YearToAvoid

2011 Volvo XC60 Problems, Recalls & Reliability

Verdict

Best

Complaint Index

13/100

#14 most-complained of 16 XC60 years

The 2011 Volvo XC60 has a complaint index of 13, ranked 14th out of 16 model years, making it one of the better years for this model. It has 36 complaints, 4 recalls, and no fires or deaths reported to NHTSA.

Complaints
36
Recalls
4
Crashes / fires
2 / 0
Injuries / deaths
0 / 0
NHTSA overall rating
5 / 5 ★
EPA combined MPG
20
18 city / 24 hwy

Top 2011 Volvo XC60 problems

NHTSA owner 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%)

What owners report

  • Some owners report sudden unintended acceleration or stalling while parking or coasting, in one case leading to a crash into a wall.
  • Drivers describe the steering wheel seizing up during parking maneuvers, with the gearshift moving from drive to reverse on its own.
  • Owners report the low oil warning light coming on, with dealers finding worn pistons and, in one case, needing a full engine replacement around 37,000 miles.
  • One owner reported the vehicle suddenly braking to a complete stop and locking the steering wheel while driving in traffic, at 21,100 miles.
  • A driver described losing control and crashing with the airbags failing to deploy at 50,000 miles.
  • One owner noted the rear view mirror tint made it difficult to see out the back window shortly after purchase.
2011 Volvo XC60 complaints: complaints filed per month3Sep 2010Aug 2012Nov 2014Nov 2015Jan 2019Feb 2020Aug 2022
48 complaints filed with NHTSA from Sep 2010 to Feb 2024; peak Jan 2013 (3).

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)0255075100’10’11’12’13’14’15’16’17’18’19’20’21’22’23’24’25
Complaint Index: 0 = fewest issues, 100 = most, relative to other years of this model. Avoid Caution Good Best
YearVerdictIndexComplaintsRecallsMPG
2010Caution6053318
2011Best1336420
2012Good3346320
2013Good4766320

All Volvo XC60 years: best and worst →

Frequently asked questions

Is the 2011 Volvo XC60 reliable?
Based on NHTSA owner complaints and recalls, the 2011 XC60 has a complaint index of 13, one of the lowest (best) among the 16 model years covered, with 36 complaints and 4 recalls.
What are the most common problems with the 2011 Volvo XC60?
NHTSA data shows Seat Belts and Visibility & Wipers each account for 22% of complaints, followed by Electrical System at 17% and Engine issues at 14%.
Does the 2011 Volvo XC60 have any recalls?
Yes, 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 airbag clockspring wiring.
How does the 2011 XC60 compare to other model years?
The 2011 XC60 ranks 14th worst out of 16 years with a complaint index of 13, putting it near the good end of the range, well below years like 2022 and 2025 which score 93 and 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.