CSR

Volvo · NHTSA safety record

2016 Volvo S60

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

25

Complaints

1

Crashes

0

Fires

0

Injuries

0

Deaths

Owners of the 2016 Volvo S60 have filed 25 safety complaints with NHTSA between December 2015 and October 2024. The most complained-about system is the engine, named in 8 of them (32%). The typical failure was reported at 33,000 miles, the median across the 17 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

SEAT BELTS:FRONT:BUCKLE ASSEMBLY

16V798000 · November 2, 2016

The defect
Volvo Car USA LLC (Volvo) is recalling certain model year 2016-2017 XC90, S90, XC60, V60 Cross Country, V60, S60 Cross Country, S60, and S60 Inscription vehicles manufactured February 16, 2015, to August 22, 2016. On the affected vehicles, the front passenger seat belt buckle attaching stud may loosen, allowing the buckle to separate from the seat belt bracket. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 210, "Seat Belt Assembly Anchorages" and number 209, "Seat Belt Assemblies."
The risk
If the seat belt buckle separates from the bracket, the front seat passenger may not be adequately restrained in the event of a crash, increasing their risk of injury in the event of a crash.
The remedy
Volvo will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the front passenger seat belt buckle stud, replacing the seat belt buckle as needed, free of charge. The recall began January 2017. Owners may contact Volvo customer service at 1-800-458-1552. Volvo's number for this recall is R89708.

Volvo Car USA LLC · up to 74,027 vehicles across all model years covered

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:FUSES AND CIRCUIT BREAKERS

15V555000 · September 2, 2015

The defect
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.
The 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.
The remedy
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.

Volvo Cars of N.A., LLC · up to 7,855 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 25.

ENGINE 8 32%
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM 5 20%
UNKNOWN OR OTHER 4 16%
SEAT BELTS 3 12%
STRUCTURE 3 12%
VISIBILITY/WIPER 3 12%
WHEELS 2 8%
AIR BAGS 1 4%
ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL (ESC) 1 4%
FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM 1 4%
POWER TRAIN 1 4%
SERVICE BRAKES 1 4%

When the complaints arrived

By the year NHTSA received them, which is not the year the failures happened. They peaked in 2020 at 10.

2015 2020 2024
2015 to 2024

In owners' own words

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

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

crash · towed · 200 miles

PURCHASED A BRAND NEW 2016 VOLVO S60 - THE CAR AT INCIDENT DATE HAD 200 MILES ON IT. WHILE DRIVING IN TRAFFIC ON A CALIFORNIA FREEWAY - THE CAR LOST ALL POWER, STEERING, LIGHTS, ETC WHILE IN THE NUMBER 4 OF 7 LANE FREEWAY AT NIGHT. THE CAR WAS BLACKED OUT, NO LIGHTS, NO POWER, NO ENGINE, STALLED WITHOUT POWER IN THE MIDDLE OF THE FREEWAY. - WE WERE ALMOST KILLED AS A RESULT OF THIS INCIDENT. THERE WERE NUMEROUS COLLISIONS THAT OCCURRED BEHIND AND AROUND US AS A RESULT OF THIS CAR BEING DEAD IN THE WATER IN THE MIDDLE OF THE FREEWAY AT NIGHT. I HAVE VIDEO FROM INSIDE THE CAR AS 18 WHEEL SEMIS SKIDDED SIDEWAYS, ALMOST KILLING US AT 60MPH FROM BEHIND - AS WELL AS MANY OTHER CARS. FAST FORWARD

NHTSA complaint 10811942, quoted in part. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

ENGINE
In November of 2021, I purchased my dream car, a 2016 Volvo s60 Cross Country, proud to own a vehicle from a company known for their safe and reliable vehicles. In April of 2022, a class action case ([XXX], et al., v. Volvo Car USA, LLC, Volvo Cars of North America, LLC, and Volvo Personvagnar AB) was issued against Volvo due to a KNOWN-TO-VOLVO DESIGN FLAW in their engines which could lead to engine failure. The case was settled out of court in early 2023 and Volvo issued an extended warranty for vehicles owners to take preventative measures against potential engine failure. Although my car is listed under the extended warranty, I was never sent any notice of it from Volvo. On [XXX], while

NHTSA complaint 11617818, quoted in part. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

AIR BAGS:SRS MALFUNCTION WARNING LAMP/LIGHT

27,859 miles

The contact owns a 2016 Volvo S60. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the SRS warning light illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the local dealer who repaired the vehicle under NHTSA Campaign Number: 20V378000 (Seat Belts) and 16V798000 (Seat Belts). The dealer also repaired an unstated electrical failure. The contact stated that the cells in the battery were faulty. The vehicle was repaired but the failure recurred. The contact stated that after several weeks, the SRS warning light illuminated. The vehicle was taken back to the local dealer who informed the contact that the vehicle had been in an accident previously and the wiring was faulty. The vehicle was

NHTSA complaint 11524899, quoted in part. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

ENGINE
The alternator seized on the highway snapping the serpentine belt which got sucked into the timing and stopped the car in the left lane at highway speed. The timing guard failed allowing the belt to damage the timing. Volvo says it needs a head job I have possession of the vehicle and all maintenance records. Cars behind me dodged onto the shoulder to avoid hitting me. There was no warning. Furthermore this is a known problem a quick search of Volvo forums turned up over a dozen cars with insufficient timing guards

NHTSA complaint 11519617. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

UNKNOWN OR OTHER
Driver door latch not engaging. Door opened at low speed.

NHTSA complaint 11482723. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

ENGINE
At 86K miles can smell oil burning and add 1 quart light comes on. It's said Volvo is aware of a defect with the piston rings causing oil to consume and burn away. They aren't willing to address the issue outside warranty expiration. They did recently indicate how Volvo changed the requirement for using 5W30 oil to claim now Volvo changed there minds. How now only 0W20 full synthetic oil must be used. The label under the hood says use 5W30 only. It appears that Volvo is changing oil types because they know there's an issue with the piston rings and is trying to cover up a defect by doing so.

NHTSA complaint 11481894. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

VISIBILITY/WIPER
Windscreen wiper motors failed during inclement weather making visibility impossible. The vehicle was only approximately 2 years old at the time of failure. This created a serious safety issue and may have led to a crash and injury. The dealer diagnosed the issue as failed wiper motors and replaced the motors under manufacturer's warranty.

NHTSA complaint 11440996. 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
2015 57 2
2014 25 3
2013 86 4
2012 121 8

Other 2016 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.

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