Problems owners report
Complaints filed with NHTSA about the 2001 Volvo S60, by the system named in each complaint. One complaint can name several.
- Fuel system, gasoline68
- Vehicle speed control42
- Electrical system31
- Power train22
- Engine and engine cooling18
- Fuel/propulsion system16
- Tires7
- Air bags6
- Exterior lighting5
- Fuel system, other5
NHTSA ODI complaints (public domain) · updated 23 Oct 2026 · 3 injuries and 0 deaths reported
Compared with other years
NHTSA ODI complaints by model year
Fatal crashes in the US
From 2020 to 2023, 9 2001 S60 vehicles were involved in crashes on US public roads in which someone died; 9 people died inside them, and 4 of the vehicles rolled over. This is a count, not a crash rate: it grows with the number of cars on the road.
NHTSA Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS), crash years 2020–2023 (public domain)
New York safety inspections
At its first New York inspection the 2001 Volvo S60 failed the safety check 1.51% of the time — 25% less often than the average 2001 passenger car (2.00%). Median odometer at inspection: 134,655 miles.
NY DMV Vehicle Inspections (vezn-fmmk), initial inspections since Aug 2021 · how we count
Engines
The most common engines in 2001 Volvo S60 cars on Dutch roads are the 2.4 petrol (103 kW, 138 hp), 2.4 petrol (125 kW, 168 hp) and 2.3 petrol (184 kW, 247 hp), out of 4 versions with at least 20 cars.
| Engine | Power | Cars |
|---|---|---|
| 2.4 petrol | 103 kW 138 hp | 651 |
| 2.4 petrol | 125 kW 168 hp | 284 |
| 2.3 petrol | 184 kW 247 hp | 92 |
| 2.4 petrol | 147 kW 197 hp | 77 |
RDW Open Data (CC0): registered passenger cars and their fuel data · engine size rounded to 0.1 litre, net maximum power · versions with at least 20 cars
In the Netherlands
1,123 first registered in 2001 are on Dutch roads; 9% arrived later as imports.
Most common APK defects
- Band onvoldoende profiel408
- Bandenspanning niet op juiste waarde375
- Kentekenplaatverlichting werkt niet (goed) / ontbreekt328
- Stadslicht werkt niet (goed)253
- Band(en) aanwezig met een profieldiepte van 1,6 t/m 2,5 mm251
- Stofhoes aandrijfas beschadigd en dicht niet af246
- Dimlicht onjuist afgesteld219
- Overmatige vloeistoflekkage overige vloeistoffen215
Colours
RDW Open Data: registered vehicles and APK defects (CC0) · defect descriptions in the RDW's Dutch wording
In the United Kingdom
206 cars built in 2001 were licensed for the road at the end of 2025, and 474 more were declared off the road (SORN).
Department for Transport and DVLA, vehicle licensing statistics (table VEH0124, year of manufacture) · Open Government Licence v3.0
MOT test results in Great Britain
In 2023, 348 of these cars first registered in 2001 took their annual MOT test. 55% passed first time; among all cars first registered in 2001 the figure was 59%.
| Failed on | These cars | All cars from 2001 |
|---|---|---|
| Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment | 23.3% | 19.3% |
| Brakes | 16.4% | 13.4% |
| Suspension | 14.7% | 15.4% |
| Tyres | 7.5% | 5.6% |
| Body, chassis, structure | 7.2% | 9.7% |
| Noise, emissions and leaks | 4.0% | 6.8% |
DVSA anonymised MOT tests and results, 2023 (Department for Transport) · Open Government Licence v3.0 · first tests only; a fix made at the test station within the hour still counts as a fail
In Finland
1,896 of these cars first registered in 2001 were in use in Finland on 30 Jun 2026, with an average of 344,000 km on the odometer at their last inspection.
Traficom (Finnish Transport and Communications Agency), open data on vehicles in use · CC BY 4.0
In New Zealand
35 2001 cars are on the New Zealand register; 40% arrived as used imports, 57% were sold new in New Zealand.
