YearToAvoid

2008 Volvo S60 Problems, Recalls & Reliability

Verdict

Good

Complaint Index

47/100

#11 most-complained of 20 S60 years

Based on NHTSA complaints per model-year, not a reliability rating. Methodology

The 2008 Volvo S60 has 10 owner complaints and 2 safety recalls on file with NHTSA. Its Complaint Index is 47 out of 100 — #11 highest of 20 S60 model years (verdict: Good). The most reported problem area is engine (5 complaints, 50% of the total). Complaints report 4 crashes and 2 injuries.

Complaints
10
Recalls
2
Crashes / fires
4 / 0
Injuries / deaths
2 / 0
NHTSA overall rating
Not rated
EPA combined MPG
21
18 city / 26 hwy

Top 2008 Volvo S60 problems

NHTSA owner complaints by component group. Groups with 15+ complaints have their own page.

  1. Engine5 (50%)
  2. Airbags2 (20%)
  3. Transmission & Powertrain2 (20%)
  4. Electrical System1 (10%)
  5. Fuel System1 (10%)
  6. Other1 (10%)
  7. Visibility & Wipers1 (10%)
2008 Volvo S60 complaints: complaints filed per month3May 2010Dec 2012Jul 2014Aug 2015Dec 2021
13 complaints filed with NHTSA from May 2010 to Dec 2021; peak Dec 2012 (3).

2008 Volvo S60 recalls

2 NHTSA recall campaigns list this model year.

  1. 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.

  2. 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

Complaint Index by model year (0 = fewest issues, 100 = most)0255075100’05’06’07’08’09’11’12’13’14’15’16’17’18’19’20’21’22’23’24’25
Complaint Index: 0 = fewest issues, 100 = most, relative to other years of this model. Avoid Caution Good Best
YearVerdictIndexComplaintsRecallsMPG
2006Good3731321
2007Caution7421221
2008Good4710221
2009Best167321
2011Caution685621

All Volvo S60 years: best and worst →

Frequently asked questions

Is the 2008 Volvo S60 a reliable year?
Judged by NHTSA owner complaints and recalls, the 2008 Volvo S60 ranks #11 of 20 among S60 model years (Complaint Index 47/100, verdict: Good). It has 10 complaints and 2 recalls on file. This reflects reported safety-related problems, not an overall reliability rating.
What are the most common problems with the 2008 Volvo S60?
The most reported problem areas are engine (5 complaints), airbags (2 complaints), and transmission & powertrain (2 complaints). The median mileage at the time of failure in complaints that report it is 51,500 miles.
Does the 2008 Volvo S60 have any recalls?
Yes — NHTSA lists 2 recall campaigns for the 2008 Volvo S60, most recently reported 2021, covering airbags and other.
What is the fuel economy of the 2008 Volvo S60?
EPA rates the 2008 Volvo S60 at 21 MPG combined (18 city / 26 highway), with an estimated annual fuel cost of $3,800. Where several configurations exist, the median is shown.

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.