YearToAvoid

2018 Volvo XC60 Problems, Recalls & Reliability

Verdict

Good

Complaint Index

40/100

#10 most-complained of 16 XC60 years

The 2018 Volvo XC60 has 36 NHTSA complaints, a Complaint Index of 40, and ranks 10th worst out of 16 model years, earning a Good verdict relative to other XC60 years. It has 5 recalls, with Electrical System issues the top complaint area at 33%.

Complaints
36
Recalls
5
Crashes / fires
4 / 0
Injuries / deaths
4 / 0
NHTSA overall rating
Not rated
EPA combined MPG
24
22 city / 28 hwy

Top 2018 Volvo XC60 problems

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

  1. Electrical System12 (33%)
  2. Brakes9 (25%)
  3. Engine6 (17%)
  4. Structure & Body5 (14%)
  5. Airbags4 (11%)
  6. Other4 (11%)
  7. Lane Departure3 (8%)
  8. Suspension, Wheels & Tires3 (8%)
  9. Steering2 (6%)
  10. Visibility & Wipers2 (6%)

What owners report

  • Owners report the engine stalling or shutting off unexpectedly while driving, sometimes with a ticking noise afterward.
  • Some drivers describe the vehicle unintentionally accelerating at low speed and failing to respond to braking before a crash.
  • Owners report the automatic engine stop-start feature failing to restart the engine after coming to a stop, leading to a collision.
  • Several owners describe the lane keeping/autopilot system disengaging with warnings, causing the vehicle to veer toward oncoming traffic.
  • Owners report loud noise and severe vibration or bouncing while driving, especially at highway speed, related to the suspension.
  • Some drivers noted the seatbelt warning chime sounding only briefly at startup and never again, despite the belt being unbuckled.
2018 Volvo XC60 complaints: complaints filed per month4Feb 2018Feb 2019Dec 2019Sep 2020Jun 2022Apr 2023Jan 2024Dec 2025
53 complaints filed with NHTSA from Feb 2018 to Jun 2026; peak Feb 2019 (4).

2018 Volvo XC60 recalls

5 NHTSA recall campaigns list this model year.

  1. NHTSA 25V818000Nov 25, 2025Structure & Body3 vehicles

    Seats:critical fasteners

    Volvo Car USA, LLC (Volvo) is recalling certain 2026 XC60MHEV, 2018 and 2025 XC60 vehicles. The front seat bolts may have been improperly tightened, resulting in loose bolts.

    Risk: A seat with loose bolts may not properly restrain an occupant during a crash, increasing the risk of injury.

    Remedy: Dealers will tighten the front seat bolts, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed December 17, 2025. Owners may contact Volvo's customer service at 1-800-458-1552. Volvo's number for this recall is R10345. Vehicle Identification Numbers (VINs) involved in this recall will be searchable on NHTSA.gov beginning December 5, 2025.

  2. NHTSA 20V503000Aug 25, 2020Visibility & Wipers87,226 vehicles

    Visibility/wiper

    Volvo Car of N.A., LLC (Volvo Cars) is recalling certain 2018-2020 XC60 vehicles. The nuts that secure the front wipers may not have been sufficiently tightened, possibly causing the wipers to not function properly.

    Risk: The risk of the front wiper arms nut fixation to loosen and not holding the arm in correct position, the wiper function could be reduced and vision could be impaired, thus increasing the risk of a crash.

    Remedy: Volvo Car will notify owners, and dealers will tighten the nuts holding the front windshield wiper arms in position, free of charge. The recall began September 29, 2020. Owners may contact Volvo Car customer service at 1-800-458-1552. Volvo Car's number for this recall is R10044.

  3. NHTSA 19V220000Mar 20, 2019Structure & Body2,297 vehicles

    Seats

    Volvo Car USA LLC (Volvo) is recalling certain 2018-2019 XC60 and S90 vehicles. The driver and passenger front seat rail rear flange nuts may not have been installed during assembly.

    Risk: If the nuts are missing, in the event of a crash, the front seat structure and position may be affected, increasing the risk of injury.

    Remedy: Volvo will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the front seat rails for missing flange nuts, installing them as necessary, free of charge. The recall began May 7, 2019. Owners may contact Volvo customer service at 1-800-458-1552. Volvo's number for this recall is R19931.

See all 5 recalls for the 2018 Volvo XC60 →

2018 Volvo XC60 fuel economy and fuel cost

City
22 MPG
Highway
28 MPG
Combined
24 MPG
Annual fuel cost (EPA)
$3,300
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.

2018 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
2016Good2738322
2017Best716423
2018Good4036524
2019Caution6736823.5
2020Best2022623.5

All Volvo XC60 years: best and worst →

Frequently asked questions

Is the 2018 Volvo XC60 reliable?
Compared to other XC60 model years, 2018 is rated Good, ranking 10th worst out of 16 years tracked. It has a Complaint Index of 40, well below the highest years like 2025 at 100.
What problems does the 2018 Volvo XC60 have?
NHTSA lists 36 complaints for the 2018 XC60, led by Electrical System issues (33% of complaints), followed by Brakes (25%) and Engine (17%). There were 4 crashes and 4 injuries reported, but no fires.
Does the 2018 Volvo XC60 have recalls?
Yes, NHTSA lists 5 recalls for the 2018 XC60, covering seat bolts, front wiper arm nuts, seat rail flange nuts, tailgate lifting arms, and a Vehicle Connectivity Module software issue. None are do-not-drive recalls.
Should I avoid the 2018 Volvo XC60?
The 2018 XC60 is not a year to avoid; it carries a Good verdict relative to other XC60 years, with a lower Complaint Index (40) than years like 2022, 2023, 2024, and 2025, which are rated Avoid.
How is fuel economy on the 2018 Volvo XC60?
The 2018 XC60 gets an EPA-rated 24 mpg combined (22 city / 28 highway), with an estimated annual fuel cost of $3,300.

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.