RoadVitals

2003 Volvo S60 Fuel system Problems

Owner-reported complaints naming the fuel system system, filed with NHTSA

Data refreshed

Fuel system 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.
14
Latest Sep 24, 2018
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.
12%
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.
0
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 fuel storage or delivery — tanks, pumps, lines, injectors and fuel leaks. 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. 14 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 fuel system

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

Fuel system
Filed Sep 24, 2018

VECHILE LEAKING GAS AND HAD STRONG GAS SMELL.

NHTSA ID
11130971
Incident
Sep 6, 2017
Fuel system
Filed Sep 2, 2018

FUEL LEAKING FROM TANK (MOST LIKELY TOP OF TANK), WHEN FUEL PUMP IS OPERATING. UPON SOME SEARCH, I FOUND THAT THERE WAS A RECALL FOR THIS PROBLEM FOR THE S60 FROM 2001 TO 2009. BUT FOR SOME REASON MY VIN IS NOT COVERED. SEEMS LIKE THERE'S SOME LOOPHOLE THAT THEY MANAGED TO USE, WHY NOT ALL VINS SHOULD BE COVERED. ITS CLEARLY A VERY DANGEROUS FAILURE.

NHTSA ID
11124016
Incident
Jan 1, 2018
Mileage
120,000 mi
Fuel system
Filed Apr 6, 2016

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 VOLVO S60. WHILE DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS, THERE WAS AN ABNORMAL ODOR OF FUEL IN THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE REAR SEAT WAS LIFTED AND THE SEAL WAS MISSING FROM THE FUEL TANK. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED NOR REPAIRED. THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 09V483000 (FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE). THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 220,000.

NHTSA ID
10853785
Incident
Feb 5, 2016
Mileage
220,000 mi
Fuel system
Filed Nov 12, 2015

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 VOLVO S60. AFTER THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED, A FUEL ODOR EMITTED FROM THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 09V483000 (FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE). THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 180,000.

NHTSA ID
10789915
Incident
Oct 28, 2015
Mileage
180,000 mi
EngineFuel system
Filed Sep 5, 2015

FUEL LEAK COMING FROM UNDERCARRIAGE PASSANGER RIGHT REAR SEATS, NEAR FUEL FILTER, OFF THE TOP OF THE GAS TANK. NOTICABLE SMELL AND HUGE HAZARD FOR SAFETY. WHAT MAKES IT PRESENCE DETECTED IS SMELL INSIDE CABIN AFTER FILLING GAS TANK AT FUELING STATIONS.

NHTSA ID
10761808
Incident
Aug 3, 2015
Mileage
65,000 mi
Fuel system
Filed Jan 29, 2015

CAR INTERIOR SMELLED OF GASOLINE AND GASOLINE LEAKING INTO PASSENGER COMPARTMENT AND UNDERNEATH CAR. TOOK CAR TO AAA REPAIR FACILITY WHERE MULTIPLE LEAKS AND MALFUNCTIONS DISCOVERED AND REPAIRED. LOW MILEAGE FOR YEAR OF CAR AND NO ACCIDENTS. FUEL LEVEL SENSOR ASSEMBLY CRACKED AND LEAKING - NOT THE GASKET - THE FUEL LEVEL SENSOR PLASTIC HOUSING FAILED. FUEL PUMP MODULE ASSEMBLY LEAKING. *TR

NHTSA ID
10679656
Incident
Jan 23, 2015
Mileage
67,478 mi
Fuel system
Filed Mar 10, 2014

SOME MODELS HAD A RECALL NOTICE FOR A CRACKED LEAKING FUEL PUMP (PE09039). THIS EXACT THING HAPPENED TO OUR CAR. VOLVO REFUSES TO COVER THE VEHICLE UNDER THE RECALL BECAUSE IT WAS NOT SOLD IN ONE OF THE STATES LISTED. THE PROBLEM IS EXACTLY AS DESCRIBED IN THE RECALL. THIS DOESN'T SEEM RIGHT AS IT THE SAME SAFETY ISSUE. PLEASE LET ME KNOW IF THERE IS ANY FURTHER ACTION THAT CAN BE TAKEN. *TR

NHTSA ID
10568325
Incident
Jan 31, 2014
Mileage
106,000 mi
Fuel system
Filed Jun 8, 2010

2003 VOLVO S60 SEDAN. CONSUMER STATES RECEIPT OF LETTER FROM VOLVO REGARDING EXTENDED WARRANTY NOTICE INFORMING HER THAT THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN FITTED WITH A FAULTY FUEL PUMP *TGW THE CONSUMER STATED INSTEAD OF A RECALL, VOLVO SUGGESTED THAT THE CONSUMER ONLY TAKE THE VEHICLE IN FOR REPAIRS IF SHE SMELLED GAS OR HAD A GAS LEAK. THE CONSUMER STATED VOLVO WAS WILLING TO PUT HER LIFE AT RISK RATHER THAN FIXING THE PROBLEM UP FRONT. *JB

