RoadVitals

2003 Volvo S60 Driver assistance Problems

Owner-reported complaints naming the driver-assistance system, filed with NHTSA

Data refreshed

Driver assistance reportsComplaints are reports submitted to NHTSA by owners and drivers. NHTSA does not verify most reports before publishing them, and a complaint does not establish that a defect exists. Volume is influenced by how many of a vehicle were sold, how long it has been on the road, and how much attention an issue has received.
19
Latest Feb 26, 2016
Share of all reportsThis category as a share of every owner report on file for this model year. One report can name more than one component, so the categories overlap.
16%
of 120 total
Crash or fire reportedReports in this category whose submitter recorded that a crash or a fire occurred. The reporter's own answer on the NHTSA form, not a verified finding.
1
Injuries or deaths reportedTotals the submitters entered on their own reports in this category. Not verified by NHTSA and not a casualty statistic.
0

What this page shows

Reports naming forward-collision avoidance, lane keeping, back-over prevention, cruise control and related electronic driver-assistance systems. Every record below is an owner-reported complaint about the 2003 Volvo S60 submitted to NHTSA — not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. 19 reports on file name it.

Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.

Owner reports naming driver-assistance

Shown in the owner’s own words, exactly as filed

Driver assistanceElectrical
Filed Feb 26, 2016

AIR BAGS SAY URGENT SERVICE NEEDED ,CLOCK GOING BACKWARDS , ON BOARD COMPUTER GOING CRAZY , WORRIED ABOUT IT CATCHING FIRE ,TAIL LIGHTS HAVE BEEN REPLACED 2 TIMES AND STILL THEY GO OUT RIGHT AFTER BEING REPLACED

NHTSA ID
10838582
Incident
Feb 3, 2016
Mileage
160,000 mi
Driver assistanceElectricalEngine
Filed Oct 22, 2015

TRANSMISSION SHIFTING PROBLEMS OIL LEAKS.

NHTSA ID
10785481
Incident
Sep 1, 2014
Mileage
56,000 mi
Driver assistanceSteering
Filed May 8, 2013

WHILE DRIVEN FROM WORK. MY CAR SUDDENLY SLOW DOWN AND SHOW A MESSAGE. REDUCED ENGINE POWER. THEN CAR STOPPED BY IT SELF.RESTART THE CAR AND ENGINE START JUMPING. NEED ADVISE. *TR

NHTSA ID
10511038
Incident
May 4, 2013
Mileage
161,200 mi
Driver assistanceElectrical
Filed Mar 26, 2013

THE DASH INFORMATION SYSTEM WILL RANDOMLY GO BLANK AND DISPLAY SRS FAILURE. ALONG WITH ALL INFORMATION LIGHTS START BLINKING ON AND OFF. THE ANALOG GAUGE LIKE THE SPEEDOMETER AND FUEL GAUGE WILL GO TO "0" OR JUST MOVE ERATICALLY TO ANY NUMBER OR POSITION WHILE DRIVING. AT NIGHT THE ENTIRE INFORMATION CENTER GO BLANK THE CLOCK AND THE MILEAGE(NO LIGHTS AT ALL). *TR

NHTSA ID
10504535
Incident
Jul 13, 2012
Mileage
100,520 mi
Driver assistance
Filed Nov 14, 2011

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 VOLVO S60. THE CONTACT STATED WITH HIS FOOT ON THE BRAKE PEDAL, THE VEHICLE WOULD INTERMITTENTLY SURGE FORWARD. THE CONTACT ALSO STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WOULD INTERMITTENTLY HESITATE TO ACCELERATE FROM A STOPPED POSITION. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO A DEALER TO HAVE THE FAILURE DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE, BUT OFFERED NO ASSISTANCE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 20,000. UPDATED 01/04/12 *BF UPDATED 01/09/12

NHTSA ID
10435456
Incident
Nov 7, 2011
Mileage
20,000 mi
Driver assistance
Filed Aug 17, 2010

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 VOLVO S60. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING 55 MPH WHEN THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER WHERE THEY REPLACED THE ELECTRONIC THROTTLE ASSEMBLY AT THE CONTACTS EXPENSE. THE MANUFACTURER WOULD NOT PROVIDE ANY ASSISTANCE. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 64,000.

