YearToAvoid

2013 Volvo S60 Problems, Recalls & Reliability

Verdict

Avoid

Complaint Index

93/100

#2 most-complained of 15 S60 years

The 2013 Volvo S60 has a complaint index of 93, the 2nd-worst year out of 15 model years, with 87 complaints and 4 recalls. Engine issues dominate at 46% of complaints, with a median failure mileage of 74,000 miles.

Complaints
87
Recalls
4
Crashes / fires
5 / 1
Injuries / deaths
6 / 0
NHTSA overall rating
5 / 5 ★
EPA combined MPG
23
20 city / 29 hwy

Top 2013 Volvo S60 problems

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

  1. Engine40 (46%)
  2. Other14 (16%)
  3. Airbags8 (9%)
  4. Electrical System8 (9%)
  5. Brakes5 (6%)
  6. Structure & Body5 (6%)
  7. Suspension, Wheels & Tires5 (6%)
  8. Transmission & Powertrain5 (6%)
  9. Visibility & Wipers5 (6%)
  10. Seat Belts4 (5%)

What owners report

  • Airbags and city safety auto-braking failed to engage during frontal and rear-end collisions at speeds between 30 and 45 mph.
  • Owners report the SRS airbag system displaying an urgent service warning after a collision with no deployment.
  • Some owners describe unintended acceleration while parking, with the brake unable to stop forward motion.
  • Windshield washer fluid and headlight washer nozzles stopped working in snowy weather without a low-fluid warning.
  • One owner reported sudden loss of power and hesitation at highway speed on the interstate, traced to a fuel pressure code.
  • An engine hesitation followed by a sudden lurch while accelerating into traffic was reported, addressed with a software upgrade.
2013 Volvo S60 complaints: complaints filed per quarter72013 Q12015 Q22017 Q32019 Q22020 Q42022 Q22024 Q2
104 complaints filed with NHTSA from 2013 Q1 to 2026 Q3; peak 2023 Q1 (7).

2013 Volvo S60 recalls

4 NHTSA recall campaigns list this model year.

  1. NHTSA 20V378000Jun 30, 2020Seat Belts308,260 vehicles

    Seat belts:front

    Volvo Cars of N.A., LLC (Volvo) is recalling certain 2008-2016 V70 and XC70, 2007-2016 S80, 2011-2018 S60 and V60, 2016-2018 S60 Cross Country, 2014-2020 S60L, 2009-2015 S80L, 2009-2016 XC60 and 2015-2018 V60 Cross Country vehicles. The flexible steel cable that connects the seat belt to the front outboard seating positions may fatigue over time, causing the seat belt to not secure the occupant in the event of a crash.

    Risk: An unsecured occupant has an increased risk of injury in the event of a crash.

    Remedy: Volvo will notify owners, and dealers will replace the seat belt anchor cable for both front seats. The recall began December 10, 2020. Owners may contact Volvo customer service at 1-800-458-1552. Volvo's number for this recall is R10029.

  2. NHTSA 19V849000Nov 26, 2019Structure & Body144,937 vehicles

    Latches/locks/linkages:doors:latch

    Volvo Car of USA LLC (Volvo) is recalling certain 2011-2017 S60, S60I, V60, S60CC and V60CC vehicles. A component within the door latches may break, making the doors difficult to latch and/or leading the driver or a passenger to believe a door is securely closed when, in fact, it is not.

    Risk: A door that is not securely latched could open while the vehicle is in motion, increasing the risk of injury to a vehicle occupant.

    Remedy: Volvo will notify owners, and dealers will replace all four door latches, free of charge. The recall began April 9, 2020. Owners may contact Volvo customer service at 1-800-458-1552. Volvo's number for this recall is R89978.

  3. NHTSA 13V084000Mar 5, 2013Other7 vehicles

    Equipment:other:labels

    Volvo is recalling certain model year 2013 S60 and XC60 vehicles, manufactured on January 7, 2013. The product identification labels were printed with the incorrect manufacture year. Thus, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of 49 CFR Part 567, "Certification Regulation."

    Risk: With an incorrect date of manufacture on the certification label, the vehicle owner may not be to determine if they are affected by future vehicle recalls, increasing their risk of a crash of injury.

    Remedy: Volvo has quarantined the affected vehicles and will install correct labels prior to sale. The recall began during March 2013. Owner notification letters will not be sent.

See all 4 recalls for the 2013 Volvo S60 →

2013 Volvo S60 fuel economy and fuel cost

City
20 MPG
Highway
29 MPG
Combined
23 MPG
Annual fuel cost (EPA)
$2,800
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.

2013 compared with other S60 years

Complaint Index by model year (0 = fewest issues, 100 = most)0255075100’11’12’13’14’15’16’17’18’19’20’21’22’23’24’25
Complaint Index: 0 = fewest issues, 100 = most, relative to other years of this model. Avoid Caution Good Best
YearVerdictIndexComplaintsRecallsMPG
2011Caution645621
2012Avoid100121822
2013Avoid9387423
2014Caution5725323
2015Avoid7958223

All Volvo S60 years: best and worst →

Frequently asked questions

Is the 2013 Volvo S60 reliable?
Based on NHTSA owner complaints and recalls, the 2013 S60 ranks 2nd worst among 15 model years, with a complaint index of 93 and an 'Avoid' verdict relative to other S60 years.
What are the most common problems with the 2013 Volvo S60?
Engine problems make up 46% of complaints (40 of 87), with a median mileage at failure of 74,000 miles. Airbags and electrical system issues each account for 9% of complaints.
Does the 2013 Volvo S60 have any recalls?
NHTSA lists 4 recalls for the 2013 S60, covering seat belt anchor cables, door latches, incorrect production labels, and an airbag control unit defect.
How does the 2013 S60 compare to other years?
The 2013 S60's complaint index of 93 is worse than 2011 (64), 2014 (57), 2016 (43), and 2021 (21), but slightly better than 2012 (100), which is the worst year for this model.

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.