2008 Volvo S60 Reliability Data: Problems & Recalls
Good The 2008 Volvo S60 has a complaint index of 47, ranking 11th out of 20 model years, with a Good verdict. NHTSA lists 10 complaints, 2 recalls, and no do-not-drive recalls for this year, with Engine issues making up half of all reports.
Based on NHTSA complaints per model-year, not a reliability rating. Methodology
YearToAvoid Scorecard
- Complaint Index
- 47/100
- #11 of 20 S60 years
- Verdict
- Good
- vs. other years of this model
- Complaints
- 10
- unique NHTSA reports
- Recalls
- 2
- distinct NHTSA campaigns
- Crashes
- 4
- reported in complaints
- Fires
- 0
- Injuries
- 2
- Top issue
- Engine
- NHTSA overall rating
- Not rated
- EPA combined MPG
- 21
- 18 city / 26 hwy
- Injuries / deaths
- 2 / 0
Top 2008 Volvo S60 problems
Share of this year’s NHTSA complaints by component group. Groups with 15+ complaints have their own page.
- Engine5 (50%)
- Airbags2 (20%)
- Transmission & Powertrain2 (20%)
- Electrical System1 (10%)
- Fuel System1 (10%)
- Other1 (10%)
- Visibility & Wipers1 (10%)
A complaint can list more than one component, so shares add up to more than 100%. Shares are % of complaints.
What owners report
- Engine sometimes surges forward unexpectedly while the driver's foot is still on the brake pedal, in one case causing a crash.
- Engine stalls suddenly at highway speed around 60 mph, then restarts and runs normally afterward.
- Engine triggers a reduced-engine-performance warning light and drops top speed to a crawl, sometimes recurring on multiple trips.
- Transmission jumps into reverse unexpectedly right after shifting, propelling the car backward with excessive force.
- Vehicle hesitates or feels sluggish when re-accelerating after slowing down, a symptom owners linked to the throttle.
- Engine sputters and loses power when accelerating from a stop in traffic, with no warning lights to explain it.
- Driver and passenger airbags reportedly failed to deploy properly in a frontal collision, with one airbag releasing a mist instead of inflating and another showing a hole after deployment.
2008 Volvo S60 recalls
2 NHTSA recall campaigns list this model year.
- NHTSA 21V766000Sep 30, 2021Airbags259,383 vehicles
Air bags:frontal:driver side:inflator module
Volvo Car USA, LLC (Volvo Car) is recalling certain 2001-2006 S80 and 2001-2009 S60 vehicles. The driver's air bag inflator may explode during deployment, due to propellant degradation occurring after long-term exposure to high absolute humidity, high temperatures, and high temperature cycling.
Risk: An inflator explosion may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants, resulting in serious injury or death.
Remedy: Dealers will replace the driver's air bag, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed November 29, 2021. Owners may contact Volvo Car customer service at 1-800-458-1552. Volvo's number for this recall is R10125.
- NHTSA 10V566000Nov 8, 2010Other416 vehicles
Equipment:electrical:navigational system(global positioning system)
Volvo is recalling certain vehicles equipped with garmin 760 portable global positioning system (gps) units because the batteries on those units may overheat.
Risk: An overheated battery could lead to a fire.
Remedy: Volvo advises owners to please stop using the garmin portable gps device immediately, and visit the garmin website to determine if their unit is affected. The unit's battery will be replaced with a new battery and a spacer will be inserted on top of the battery next to the pcb. This service will be performed free of charge. The safety recall began on november 18, 2010. Owners may contact garmin at 866-957-1981 or visit garmin's website at www.garmin.com/nuvibatterypcbrecall.
2008 Volvo S60 fuel economy and fuel cost
- City
- 18 MPG
- Highway
- 26 MPG
- Combined
- 21 MPG
- Annual fuel cost (EPA)
- $3,800
- 15,000 mi/yr
- Fuel
- Premium
- Current regular gas
- $4.32/gal
- national avg.
EPA figures; median across configurations of this model year. Estimate your own cost with the fuel cost calculator.
2008 compared with other S60 years
Frequently asked questions
- Is the 2008 Volvo S60 reliable?
- NHTSA data shows the 2008 S60 has a complaint index of 47 and ranks 11th out of 20 model years, earning a Good verdict relative to other S60 years.
- What are the most common problems with the 2008 Volvo S60?
- Engine problems account for half of all complaints (5 of 10), including surging and stalling. Airbags and Transmission & Powertrain issues each make up 20% of complaints.
- Does the 2008 Volvo S60 have any recalls?
- Yes, NHTSA lists 2 recalls for the 2008 S60: one for a driver's airbag inflator that may explode during deployment, and one for GPS unit batteries that may overheat. Neither is a do-not-drive recall.
- What year Volvo S60 should I avoid instead of 2008?
- Among S60 years, 2012, 2013, 2015, 2019, and 2024 carry Avoid verdicts, with complaint indexes as high as 100 (2012), far higher than the 2008 model's index of 47.
- At what mileage do 2008 Volvo S60 problems typically show up?
- Median mileage at failure varies by system: Engine complaints center around 42,900 miles, Transmission & Powertrain around 64,950 miles, and Fuel System around 60,100 miles.