NHTSA ID
10349983
Incident
Apr 15, 2010
Mileage
64,000 mi
Driver assistance
Filed Feb 24, 2010

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 VOLVO S60. WHEN THE CONTACT ATTEMPTED TO EXIT A PARKING SPACE THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY SURGED FORWARD WITHOUT WARNING. AFTER EXAMINING THE VEHICLE THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THE DRIVER SIDE FLOOR MAT BECAME STUCK UNDER THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL. THERE WERE NO PRIOR WARNINGS AND THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN DIAGNOSED BY THE DEALERSHIP. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 50,000.

NHTSA ID
10313726
Incident
Dec 11, 2009
Mileage
50,000 mi
Driver assistanceEngine
Filed May 18, 2009

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 VOLVO S60. WHILE DRIVING LOW SPEEDS, THE VEHICLE WOULD ACCELERATE ABNORMALLY. THE CONTACT EXPERIENCED DIFFICULTY ACCELERATING AS IF THE VEHICLE WERE IN LIMP MODE. IN ADDITION, THE VEHICLE STALLS WITHOUT WARNING. SHE TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER AND THEY STATED THAT THEY COULD NOT DUPLICATE THE FAILURE AND PROVIDE A REMEDY. THE 2003 S60 WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 06V441000 (VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL). THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 40,000 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 74,000.

NHTSA ID
10269023
Incident
May 14, 2006
Mileage
40,000 mi
Driver assistanceElectricalEngine+2 more
Filed Feb 10, 2009

ON 12 DEC, 2008, MY 2003 VOLVO S60 STALLED WITH NO WARNING WHILE TRAVELING ON A BUSY HIGHWAY AT 60 MPH. I PULLED TO SAFETY (VEHICLE WAS IN "LIMP HOME" MODE) AND HAD THE VEHICLE TOWED TO THE DEALERSHIP (PARK PLACE VOLVO). SINCE THE VEHICLE STARTED RIGHT BACK UP AND PRESENTED NO CODES, I WAS TOLD THERE WAS NOTHING WRONG AND GIVEN A BILL FOR $418 (FOR TOW AND DIAGNOSTIC CHECK). APPROX. 1 MONTH LATER, VEHICLE PRESENTED SAME PROBLEM; IT STALLED, WITHOUT WARNING, WHILE DRIVING... CREATING A GREAT SAFETY RISK FOR THE SECOND TIME. I HAD VEHICLE TOWED AGAIN TO SAME DEALERSHIP, AND SINCE VEHICLE STARTED RIGHT BACK UP WITH NO CODES, I WAS TOLD THERE WAS NOTHING WRONG. DEALERSHIP COULD NOT GET VEHICLE TO DUPLICATE PROBLEM ON EITHER OCCASION. HOWEVER, TO APPEASE ME, DEALERSHIP DID REPLACE ACCELERATOR PEDAL...VEHICLE STILL PRESENTS SAME STALLING ISSUE, AND INTERMITTENTLY GOES INTO "LIMP HOME" MODE FOR NO APPARENT REASON. THIS WILL UNDOUBTEDLY CAUSE A SERIOUS ACCIDENT, AS IT IS OBVIOUS, FROM THE NUMEROUS COMPLAINTS ON THIS ISSUE, THAT THIS IS A MASS DEFECT. *TR

NHTSA ID
10258205
Incident
Dec 10, 2008
Mileage
94,000 mi
Driver assistance
Filed Nov 24, 2006

WHILE DRIVING ON I-290 THE ENGINE OF MY 2003 VOLVO S60 SUDDENLY LOST ALL POWER. I NARROWLY ESCAPED SEVERAL SERIOUS ACCIDENTS ON A BUSY CHICAGO HIGHWAY. WHEN THE CAR LOSES POWER THERE IS ABSOLUTELY NOTHING THE OPERATOR CAN DO TO MOVE OVER TO THE SIDE. I WAS DRIVING APPROX. 60 MPH WHEN THIS HAPPENED. THE VEHICLE COMPLETELY STALLED, AND I WAS ABLE TO RESTART THE VEHICLE AFTER APPROX. 30-60 SECONDS. THE PROBLEMS EXHIBITED BY THE CAR ARE EXACTLY THE SAME AS THE RECENT RECALL THAT VOLVO HAS ANNOUNCED FOR VOLVO VEHICLES. MY CAR IS NOT INCLUDED IN THIS RECALL. THE CAR IS NOW STALLING RANDOMLY AT LOWER SPEEDS. *NM

