YearToAvoid

2011 Volvo XC60 Reliability Data: Problems & Recalls

Best The 2011 Volvo XC60 ranks 14th of 17 model years for complaints, with a complaint index of 19 and a "Best" verdict relative to other XC60 years. It has 36 complaints, 4 recalls, and no fires or deaths reported.

Based on NHTSA complaints per model-year, not a reliability rating. Methodology

YearToAvoid Scorecard

Complaint Index
19/100
#14 of 17 XC60 years
Verdict
Best
vs. other years of this model
Complaints
36
unique NHTSA reports
Recalls
4
distinct NHTSA campaigns
Crashes
2
reported in complaints
Fires
0
Injuries
0
Top issue
Seat Belts
Best nearby year
2014
rated Best
NHTSA overall rating
5 / 5 ★
EPA combined MPG
20
18 city / 24 hwy
Injuries / deaths
0 / 0

Top 2011 Volvo XC60 problems

Share of this year’s NHTSA complaints by component group. Groups with 15+ complaints have their own page.

  1. Other8 (22%)
  2. Seat Belts8 (22%)
  3. Visibility & Wipers8 (22%)
  4. Electrical System6 (17%)
  5. Engine5 (14%)
  6. Brakes3 (8%)
  7. Steering3 (8%)
  8. Structure & Body3 (8%)
  9. Airbags2 (6%)
  10. Fuel System1 (3%)

A complaint can list more than one component, so shares add up to more than 100%. Shares are % of complaints.

What owners report

  • Owners report sudden unintended acceleration while parking, with no pedal contact and clear floor mats.
  • Some describe the steering wheel seizing while parking, with the gear shifting itself from drive to reverse and the engine stalling.
  • Others report the vehicle braking and shutting down suddenly while driving, locking the steering wheel mid-traffic.
  • Several owners report the low oil light coming on and needing extra oil, with dealers replacing pistons or the entire engine.
  • One owner reported airbags failing to deploy in a front-end crash at 50,000 miles.
  • A steering CV boot design was described as cutting over time, which a service manager said could let grease catch fire while driving.
2011 Volvo XC60 complaints: complaints filed per month2Sep 2010Aug 2012Nov 2014Nov 2015Jan 2019Feb 2020Aug 2022
36 complaints filed with NHTSA from Sep 2010 to Feb 2024; peak Sep 2019 (2).

2011 Volvo XC60 recalls

4 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 10V579000Nov 17, 2010Engine6,046 vehicles

    Engine and engine cooling

    Volvo is recalling certain model year 2011, s80, s60, xc70 and xc60 vehicles. The software calibration for the fuel cut-off functionality in the engine control module (ECM) is too sensitive.

    Risk: Sudden engine stall could occur increasing the risk of a crash.

    Remedy: Dealers will update the ECM and TCM with new software free of charge. The safety recall is expected to begin on or before december 10, 2010. Owners may contact volvo at 1-800-458-1552 or at [email protected].

See all 4 recalls for the 2011 Volvo XC60 →

2011 Volvo XC60 fuel economy and fuel cost

City
18 MPG
Highway
24 MPG
Combined
20 MPG
Annual fuel cost (EPA)
$3,250
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.

2011 compared with other XC60 years

Complaint Index by model year (0 = fewest issues, 100 = most)0255075100’09’10’11’12’13’14’15’16’17’18’19’20’21’22’23’24’25
Complaint Index: 0 = fewest issues, 100 = most, relative to other years of this model. Avoid Caution Good Best
YearVerdictIndexComplaintsRecallsMPG
2009No verdict00118
2010Caution6956718
2011Best1936420
2012Good3846320
2013Good4466320

All Volvo XC60 years: best and worst →

Frequently asked questions

Is the 2011 Volvo XC60 reliable?
Among XC60 model years, 2011 ranks well. It has a complaint index of 19, the 14th worst of 17 years tracked, and carries a "Best" verdict relative to other XC60 years.
What are the most common problems with the 2011 Volvo XC60?
NHTSA data shows Seat Belts and Visibility & Wipers each make up 22% of complaints, followed by Electrical System at 17% and Engine at 14%.
Does the 2011 Volvo XC60 have any recalls?
NHTSA lists 4 recalls for the 2011 XC60, covering seat belt anchor cables, front power seat stops, engine control module fuel cut-off software, and the driver airbag clockspring wiring.
At what mileage do 2011 XC60 problems typically show up?
Median mileage at failure varies by area: 21,100 miles for brakes and steering, 49,000 miles for seat belts and visibility, and 54,963 miles for electrical system complaints.
How does the 2011 XC60 compare to other years?
The 2011 XC60's complaint index of 19 is far lower than 2021-2025 years, which range from 63 to 100 and carry "Avoid" verdicts.

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.