2009 Volvo S60 Reliability Data: Problems & Recalls
Good The 2009 Volvo S60 carries a complaint index of 16, one of the lowest among all 20 model years, with 7 complaints and 3 recalls. It earns a Good verdict, though capped because complaint records for 2005-2009 are less complete.
Based on NHTSA complaints per model-year, not a reliability rating. Methodology
YearToAvoid Scorecard
- Complaint Index
- 16/100
- #17 of 20 S60 years
- Verdict
- Good
- vs. other years of this model
- Complaints
- 7
- unique NHTSA reports
- Recalls
- 3
- distinct NHTSA campaigns
- Crashes
- 1
- reported in complaints
- Fires
- 0
- Injuries
- 0
- Top issue
- Airbags
- NHTSA overall rating
- Not rated
- EPA combined MPG
- 21
- 18 city / 26 hwy
- Injuries / deaths
- 0 / 0
Top 2009 Volvo S60 problems
Share of this year’s NHTSA complaints by component group. Groups with 15+ complaints have their own page.
- Airbags2 (29%)
- Electrical System1 (14%)
- Engine1 (14%)
- Fuel System1 (14%)
- Other1 (14%)
- Steering1 (14%)
- Structure & Body1 (14%)
- Suspension, Wheels & Tires1 (14%)
A complaint can list more than one component, so shares add up to more than 100%. Shares are % of complaints.
What owners report
- Airbags have spontaneously deployed while driving at low speed with no impact, causing hand injury and loss of vehicle control.
- Fuel spills out of the filler neck when topping off the tank even with the pump's lock mechanism engaged, reported at multiple gas stations.
- The tire pressure monitoring system triggers a false service warning despite tires being at correct pressure.
- Sudden loss of engine power while accelerating on the highway, with the engine still running but unable to accelerate, tied to a failed throttle unit.
- The rear driver's side door has opened on its own while driving over bumps, triggering a door-ajar warning and sometimes failing to open from outside.
- The steering column turn signal lever has detached, disabling the turn signal and headlight switches.
2009 Volvo S60 recalls
3 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 10V591000Nov 22, 2010Structure & Body7,420 vehicles
Seats
Volvo is recalling certain passenger vehicles equipped with power front passenger seats. The front seat rail's detection system was manufactured incorrectly and may permit the passenger to forward the seat beyond the intended maximum.
Risk: Positioning of the seat beyond the intended maximum can cause increased risk of injury to the passenger in the event of a crash.
Remedy: Dealers will inspect the front power seat stops for both front seats for the presence of an "end stop" and repair the vehicles as necessary free of charge. The safety recall began on december 23, 2010. Owners may contact volvo at 1-800-458-1552 or at [email protected].
- 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.
2009 Volvo S60 fuel economy and fuel cost
- City
- 18 MPG
- Highway
- 26 MPG
- Combined
- 21 MPG
- Annual fuel cost (EPA)
- $3,100
- 15,000 mi/yr
- Fuel
- Regular
- 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.
2009 compared with other S60 years
Frequently asked questions
- Is the 2009 Volvo S60 reliable?
- Based on NHTSA owner complaints and recalls, the 2009 S60 rates Good, with a complaint index of 16 and only 7 complaints on file, among the lowest of all 20 model years covered.
- What problems does the 2009 Volvo S60 have?
- Owners most often reported airbag issues, which make up 29% of complaints, along with isolated reports involving the electrical system, engine, fuel system, steering, structure, and suspension.
- Does the 2009 Volvo S60 have any recalls?
- Yes, NHTSA lists 3 recalls for the 2009 S60, covering a driver's airbag inflator that could explode during deployment, a front passenger seat rail defect, and overheating Garmin GPS units.
- Why is the 2009 S60 verdict capped at Good instead of higher?
- The verdict is capped to Good because complaint records for model years 2005-2009 are less complete, not because of a high number of reported problems.
- How does the 2009 S60 compare to other S60 years?
- The 2009 model ranks 17th worst out of the years with data, well below the highest-complaint years like 2012 and 2013, which carry complaint indexes of 100 and 95 and Avoid verdicts.