Volvo Best and Worst Years by Model
11 Volvo models, 3,207 NHTSA owner complaints and 186 recall campaigns for model years 2005–2025. Pick a model to see which years to avoid and which are the safest bets.
Volvo models ranked by owner complaints
Sorted by popularity. Years to avoid / best years come from each model’s own Complaint Index.
Verdicts are based on NHTSA owner complaints and recalls per model-year, compared within each model. This is not a reliability rating. How the Complaint Index works.
| Model | Years | Complaints | Recalls | Years to avoid | Best years | Top issue |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Volvo XC60 | 2009–2025 | 647 | 36 | 2021, 2022, 2023, 2024, 2025 | 2011, 2014, 2017 | Electrical System |
| Volvo XC90 | 2005–2025 | 966 | 33 | 2005, 2016, 2017, 2019, 2024, 2025 | 2010, 2013 | Electrical System |
| Volvo XC40 | 2017–2025 | 215 | 13 | 2021, 2023, 2024 | — | Collision Avoidance & Cameras |
| Volvo S60 | 2005–2025 | 536 | 31 | 2012, 2013, 2015, 2019, 2024 | 2021 | Engine |
| Volvo XC70 | 2005–2016 | 191 | 16 | 2005, 2008, 2010 | 2015, 2016 | Suspension, Wheels & Tires |
| Volvo C70 | 2006–2013 | 108 | 5 | 2008, 2011 | — | Structure & Body |
| Volvo V70 | 2005–2016 | 68 | 7 | 2005, 2006, 2008 | — | Engine |
| Volvo V60 | 2011–2025 | 57 | 16 | 2015, 2016, 2020, 2024 | — | Engine |
| Volvo S80 | 2005–2016 | 155 | 19 | 2008, 2010, 2013 | 2016 | Engine |
| Volvo S40 | 2005–2011 | 192 | 7 | 2005, 2007 | 2010, 2011 | Electrical System |
| Volvo EX90 | 2025 | 72 | 3 | — | — | Electrical System |
Volvo model years with the most complaints
Raw complaint counts (not adjusted for age or sales). Click through for the breakdown.
- 2005 Volvo XC90 · 223 complaints · 6 recalls Avoid
- 2016 Volvo XC90 · 197 complaints · 8 recalls Avoid
- 2012 Volvo S60 · 121 complaints · 8 recalls Avoid
- 2013 Volvo S60 · 87 complaints · 4 recalls Avoid
- 2017 Volvo XC90 · 79 complaints · 7 recalls Avoid
- 2022 Volvo XC60 · 73 complaints · 6 recalls Avoid
- 2025 Volvo EX90 · 72 complaints · 3 recalls No verdict
- 2005 Volvo S40 · 69 complaints · 3 recalls Avoid
- 2013 Volvo XC60 · 66 complaints · 3 recalls Good
- 2006 Volvo S40 · 58 complaints · 3 recalls Caution
How we rank Volvo years
For each model we compare its own model years using the Complaint Index: complaints, crashes, fires, injuries, deaths and “Do Not Drive” recalls reported to NHTSA, adjusted for how long each year has been on the road. The top quarter of a model’s years is marked Avoid, the bottom quarter Best. Because NHTSA publishes no sales data, models are not ranked against each other. Full details in the methodology.