2010-2025 Volvo XC60 Problems: 17 Known Issues

A software/hardware incompatibility in the Active Safety Domain Master (ASDM) - the module that runs City Safety, AEB, Pilot Assist and pedestrian/cyclist detection on the SPA cars - can leave the automatic emergency braking system unable to detect an obstacle and brake as intended. Volvo recalled 121,605 vehicles under 20V144000, covering 2019-2020 XC60 along with most of the range. This is a particularly dangerous defect because the system does not fault out or throw a dashboard warning: the driver has no indication that the safety net is inactive and continues to rely on it.

The steel cable on the outboard side of each front seat that connects to the front seat belt can wear and fatigue if it is repeatedly bent over the seat cushion when people get in. A fatigued cable may not be strong enough to hold the belt in a crash, giving reduced or no seat belt restraint and increasing the risk of injury. It affects 2010-2016 XC60s (first generation) covered by recall 20V378 (Volvo R10029). Volvo's chassis table lists XC60 model years 2009-2016 built March 18, 2008 to April 22, 2016; the same recall covers S60, V60, S80, V70, XC70 and other models, 308,260 vehicles in total. Volvo says the front seat belt cable fastener may come loose as a warning sign. A Volvo retailer can confirm by VIN whether a vehicle is included and whether the work has been done.

On some seat belts, the automatic locking mode (engaged by pulling the belt all the way out to hold a child seat) can switch off before the belt is fully retracted, so a child seat installed with the seat belt may not be held tightly. This fails Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard 208 and increases the risk of injury to the child in a crash. Volvo says normal adult use and child seats installed with LATCH are not affected; the clicking of the locking mode stops well before the belt is fully retracted. It affects certain 2021-2022 XC60s built November 23, 2020 to May 21, 2021, covered by recall 21V682 (Volvo R10111). Because the build window ends May 21, 2021, only a few early-built 2022 XC60s can be included. The recall counts 19,149 vehicles across the XC40, XC60, S60, V60, V60CC, V90, V90CC and XC90, and Volvo estimates about 1% have the defect. A Volvo retailer can confirm by VIN whether a vehicle is included.

The wiring harness under the driver and/or front passenger seat may not be attached properly to the seat frame. If it hangs too low, moving the seat can catch it on the floor-mounted amplifier and detach its connector, lighting the SRS light with "SRS service required urgent". In a crash the airbags may not deploy as intended or at all, and signals for the seat belt buckle, side impact airbag, passenger occupant weight sensor, seat position sensor and lap belt pretensioner can be lost, increasing the risk of injury. It affects certain 2012 XC60s built May 16, 2011 to October 6, 2011, covered by recall 12V075 (Volvo recall 250). The recall covers about 17,000 2012 S60, XC60, S80 and XC70 vehicles in the US. Volvo Customer Care or a Volvo retailer can confirm by VIN whether a vehicle is included.

The rearview camera image may not show at the start of a backing event; the center display may instead show "Camera is temporarily not available". Without the image the driver's view behind the car is limited, increasing the risk of a crash, and the car does not meet Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard 111. Volvo lists the cause as camera image rendering failure, camera link setup and software system performance. It affects 2022-2025 XC60s with the Google built-in infotainment system built May 20, 2021 to April 11, 2025 (154,262 XC60s), covered by recall 25V908 (Volvo R10333). This recall replaces recall 25V282 (R10320); cars already repaired under 25V282 need the new remedy. A Volvo retailer or the NHTSA VIN lookup confirms inclusion.

On 2019-2020 SPA-platform Volvos the 15A fuse for the low-pressure (in-tank lift) fuel pump may not withstand a current peak when the engine control module commands the fuel delivery module off, for example after a wake-up such as unlocking the car or pressing the brake pedal; a blown fuse shuts the pump down and starves the high-pressure direct-injection pump. Volvo recalled roughly 85,550 vehicles including the XC60 under 21V414000. Volvo's recall report says the result is a no-start or, in the worst case, a stall, with a message shown in the driver display; a blown fuse does not reset, so the engine will not run again until the fuse is replaced (plug-in hybrids can stop safely or keep driving on battery charge). Owners typically describe it as the car shutting off at a stoplight or losing all power on the highway, and because the root cause is a fuse rating rather than a mechanical pump defect, a shop that replaces the blown fuse with another 15A fuse instead of the 20A fuse the recall specifies can see it recur.

A 2013 XC60 T6 owner reports loss of power followed by cranking without restarting and reports a dealer diagnosis involving the pump and sender. A 2010 T6 account names P062800 and P008700. These reports do not prove a pump or electronic-module failure on another vehicle. Applies to: 2010–2013 first-generation XC60 T6 context. The cited accounts concern 2010 and 2013 vehicles, not a direct diagnosis on the representative 2012 vehicle.