NZ Transport Agency Waka Kotahi, Motor Vehicle Register (March 2026) · CC BY 4.0
Fuel consumption
Official Canadian test results for 6 variants: combined 11.0–11.6 L/100 km (about 20–21 mpg US), CO₂ 253–267 g/km.
| Variant | City | Highway | Combined |
|---|---|---|---|
| S60 · Compact · Premium gasoline | 12.5 | 9.3 | 11.0 |
| S60 · Compact · Premium gasoline | 12.8 | 9.3 | 11.2 |
| S60 2.4T Turbo · Compact · Premium gasoline | 12.9 | 9.1 | 11.2 |
| S60 2.4T Turbo · Compact · Premium gasoline | 12.9 | 9.1 | 11.2 |
| S60 T5 Turbo · Compact · Premium gasoline | 12.9 | 9.1 | 11.2 |
| S60 T5 Turbo · Compact · Premium gasoline | 13.3 | 9.6 | 11.6 |
Litres per 100 km. Natural Resources Canada, Fuel consumption ratings (open.canada.ca) · Open Government Licence – Canada
Recalls in Canada
3 Transport Canada recalls for the 2001 Volvo S60.
| 2010396 8 Nov 2010 | Accessories On certain vehicles, there is a possibility of overheating issues of batteries in the Garmin nüvi® 760 when certain batteries manufactured within a limited date… |
| 2006311 14 Nov 2006 | Other On certain vehicles, a combination of throttle position sensor (TPS) irregularities, a dirty throttle housing, and/or inefficient software calibration, may caus… |
| 2004334 14 Sept 2004 | Electrical On certain vehicles, the electric cooling fan may overheat, potentially causing heat damage and, in rare instances, a fire in the engine compartment. Correctio… |
Transport Canada Vehicle Recalls Database · Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence – Canada
Recalls
Volvo Car USA, LLC (Volvo Car) is recalling certain 2001-2006 S80 and 2001-2009 S60 vehicles. The driver's air bag inflator may explode during deployment, due to propellant degradation occurring after long-term exposure to high absolute humidity, high temperatures, and high temperature cycling.
Volvo Car USA LLC (Volvo Car) is recalling certain 2001-2003 S80 and S60 vehicles sold or ever registered in Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Louisiana, Mississippi, North Carolina, Oklahoma, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Puerto Rico, American Samoa, Guam, the Northern Mariana Islands (Saipan), and the U.S. Virgin Islands. The driver side frontal air bag inflator may rupture, sending metal fragments into the passage compartment, when the driver side air bag is deployed.
VOLVO IS RECALLING CERTAIN VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH GARMIN 760 PORTABLE GLOBAL POSITIONING SYSTEM (GPS) UNITS BECAUSE THE BATTERIES ON THOSE UNITS MAY OVERHEAT.
VOLVO IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2001-2005 S80, MODEL YEAR 2001-2004 V70, S60, XC70 AND MODEL YEAR 2003-2005 XC90 VEHICLES SOLD IN OR REGISTERED IN THE STATES OF ALABAMA, ARIZONA, ARKANSAS, CALIFORNIA, FLORIDA, GEORGIA, HAWAII, KENTUCKY, LOUISIANA, MISSISSIPPI, NEVADA, NEW MEXICO, NORTH CAROLINA, OKLAHOMA, SOUTH CAROLINA, TENNESSEE, TEXAS, UTAH, VIRGINIA AND THE U.S. TERRITORIES. WHEN EXPOSED TO CERTAIN ENVIRONMENTAL CONDITIONS (HOT CLIMATE AND TEMPERATURE CYCLING) OVER TIME AND IN COMBINATION WITH VARYING FUEL QUALITY, THE FUEL PUMP CAN DEVELOP CRACKS IN THE FUEL PUMP FLANGE.
ON CERTAIN VEHICLES ORIGINALLY SOLD IN OR CURRENTLY REGISTERED IN THE STATES OF ARIZONA AND NEVADA, DUE TO THE COMBINATION OF FUEL QUALITY AND CLIMATE CONDITIONS, THE FUEL PUMP MAY, IN CERTAIN CASES, EXPERIENCE A REDUCED FUNCTIONALITY. THE MOST COMMON SYMPTOMS WOULD BE FUEL ODOR.
ON CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES, A COMBINATION OF THROTTLE POSITIONING SENSOR IRREGULARITIES, A DIRTY THROTTLE HOUSING, AND/OR INEFFICIENT SOFTWARE CALIBRATION MAY CAUSE A WARNING LAMP TO LIGHT AND THE SUBSEQUENT ONSET OF LIMP HOME MODES.
ON CERTAIN PASSENGER AND SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES, UNDER CERTAIN OPERATING CONDITIONS, SOME ELECTRIC COOLING FANS MAY OVERHEAT POTENTIALLY CAUSING HEAT DAMAGE AND, IN RARE INSTANCES, A FIRE IN THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT.
CERTAIN PASSENGER CARS FAIL TO COMPLY WITH THE REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 225, "CHILD RESTRAINT ANCHORAGE SYSTEMS." THE SECOND ISOFIX GUIDE WAS NOT INSTALLED IN THESE VEHICLES AND, IN CERTAIN CASES, THE OWNER'S MANUAL ISOFIX INFORMATION IS INCORRECT.
