YearToAvoid

2021 Volvo S60 Problems, Recalls & Reliability

Verdict

Best

Complaint Index

21/100

#12 most-complained of 15 S60 years

The 2021 Volvo S60 has a complaint index of 21, one of the lowest among 15 model years, and ranks 12th worst (best) with a verdict of Best. It has 8 complaints and 3 recalls, with no crashes, fires, injuries, or deaths reported.

Complaints
8
Recalls
3
Crashes / fires
0 / 0
Injuries / deaths
0 / 0
NHTSA overall rating
Not rated
EPA combined MPG
26.5
22.5 city / 33 hwy

Top 2021 Volvo S60 problems

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

  1. Electrical System4 (50%)
  2. Other3 (38%)
  3. Visibility & Wipers3 (38%)
  4. Brakes2 (25%)
  5. Engine1 (13%)
  6. Steering1 (13%)

What owners report

  • Front brake rotors reportedly warp and require replacement within the first 15,000 miles of ownership.
  • The high-voltage coolant heater has failed, preventing the cabin from heating when running on battery power.
  • Windshield defrost function reportedly fails to warm up properly when the coolant heater malfunctions.
2021 Volvo S60 complaints: complaints filed per month3May 2021Nov 2022Dec 2023Jul 2025Nov 2025Feb 2026May 2026Aug 2026
14 complaints filed with NHTSA from May 2021 to Aug 2026; peak May 2021 (3).

2021 Volvo S60 recalls

3 NHTSA recall campaigns list this model year.

  1. 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.

  2. 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.

  3. NHTSA 21V682000Sep 1, 2021Seat Belts19,149 vehicles

    Seat belts:rear/other:retractor

    Volvo Car USA, LLC (Volvo Car) is recalling certain 2021 XC40, XC 40 Recharge, V60CC, V90, V90CC, XC90, and 2021-2022 V60, XC60, S60 vehicles. The seat belt automatic locking retractors may deactivate early, which can prevent the child restraint system from securing properly. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 208, "Occupant Crash Protection."

    Risk: An unsecured child restraint system can increase the risk of injury during a crash.

    Remedy: Dealers will inspect and replace the seat belt assemblies, as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed October 13, 2021. Owners may contact Volvo Car customer service at 1-888-458-1552. Volvo Car's number for this recall is R10111.

2021 Volvo S60 fuel economy and fuel cost

City
22.5 MPG
Highway
33 MPG
Combined
26.5 MPG
Annual fuel cost (EPA)
$3,000
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.

2021 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
2019Caution7125428
2020Good2911427
2021Best218326.5
2022Caution5015430
2023No verdict143630

All Volvo S60 years: best and worst →

Frequently asked questions

Is the 2021 Volvo S60 reliable?
Based on NHTSA owner complaints and recalls, the 2021 S60 has a complaint index of 21, one of the lowest of any S60 model year, earning it a 'Best' verdict relative to other S60 years.
What problems does the 2021 Volvo S60 have?
NHTSA lists 8 complaints for the 2021 S60, with Electrical System issues making up half of them, followed by Visibility & Wipers and Brakes complaints.
Does the 2021 Volvo S60 have any recalls?
Yes, NHTSA lists 3 recalls for the 2021 S60, covering the high-voltage battery, passenger airbag mounting, and seat belt automatic locking retractors.
How does the 2021 S60 compare to other Volvo S60 years?
The 2021 S60 ranks 12th worst out of 15 model years with data, meaning most other S60 years have higher complaint indexes; only a few years like 2018 and 2023 score lower.

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.