Volvo S60 Electrical System Problems
Owners have filed 225 complaints with NHTSA about electrical system problems on the Volvo S60 across 20 model years. The 2003 model year has the most (54). The words owners use most often: “instrument panel” (11% of reports).
- 225electrical system complaints
- —median miles at failure
- 5mention a crash
- 2mention an injury
- 6related recalls
- $1,700typical repair cost reported by owners
- 39%of reports with a speed happened at 50+ mph
What owners describe
Phrases that appear unusually often in these complaints compared with complaints about other cars.
- Instrument panel: mentioned in 24 of 225 complaints (11%)
How much does it cost to fix?
Owners who wrote down what they paid or were quoted put the typical electrical system repair on the Volvo S60 at $1,700, and half of them between $1,450 and $2,200.
Based on 19 NHTSA complaints about this problem alone that state a repair bill or quote (2005–2020), converted to 2026 dollars with the U.S. consumer price index. These are owners' own figures, not a quote: they include dealer quotes, and owners who file complaints often faced larger repairs, so they can run higher than typical shop prices. Prices vary by shop, region and warranty coverage. How we calculate this.
At what mileage do electrical system problems happen?
Based on 167 complaints that reported the odometer reading.
How serious are the reports?
Of 225 complaints, 5 mention a crash, 10 a fire, 2 an injury.
Volvo S60 electrical system complaints by model year
| Model year | Electrical System complaints | Share of that year | Median miles |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 S60 | 6 | 27% | 13,000 |
| 2022 S60 | 4 | 27% | — |
| 2021 S60 | 4 | 50% | — |
| 2020 S60 | 3 | 27% | 7,500 |
| 2019 S60 | 6 | 24% | 28,600 |
| 2018 S60 | 1 | 25% | — |
| 2016 S60 | 5 | 20% | 16,930 |
| 2015 S60 | 9 | 16% | 65,000 |
| 2014 S60 | 3 | 12% | 8,576 |
| 2013 S60 | 7 | 8% | 53,000 |
| 2012 S60 | 17 | 14% | 66,000 |
| 2009 S60 | 1 | 14% | 87,500 |
| 2008 S60 | 1 | 10% | 42,900 |
| 2007 S60 | 7 | 33% | 72,724 |
| 2006 S60 | 3 | 10% | 89,234 |
| 2005 S60 | 6 | 14% | 66,000 |
| 2004 S60 | 21 | 11% | 101,166 |
| 2003 S60 | 54 | 45% | 120,000 |
| 2002 S60 | 36 | 19% | 85,000 |
| 2001 S60 | 31 | 14% | 54,868 |
When owners reported it
Related recalls (6)
Electrical system:propulsion system:traction battery; electrical system:software
Model years: 2020, 2021, 2022
Problem: Volvo Car USA, LLC (Volvo Car) is recalling certain 2020-2021 S90, 2020-2022 S60, V60, XC60, XC90, and 2022 V90 plug-in hybrid vehicles. The high-voltage battery may experience a short circuit within the battery module when the battery is fully charged and the vehicle is parked.
Risk: A short circuit in a high-voltage battery increases the risk of a fire.
Fix: Owners are advised not to charge their vehicles until the remedy has been completed. Dealers will inspect and replace the high-voltage battery module as necessary. In addition, dealers will update the software to monitor the battery. All repairs will be performed free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed May 28, 2025. Owners may contact Volvo Car's customer service at 1-800-458-1552. Volvo Car's number for this recall is R10312.
Electrical system
Model years: 2023
Problem: Volvo Car USA, LLC (Volvo Car) is recalling certain 2023 S60, V60CC, XC60, XC90, XC40, and C40 vehicles. A diagnostic trouble code (DTC) may be falsely detected for the emergency call system (e-call) and display "e-Call Service Required" in the driver information module (DIM).
Risk: The false warning message could prevent the detection of an actual e-call system failure, which could delay an emergency response during a crash, increasing the risk of injury.
Fix: Dealers will update the telematics and connectivity antenna module (TCAM) software, free of charge. Owner notification letters are expected to be mailed May 16, 2023. Owners may contact Volvo Car's customer service 1-800-458-1552. Volvo Car's number for this recall is R10225.
Electrical system:wiring:fuses and circuit breakers; fuel system, gasoline:delivery:fuel pump
Model years: 2019, 2020
Problem: Volvo Car USA, LLC (Volvo Car) is recalling certain 2019-2020 V90, XC60, S60, V60, V60CC, S90, V90CC, S90L, and XC90 vehicles. The low-pressure fuel pump can blow a fuse and fail.
