YearToAvoid

2020 Volvo V60 Problems, Recalls & Reliability

Verdict

Avoid

Complaint Index

79/100

#4 most-complained of 15 V60 years

The 2020 Volvo V60 ranks 4th worst out of 15 model years, with a Complaint Index of 79 and a rank of "Avoid". Brakes and Electrical System issues each account for 38% of its 8 NHTSA complaints, and it carries 3 recalls.

Complaints
8
Recalls
3
Crashes / fires
0 / 0
Injuries / deaths
0 / 0
NHTSA overall rating
Not rated
EPA combined MPG
27
23 city / 33 hwy

Top 2020 Volvo V60 problems

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

  1. Brakes3 (38%)
  2. Electrical System3 (38%)
  3. Engine1 (13%)
  4. Collision Avoidance & Cameras1 (13%)
  5. Fuel System1 (13%)
  6. Other1 (13%)
  7. Seat Belts1 (13%)
  8. Steering1 (13%)
  9. Suspension, Wheels & Tires1 (13%)

What owners report

  • Vehicles reportedly self-apply braking on the highway around 70 mph while a city safety warning light illuminates.
  • Owners describe a brake light malfunction warning in cold weather, with the third brake light appearing dimmer than normal at startup.
  • Some owners report brake rotors exceeding factory run-out tolerances, causing pulsation felt through the steering wheel.
  • The main driver information display and center navigation screen reportedly go blank while driving, hiding speed and fuel data.
  • One owner reported the tailgate opening unexpectedly along with the display failures.
  • A seat belt warning system reportedly fails to alert the driver when a passenger's belt is unfastened, even though it detects the passenger's presence.
2020 Volvo V60 complaints: complaints filed per month3Jul 2020Oct 2020Dec 2020Oct 2021Nov 2022May 2025Mar 2026Jun 2026
13 complaints filed with NHTSA from Jul 2020 to Jun 2026; peak Mar 2026 (3).

2020 Volvo V60 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 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.

  3. NHTSA 20V144000Mar 12, 2020Collision Avoidance & Cameras121,605 vehicles

    Forward collision avoidance: automatic emergency braking

    Volvo Cars USA LLC (Volvo Cars) is recalling certain 2019-2020 S60, V60, V60 Cross Country, S90L, V90, V90 Cross Country, XC40, XC60, and XC90 vehicles. Due to a software/hardware incompatibility, the Automatic Emergency Brake (AEB) system may not detect obstacles and engage as intended.

    Risk: If the automatic emergency braking system does not engage as intended, it can increase the risk of a crash.

    Remedy: Volvo will notify owners, and dealers will update the Active Safety Domain Master (ASDM) software, 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 R29998.

2020 Volvo V60 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 V60 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
2018No verdict431226
2019No verdict572325
2020Avoid798327
2021No verdict501327
2022No verdict290330.5

All Volvo V60 years: best and worst →

Frequently asked questions

Is the 2020 Volvo V60 a good year to avoid?
NHTSA data ranks the 2020 V60 4th worst among 15 model years, with a Complaint Index of 79 and a verdict of "Avoid" relative to other V60 years.
What are the most common problems with the 2020 Volvo V60?
Brakes and Electrical System issues each make up 38% of the 8 NHTSA complaints, followed by single complaints in Engine, Collision Avoidance & Cameras, Fuel System, Seat Belts, Steering, and Suspension.
Does the 2020 Volvo V60 have any recalls?
NHTSA lists 3 recalls for the 2020 V60: a high-voltage battery short-circuit issue, a low-pressure fuel pump fuse failure, and an Automatic Emergency Braking software/hardware incompatibility. None are do-not-drive recalls.
How does the 2020 V60 compare to other V60 years?
With a Complaint Index of 79, the 2020 V60 ranks worse than most other years, though 2015 (index 100) and 2016 (index 86) rank worse still, and 2024 (index 93) also carries an "Avoid" verdict.
What mileage do 2020 V60 brake problems occur at?
The median mileage at failure for brake-related complaints on the 2020 V60 is 1,650 miles.

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.