YearToAvoid

2013 Volvo XC60 Problems, Recalls & Reliability

Verdict

Good

Complaint Index

47/100

#9 most-complained of 16 XC60 years

The 2013 Volvo XC60 has a complaint index of 47 and ranks 9th worst out of 16 model years, earning a 'Good' verdict relative to other XC60 years. Visibility & Wipers issues dominate with 29 complaints (44% share), mostly windshield water leaks.

Complaints
66
Recalls
3
Crashes / fires
1 / 2
Injuries / deaths
1 / 0
NHTSA overall rating
5 / 5 ★
EPA combined MPG
20
18 city / 24 hwy

Top 2013 Volvo XC60 problems

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

  1. Visibility & Wipers29 (44%)
  2. Other16 (24%)
  3. Electrical System10 (15%)
  4. Airbags7 (11%)
  5. Structure & Body6 (9%)
  6. Engine4 (6%)
  7. Brakes3 (5%)
  8. Collision Avoidance & Cameras2 (3%)
  9. Steering2 (3%)
  10. Fuel System1 (2%)

What owners report

  • Windshields leak at the top edge, letting rain and snow drip inside and pool near the dash, sometimes recurring over months.
  • Windshield bonding material erodes to the point the glass can be pushed loose from the frame, with leaks spreading to the passenger side.
  • Headlight assembly mounts fracture over time, disconnecting the headlight from the chassis and risking it falling off.
  • Steering wheel trim separates and exposes sharp metal edges that have cut drivers' hands while driving.
  • Water intrusion at the A-pillars near the curtain airbags occurs when the car sits parked in the rain.
  • A steering pump has been reported to leak fluid, described by a dealer as 'sweating' rather than a qualifying leak.
2013 Volvo XC60 complaints: complaints filed per quarter82014 Q32017 Q22019 Q22020 Q42022 Q12024 Q12025 Q4
81 complaints filed with NHTSA from 2014 Q3 to 2026 Q2; peak 2021 Q2 (8).

2013 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 13V084000Mar 5, 2013Other7 vehicles

    Equipment:other:labels

    Volvo is recalling certain model year 2013 S60 and XC60 vehicles, manufactured on January 7, 2013. The product identification labels were printed with the incorrect manufacture year. Thus, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of 49 CFR Part 567, "Certification Regulation."

    Risk: With an incorrect date of manufacture on the certification label, the vehicle owner may not be to determine if they are affected by future vehicle recalls, increasing their risk of a crash of injury.

    Remedy: Volvo has quarantined the affected vehicles and will install correct labels prior to sale. The recall began during March 2013. Owner notification letters will not be sent.

  3. NHTSA 12V439000Sep 10, 2012Airbags9 vehicles

    Air bags:frontal:sensor/control module-inactive

    Volvo is recalling certain model year 2013 S60 and XC60 vehicles. A manufacturing defect within the Supplemental Restraint System (SRS) control unit may lead to an inadvertent deployment of the seat belt pretensioner and/or inflatable curtain.

    Risk: If the seat belt pretensioner and/or inflatable side curtain deploy without cause, the driver could be distracted and the driver's visibility could be reduced, increasing the risk of a crash.

    Remedy: These vehicles have not been sold and the SRS control unit will be replaced prior to the cars being sold. Owners may contact Volvo at 1-800-458-1552.

2013 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.

2013 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
2011Best1336420
2012Good3346320
2013Good4766320
2014Best016220
2015Caution5347121

All Volvo XC60 years: best and worst →

Frequently asked questions

Is the 2013 Volvo XC60 reliable?
Relative to other XC60 model years, the 2013 XC60 rates 'Good' with a complaint index of 47 and ranks 9th worst out of 16 years tracked.
What is the biggest problem with the 2013 Volvo XC60?
Visibility & Wipers complaints lead, with 29 complaints making up 44% of all reports, mostly windshield water leaks at a median mileage of 84,000.
Does the 2013 Volvo XC60 have any recalls?
NHTSA lists 3 recalls for the 2013 XC60, covering seat belt anchor cables, incorrect manufacture-year labels, and an airbag control unit defect. None are do-not-drive recalls.
How does the 2013 XC60 compare to the 2022 XC60?
The 2013 XC60 has a complaint index of 47 ('Good'), while the 2022 XC60 has a much higher complaint index of 93 and an 'Avoid' verdict.
What is the fuel economy of the 2013 Volvo XC60?
NHTSA/EPA data shows 20 mpg combined (18 city, 24 highway) with an estimated annual fuel cost of $3,250.

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.