NHTSA ID
10174205
Incident
Nov 24, 2006
Driver assistance
Filed May 17, 2006

MY 03 VOLVO STALLS AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS RESULTING IN A LOSS OF POWER STEERING. THIS HAPPENS SEVERAL TIMES PER TRIP, POSING A VERY VERY DANGEROUS SITUATION. THE VEHICLE STALLS WHEN LETTING OFF THE GAS PEDAL AND OCCASIONALLY WHEN COMING TO A STOP. *NM

NHTSA ID
10157716
Incident
May 5, 2006
Mileage
62,000 mi
Driver assistance
Filed Feb 3, 2006
Crash reported

ON 12/22 I WAS DRIVING MY 2003 VOLVO S 60 AWD. I WAS VERY SLOWLY AND CAREFULLY PULLING INTO A FRONT IN PARKING SPOT. I WAS PARTICULARLY CAREFUL BECAUSE THERE WAS A DRIVER SITTING IN THE CAR PARKED TO MY RIGHT, AND I DID NOT WANT TO GET TOO CLOSE TO HIS CAR. WITH MY FOOT ON THE BRAKE I WAS SLOWLY MOVING INTO THE SPOT. MY FRONT FENDER TAPPED THE SHORT CONCRETE BARRIER AT THE FRONT OF THE PARKING SPOT. THE NEXT THING I NEW, THE CAR WAS RAPIDLY ACCELERATING FORWARD. I WAS WORRIED THAT I WOULD GO OVER THE BARRIER AND STRIKE A BRICK WALL IN FRONT OF ME. I BELIEVE THAT THE ENGINE BLOCK MUST HAVE HIT THE SHORT CONCRETE BARRIER AND THAT IS WHAT ULTIMATELY STOPPED THE CAR. DESPITE THE FACT THAT I WAS INCHING INTO THE SPOT AT THE SLOWEST POSSIBLE SPEED. THE FORCE OF THE ACCELERATION WAS ENOUGH TO CRUMPLE THE WHOLE FRONT OF MY CAR, CRACK THE WINDSHIELD, AND CAUSE THE PASSENGER FRONT AIR BAG TO RELEASE. I FEEL VERY CERTAIN THAT THIS REPRESENTED UNINTENDED ACCELERATION. I DO NOT THINK THERE WAS ANY CHANCE THAT I STEPPED ON THE GAS INSTEAD OF THE BRAKE. I AM A VERY CAREFUL, CAUTIOUS DRIVER, AND WAS VERY AWARE OF WHAT I WAS DOING AT THE TIME WITHOUT ANY DISTRACTIONS. I REPORTED THIS TO VOLVO CUSTOMER SERVICE, WHO CLAIMS THAT AFTER INSPECTING THE CAR, THEY FOUND NO SAFETY CONCERNS. I AM CONCERNED THAT HAVING VOLVO DO THEIR OWN INSPECTION REPRESENTS A CONFLICT OF INTEREST. *NM

NHTSA ID
10149357
Incident
Dec 22, 2004
Driver assistance
Filed Sep 13, 2005

HAD PROBLEMS WITH CAR STALLING AT SLOW SPEEDS, BUT ALL OF A SUDDEN WHILE DRIVING ON A MAJOR HIGHWAY AT 65 MPH AND CAR LOST POWER. WE WERE ABLE TO GLIDE TO SHOULDER WHERE CAR STALLED. IT RESTARTED IMMEDIATELY, BUT ABOUT EVERY 5 MI. THE CAR WOULD STALL AGAIN. THE SERVICE DEPT. AT STAMFORD VOLVO TOLD ME I HAD BAD GAS AND THEY REPLACE A SENOR IN THE FUEL SYSTEM. AS SOON AS I LEFT THE DEALERSHIP AND GOT ON THE HIGHWAY THE CAR STALLED AGAIN. I BROUGHT IT BACK TO THE DEALER. THEY SERVICED THE CAR AGAIN AND TOLD ME THE WATER IN THE GAS RUSTED SOME SCREEN IN THE FUEL SYSTEM. THEY REPLACED IT AND THUS FAR THE CAR HASN'T' STALLED BUT THERE IS STILL SOME HESITATION WHILE DRIVING AT HIGH SPEEDS. *NM

