ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:PROPULSION SYSTEM:TRACTION BATTERY; ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:SOFTWARE
2020 Volvo S60
Recalls, owner-reported complaints, investigations and safety data
Data refreshed
Overview
Our database contains 11 NHTSA owner-reported complaints for the 2020 Volvo S60, most frequently naming the brakes, driver assistance and steering categories. 4 safety recalls have been issued covering this model year; 1 NHTSA investigation names it; and 226 manufacturer communications are on file.
Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.
Complaint activity over time
When owners filed reports about this model year
View as table
| Month | Complaints filed | Cumulative |
|---|---|---|
| Jan 2020 | 1 | 1 |
| Jan 2021 | 1 | 2 |
| Feb 2021 | 1 | 3 |
| May 2021 | 1 | 4 |
| Jun 2021 | 1 | 5 |
| Dec 2021 | 1 | 6 |
| Jun 2022 | 1 | 7 |
| Jan 2025 | 2 | 9 |
| Jun 2026 | 1 | 10 |
| Aug 2026 | 1 | 11 |
What owners report
Complaints grouped by the component NHTSA recorded
- Brakes522.7%
- Driver assistance418.2%
- Steering313.6%
- Electrical313.6%
- Suspension29.1%
- Visibility14.5%
- Engine14.5%
- Other / unspecified14.5%
Percentages are of component mentions. A single complaint can name more than one component, so these do not sum to the total complaint count.
Safety recalls
4 campaigns cover this model year
Recalls apply to specific vehicles, not to every vehicle of a model year. Check your VIN with NHTSA or your manufacturer's dealer to confirm whether a recall affects your vehicle.
Check a VIN on NHTSA.govAIR BAGS:FRONTAL
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:FUSES AND CIRCUIT BREAKERS; FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY:FUEL PUMP
Safety investigations
NHTSA inquiries naming this vehicle. An investigation is not a finding of a defect.
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.
Recent owner complaints
Reports submitted to NHTSA, shown in the owner's own words
On two separate occasions in the past two months June 6 and Aug. 15, this vehicle experienced a severe unintended engine surge / unintended acceleration event while at a complete stop with my foot firmly on the brake. On both occasions, the engine RPMs spiked above 1,000 RPM, forcing the vehicle to pull heavily against the brakes as if trying to race forward into the intersection. On the most recent event (Aug. 15) when stopping at a red light it appeared that the supercharger kicked in, pulling against the brakes. Six or eight pedestrians were crossing directly in front of the vehicle. If I had taken my foot of the brake I would have hit them. 1.June 12, 2026 Service Visit (RO #192480, attached): Following the June 6 incident, the vehicle was brought to Beyer Volvo Cars Falls Church, Va. The repair order explicitly notes:"Tech found the front sunroof drains to have clogged with dirt/debris and the floorboard to be full of water.""Interior was removed to dry out carpets and the sunroof drains were cleared." Clogged sunroof drains cause water ingress down the A pillar. 2.Diagnostic Code & Part Replacement: During this visit, fault code 161615 was retrieved. The technician noted "unable to duplicate the problem at this time" regarding the engine flare, and no physical inspection or remediation of the flooded wiring harnesses or module connectors beneath the carpet was performed. This same A6 electrical code 161615 was noted on a previous service on 25 Sep. 2025, (RO#184284, attached). There is clear precedent with NHTSA Recall 22V-288 (of a different Volvo model, the XC40), where water intrusion into Volvo wiring harnesses caused corrosion and unintended acceleration. Given that my passenger footwell flooded prior to the engine surge, the CAN bus harness and floor connectors beneath that carpet must undergo a full electrical continuity and corrosion inspection, not just a surface drying. I am requesting further service by the dealer.
- NHTSA ID
- 11758721
- Incident
- Aug 15, 2026
See attached document for complaint.
