2003 Volvo S60 Electrical Problems

The problem is when the weather turns cold my car a Volvo 2003 S 60 turn signals do not operate, or if they do turn on sometimes the turn signals won't stop flashing until you turn the ignition off. The head lights also will not turn on at any setting during this time. When the weather turns warm again everything works until the weather turns cold again. It appears to be related to the CENTRAL ELECTRONIC MODULE. It happens every time the weather is cold. It happen very unexpectedly my wife was driving down the road and was almost in an accident. The turn signals switch has already been replaced with a new Volvo turn signal switch.The turn signal still does not work. According to XEMODEX.INC this is a common problem for Volvo's S 60 2001-2010.

NHTSA ID

11711744

Incident

Dec 1, 2025

INSTRUMENT PANEL/CLUSTER GOES OUT WHILE DRIVING WHICH MEANS YOU CAN'T READ ANY OF THE GUAGES OR WARNINGS LIGHTS OTHER THAN IF CHECK ENGINE LIGHT IS ON. THIS IMPOSES A SAFETY RISKS TO ME AND OTHER TRAFFIC ON THE ROAD. IT DOES THIS ERRATICALLY, GOING OUT COMPLETELY AND COMING BACK ON IN TIME. NO FUSE PROBLEMS, THEY ARE CHECKED WHEN THIS ISSUE HAPPENS. I HAVE A PICTURE OF EXACTLY WHAT HAPPENS RIGHT BEFORE THE WHOLE PANEL GOES OUT.

NHTSA ID

11207081

Incident

Mar 20, 2019

Mileage

158,000 mi

THE DASHBOARD INSTRUMENT PANEL AND LIGHTS GO OFF AND COME BACK ON WHENEVER. I HAVE HAD THE CAR FOR OVER A YEAR. IT WAS A GIFT. I JUST FOUND OUT TONITE FROM AN OFFICER THAT WHEN THE INSTRUMENT PANEL AND LIGHTS ARE OFF I HAVE NO TAIL LIGHTS. I WAS WONDERING IF THERE HAS EVER BEEN A RECALL. THIS IS VERY DANGEROUS THE DATE BELOW IS IT AN APPROXIMATE. I REALLY DO NOT REMEMBER THE EXACT DATE.

NHTSA ID

11130034

Incident

May 25, 2017

Mileage

145,085 mi

INSTRUMENT CLUSTER NOT ILLUMINATING. I UNDERSTAND THIS IS A COMMON ISSUE WITH 2003 S60 VOLVOS. MANUFACTURER NEEDS TO RECALL/REPAIR AS THIS IS A SIGNIFICANT SAFETY ISSUE WHEN ALL THE INSTRUMENTS GO DARK AND YOU CANNOT GAUGE YOUR SPEED AND GAS LEFT IN TANK

NHTSA ID

11011251

Incident

Jul 21, 2017

Mileage

66,100 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 VOLVO S60. WHILE DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE INSTRUMENT PANEL INDICATOR INTERMITTENTLY ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT A CABLE BEHIND THE MILEAGE GAUGE FAILED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 179,000.

NHTSA ID

10958314

Incident

Feb 15, 2017

Mileage

179,000 mi

DASH CLUSTER LIGHTS AND GAUGES AND TURN SIGNAL INDICATOR SHUT DOWN AND BACK ON INTERMITTENTLY, MOTOR SEEMS TO LOSE POWER WHEN DRIVING, AND ROUGH IDLE. THE DASH CLUSTER PROBLEM HAPPENS WHILE DRIVING AND IN THE PARK POSITION. *TR

NHTSA ID

10928324

Incident

Jun 2, 2016

Mileage

100,000 mi

ENTIRE DASHBORAD HAS WENT BLACK GAS GAUGE,SPEEDODMETOR,TURNING SIGNALS AND HAZARD LIGHTS.

