CSR

Volvo · NHTSA safety record

2013 Volvo S60

Every safety complaint, recall and defect investigation the US government holds on this vehicle.

86

Complaints

5

Crashes

1

Fires

6

Injuries

0

Deaths

Owners of the 2013 Volvo S60 have filed 86 safety complaints with NHTSA between January 2013 and August 2025. The most complained-about system is the engine, named in 36 of them (42%). The typical failure was reported at 53,000 miles, the median across the 55 complaints that gave an odometer reading.

NHTSA has issued 4 recalls covering this vehicle.

Recalls (4)

SEAT BELTS:FRONT

20V378000 · June 30, 2020

The defect
Volvo Cars of N.A., LLC (Volvo) is recalling certain 2008-2016 V70 and XC70, 2007-2016 S80, 2011-2018 S60 and V60, 2016-2018 S60 Cross Country, 2014-2020 S60L, 2009-2015 S80L, 2009-2016 XC60 and 2015-2018 V60 Cross Country vehicles. The flexible steel cable that connects the seat belt to the front outboard seating positions may fatigue over time, causing the seat belt to not secure the occupant in the event of a crash.
The risk
An unsecured occupant has an increased risk of injury in the event of a crash.
The remedy
Volvo will notify owners, and dealers will replace the seat belt anchor cable for both front seats. The recall began December 10, 2020. Owners may contact Volvo customer service at 1-800-458-1552. Volvo's number for this recall is R10029.

Volvo Car USA LLC · up to 308,260 vehicles across all model years covered

LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES:DOORS:LATCH

19V849000 · November 26, 2019

The defect
Volvo Car of USA LLC (Volvo) is recalling certain 2011-2017 S60, S60I, V60, S60CC and V60CC vehicles. A component within the door latches may break, making the doors difficult to latch and/or leading the driver or a passenger to believe a door is securely closed when, in fact, it is not.
The risk
A door that is not securely latched could open while the vehicle is in motion, increasing the risk of injury to a vehicle occupant.
The remedy
Volvo will notify owners, and dealers will replace all four door latches, free of charge. The recall began April 9, 2020. Owners may contact Volvo customer service at 1-800-458-1552. Volvo's number for this recall is R89978.

Volvo Car USA LLC · up to 144,937 vehicles across all model years covered

EQUIPMENT:OTHER:LABELS

13V084000 · March 5, 2013

The defect
Volvo is recalling certain model year 2013 S60 and XC60 vehicles, manufactured on January 7, 2013. The product identification labels were printed with the incorrect manufacture year. Thus, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of 49 CFR Part 567, "Certification Regulation."
The risk
With an incorrect date of manufacture on the certification label, the vehicle owner may not be to determine if they are affected by future vehicle recalls, increasing their risk of a crash of injury.
The remedy
Volvo has quarantined the affected vehicles and will install correct labels prior to sale. The recall began during March 2013. Owner notification letters will not be sent.

Volvo Cars of N.A., LLC · up to 7 vehicles across all model years covered

AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:SENSOR/CONTROL MODULE-INACTIVE

12V439000 · September 10, 2012

The defect
Volvo is recalling certain model year 2013 S60 and XC60 vehicles. A manufacturing defect within the Supplemental Restraint System (SRS) control unit may lead to an inadvertent deployment of the seat belt pretensioner and/or inflatable curtain.
The risk
If the seat belt pretensioner and/or inflatable side curtain deploy without cause, the driver could be distracted and the driver's visibility could be reduced, increasing the risk of a crash.
The remedy
These vehicles have not been sold and the SRS control unit will be replaced prior to the cars being sold. Owners may contact Volvo at 1-800-458-1552.

Volvo Cars of N.A., LLC · up to 9 vehicles across all model years covered

What owners report

Complaints naming each system. One complaint can name several, so these add up to more than 86.

ENGINE 36 42%
UNKNOWN OR OTHER 13 15%
AIR BAGS 7 8%
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM 7 8%
POWER TRAIN 5 6%
SERVICE BRAKES 5 6%
VISIBILITY/WIPER 5 6%
SEAT BELTS 4 5%
FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM 3 3%
STRUCTURE 3 3%
TIRES 3 3%
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL 3 3%

When the complaints arrived

By the year NHTSA received them, which is not the year the failures happened. They peaked in 2021 at 13.

2013 2021 2025
2013 to 2025

In owners' own words

Quoted from NHTSA's complaint file. These are unverified accounts by the people who filed them, not findings of fault.

AIR BAGS

2 injured · crash · 5,200 miles

VEHICLE INVOLVED DAMAGE FRONT AND LEFT FRONTAL AREA. SPEED 40-45 MPH. NO FRONTAL OR SIDE CURTAIN AIR BAG AND CURTAIN DEPLOYMENT. FAILURE OF COLLISION WARNING SYSTEM AND ELECTRONICAL INDICATORS, ABS DID NOT DEPLOY. *TR

NHTSA complaint 10503753. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

AIR BAGS

1 injured · crash · towed · 41,000 miles

TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2013 VOLVO S60. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 40 MPH, THE CONTACT DROVE THROUGH A STOP LIGHT AND CRASHED INTO THE SIDE OF ANOTHER VEHICLE. THE HOOD OF THE CONTACT'S VEHICLE FRACTURED AND BECAME DETACHED FROM THE VEHICLE. THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. THE DRIVER OF THE OTHER VEHICLE SUSTAINED INJURIES THAT REQUIRED MEDICAL ATTENTION. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A LOT WHERE IT WAS DEEMED DESTROYED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 41,000. UPDATED 03/16/16*LJ UPDATED 03/22/16.*JB

