2020 Volvo S60 Problems, Recalls & Reliability
Verdict
GoodComplaint Index
29/100
#11 most-complained of 15 S60 years
The 2020 Volvo S60 has a complaint index of 29, the 11th-worst of 15 model years, earning a "Good" verdict relative to other S60 years. NHTSA lists 11 complaints, 4 recalls, and 1 crash, with brakes as the top problem area.
- Complaints
- 11
- Recalls
- 4
- Crashes / fires
- 1 / 0
- Injuries / deaths
- 0 / 0
- NHTSA overall rating
- Not rated
- EPA combined MPG
- 27
- 23 city / 33 hwy
Top 2020 Volvo S60 problems
NHTSA owner complaints by component group. Groups with 15+ complaints have their own page.
- Brakes5 (45%)
- Electrical System3 (27%)
- Collision Avoidance & Cameras3 (27%)
- Steering3 (27%)
- Suspension, Wheels & Tires3 (27%)
- Engine2 (18%)
- Other1 (9%)
- Transmission & Powertrain1 (9%)
- Visibility & Wipers1 (9%)
What owners report
- Owners report brake fluid low warnings appearing at very low mileage, sometimes recurring after the dealer topped off fluid.
- Rear brakes and rotors have worn down and needed replacement well before expected, with one owner noting wear at 24,018 miles despite a clean inspection months earlier.
- Some drivers describe the automatic emergency braking system triggering unexpectedly, including sudden jerking and hard braking at highway speed.
- One owner reported the forward collision avoidance system failed to activate before a low-speed crash into another vehicle.
- Persistent front-end vibration at 65-75 mph has been reported, with tires and rotors replaced multiple times without resolving the issue.
- Steering wheel controls, turn indicators, and windshield wipers have gone dark simultaneously, in one case requiring the vehicle to be towed.
2020 Volvo S60 recalls
4 NHTSA recall campaigns list this model year.
- NHTSA 25V179000Mar 24, 2025Electrical System7,483 vehicles
Electrical system:propulsion system:traction battery
Volvo Car USA, LLC (Volvo Car) is recalling certain 2020-2021 S90, 2020-2022 S60, V60, XC60, XC90, and 2022 V90 plug-in hybrid vehicles. The high-voltage battery may experience a short circuit within the battery module when the battery is fully charged and the vehicle is parked.
Risk: A short circuit in a high-voltage battery increases the risk of a fire.
Remedy: Owners are advised not to charge their vehicles until the remedy has been completed. Dealers will inspect and replace the high-voltage battery module as necessary. In addition, dealers will update the software to monitor the battery. All repairs will be performed free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed May 28, 2025. Owners may contact Volvo Car's customer service at 1-800-458-1552. Volvo Car's number for this recall is R10312.
- NHTSA 23V780000Nov 21, 2023Airbags346 vehicles
Air bags:frontal
Volvo Car USA, LLC. (Volvo Car) is recalling certain 2019-2024 S60 vehicles. The passenger air bag may not be secured properly, which can cause the air bag to deploy improperly.
Risk: An air bag that does not deploy properly in a crash increases the risk of injury.
Remedy: Dealers will inspect and tighten the bolts securing the passenger air bag, as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed January 5, 2024. Owners may contact Volvo Car customer service at 1-800-458-1552. Volvo Car's number for this recall is R10254.
- NHTSA 21V414000Jun 2, 2021Fuel System85,550 vehicles
Fuel system, gasoline:delivery:fuel pump
Volvo Car USA, LLC (Volvo Car) is recalling certain 2019-2020 V90, XC60, S60, V60, V60CC, S90, V90CC, S90L, and XC90 vehicles. The low-pressure fuel pump can blow a fuse and fail.
Risk: Failure of the low-pressure fuel pump can cause a stall, increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy: Dealers will replace the fuse, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed July 2, 2021. Owners may contact Volvo Car customer service at 1-888-458-1552. Volvo Car's number for this recall is R10100.
2020 Volvo S60 fuel economy and fuel cost
- City
- 23 MPG
- Highway
- 33 MPG
- Combined
- 27 MPG
- Annual fuel cost (EPA)
- $2,950
- 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.
2020 compared with other S60 years
Frequently asked questions
- Is the 2020 Volvo S60 reliable?
- Compared to other S60 model years, the 2020 has a complaint index of 29, ranking 11th-worst out of 15 years tracked, which earns it a "Good" verdict. NHTSA lists 11 complaints and 4 recalls for this year.
- What problems does the 2020 Volvo S60 have?
- Brakes are the top problem area, making up 45% of complaints, followed by electrical system issues and collision avoidance/camera problems, each at 27%. Owners also reported steering and suspension issues.
- Does the 2020 Volvo S60 have any recalls?
- NHTSA lists 4 recalls for the 2020 S60, covering the high-voltage battery, passenger airbag mounting, low-pressure fuel pump fuse, and automatic emergency braking software.
- What year Volvo S60 should I avoid?
- Among S60 years with data, 2012 and 2013 have the highest complaint indexes at 100 and 93, both rated "Avoid," along with 2015 and 2024. The 2020 model is rated "Good" by comparison.
- What is the fuel economy of the 2020 Volvo S60?
- The 2020 S60 gets 27 mpg combined (23 city / 33 highway), with an estimated annual fuel cost of $2,950.