NHTSA ID

10887584

Incident

Jul 21, 2016

THE INSTRUMENT PANEL WENT DEAD LAST WINTER; NO LIGHTS, NO INDICATORS, NO INSTRUMENTS, NOTHING. I RECENTLY BECAME AWARE THAT THIS IS NOT AN UNCOMMON PROBLEM. JUST AN EXTREMELY EXPENSIVE ONE. A VOLVO TECHNICIAN INFORMED ME THAT THE JAPANESE FIRM THAT VOLVO HIRED DID A POOR JOB AND MANY OF THE INSTRUMENT PANELS HAVE DEFECTIVE SOLDERING AND REQUIRE REPLACEMENT OR HAVE THE PANEL "RE-POINTED". APPARENTLY, IT IS LESS OF AN ISSUE IN MOIST CLIMATES. VOLVO WILL NOT REPAIR THE PANEL. THEY WILL ONLY REPLACE IT. I WAS QUOTED $1,605.00 PLUS $157.00 TO PROGRAM IT TO THE CAR'S COMPUTER. THE TECHNICIAN KNEW EXACTLY WHAT I WAS TALKING ABOUT. SO, AS I SAID BEFORE, THIS IS NOT A UNCOMMON PROBLEM. WITH A DEAD INSTRUMENT PANEL, YOU CANNOT DETERMINE HOW FAST YOU ARE GOING, HOW MUCH GAS YOU HAVE IN YOUR CAR, NO OIL INDICATOR, NO TURN SIGNALS, NO HIGH BEAM, OR ANY OF THE ALERTS OR REMINDERS THAT THE COMPUTER PUTS UP.

NHTSA ID

10851444

Incident

Jan 6, 2015

Mileage

125,000 mi

INSTRUMENT CLUSTER FAILURE

NHTSA ID

10845559

Incident

Mar 2, 2016

Mileage

154,000 mi

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

WHILE DRIVING MY 2003 VOLVO S60, THE DASH INSTRUMENT PANEL SUDDENLY LOST ALL POWER W/THE GAUGES/DISPLAY ALL STOPPING. THEN IT WOULD RETURN AND KEEP WORKING. THEN IT WOULD DO IT A DIFFERENT TIME, CONTINUING IN THIS CYCLE - RANDOMLY SHUTTING OFF COMPLETELY SO I HAD NO GAUGES, WARNING LIGHTS, TURN SIGNAL LIGHTS, ETC. JUST A LARGE BLACK AREA WHERE THE INSTRUMENT PANEL IS. THIS WAS ESPECIALLY CONCERNING AT NIGHT WHEN I WOULD JUST RANDOMLY LOOSE THE DISPLAY WHILE DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY. I CONTACTED VOLVO AND THEY SAID THIS IS A KNOWN PROBLEM W/THEIR VEHICLES (AND IS ALSO CONFIRMED WHEN LOOKING ONLINE FOR OTHERS WHO HAVE HAD THE SAME PROBLEM). THE REPAIR IS NOT COVERED UNDER ANY SORT OF SAFETY RECALL, AND IS VERY EXPENSIVE. FOR A MFG WHOSE CARS ARE TOUTED AS BEING VERY SAFE, HAVING THE INSTRUMENT PANEL SUDDENLY STOP WORKING SO NO IDEA OF SPEED NOR ANY GAUGES/WARNING LIGHTS ARE AVAILABLE WHILE DRIVING IS CLEARLY NOT IN-LINE W/SAFE DRIVING. NO OTHER CAR I'VE OWNED HAS EVER HAD THIS KNOWN PROBLEM, ESPECIALLY W/A PART NOT PRONE TO WEAR & TEAR LIKE OTHER PARTS TYPICALLY ARE IN A CAR.

NHTSA ID

10836420

Incident

Feb 12, 2016

Mileage

165,000 mi

TRANSMISSION SHIFTING PROBLEMS OIL LEAKS.

