YearToAvoid

Volvo Best and Worst Years by Model

10 Volvo models, 2,262 NHTSA owner complaints and 199 recall campaigns for model years 2010–2025. 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.

ModelYearsComplaintsRecallsYears to avoidBest yearsTop issue
Volvo XC602010–2025644322022, 2023, 2024, 20252011, 2014, 2017, 2020Electrical System
Volvo XC902010–2025616262016, 2017, 2024, 20252010Engine
Volvo XC402017–2025215132021, 2023, 2024—Collision Avoidance & Cameras
Volvo S602011–2025423282012, 2013, 2015, 20242021Engine
Volvo XC702010–20166792010, 20112015Visibility & Wipers
Volvo C702010–20135022011—Structure & Body
Volvo V602011–202557162015, 2016, 2020, 2024—Engine
Volvo S802010–201662102010, 20132016Engine
Volvo EX902025723——Electrical System
Volvo VNL2010–202556602012, 2014, 2016, 2018—Suspension, Wheels & Tires

Volvo model years with the most complaints

Raw complaint counts (not adjusted for age or sales). Click through for the breakdown.

  1. 2016 Volvo XC90 · 197 complaints · 8 recalls Avoid
  2. 2012 Volvo S60 · 121 complaints · 8 recalls Avoid
  3. 2013 Volvo S60 · 87 complaints · 4 recalls Avoid
  4. 2017 Volvo XC90 · 79 complaints · 7 recalls Avoid
  5. 2022 Volvo XC60 · 73 complaints · 6 recalls Avoid
  6. 2025 Volvo EX90 · 72 complaints · 3 recalls No verdict
  7. 2013 Volvo XC60 · 66 complaints · 3 recalls Good
  8. 2015 Volvo S60 · 58 complaints · 2 recalls Avoid
  9. 2023 Volvo XC60 · 54 complaints · 5 recalls Avoid
  10. 2010 Volvo XC60 · 53 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.

Sources: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation complaint and recall databases; U.S. EPA fuel economy data; NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings. Complaints are unverified owner reports.

Data updated Sep 24, 2026. Read the methodology and data sources. The Complaint Index is based on NHTSA owner complaints and recalls; it is not a reliability rating.