YearToAvoid

2018 Volvo S60 Problems, Recalls & Reliability

Verdict

No verdict

Complaint Index

7/100

#14 most-complained of 15 S60 years

The 2018 Volvo S60 has a complaint index of 7, among the lowest of all 15 model years, ranking 14th worst (meaning it's one of the better years). NHTSA lists 4 complaints and 1 recall for seat belt anchor cables.

Complaints
4
Recalls
1
Crashes / fires
0 / 0
Injuries / deaths
0 / 0
NHTSA overall rating
5 / 5 ★
EPA combined MPG
26
22 city / 33 hwy

Top 2018 Volvo S60 problems

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

  1. Brakes1 (25%)
  2. Electrical System1 (25%)
  3. Engine1 (25%)
  4. HVAC1 (25%)
  5. Other1 (25%)

What owners report

  • Brake pedal produced a popping sound followed by loss of braking, with a mechanic citing a broken brake booster at 10,484 miles.
  • HVAC fan stopped working and the windshield could not be defrosted, requiring fan replacement at 77,000 miles.
  • Check engine light came on due to an Engine Control Module failure, reported at 44,200 miles, which one dealer called unusually early for this type of failure.
2018 Volvo S60 complaints: complaints filed per month2Jan 2020Feb 2023Jul 2025Oct 2025
5 complaints filed with NHTSA from Jan 2020 to Oct 2025; peak Jul 2025 (2).

2018 Volvo S60 recalls

1 NHTSA recall campaign 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.

2018 Volvo S60 fuel economy and fuel cost

City
22 MPG
Highway
33 MPG
Combined
26 MPG
Annual fuel cost (EPA)
$2,500
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.

2018 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
2016Good4325423
2017Good3616526
2018No verdict74126
2019Caution7125428
2020Good2911427

All Volvo S60 years: best and worst →

Frequently asked questions

Is the 2018 Volvo S60 reliable?
Based on NHTSA data, the 2018 S60 has a complaint index of 7, one of the lowest among the 15 model years covered, and ranks 14th worst overall. It has only 4 complaints and 1 recall on file.
What is the top problem area for the 2018 Volvo S60?
Brakes are the top-reported problem area, accounting for 25% of complaints, including one case of brake loss at 10,484 miles.
Does the 2018 Volvo S60 have any recalls?
Yes, one recall (campaign 20V378000) covers seat belt anchor cable replacement on both front seats; it is not a do-not-drive recall.
How does the 2018 S60 compare to other Volvo S60 years?
The 2018 model has a complaint index of 7, far below years like 2012 (100) and 2013 (93), which carry Avoid verdicts, making 2018 one of the better years 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.