NHTSA ID

10785481

Incident

Sep 1, 2014

Mileage

56,000 mi

I AM SURPRISED THERE HAS NOT BEEN A RECALL ISSUED FOR CERTAIN MODEL YEAR VOLVOS RELATIVE TO THE CENTER DASH MODULE LOSING ALL COMMUNICATION APPARENTLY DUE TO FAILED SOLDER CONNECTIONS (BASED ON CHAT-ROOMS, VOLVO SPECIFIC). I UNDERSTAND COMPONENTS CAN FAIL, BUT THE SHEER NUMBER OF FAILURES AND THE FAILURE MODE IS BEYOND TYPICAL OR EXPECTED FAILURES. THE FAILURE MODE CAUSES MOST OR ALL DASH GAUGES, INDICATORS AND LIGHTS TO FAIL, INCLUDING THE SPEEDOMETER. THESE FAILURES APPARENTLY OCCUR RANDOMLY, AND AT ANY AGE/MILEAGE.

NHTSA ID

10760492

Incident

Aug 3, 2015

Mileage

170,000 mi

WHILE DRIVING HOME AFTER HAVING STEERING RACK REPLACED THE DASH LIGHTS (SPEEDOMETER, TURN SIGNALS, MESSAGE CENTER, ETC.) WENT COMPLETELY OUT. AFTER MULTIPLE DRIVES THE DASH LIGHTS GO ON AND OFF INTERMITTENTLY WHILE DRIVING.

NHTSA ID

10725661

Incident

Jun 15, 2015

Mileage

129,091 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 VOLVO S60. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE ENTIRE INSTRUMENT PANEL GRADUALLY BECAME INOPERABLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE INSTRUMENT PANEL NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 90,000. UPDATED 4/20/15*CN

NHTSA ID

10676782

Incident

Nov 10, 2014

Mileage

90,000 mi

DRIVING CAR LIGHTS ON DASH BOARD WENT COMPLETELY OFF. TOOK IT TO SHOP THEY TAP IT AND DASH CAME ON AGAIN, CHANGE FUSE . LIGHTS WENT OFF AGAIN AND STAYED OFF. *TR

NHTSA ID

10663718

Incident

Nov 1, 2013

Mileage

153,000 mi

THE ENTIRE GAUGE CLUSTER TURNS OFF AND ON WHEN THE VEHICLE IS TRAVELING DOWN THE ROAD. THIS IS A WIDE SPREAD PROBLEM THATS WELL DOCUMENTED BY THE VOLVO COMMUNITY. THE ISSUE IS A POORLY SOLDERED CIRCUIT BOARD ON THE DIM. *TR

NHTSA ID

10643749

Incident

Aug 22, 2014

Mileage

124,570 mi

VEHICLE DRIVER INFORMATION MODULE (DIM) STOPPED WORKING WHILE VEHICLE WAS TRAVELING ON THE ROAD AT APPROXIMATELY 45 MILES PER HOUR. *TR

NHTSA ID

10610083

Incident

Feb 21, 2014

Mileage

148,000 mi

I STARTED MY CAR AND WHERE IT TELLS YOU IF SOMETHING NEEDS TO BE DONE TO CAR IT SAID AIRBAG WARNING URGENT SERVICE NEEDED. THEN LATER WHILE DRIVING ALL THE GAUGES STOPPED WORKING. NOW THE GAUGES DON'T WORK AT ALL. PLUS WHEN DRIVING AND TURNING A CORNER THE CAR STALLS NOW THIS HAS BEEN HAPPENING FOR A COUPLE YEARS NOW. PLUS A COUPLE YEARS AGO ALL MY HEAD LIGHTS BURNT OUT AT ONCE THEN THEY ONLY LASTED A COUPLE DAYS HAD TO BUY MORE THAT HAPPENED 5 TIMES IN ONE YEAR STILL HAVE NO BRIGHTS. *TR

NHTSA ID

10604873

Incident

May 15, 2014

Mileage

130,000 mi

DASHBOARD WENT DEAD WHILE DRIVING. GAS METER, RPM, EVERYTHING WENT DEAD. THE DASH LIGHTS LATER CAME ON FOR A WHILE, BUT THE SPEEDOMETER WENT BACK TO 40 MPH. NOTHING WORKS PROPERLY. *TR