Whether a recall was fixed on a particular car is known only to the manufacturer: check the VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
NHTSA recalls · summaries in NHTSA's own words
Service bulletins
What Volvo told its dealers about the 2001 Volvo S60: known faults, fixes and updates.
| Bulletin | Summary |
|---|---|
| 635277 | TECH NET NOTES REGARDING BLIND RIVET CORROSION ON THE FRONT DOOR. *TT |
| 635275 | THIS TECH NET NOTE IS INTENDED TO ASSIST INGENERAL DOOR LOCK FAULT TRACING. *TT |
| 635271 | TECH-NET NOTES PERTAINING TO SHIFT FLARES, HARSH DOWN SHIFTS, HARSH GARAGE SHIFTS AND HARSH NEUTRAL CONTROL ENGAGEMENT / DISENGAGEMENT. *TT |
| 635269 | SUBJECT REGARDING QUALITY UPGRADE SOFTWARE DEVELOPED FOR THE AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION SHIFT QUALITY COMPLAINTS. *TT |
| 635265 | SOME NON TURBO ENGINES MAY EXPERIENCE COLD START PERFORMANCE. *TT |
| 635259 | OCASSIONALLY WHEN SLOWING DOWN, ON SOME VEHICLES, WHEN COMING TO A STOP, THE AIR CONDITIONER COMPRESSOR CYCLES ON / OFF OR DURING COLD START, A CUSTOMER MAY EXPERIENCE MOMENTARY IDLE FLUCTUATIONS. *TT |
| 635248 | SUBJECT REGARDING VOLVO NAVIGATION SYSTEM. *TT |
| 635233 | THIS ERVICE BULLETIN DESCRIBES HOW TO REDUCE AIR LEAKAGE FROM THE RECIRCULATION DOOR. *TT |
| 635229 | SUBJECT REGARDING ACCESSORY ELECTRONIC MODULE. *TT |
| 635212 | SUBJECT REGRDING CABIN AIR FLITER REPLACEMENT. *TT |
| 635210 | REAR BUMPER SENSOR KIT THAT EMPLOYS STATE OF THE ART TECHNOLOGY TO WARN THE DRIVER OF UNSEEN OBJECTS WHEN BACKING UP. *TT |
| 635208 | SERVICE MANAGER BULLETIN SERVICE CAMPAIGN 108 REGARDING MALFUNCTION OF THE KEYLESS REMOTE CONTROL BUTTONS. *TT |
| 635204 | SERVICE CAMPAIGN 108 LETTER REGARDING MALFUNCTION OF THE KEYLESS REMOTE CONTROL BUTTON. *TT |
| 635181 | THIS SERVICE BULLETIN DESCRIBES INSTALLING THE WHEEL DIRT DEFLECTORS ON THE LATER LINK.*TT |
| 635179 | INFORMATION ON INSTALLATION OF REAR SHOCK ABSORBER GUARD. *TT |
| 635176 | ON SOME VEHICLES OIL WEEPAGE CAN BE FOUND AT THE BEVEL GEAR VENT. *TT |
| 635173 | SERVICE BULLETIN INFORMATION REGARDING CLUTCH LINE REPLACEMENT. *TT |
| 635168 | CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2001 KEYLESS REMOTE CONTROLS MAY INTERMITTENTLY MALFUNCTION AND / OR STICK IN THE ACTIVE POSITION. THIS CAMPAIGN NO. 108 UPGRADES THE KEYLESS REMOTE CONTROL. *TT |
| 631750 | DOOR LOCK LOGIC. *SLC *TT |
| 631711 | AW55-50 ADAPTION PROCEDURE. *SLC |
| 631196 | CUSTOMERS MAY COMPLAIN OF A SQUEAKING OR CREAKING NOISE WHILE MOVING THE GEAR SHIFT LEVER ON MANUAL GEARBOX. *TT |
| 630829 | SUBJECT PERTAINING TO TRANSMISSION SOFTWARE AW 55-50 SHIFT QUALITY. *YD |
| 627796 | SUBJECT REGARDING HEADLIGHT BULB, REPLACEMENT. *YD |
| 627793 | SUBJECT REGARDING CLIMATE CONTROL AIR INTAKE, WHISTLING NOISE. *YD |
| 626908 | CUSTOMERS MAY COMPLAIN OF A SHIFT QUALITY. YH |
NHTSA manufacturer communications (public domain)
NHTSA investigations
FUEL PUMP LEAKAGE
THROTTLE CONTROL MALFUNCTION
THROTTLE CONTROL MALFUNCTION
NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation