2008 Volvo S60 Problems
Owner-reported complaints filed with NHTSA, grouped by component
Data refreshed
What this page shows
Everything below is an owner-reported complaint submitted to NHTSA about the 2008 Volvo S60, grouped by the component NHTSA recorded on the report. These are not confirmed defects, and they are not recalls. NHTSA does not verify most reports before publishing them, and a category with more reports in it is not evidence that a part is defective.
Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.
Reports by component
Ranked by how many owner reports name each component category
- Driver assistance428.6%
- Engine214.3%
- Powertrain (other)214.3%
- Airbags214.3%
- Visibility17.1%
- Electrical17.1%
- Fuel system17.1%
- Other / unspecified17.1%
Percentages are of component mentions. A single complaint can name more than one component, so these do not sum to the total complaint count.
Each component in detail
What the reports in each category say, in the owners' own words
Driver assistance
Reports naming forward-collision avoidance, lane keeping, back-over prevention, cruise control and related electronic driver-assistance systems.
From owner reports, verbatim
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 VOLVO S60. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 60 MPH, THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY STALLED. AFTER RESTARTING THE ENGINE THE VEHICLE OPERATED NORMALLY. THE VEHICLE STALLED A SECOND TIME WHILE THE CONTACT WAS SITTING AT A TRAFFIC STOP. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC, WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE MOTOR THROTTLE WAS FAULTY. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 123,000.
ON THE ABOVE DATE I STARTED MY VEHICLE AND PUT THE VEHICLE IN REVERSE TO PULL OUT OF PARKING SPACE. IMMEDIATELY AFTER RELEASING MY FOOT FROM THE BRAKE AND BEFORE TOUCHING THE GAS PEDAL, THE CAR ACCELERATED IN REVERSE SO FAST THAT I BOUNCED OFF A CEMENT POLE IN THE MIDDLE OF THE PARKING LOT. THE FORCE WAS SO GREAT THAT THE VEHICLE BOUNCED THREE TIMES BEFORE I WAS ABLE TO STOP IT WHICH I DID BY APPLYING THE BRAKE AND BEING BLOCKED BY THE POLE. AFTER I CAME TO A STOP I REALIZED THAT IT WAS IN FACT THE POLE THAT HAD STOPPED MY CAR. I WAS ALSO BLOCKING THE PARKING LOT SO I PUT MY FOOT BACK ON BRAKE AND PUT THE CAR IN DRIVE TO GET OUT OF WAY OF OTHER MOTORISTS AND TO ASSESS DAMAGE TO THE REAR OF MY VEHICLE. AT THIS POINT, TO MY SURPRISE, AS I TOOK MY FOOT OFF THE BRAKE AND BEFORE I COULD TOUCH THE ACCELERATOR, THE VEHICLE DID THE SAME THING IN DRIVE AS IT HAD DONE IN REVERSE AND I WENT HURLING TOWARD A VERY BUSY FOUR LANE STREET. I APPLIED FOOT BRAKE AND PULLED EMERGENCY BRAKE AND WAS STILL NOT ABLE TO STOP DUE TO THE FORCE OF ACCELERATION. THANKFULLY I HIT THE CEMENT PARKING MARKER AND A DIVIDER WHICH RAISED MY CAR OFF GROUND SO THAT THE FRONT WHEELS WE IN THE AIR. NEVER ONCE DID MY FOOT TOUCH THE ACCELERATOR OF THE VEHICLE NOR WAS THEIR ANYTHING ELSE TOUCHING THE ACCELERATOR. *TR
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Engine
Reports naming the engine itself — including stalling, misfires, oil consumption, cooling and internal engine components.
From owner reports, verbatim
ON THE FIST INCIDENT I WAS TALKING MY KIDS TO SCHOOL, DROPPED THEM OFF AND WHEN I STARTED TO ACCELERATE I GOT LOW ENGINE PERFORMANCE LIGHT AND CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ON, THE CAR WOULD ONLY GO 5 MPH. THE VOLVO DEALER FIXED IT NO CHARGE AND IT WAS OK FOR A WHILE. NEXT INCIDENT MY HUSBAND WAS DRIVING AND THE CAR STALLED AND SAID THE SAME THING REDUCED ENGINE PERFORMANCE. FOR THE NEXT FEW WEEKS AFTER THAT ITS BEEN STALLING ROUGH IDLE, REDUCED ENGINE PERFORMANCE. WE TOOK IT TO VOLVO OF EL PASO ON AIRWAY BLVD 915 410-3254 AND THEY SAID THE EMT WAS BAD AND NEEDED REPLACED FOR $1050.00. I READ ABOUT THIS BEING A CONTINUED ISSUE AND SEEMS LIKE IT WAS NEVER REALLY FIXED SO THERE SHOULD BE A RECALL AND SHOULD NOT HAVE TO PAY FOR SOMETHING FAULTY, ITS DANGEROUS.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 VOLVO S60. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 60 MPH, THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY STALLED. AFTER RESTARTING THE ENGINE THE VEHICLE OPERATED NORMALLY. THE VEHICLE STALLED A SECOND TIME WHILE THE CONTACT WAS SITTING AT A TRAFFIC STOP. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC, WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE MOTOR THROTTLE WAS FAULTY. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 123,000.