NHTSA ID

10594976

Incident

May 29, 2014

CLOCK STARTED ROTATING NUMBERS.. AND NOT STOP. THEN INSTRUMENT DASH INFORMATION STOPPED. NO DASH LIGHTS, SPEED, GAS, WARNINGS. ALL OFF. WHEN I CAN SEE DASH. ONCE A MONTH, MAYBE....IT SAYS AIR BAGS NEED CHECKING, CHECK ENGINE. I AM CONCERNED THAT THE AIR BAGS WILL NOT WORK IF AN ACCIDENT OCCURS. AND IF I WERE TO BE ABLE TO AFFORD THE REPAIR, THEN WILL I HAVE TO PAY TO CHECK AIR BAGS? ENGINE? WHAT IF A FIRE DID OCCUR... HOW WOULD I KNOW? DEALER STATES $ 1700 TO REPAIR. IT IS SAFETY ISSUE FOR SPEED LIMIT, AIR BAG DEPLOYMENT IF AN ACCIDENT OCCURS, FUEL CONSUMPTION. CAN'T SEE MILEAGE FOR THIS COMPLAINT! DASH NOT WORKING... ENGINE MOUNTS SHOT. SEAT WARMER BROKE FIRST YEAR. NEEDED REPLACEMENT. THE ELECTRICAL HARNESS IN THIS CAR IS SHOT, BROKE, NOT CORRECT. TOO MANY COMPLAINTS ENTERED FOR THIS TO NOT BE A RECALL. PLEASE, PLEASE HELP! *TR

NHTSA ID

10524811

Incident

Dec 20, 2012

Mileage

45,023 mi

LOST INSTRUMENT PANEL WHILE DRIVING. ALL GAUGES NOT WORKING. IT HAPPENED WHILE DRIVING. *TR

NHTSA ID

10521898

Incident

Jun 25, 2013

Mileage

138,000 mi

THE DASHBOARD HAS A FAULT IN IT, POSSIBLY A SHORT OR SOME OTHER ELECTRICAL FAULT THE PROBLEM HAS BEEN INTERMITTENT. BUT, ONLY RECENTLY HAS BECOME RATHER ACUTE. LIGHTS AND GAUGES GO ON AND OFF. PROBLEM HAS ADVERSELY AFFECTED THE SRS AIRBAG SYSTEM TO THE POINT THAT IT IS NO LONGER FUNCTIONS AND REQUIRES RESETTING; APPARENTLY. I AM FILING THIS COMPLAINT BECAUSE SINCE DOING MY RESEARCH, THERE HAVE BEEN NUMEROUS INCIDENTS BEING REPORTED ON THE INTERNET. CONSIDERING THE LARGE NUMBER OF ISSUES/COMPLAINTS I HAVE SEEN ABOUT THIS ISSUE, THE PROBLEM WITH MY CAR IS APPARENTLY NOT AN ISOLATED INCIDENT. REPAIR FOR SUCH APPEARS TO BE IN THE $1,500.00 TO $2,000.00 RANGE. *TR

NHTSA ID

10521829

Incident

May 2, 2013

MY 2003 S60 VOLVO HAS FAILED IT ALL STARTED WITH THE RADIO FLICKERING TO DIFFERENT STATIONS.I NOTICED FROM THAN MY LIGHTS STARTED BLINKING ON AND OFF I HAS NO IDEA WHAT WAS GOING ON WITH THIS CAR I SERIOUSLY ALMOST GOT INTO IN ACCIDENT I PULLED OVER AND TURNED THE CAR OFF 5MINS AFTER I STARTED IT UP NOW ALL THE GUAGES WHERE DOWN EVE FUEL WAS PASS EMPTY I WAS TERRIFIED THAT MY CAR WOULD SHUT OFF I HAD MY 7 YEAR OLD IN THE CAR AS I WAS CAREFULLY WAS DRIVING HOME THE GUAGES STARTING MOVING ALL OVER THE PLACE RADIO SWITCHING FROM LEFT TO RIGHT THE MSG WINDOW SAID SEA BAG SERVICE SOON IAM VERY SCARE OF MY SAFETY JUS BOUGHT THIS CAR ON FEB 12/2013. *TR

NHTSA ID

10509339

Incident

Mar 12, 2013

Mileage

183,000 mi

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