EPA source.

Before you buy

Useful next checks

Federal records tell you about patterns. These checks can tell you more about the specific car in front of you.

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Compare model years

"Fewest reports" and "most complained" describe raw NHTSA complaint totals, not vehicle reliability. The last few model years are left unlabelled because they have had less road time.

2020 Volvo S60: frequently asked

What does the complaint record show for the 2020 Volvo S60?

Owners filed 8 NHTSA complaints about the 2020 Volvo S60 — fewer complaints than 71% of comparable 2020 sedans, so it sits toward the stronger end of its class. That's a signal, not a guarantee about any single car.

What are the most common problems on the 2020 Volvo S60?

The most-reported problem areas are Electrical System (25% of complaints) and service brakes (25%).

How many recalls does the 2020 Volvo S60 have?

4 recalls have been issued that affect the 2020 Volvo S60, covering components such as electrical system. Check the VIN with NHTSA and ask a dealer to confirm remedy eligibility; federal no-charge requirements have an age limit, though manufacturers may offer more coverage.

What gas mileage does the 2020 Volvo S60 get?

The EPA rates the 2020 Volvo S60 between 25 and 30 mpg combined, depending on trim and drivetrain.