NHTSA ID
10136312
Incident
Sep 6, 2005
Mileage
26,900 mi
Driver assistance
Filed Sep 12, 2005

RECENTLY WHILE DRIVING AT SPEEDS AROUND 40 MPH MY CAR EXPERIENCED A LOSS OF SPEED AND THEN STALLED. EACH EXPERIENCE HAS BEEN PRECEDED BY A BRIEF LOSS AND THEN BY A MORE PROLONGED LOSS AND FINALLY A COMPLETE ENGINE FAILURE WHICH LOCKS UP STEERING. IN EACH INSTANCE THE CAR HAS RESTARTED. THE MECHANIC SAID IT WAS MOST LIKELY A FAILURE OF THE ELECTRONIC THROTTLE CONTROL MODULE (ETM). STEPS ARE CURRENTLY BEING TAKEN TO REPLACE THE ETM. *NM

NHTSA ID
10136253
Incident
Sep 9, 2005
Mileage
28,000 mi
Driver assistance
Filed Sep 9, 2005

DT: 2003 VOLVO S60. VEHICLE STALLED/LOST POWER DUE TO THROTTLE BODY FAILURE. *AK THE VEHICLE STALLED A TOTAL OF SIX TIMES WHILE THE CONSUMER WAS ON A ROAD TRIP. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A REPAIR FACILITY BUT THEY DIDN'T HAVE THE PART TO REPAIR THE PROBLEM. *NM

NHTSA ID
10132130
Incident
Oct 30, 2004
Mileage
10,980 mi
Driver assistance
Filed Aug 29, 2005

DT: THE CONTACT S BROUGHT CAR TO DEALER 3 TIMES BECAUSE IT WILL NOT START AFTER SITTING FOR AWHILE. . SHE OWNS A 2003 VOLVO MODEL S60 2.4T. THE FIRST TIME IT HAPPENED WAS ON 8-12-05. THE LAST TIME IT HAPPENED ON 8-27-05. ONCE IT TOOK OVER AN HOUR FOR IT TO START UP. EVERY TIME SHE FIXED IT, THE PROBLEM RECURRED. IT WILL INTERMITTENTLY NOT START. SHE WAS THE ORIGINAL OWNER. SHE DID NOT THINK SHE HAD THE ELECTRONIC THROTTLE MODULE (ETM) REPLACED. VEHICLE HAS NOT STALLED WHILE SHE WAS DRIVING, BUT AT TIMES IT SURGED FORWARD. *AK

NHTSA ID
10134630
Incident
Aug 27, 2005
Mileage
31,399 mi
Driver assistance
Filed Aug 11, 2005

BETWEEN 12/2004-6/2005 MY 2003 VOLVO S60 LOST POWER/ POWER DECREASES AT VARYING SPEEDS. THE MOST SIGNIFICANT WAS ON THE HWY GOING 65 MPH. I HAD JUST ACCELERATED TO GET ONTO THE HWY IN FRONT OF A SEMI TRUCK. MY CAR REACHED 65-70 MPH AND BEGAN TO DROP SPEEDS - 65 TO 55 TO 50 TO 40 WITH IN SECONDS. THE SEMI ALMOST RAN OVER ME BECAUSE THE SPEEDS DROPPED SO FAST. I CAUSED 2 OTHER CARS ON THE HWY TO GO ONTO THE SIDE RAMP OTHERWISE IT WOULD HAVE BEEN A HORRIBLE CRASH WITH THE SEMI. I HAVE TAKEN THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER 3 TIMES COMPLAINING OF THE SAME PROBLEM. THE FINAL TIME STATING NOT TO GIVE THE CAR BACK UNTIL IT WAS FIXED. THE DEALER SAID THEY DOWNLOADED NEW SOFTWARE TO THE CAR? IF IT HAPPENS AGAIN THEY CAN INSTALL A BLACK BOX TO RECORD WHAT IS GOING ON. WHAT IF THE NEXT TIME THE SEMI DOES CRASH INTO ME? THE FIRST TIME THEY HAD THE CAR THE LABELED AS PEDAL POSITION SENSOR INSTALL/REPLACE? THE SECOND TIME THE INVOICE READS PRESSURE SENSOR INTAKE AIR REPLACED? ULTIMATELY, I SAW THE REPORT IN THE NEWS AND RECOGNIZED THE ISSUE TO EXACTLY WHAT HAPPENS TO MY CAR. I NOTICED THAT YOU DID NOT INCLUDE 2003 S60'S IN YOUR REPORT. I KNOW THESE SHOULD BE LOOKED AT AS WELL. I LOVE MY VOLVO I JUST DON'T FEEL VERY SAFE IN IT. PLEASE CONTACT ME FOR ANY QUESTIONS. *NM

