YearToAvoid

2010 Volvo XC60 Problems, Recalls & Reliability

Verdict

Caution

Complaint Index

60/100

#7 most-complained of 16 XC60 years

The 2010 Volvo XC60 has a Complaint Index of 60 and ranks 7th worst out of 16 model years, earning a Caution verdict. NHTSA lists 53 complaints, 3 recalls, and a top problem area of Electrical System (23% of complaints).

Complaints
53
Recalls
3
Crashes / fires
3 / 1
Injuries / deaths
6 / 0
NHTSA overall rating
Not rated
EPA combined MPG
18
16 city / 22 hwy

Top 2010 Volvo XC60 problems

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

  1. Other15 (28%)
  2. Electrical System12 (23%)
  3. Visibility & Wipers9 (17%)
  4. Engine7 (13%)
  5. Structure & Body7 (13%)
  6. Brakes5 (9%)
  7. Suspension, Wheels & Tires5 (9%)
  8. Airbags4 (8%)
  9. Fuel System4 (8%)
  10. Steering2 (4%)

What owners report

  • Engine surges forward unexpectedly while stopped at a red light with the tachometer reading elevated.
  • Vehicle stalls without warning while driving around 55 mph and restarts only after several attempts.
  • Fuel gauge shows about half a tank remaining but the tank runs dry, sometimes citing a false '140 miles to empty' reading.
  • Fuel line connected to the fuel pump develops a leak, causing gasoline to spill briskly.
  • Oil level drops well below the dipstick minimum between scheduled services, requiring several quarts to be added.
  • Adaptive cruise control fails to brake normally at low speed, triggering a 'radar blocked' warning light.
2010 Volvo XC60 complaints: complaints filed per month4Mar 2010Feb 2012Oct 2015Nov 2016Mar 2019Jan 2021Aug 2023
73 complaints filed with NHTSA from Mar 2010 to Jun 2024; peak Jun 2016 (4).

2010 Volvo XC60 recalls

3 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 10V591000Nov 22, 2010Structure & Body7,420 vehicles

    Seats

    Volvo is recalling certain passenger vehicles equipped with power front passenger seats. The front seat rail's detection system was manufactured incorrectly and may permit the passenger to forward the seat beyond the intended maximum.

    Risk: Positioning of the seat beyond the intended maximum can cause increased risk of injury to the passenger in the event of a crash.

    Remedy: Dealers will inspect the front power seat stops for both front seats for the presence of an "end stop" and repair the vehicles as necessary free of charge. The safety recall began on december 23, 2010. Owners may contact volvo at 1-800-458-1552 or at [email protected].

  3. NHTSA 10V564000Nov 10, 2010Airbags58 vehicles

    Air bags

    Volvo is recalling certain model year 2010 xc60 vehicles. The curtain air bags may have been mis-assembled during the manufacturing process. This may cause an air bag to not deploy or not deploy as intended.

    Risk: If the curtain air bag does not perform as intended in the event of a vehicle crash necessitating deployment of that air bag, it may not properly protect the occupant, increasing the risk of injuries.

    Remedy: Dealers will inspect the left and right curtain air bag assembly and adjust if necessary. This service will be performed free of charge. The safety recall began on december 9, 2010. Owners may contact volvo at 1-800-458-1552 or at [email protected].

2010 Volvo XC60 fuel economy and fuel cost

City
16 MPG
Highway
22 MPG
Combined
18 MPG
Annual fuel cost (EPA)
$3,600
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.

2010 compared with other XC60 years

Complaint Index by model year (0 = fewest issues, 100 = most)0255075100’10’11’12’13’14’15’16’17’18’19’20’21’22’23’24’25
Complaint Index: 0 = fewest issues, 100 = most, relative to other years of this model. Avoid Caution Good Best
YearVerdictIndexComplaintsRecallsMPG
2010Caution6053318
2011Best1336420
2012Good3346320

All Volvo XC60 years: best and worst →

Frequently asked questions

Is the 2010 Volvo XC60 reliable?
Based on NHTSA owner complaints and recalls, the 2010 XC60 carries a Complaint Index of 60 and ranks 7th worst out of 16 model years, placing it in the Caution category relative to other XC60 years.
What is the most common problem with the 2010 Volvo XC60?
The Electrical System is the top problem area, accounting for 12 complaints, or 23% of all reported issues, with a median failure mileage of 82,500 miles.
Does the 2010 Volvo XC60 have any recalls?
NHTSA lists 3 recalls for the 2010 XC60, covering seat belt anchor cables, front power seat rail stops, and mis-assembled curtain airbags that may not deploy correctly.
How does the 2010 XC60 compare to other XC60 years?
The 2010 model's Complaint Index of 60 is worse than the 2011 (13), 2012 (33), 2014 (0), 2016 (27), and 2020 (20) model years, though not as high as the 2022-2025 Avoid years, which range from 80 to 100.

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.