NHTSA complaint 10822085. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

AIR BAGS

1 injured · crash · towed · 25,000 miles

ON FEB. 3RD, I WAS PULLING INTO A PARKING SPACE IN FRONT OF A STORE WHEN MY S60 R TYPE VOLVO BEGAN TO ACCELERATE ON ITS OWN AND REACHED VERY HIGH RPM. MY FOOT WAS NOT EVEN ON THE ACCELERATOR AS THE CAR NORMALLY IDLES FAST ENOUGH TO PERFORM PARKING MANEUVERS. I HIT THE BRAKE BUT THE CAR CONTINUED TO MOVE. IT JUMPED THE SIDEWALK; HIT THE BUILDING AND PROCEEDED TO DIG A HOLE IN THE FLOWERBED AT THE STORE'S FRONT. THIS ALL HAPPENED IN THE LENGTH OF A PARKING SPACE. I CAN'T REMEMBER WHETHER I SHUT THE IGNITION OFF OR OF THE ENGINE STOPPED ON ITS OWN SHORTLY AFTER THE COLLISION. NEITHER THE AIRBAGS NOR THE PEDESTRIAN AVOIDANCE BRAKING SYSTEM DEPLOYED. I HIT THE BUILDING SO HARD THAT THE BRICK

NHTSA complaint 10837637, quoted in part. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

UNKNOWN OR OTHER

1 injured

The "brushed aluminum" interior panels are peeling. The metallic part has separated from the plastic in multiple area. This creates curled up (perpendicular to the original) pieces that are VERY sharp. I have no less than 10 cuts in the last year. The pieces are razor blade sharp. I don't allow my son to come to the front seats anymore when the car is parked.

NHTSA complaint 11464524. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
The “Tire Pressure System” warning appeared and has not turned off. New TPMS sensors were installed but the dealership could not get the car to calibrate despite multiple attempts. It has come to my attention that other models of Volvo have this same trouble, and a software update is required.

NHTSA complaint 11682826. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

UNKNOWN OR OTHER
In 2023, the engine of my 2013 Volvo S60 failed completely without prior warning and the vehicle had to be scrapped. Before that, in 2022, I paid $1,500 for a full front-end suspension rebuild due to abnormal wear. These failures were later determined to be consistent with high mileage. I had purchased the vehicle in 2019 believing it had 85,125 miles, but a 2025 VINinspect report based on NMVTIS data revealed the true mileage at sale was over 137,000 — a rollback of more than 50,000 miles. The title is now branded “Not Actual Mileage” by the federal database. This odometer fraud misled me into driving a severely worn vehicle that could have posed a serious safety risk, especially once the

NHTSA complaint 11666651, quoted in part. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

ENGINE
I am submitting this report to formally document a severe safety-related failure involving my 2013 Volvo S60, VIN # [XXX] . This vehicle is part of the Volvo brand, widely recognized and marketed as among the safest in the world. Incident Summary: On [XXX], at approximately [XXX] in Norwalk, Connecticut, the vehicle experienced a catastrophic mechanical failure while in operation. The auxiliary (serpentine) belt suddenly failed, shredded itself, and wrapped around the timing pulley. Debris from the failed belt entered the timing belt housing — a supposedly sealed and protected compartment — causing the timing belt to jump. This resulted in an immediate loss of engine power while driving,

NHTSA complaint 11660749, quoted in part. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

ENGINE
I was driving approximately 65 MPH on the highway and suddenly my car started shuttering, stuttering, and my check engine light started blinking. My car started slowing down as if it was having trouble accelerating. I also received a warning message that said, “Reduce speed or shift up.” I only have 123,263 miles on the vehicle. My mechanic informed me I was having a cylinder 2 misfire and that my exhaust valve burnt up. I also need a new timing belt. This is not the first time I’ve had a cylinder misfire on this car, so I believe there is something faulty in this vehicle. As a result of this incident, I pulled over on the highway and waited for a tow truck.

NHTSA complaint 11621005. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

ENGINE
Engine has excessive oil consumption and sets owners up for expensive testing and repairs, because when the original recall came out, many Volvo s60 with excessive oil consumption were barely out of the allowed mileage range, which sticks the owners with excessive repairs. Volvo should stand behind this problem that effects numerous Volvo s60’s and compensate the repairs.

NHTSA complaint 11610422. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

VISIBILITY/WIPER
Since we purchased the car in December, water was observed on occasion streaking down the inside of the windshield. The headliner is damp after rain, and is stained from water as a result. Additionally defrost/defog wasn’t working, and my son reported having to pull over and wait for the rain to stop so he could drive with the windows down in order to be able to see the road. INCREDIBLY unsafe/unable to drive in the rain. I recently applied pressure to the inside of the windshield with my fingertips by the A-pillars on both driver and passenger side to test the seal and visually confirmed the windshield was lifting off of the frame, revealing a broken seal along the top and sides of the

NHTSA complaint 11602261, quoted in part. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

Compare

Other years of the Volvo S60

Model year Complaints Recalls Deaths
2024 18 3
2022 15 4
2020 10 4
2019 24 4
2017 15 5
2016 25 4
2015 57 2
2014 25 3
2012 121 8

Other 2013 Volvo models

Every Volvo on this site — 70 vehicles, 319 recall campaigns and 0 open investigation s.

If this is your car and a dealer keeps failing to fix it, your state's lemon law may require the manufacturer to replace it or buy it back. What each state asks for , read from the statutes.

Where these numbers come from

A complaint is one owner's account and has not been verified by NHTSA or by us. A vehicle with more complaints is not necessarily worse: models that sold in larger numbers collect more of them. How this is counted.

Compiled and maintained by
Independent developer and analyst