NHTSA ID
10132542
Incident
Jun 21, 2005
Mileage
22,450 mi
Driver assistance
Filed Aug 2, 2005

DT: 2003 VOLVO S60. WHILE DRIVING 35 MPH VEHICLE STALLED INTERMITTENTLY, AND THEN ACCELERATED. TOOK VEHICLE TO DEALER 4 TIMES. REPLACED THROTTLE BODY. *AK

NHTSA ID
10131047
Incident
Jul 1, 2005
Mileage
25,000 mi
Driver assistance
Filed Jun 1, 2004

MY HUSBAND AND I DROVE OUR VOLVO (WE ARE LEASING THIS CAR) FIRST TIME FOR A LONG TRIP (ABOUT 800 MILES). THE CAR MILEAGE WAS ABOUT 13,000. AFTER DRIVING WITH THE SPEED 75M/H FOR ABOUT 4 HOURS, WE TOOK AN EXIT AND LOST CONTROL OVER THE CAR. ACTUALLY CAR TOOK CONTROL. IT SHIFTED INTO NEUTRAL GEAR, JUMPED AND STOPPED. IT TOOK A COUPLE OF MINUTES BEFORE CAR ALLOWED TO CONTROL ITSELF. THIS SCARY EXPERIENCE REPEATED A FEW TIMES ON THE ROAD. NEEDLESS TO SAY, IT WAS A SHOCKING EXPERIENCE. THE FIRST THING WE DID, WE BROUGHT A CAR TO A DEALER. THEY INFORMED US THAT THE CAR WAS LEASED TO US WITH OUTDATED OLD SOFTWARE, THAT THIS SOFTWARE ALSO HAD A GLITCH. THAT THEY HAD TO DOWNLOAD A NEW VERSION OF SOFTWARE. NOT A BIG DEAL, AND IT A MASS PRODUCTION OF VOLVO CARS, AND THINGS LIKE THAT HAPPEN ALL THE TIME I WAS TOLD BY THE VOLVO SERVICE. I DID NOT BELIEVE IT AND COULD NOT BELIEVE IT. CALL THE VOLVO OF NORTH AMERICA CUSTOMER SERVICE. SURE ENOUGH, THEIR REPRESENTATIVE, JENNI WITH EXTENSION #1979 CONFIRMED THE SAME THING FOR ME. SHE SAID IT IS A SCARY EXPERIENCE, BUT WE UPDATED YOUR CAR SOFTWARE. I ASKED WHY THIS OLD, NOT SAFE VERSION WAS GIVEN TO ME AND HER RESPONSE WAS THAT THEY HAVE NO WAY TO KNOW WHEN AND WHAT WILL HAPPEN WITH THE SOFTWARE ON THE ROAD. SO WHAT HAPPENS WITH THEIR SLOGAN THAT VOLVO IS FOR LIFE? ANY ANSWERS BESIDES, WELL, IT IS A MASS PRODUCTIONS AND THE SAFETY CANNOT BE GUARANTEED. SORRY FOR THE EMOTIONS, IF YOU WHO WILL BE SO KIND TO READ MY MESSAGE WOULD BE HEARING HOW HAPPY AND RELAXED VOLVO REPRESENTATIVES ABOUT THIS INCIDENT. ANY COMMENTS? THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR YOU TIME. *AK

NHTSA ID
10074603
Incident
May 9, 2004

Higher-selling and older vehicles accumulate more reports. Counts are not failure rates and are not directly comparable between vehicles that sold in very different numbers.

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Data on this page last refreshed .