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Powertrain (other)
Powertrain reports that are not specifically the engine or transmission — driveshafts, axles, transfer cases and differentials.
From owner reports, verbatim
MY CAR SEEMS TO BE STALLING. I TALKED TO SEVERAL MECHANICS AND THEY SAID IT MAY BE THE THROTTLE. THE CAR SEEMS TO STALL AS I ATTEMPT TO ACCELERATE. AFTER I CONTINUE TO ACCELERATE IT DOES IMPROVE, BUT ONCE I STOP OR NEED TO REDUCE MY SPEED AS I BEGIN TO RE-ACCELERATE IT SEEMS SLUGGISH. FROM MY UNDERSTANDING THIS MAY BE AN ISSUE WITH THE THROTTLE. I DON'T LET MY CAR IDLE UNLESS I AM STOPPED IN TRAFFIC AND DON'T ACCELERATE FORCEFULLY. I WILL BE TAKING IT IN FOR SERVICING SOON AS WAS TOLD THERE WAS A THROTTLE ISSUE WITH THE VOLVOS. I AM JUST NOT SURE IF THERE HAS BEEN A RECALL. *TR
ON THE ABOVE DATE I STARTED MY VEHICLE AND PUT THE VEHICLE IN REVERSE TO PULL OUT OF PARKING SPACE. IMMEDIATELY AFTER RELEASING MY FOOT FROM THE BRAKE AND BEFORE TOUCHING THE GAS PEDAL, THE CAR ACCELERATED IN REVERSE SO FAST THAT I BOUNCED OFF A CEMENT POLE IN THE MIDDLE OF THE PARKING LOT. THE FORCE WAS SO GREAT THAT THE VEHICLE BOUNCED THREE TIMES BEFORE I WAS ABLE TO STOP IT WHICH I DID BY APPLYING THE BRAKE AND BEING BLOCKED BY THE POLE. AFTER I CAME TO A STOP I REALIZED THAT IT WAS IN FACT THE POLE THAT HAD STOPPED MY CAR. I WAS ALSO BLOCKING THE PARKING LOT SO I PUT MY FOOT BACK ON BRAKE AND PUT THE CAR IN DRIVE TO GET OUT OF WAY OF OTHER MOTORISTS AND TO ASSESS DAMAGE TO THE REAR OF MY VEHICLE. AT THIS POINT, TO MY SURPRISE, AS I TOOK MY FOOT OFF THE BRAKE AND BEFORE I COULD TOUCH THE ACCELERATOR, THE VEHICLE DID THE SAME THING IN DRIVE AS IT HAD DONE IN REVERSE AND I WENT HURLING TOWARD A VERY BUSY FOUR LANE STREET. I APPLIED FOOT BRAKE AND PULLED EMERGENCY BRAKE AND WAS STILL NOT ABLE TO STOP DUE TO THE FORCE OF ACCELERATION. THANKFULLY I HIT THE CEMENT PARKING MARKER AND A DIVIDER WHICH RAISED MY CAR OFF GROUND SO THAT THE FRONT WHEELS WE IN THE AIR. NEVER ONCE DID MY FOOT TOUCH THE ACCELERATOR OF THE VEHICLE NOR WAS THEIR ANYTHING ELSE TOUCHING THE ACCELERATOR. *TR
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Airbags
Reports naming the air-bag system — deployment behaviour, inflators, sensors and warning lights.
From owner reports, verbatim
My air bags malfunctioned when I was in a motor vehicle accident in this vehicle. We were hit in the front left side and both the drivers side and passenger airbags tried to deploy, but never deployed releasing a form of mist instead. This vehicle was totaled and towed away after the accident, but both me and the other person in the vehicles safety were put at risk due to this. We both flew forwards towards the dashboard/ into the steering wheel which could have resulted in much more severe injuries after the impact. The problem was not further looked into after the accident, but I just got this vehicle 2 years ago through a dealership. There were no warning lamps or symptoms of the failures before this collision occurred.