NHTSA ID
10335916
Incident
Jan 1, 1901
Fuel system
Filed Aug 25, 2009

WE TO HAVE A 2003 S60 WITH A VERY BAD FUEL SMELL. WE BOUGHT IT USED IN 2006 FROM A VOLVO DEALER IN CARY, NC. OF COURSE, WHEN I CALLED VOLVO AND GAVE THEM THE VIN #, THEY SAID THAT WE WERE NOT COVERED. OUR CERTIFIED PRE OWNED STATUS EXPIRED IN FEB. OF THIS YEAR. I REALLY DON'T WANT TO SPEND $700+ TO GET SOMETHING FIXED THAT HAS BEEN A RECURRING PROBLEM FOR VOLVO. *TR

NHTSA ID
10281685
Incident
Aug 1, 2009
Mileage
78,000 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
Fuel system
Filed Aug 21, 2007

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 VOLVO S60. WHILE DRIVING 35 MPH, THE ENTIRE VEHICLE BEGAN TO SHAKE, THE SERVICE ENGINE LIGHT ILLUMINATED, AND THE VEHICLE SHUT OFF. THE WEATHER CONDITIONS WERE RAINY AT THE TIME OF FAILURE. THE FAILURE OCCURRED IN THE MIDDLE OF THE ROAD. THE CONTACT PULLED OFF THE HIGHWAY AND THE VEHICLE RESTARTED AFTER 2-3 MINUTES. THE DEALER REPLACED THE FUEL PRESSURE SENSOR, BUT THE FAILURE PERSISTS. THE POWERTRAIN WAS UNKNOWN. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 63,000.

NHTSA ID
10200258
Incident
Aug 19, 2007
Mileage
63,000 mi
ElectricalFuel system
Filed Feb 11, 2007

THE CAR STALLED REPEATEDLY WHILE THE ENGINE WAS IDLING. ALL POWER WAS LOST MAKING THE CAR VERY DIFFICULT TO STEER AND BRAKE. I NEARLY GOT INTO SEVERAL ACCIDENTS THE ENGINE STALLED WHILE: 1) STOPPED AT A RED LIGHT 2) WHILE SHIFTING GEARS ON THE HIGHWAY 3) WHILE SHIFTING GEARS IN HEAVY TRAFFIC I TOOK THE CAR TO THE DEALERSHIP 4 TIMES BEFORE THE PROBLEM CORRECTLY FIXED. THE FOLLOWING ITEMS WERE REPLACED BUT DID NOT FIX THE PROBLEM: 1) FUEL PUMP 2) MAP SENSOR (REPLACED 2 TIMES) NEITHER OF THESE FIXES WORKED. THE PROBLEM WAS CORRECTED AFTER MODIFYING THE SOFTWARE ON THE COMPUTER BOARD. *JB

NHTSA ID
10182257
Incident
Aug 1, 2006
Mileage
42,500 mi
ElectricalFuel system
Filed Aug 2, 2005

DT: CONTACT STATDS 2003 VOLVO CUT OFF WHILEGOING 60 MPH. CAR COMPLETELY LOST POWER IN THE MIDDLE LANE. IT WAS TOWED ,AND THEY KEPT IT FOR 3 DAYS. CONSUMER PICKED IT UP ON 7-16-05. THE DEALER REPLACED THE BATTERY. NINE DAYS LATER ON 7-24-05 THE CAR COMPLETELY QUIT AGAIN. THEY CALLED HECONSUME R AT HOME AND TOLD HER THEY THOUGHT IT WAS A FUEL PRESSURE ISSUE. HER CAR HAS BEEN IN THE SHOP 2 TIMES PREVIOUSLY FOR HESITATION AND DELAYS, AND THEY KEPT TELLING HER IT WAS CHIP RELATED .THE LAST TWO INCIDENTS OCCURRED AT RELATIVE HIGHER SPEEDS THAN THE FIRST TIME. CAR HAS BEEN IN THE SHOP FOR ONE WEEK, AND SHE DID HEAR FROM THE SERVICE DEALERSHIP LAST NIGHT. HE TOLD HER HE THOUGHT IT WAS A FUEL PRESSURE ISSUE AND HE WAS GOING TO CALL IN A SPECIALIST. *AK

NHTSA ID
10130971
Incident
Jul 24, 2005
Mileage
47,565 mi
Fuel system
Filed Oct 31, 2003

MANUFACTURER DEFECT FOR FUEL TANK VAPOR LEAK ON 2003 VOLVO S60 T5. DEALER STATED A SEPERATED PLASTIC WELD SEAM ON TANK WAS REALEASING STRONG FUEL VAPORS. POTENTIAL RISK FOR VAPORS TO IGNITE? *LA

NHTSA ID
10045171
Incident
Oct 29, 2003
Mileage
7,000 mi

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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Elsewhere on this vehicle

Data sources

Data on this page last refreshed .