- NHTSA ID
- 11742020
- Incident
- Mar 22, 2026
The car has “detected” a crash many times and automatically stopped even on the highway. It jerks and to slam on the brakes and then keeps going. It’s very dangerous and I have a strong theory it’s the model in general and not an isolated situation with my car.
- NHTSA ID
- 11638095
- Incident
- Jan 7, 2025
The contact owns a 2020 Volvo S60. The contact stated that while at a stop light, the vehicle erroneously drove forward and crashed into a second vehicle. The contact indicate that during the crash the collision avoidance feature did not activate. No injuries were reported. A police report was taken at the scene and the vehicle was towed away. The cause of the failure was not determined. The manufacturer and local dealer were notified of the incident. The failure mileage was 16,000.
- NHTSA ID
- 11633726
- Incident
- Dec 28, 2021
- Mileage
- 16,000 mi
It is unknown what caused this issue but ever since I bought my vehicle on April 5, 2021, I have been experiencing vibration issues when driving between 65-75 MPH. I have had my vehicle inspected at multiple Volvo Service Centers across Texas and no one can seem to figure out what is causing the vibration issues. My front rotors have been replaced 3 TIMES, my rear rotors have been replaced once, I have had multiple tire rotations, alignments and balancing from Volvo Service Centers and even from Discount Tire. With all of these items serviced/repaired/replaced, the vibration is still present in the steering wheel traveling at highway speeds. I went on a test drive today, 6/22/22, with a Volvo Service Technician and he confirmed that the vibration is valid. He also stated that the only thing left to do is to replace all 4 tires, at my cost, to see if the vibration goes away. He advised that when new cars are on the lot parked waiting to be sold, dealerships typically inflate the tires to about 50 PSI so as to avoid any "flat spots" on the tires. He also stated that many dealers also typically do not inflate tires on their new fleet due to the rough ride it causes. I have contacted Volvo regarding this issue without any remedy or advice. Additionally, my Volvo dealer cannot say for sure that they will reimburse me for tires, if I do choose to replace my current ones, even though this issue has been present since day 1.
- NHTSA ID
- 11470504
- Incident
- Apr 5, 2021
Ongoing Problem as mentioned in Volvo's Technical Journal "Speed Dependent Vibrations at Highway Speeds" Ref No: TJ 20803.20.0 . At any speed of 75 mph and above the front continuously vibrates. The tires have been replaced two times in less than 2 weeks and road forced balanced by the dealership twice. The vibration does not go away. The dealership does not want to address the issue. The car is NEW.
- NHTSA ID
- 11443977
- Incident
- Apr 1, 2021
I turned the car on and got an error message that said the turn indicator system failed. After trying to clear the message from the dash using the button on the steering wheel, I discovered that nothing on the steering wheel was working, including the windshield wipers or any buttons on the steering wheel. I called the manufacturer and they told me not to drive it and they towed it to the dealer. The dealer said they had see this before as either a software issue or electrical issue and would need to replace the stalks and buttons.
- NHTSA ID
- 11421793
- Incident
- Jun 20, 2021
2020 VOLVO S60 T-6 R WENT IN FOR SERVICE AT VOLVO DEALER, 5/12/21, MILEAGE 24,018. TECHNICIAN NOTED REAR BRAKES LESS THAN 2MM & ROTORS GROOVED, NEEDS TO BE REPLACED. I WAS TOLD THIS IS NOT UNDER WARRANTY, IT'S NORMAL WEAR. THIS VEHICLE HAD SERVICE AT THE SAME DEALER ON 12/8/20, MILEAGE 16,952 THE SERVICE REPORT STATED, "BRAKES IN THE GREEN 7MM OR MORE". THE VEHICLE IS DRIVEN HIGHWAY MILES MAINLY, REGARDLESS OF THAT FACT, BRAKE PADS DON'T NOT WEAR DOWN 5MM IN 7,000 MILES ON A NEW CAR UNLESS THERE'S AN UNDERLYING PROBLEM, THERE HAS ALREADY BEEN A RECALL ON THE REAR AUTOMATIC PARK BRAKE, SEEMS LIKELY THAT THERE'S ADDITIONAL PROBLEMS WITH THE REAR BRAKES. THE REPLACEMENT COST ME $888.00
- NHTSA ID
- 11416437
- Incident
- May 12, 2021
- Mileage
- 24,018 mi
Manufacturer communications
A bulletin sent by a manufacturer to its dealers. Not a recall, and repairs are not necessarily free.