My vehicle was involved in a head on collison on 10-30-2021. My driver side air bag came out but had a hole in it while my passenger side airbags didn't come out at all.
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Visibility
Reports naming windshields, glass, wipers, defrosters and mirrors.
From owner reports, verbatim
THERE IS AN AREA ON THE OUTSIDE OF THE DRIVERS SIDE WINDSHIELD ABOUT 5 INCHES TALL AND 14 INCHES LONG THAT DOES NOT HAVE CLEAR VISIBILITY WHEN IT GETS WET. THE MOISTURE DOES NOT WIPE AWAY WHEN THE WIPER BLADES WIPE THIS AREA. INSTEAD, THE MOISTURE REMAINS OBSTRUCTING THE VIEW UNTIL THE WIPER BLADE PASSES THE AREA AGAIN BLURRING THE AREA EVEN MORE. THIS VISUAL OBSTRUCTION IS POSITIONED DIRECTLY BETWEEN THE DRIVER'S EYES AND THE VIEW OUTSIDE THE WINDSHIELD. THIS PROBLEM ONLY APPEARS ON THE DRIVER SIDE NOT ON THE PASSENGER SIDE. THE DEALER WAS SHOWN THE ISSUE AND AGREED THAT THERE WAS SOMETHING ODD BUT SAID THAT THEY HAVE SEEN THIS IN THE OTHER VOLVO S60S ON THEIR LOT SO THEY ACCEPTED THIS AS NORMAL. HOWEVER, IN AN EARNEST ATTEMPT TO RECTIFY THE ISSUE, THE DEALER HAS CHANGED THE WIPER BLADES MANY TIMES BUT THE PROBLEM STILL PERSISTS. THE DEALER CLEANED THE WINDSHIELD WITH WATER AND FINE STEEL WOOL. THIS DID NOT HELP. THEY CONTACTED VOLVO CORPORATE AND WERE TOLD TO CHANGE THE WIPER ARM. THIS DID NOT FIX THE ISSUE EITHER. WHEN THIS ISSUE WAS BROUGHT TO THE ATTENTION OF THE VOLVO REGIONAL SERVICE MANAGER, HIS POSITION WAS THAT THIS WAS NOT AN ISSUE BECAUSE OTHER VOLVO S60 VEHICLES HAD THE SAME ISSUE AND THAT THERE WAS NOTHING WRONG WITH THE MECHANICAL FUNCTIONALITY OF THE WIPER SYSTEM. IT IS MY CONTENTION THAT THERE IS A SURFACE DEFECT WITH THIS WINDSHIELD WHICH IS CAUSING REDUCED VISIBILITY. AND I WOULD LIKE AN INVESTIGATION TO BEGIN IN AN EFFORT TO FIX A FLAW IN THESE ALREADY OTHERWISE VERY SAFE CARS.
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Electrical
Reports naming the electrical system — wiring, battery, charging, control modules, infotainment and electrical accessories.
From owner reports, verbatim
ON THE ABOVE DATE I STARTED MY VEHICLE AND PUT THE VEHICLE IN REVERSE TO PULL OUT OF PARKING SPACE. IMMEDIATELY AFTER RELEASING MY FOOT FROM THE BRAKE AND BEFORE TOUCHING THE GAS PEDAL, THE CAR ACCELERATED IN REVERSE SO FAST THAT I BOUNCED OFF A CEMENT POLE IN THE MIDDLE OF THE PARKING LOT. THE FORCE WAS SO GREAT THAT THE VEHICLE BOUNCED THREE TIMES BEFORE I WAS ABLE TO STOP IT WHICH I DID BY APPLYING THE BRAKE AND BEING BLOCKED BY THE POLE. AFTER I CAME TO A STOP I REALIZED THAT IT WAS IN FACT THE POLE THAT HAD STOPPED MY CAR. I WAS ALSO BLOCKING THE PARKING LOT SO I PUT MY FOOT BACK ON BRAKE AND PUT THE CAR IN DRIVE TO GET OUT OF WAY OF OTHER MOTORISTS AND TO ASSESS DAMAGE TO THE REAR OF MY VEHICLE. AT THIS POINT, TO MY SURPRISE, AS I TOOK MY FOOT OFF THE BRAKE AND BEFORE I COULD TOUCH THE ACCELERATOR, THE VEHICLE DID THE SAME THING IN DRIVE AS IT HAD DONE IN REVERSE AND I WENT HURLING TOWARD A VERY BUSY FOUR LANE STREET. I APPLIED FOOT BRAKE AND PULLED EMERGENCY BRAKE AND WAS STILL NOT ABLE TO STOP DUE TO THE FORCE OF ACCELERATION. THANKFULLY I HIT THE CEMENT PARKING MARKER AND A DIVIDER WHICH RAISED MY CAR OFF GROUND SO THAT THE FRONT WHEELS WE IN THE AIR. NEVER ONCE DID MY FOOT TOUCH THE ACCELERATOR OF THE VEHICLE NOR WAS THEIR ANYTHING ELSE TOUCHING THE ACCELERATOR. *TR
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Fuel system
Reports naming fuel storage or delivery — tanks, pumps, lines, injectors and fuel leaks.