Risk: Failure of the low-pressure fuel pump can cause a stall, increasing the risk of a crash.
Fix: Dealers will replace the fuse, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed July 2, 2021. Owners may contact Volvo Car customer service at 1-888-458-1552. Volvo Car's number for this recall is R10100.
Electrical system:wiring:fuses and circuit breakers
Model years: 2016
Problem: Volvo Cars of North America, LLC. (Volvo) is recalling certain model year 2016 Volvo S60, V60, V60CC, XC60, XC70, and S80 vehicles manufactured April 8, 2015 to August 19, 2015. In certain driving conditions when using the automatic engine stop/start function, the starter motor fuse may blow, preventing the car from restarting when necessary.
Risk: If the vehicle is unexpectedly unable to be started in the middle of traffic, such as when stopped at an intersection, there is an increased risk of a crash.
Fix: Volvo will notify owners, and dealers will replace the existing starter motor fuse with a higher amperage fuse, free of charge. The recall began on October 26, 2015. Owners may contact Volvo customer service at 1-800-458-1552 or by visiting http://volvo.custhelp.com. Volvo's number for this recall is R39574.
Electrical system
Model years: 2014
Problem: Volvo is recalling certain model year 2014 S60, S80, XC60 and XC70 vehicles equipped with keyless ignition. In the affected vehicles, the Central Electronic Module (CEM) will not perform as intended. As a result, the front windshield wipers might run continuously when the ignition is on. Also, the turn signals, high beams, and headlight switch might not work.
Risk: Malfunctioning head lamps and/or turn signals increase the risk of a crash.
Fix: Volvo will notify owners, and dealers will upgrade the CEM software, free of charge. The recall began on October 3, 2013. Owners may contact Volvo at 1-800-458-1552.
Electrical system:wiring
Model years: 2012
Problem: Volvo is recalling certain model year 2012 s60, xc60, s80 and xc70 vehicles manufactured from may 16, 2011, through october 6, 2011. In these vehicles, the wire harness under the front seats may have not been attached properly to the seat frame. As a result, when the seats are moved to adjust the seating position, the wire harness may get pulled, causing it to disconnect.
Risk: In the event of crash, the front and/or side impact air bags may deploy improperly or not at all, increasing the risk of injury. Also, the lap belt pretensioner may not deploy.
Fix: Volvo will notify owners, and dealers will inspect and, if necessary, secure the seat wire harness. This service will be performed free of charge. The safety recall began on april 12, 2012. Owners may contact volvo cars at 1-800-458-1552.
What owners report
Short excerpts of recent complaints, with personal details removed. Full reports are on NHTSA.gov.
Electrical, Parking Collision Warning, and Rear Cross Traffic Warning. Electrical is the root cause........the entire audio subsystem drops after the AAOS 5.1.17 update. Itâs not just the rear cross traffic and parking collision warnings: ALL audio goes, including media, chimes, reverse proximity…
I was pulling into a parking spot in a strip mall parking lot. When I braked after turning into the parking spot, the brakes failed. The car moved forward and hit the Chevy Suburban parked in front of it and started to push it. The automatic collision avoidance system did not stop the car, either…
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…
The "Maintenance Mode" required to change the wiper blades malfunctioned, and the wipers- without the rubber blades attached- suddenly smashed onto the windshield, creating a large star crack/shatter, which spread across the entire windshield in two long cracks by the next day. If someone's hand…
The contact owns a 2015 Volvo S60. The contact stated while driving at an undisclosed speed, the vehicle stalled and lost motive power. No warning lights illuminated. The contact was a certified mechanic. The contact stated that the failure occurred when the outside temperature was too hot or too…
Frequently asked questions
Do all Volvo S60s have electrical system problems?
No. NHTSA has 225 owner complaints about electrical system for the Volvo S60. Complaint data shows that the problem is reported, not how many of all cars sold are affected.
Was there a recall on the Volvo S60 electrical system?
Yes: 6 safety recalls list electrical system. Check your VIN on NHTSA.gov to see whether the fix was done on your car.
How much does it cost to fix electrical system problems on the Volvo S60?
Owners report a typical cost of $1,700 (half paid between $1,450 and $2,200), from 19 complaints that state a repair bill or quote, in 2026 dollars.
What do owners say about electrical system problems on the Volvo S60?
The most frequent phrase is “instrument panel”, in 24 of 225 complaints.
Other Volvo S60 problems
See all Volvo S60 problems.