Volvo S60 Years to Avoid — Worst & Best Years to Buy
Every Volvo S60 model year (2012–2026) ranked by recall count, complaint volume, injuries, and deaths. Data sourced directly from NHTSA.
Volvo S60 Years to Avoid
8 recalls · 118 complaints
12 reported injuries
Top issue: ENGINE
Problem score: 166
4 recalls · 85 complaints
6 reported injuries
Top issue: ENGINE
Problem score: 109
2 recalls · 55 complaints
1 reported injury
Top issue: ENGINE
Problem score: 63
Best Volvo S60 Years to Buy
0 recalls · 0 complaints
Main area: No significant complaints
Problem score: 0
2 recalls · 0 complaints
Main area: No significant complaints
Problem score: 6
1 recall · 4 complaints
Main area: UNKNOWN OR OTHER
Problem score: 7
Found the right year? Verify that specific S60 with a free VIN report.
Volvo S60 — Year-by-Year Problem Report
| Year | Recalls | Complaints | Problem Score | Verdict |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 0 | 0 | 0 | Excellent |
| 2025 | 2 | 0 | 6 | Excellent |
| 2024 | 3 | 0 | 9 | Excellent |
| 2023 | 6 | 0 | 18 | Good |
| 2022 | 4 | 0 | 12 | Excellent |
| 2021 | 3 | 0 | 9 | Excellent |
| 2020 | 4 | 0 | 12 | Excellent |
| 2019 | 4 | 0 | 12 | Excellent |
| 2018 | 1 | 4 | 7 | Excellent |
| 2017 | 5 | 15 | 32 | Good |
| 2016 | 4 | 26 | 38 | Good |
| 2015 | 2 | 55 | 63 | Caution |
| 2014 | 3 | 25 | 36 | Good |
| 2013 | 4 | 85 | 109 | Avoid |
| 2012 | 8 | 118 | 166 | Avoid |
Higher scores indicate more reported safety issues across recalls, complaints, and injury data.
Volvo S60 Shopping Guide by Era
2018–Present
Best: 2026Recent S60 models benefit from updated safety systems and revised engineering. Lower problem scores typically appear in this era. The 2026 stands out with just 0 problem points. Always request a pre-purchase inspection and VIN history report.
2013–2017
Best: 2017Mid-decade S60 units are entering high-mileage territory. Inspect carefully for powertrain wear and verify recall completion status. The 2017 shows the lowest problem count for this era.
Pre-2013
Proceed with CautionOlder S60 models have more accumulated wear and a larger recall history. These are higher-risk purchases without documented maintenance records and a clean VIN history report. Confirm all historical recalls have been completed.
Frequently Asked Questions
What year S60 should I avoid?+
Avoid the 2012 Volvo S60 if possible. It has 8 recalls, 118 owner complaints, and the most common complaint category is ENGINE. The overall problem score is 166 — the highest in our dataset.
What is the best year S60 to buy?+
The 2026 Volvo S60 is the lowest-risk year in our analysis, with a problem score of 0. It has only 0 recalls and 0 complaints on record with NHTSA.
Which S60 has the fewest problems?+
The 2026, 2025, 2018 model years have the fewest documented problems across recall and complaint databases. Even for low-problem years, verifying a specific vehicle's history via its VIN is always recommended before purchase.
More Volvo S60 Research
Check a Specific Volvo S60 VIN
Model-year rankings show statistical risk. A VIN-specific report reveals the individual vehicle's full history — accidents, odometer rollbacks, auction records, and open recall status.
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