From owner reports, verbatim
I WAS DRIVING ON THE FREEWAY IN SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA HEADING TO SAN DIEGO DURING EVENING RUSH HOUR TRAFFIC. THE TRAFFIC HAD COME TO A COMPLETE STOP AND AS TRAFFIC WAS STARTING AGAIN AS I PRESSED THE ACCELERATOR THE CAR ENGINE BEGAN TO SPUTTER. THERE WERE NO DASHBOARD WARNING LIGHTS OR INDICATORS TO GIVE US ANY INFORMATION ON WHAT WAS GOING ON WITH THE CAR. I ONLY KNEW THAT I HAD NO ENGINE POWER. THE GASOLINE GAUGE SHOWED THAT I HAD ABOUT HALF A TANK OF GAS LEFT. WE TRIED TO RESTART THE ENGINE A COUPLE OF TIME. THE ENGINE WOULD SPUTTER AND THEN DIE. FORTUNATELY, I WAS IN THE SLOWER RIGHT HAND LANE AND WAS ABLE TO PULL SAFELY OFF TO THE SHOULDER. IF I HAD BEEN THE FASTER FREEWAY LANES, WITH THIS SUDDEN LOSS OF ENGINE POWER, WE WOULD NOT HAVE BEEN SAFE AND THE RESULTS MAY HAVE BEEN VERY TRAGIC! WE WERE TOWED TO A VOLVO DEALER IN CARLSBAD, CALIFORNIA. THERE THE DEALER FOUND THAT THE CAR HAS A FAULTY FUEL PUMP AND SENSORS. WITH THE FAULTY SENSOR, WHILE THE GASOLINE TANK APPEARED ON THE DISPLAY GAUGE ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL TO BE HALF FULL, THE TANK WAS ACTUALLY ALMOST EMPTY. CURRENTLY, (AS OF APRIL 6,2015) THE CAR IS STILL WITH THE VOLVO DEALER WAITING FOR THE PART TO ARRIVE FROM THE EAST COAST. MY CONCERN IS THAT THIS IS A RELATIVELY NEW CAR - 2008 MODEL WITH LOW MILEAGE. I AM CONCERNED THAT THE FUEL PUMP AND THE SENSORS ARE DEFECTIVE PARTS FOR THIS MODEL CAR. I APPRECIATE ANY ASSISTANCE OR ADVICE YOU CAN PROVIDE ME ON THIS ISSUE. *TR
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Other / unspecified
Reports whose component NHTSA recorded as unknown, or that do not map to one of the categories above.
From owner reports, verbatim
I HAVE A 2008 VOLVO S60 2.5 CAR. THE DRIVER'S FLOOR MAT HAS TWO CLIPS IN THE FLOOR TO SECURE IT, BUT WILL NOT REMAIN IN PLACE. IT HAS COME LOOSE MULTIPLE TIMES AND SLIDES UNDER THE GAS PEDAL. I NOTICE IT ONLY WHEN I HAVE DIFFICULTY/AM UNABLE TO DEPRESS THE GAS PEDAL. I BROUGHT THIS TO THE ATTENTION OF MY DEAL VOLVO OF CALABASAS IN LATE MARCH 2010. THEY STATED THAT THE CLIPS WERE PROPERLY INSTALLED. ALMOST IMMEDIATELY THEREAFTER THE DRIVER'S FLOOR MAT AGAIN CAME LOOSE AND AGAIN BECAME LODGED UNDER THE GAS PEDAL, PREVENTING IT FROM OPERATING PROPERLY. IF THE RETENTION CLIPS ARE PROPERLY INSTALLED, THEN I AM CONCERNED THAT THE DESIGN MAY BE DEFECTIVE. NO INJURY OR ACCIDENT HAS OCCURRED, BUT I WANT THE NHTSA TO BE AWARE OF THIS POTENTIAL ISSUE. *TR
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
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.
Elsewhere on this vehicle
Data sources
- NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation — owner-reported complaints and the components recorded on them
Data on this page last refreshed .