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VEHICLE BUYER'S GUIDE

Volvo V602015–2026

Year-by-year buyer intelligence from NHTSA safety data — reliability, value, and which years to target or avoid.

🏅 LUXURY
Volvo V60
2015–2026
B
Defect Risk
Recall intensity
2.0/yr · seg. median 0.0
Safety
Low
0 inj.
✓No open federal investigations
16
Recalls
0
Complaints
2021
Best Yr
0
Injuries
Avoid 2020
12
Years Analyzed
16
Total Recalls
0
Total Complaints
0
Reported Injuries
0
Reported Deaths

Best Years to Buy a Volvo V60

Buyer Score combines reliability (65%) and depreciation value (35%) — higher is better.

#1 PICK11yr old
2015
Good Buy · 72/100
Reliability81/100
Value window56/100
Recalls1
Complaints0

Volvo V60 Years to Avoid

#1 WORST
2020

3 recalls · 0 complaints

Top issue: No complaints on record

#2 WORST
2016

2 recalls · 0 complaints

Top issue: No complaints on record

#3 WORST
2017

2 recalls · 0 complaints

Top issue: No complaints on record

Federal Defect Investigations

NHTSA investigations are the stage that precedes a recall. 1 past investigation into the V60 became recall.

Recently concluded investigations
DP22005 · electrical system · closed Aug 2023→ Became recall

Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation. Data current as of September 13, 2026.

Volvo V60 — Year-by-Year Comparison

Every model year ranked by Buyer Score. Click any year for its detailed problem report.

YearRecallsComplaintsInjuriesDeathsReliabilityValueBuyer ScoreVerdict
202600——
81
40
67
Excellent
202500——
81
55
72
Excellent
202400——
81
68
76
Excellent
202320——
74
78
75
Avoid
202220——
74
85
78
Avoid
202120——
74
88
79
Avoid
202030——
65
87
73
Avoid
201920——
74
83
77
Avoid
201800——
81
77
80
Excellent
201720——
74
70
73
Avoid
201620——
74
63
70
Avoid
201510——
81
56
72
Good

Buyer Score = Reliability (65%) + Value window (35%). Deaths and injuries sourced from NHTSA complaint filings. Year links open full NHTSA problem reports.

Shopping by Era

How each generation of the V60 compares — best year within each era shown.

2018–Present

Modern safety tech, refreshed platforms, updated powertrains. Higher purchase price but lower reliability risk. Best pick in this era: 2018 (Buyer Score 80).

Best: 2018
2018 · 802021 · 792022 · 782019 · 772024 · 762023 · 752020 · 732025 · 722026 · 67

2013–2017

Mid-decade models in the depreciation sweet spot — typically 35–55% below original MSRP. Inspect carefully for powertrain wear and recall completion. Best: 2017 (Buyer Score 73).

Best: 2017
2017 · 732015 · 722016 · 70

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the best year V60 to buy?+

The 2015 Volvo V60 scores highest on our Buyer Score (72/100) — combining a reliability score of 81/100 with a value score of 56/100. It has 1 recall and 0 NHTSA complaints on record.

Which V60 years have the most problems?+

The 2020, 2016, 2017 model years have the highest problem scores in our analysis. The 2020 V60 leads with 3 recalls and 0 owner complaints.

What is the Buyer Score?+

The Buyer Score is a composite metric that combines reliability (65% weight) and depreciation value (35% weight). Reliability reflects recall and complaint severity. Value reflects how much of the vehicle's depreciation has already been absorbed by prior owners — a 4–6 year old vehicle typically sits in the sweet spot.

What are the most common V60 problems?+

See the complaint chart on this page for a breakdown by component.

Deep-Dive Research

Common Problems

Full year-by-year breakdown of every documented defect for the Volvo V60.

Reliability Score

Reliability rating and score breakdown compared to similar luxury vehicles.

Years to Avoid

Every V60 year ranked by problem score — worst years listed with full reasoning.

Found the right year? Verify the specific car.

A buyer's guide shows model-level risk. A VIN report shows the individual vehicle — accidents, odometer history, open recalls, and auction records.

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