Volvo Car USA recalled certain 2023 XC60 SUVs because a diagnostic error inside the Brake Control Module 2 (BCM2) can cause the vehicle to lose Antilock Brake System (ABS), Electronic Stability Control (ESC) and traction control. On an XC60 this matters most in the conditions the SUV is bought for — wet pavement, snow, a hard stop on a loose surface — because the electronic aids that normally keep the wheels from locking and the vehicle from sliding are the exact functions that drop out. The recall addresses the brake support functions layered on top of braking, not a mechanical brake part. NHTSA lists 27,457 vehicles for the campaign as a whole, which covers several 2023 Volvo models, not the XC60 alone. Volvo's internal number for the recall is R10217.

A supplier process deviation in LG high-voltage battery cell modules can cause an internal short circuit when the battery is fully charged and the car is parked, which can overheat the cells and increases the risk of a fire. Volvo reports no incidents while driving. It affects only XC60 plug-in hybrids (T8): certain 2020-2022 XC60s built June 4, 2019 to November 29, 2021 with LG battery modules made June 3, 2019 to November 30, 2021, covered by recall 25V179 (Volvo R10312). The recall counts 7,483 US plug-in hybrids across the S60, V60, S90, V90, XC60 and XC90. A Volvo retailer can confirm by VIN whether a vehicle is included.

Owners report jerky or hesitant gear changes at low speed, rough 1st-to-2nd shifts and, on cold mornings, a shift into 3rd that drops back to 2nd and slips. One 2022 B5 owner reports the car holding 1st gear and then showing "Transmission acceleration performance reduced". It affects the second-generation XC60 (2018-2022) with the 8-speed automatic. Reports come from 2022 XC60 B5 and B6 owners and a 2019 XC60 T6 owner. No Volvo bulletin for this condition on the second-generation XC60 was found. Mileage when it happened, as stated in the linked owner reports: 1,500 miles on a 2022.

Because of an internal tolerance deviation in the TF-80SC automatic transmission, the car may engage harshly when shifted from Neutral to Drive, give a shift shock when the brake is released after standing still, or shift roughly from 5th to 4th when coasting down. Volvo notes the fault code may not be stored even with these symptoms. It affects the first-generation 2011-2016 XC60 with the 6-speed TF-80SC automatic, which Volvo Technical Journals TJ 32169 (2019) and TJ 29078 (2017) cover.

On the Gen2 XC60 the powered tailgate is raised by electric spindle lift arms. In cold weather the lift arms can freeze, and because the clip holding each arm's outer tube is not strong enough, the outer tube can dislocate; in the worst case the arm separates completely and its spring detaches and is thrown rearward with significant force. Volvo recalled 45,990 2018-2019 XC60s under 19V046000. This is an injury hazard to anyone standing behind the vehicle, which on a family SUV is very often a child. Owners of later XC60s also report a separate powered-tailgate complaint pattern - the tailgate locking/latching mechanism failing so the hatch will not open or will not stay closed - which CarComplaints lists as the top reported problem on the 2021 XC60.

Owners report rainwater getting in from the roof area, with soaked front and rear footwells after heavy rain. Causes owners discuss include clogged or detached sunroof drain tubes and leaks at the seam between the roof and the body under the roof rails. It affects the first-generation XC60 (2010-2017). Owner reports come from 2012 XC60 owners on SwedeSpeed. No Volvo bulletin for this condition on the XC60 was found. Mileage when it happened, as stated in the linked owner reports: 125,000 miles on a 2012.

On some XC60s with air suspension, a valve inside the rear suspension air compressor may contain residue from an anti-corrosive agent and malfunction. Diagnostic codes SUM-B104177 and SUM-C103B4B/C103B98 are set and the compressor fuse blows. It affects certain 2018-2020 XC60s with rear air suspension and is covered by Volvo extended warranty P10064, which also covers some 2016-2020 XC90 and 2017-2020 S90 and V90 models.

Owners report a loud whistle at idle that goes away as engine speed rises, sometimes with the check-engine light on, traced to a torn or clogged diaphragm in the oil trap (crankcase ventilation unit) on top of the engine. One owner relays a shop warning that driving far on a failed oil trap can blow out engine seals. It affects first-generation XC60s with the 3.2 or 3.0 T6 six-cylinder engine (2010-2015). Owner reports come from a 2013 XC60 3.2 owner and XC60 owners on a SwedeSpeed thread, including a T6 owner. No Volvo bulletin for this condition on the XC60 was found. Mileage when it happened, as stated in the linked owner reports: 120,000 miles.

Owners report the A/C compressor clutch bearing wobbling and making noise, and A/C that stops cooling while the compressor clutch cycles slowly. In the owner discussions, the clutch coil, a sensor or a loose noise-reduction ring between the clutch plate and pulley are named as possible causes, and some owners replaced the clutch or the whole compressor with clutch. It affects the first-generation XC60 (2010-2017). Owner reports come from 2011 XC60 owners, one with the 3.2 AWD. No Volvo bulletin for this condition on the XC60 was found.

Owners of 2022 XC60s with the Google built-in system report the center and driver displays shutting down and the system restarting, and periods with no sound from the radio, apps, turn-signal tick or "Hey Google". It affects the 2022 XC60 with the Google built-in infotainment system. Reports come from three 2022 XC60 B5 owners, two in the US and one in the UK. No Volvo bulletin for this condition on the XC60 was found; the separate rearview-camera recall 25V908 also covers these cars.