EXTERIOR LIGHTING
This is a TJ - Text plus 1 PDF attachment - f the headlamp horizontal light aim cannot be adjusted via the set screw, If the horizontal light aim cannot be adjusted because the cogwheel knob is broken, do not replace the entire headlamp. Instead, use the spare part kit part number 32476677 to replace the affected component, please follow the instructions under "Service".
This is a Technical Journal: Text plus 1 .jpg attachment - If remote control key is not detected by the car and shows message in DIM "Car key not found" or if functions such as lock/unlock are not working, please follow advice for detecting key
POWER TRAIN
This is a Technical Journal: Intermittent knocking noise during acceleration. If the sound corresponds to attached sound file, change front drive shafts to the below part numbers.
EXTERIOR LIGHTING
This is a Technical Journal: Headlamp condensation inside lens - information/leak test. If the result is not ok (air leak), it is ok to replace the headlamp
ENGINE
This is a Technical Journal: Text plus 2 PDFs and 1 .PNG Oil Consumption test. Perform the test. Follow service procedure Description and Service sections updated to clarify that vehicle reports are not required.
This is a TJ text only - The purpose of this TJ is to be a master reference list to easily identify any components that are on prior approval. This TJ will be regularily updated as items are added or removed from prior approval. Current items under prior approval are listed in the "Service" section
Manufacturers file copies of the bulletins they send to dealers with NHTSA. These often describe diagnostic or repair procedures for a known condition. They are not recalls: repairs described in a bulletin are usually only free if the vehicle is still under warranty or the manufacturer has extended coverage.
Compare model years
Complaint and recall counts across every year of this model
| Year | Complaints | Recalls | Investigations | Issue Index |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 0 | 2 | 0 | — |
| 2024 | 20 | 3 | 0 | 60.3 |
| 2023 | 3 | 6 | 0 | — |
| 2022 | 15 | 4 | 1 | 46.8 |
| 2021 | 8 | 3 | 1 | — |
| 2020Viewing | 11 | 4 | 1 | 60.6 |
| 2019 | 25 | 4 | 1 | 61.1 |
| 2018 | 4 | 1 | 0 | — |
| 2017 | 16 | 5 | 0 | 60.1 |
| 2016 | 25 | 4 | 0 | 44.5 |
| 2015 | 58 | 2 | 0 | 52.4 |
| 2014 | 25 | 3 | 0 | 51.1 |
| 2013 | 87 | 4 | 0 | 51.9 |
| 2012 | 121 | 8 | 0 | 57.7 |
| 2011 | 5 | 6 | 0 | — |
| 2010 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — |
| 2009 | 7 | 3 | 0 | — |
| 2008 | 10 | 2 | 0 | 56.5 |
| 2007 | 21 | 2 | 0 | 47.9 |
| 2006 | 31 | 4 | 0 | 43.2 |
| 2005 | 44 | 4 | 0 | 41.1 |
| 2004 | 198 | 6 | 0 | 54.0 |
| 2003 | 120 | 7 | 0 | 46.8 |
| 2002 | 186 | 9 | 2 | 55.3 |
| 2001 | 223 | 9 | 3 | 57.4 |
| 2000 | 1 | 0 | 2 | — |
| 1999 | 0 | 0 | 2 | — |
| 1993 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — |
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. Older model years have had longer for reports to accumulate.