2005 Volvo S60
The Verdict
The 2005 Volvo S60 has 44 owner complaints filed with NHTSA. The most reported issues are body (20 complaints) and engine (17 complaints). With a Klunk Score of 89/100, it earns a "Smooth Ride" rating. If you're shopping for a Volvo S60, consider the 2018 model year which has 90% fewer complaints.
Safe Bet
The 2018 has 90% fewer complaints
View the 2018 Volvo S60 dashboard →
Klunk Score: Smooth Ride
This vehicle year has significantly fewer complaints than average. A reliable choice.
How is this calculated?
The Klunk Score ranks this vehicle year against all others in our database based on total owner complaints filed with NHTSA. 100 = fewest complaints (top tier), 0 = most complained-about. Scores above 60 are better than average; below 40 means more problems than most.
Recalls 1
Active safety recalls from NHTSA for this vehicle year.
CERTAIN VEHICLES FAIL TO CONFORM TO THE REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 110, "TIRE SELECTION AND RIMS." THE LABEL DENOTING THE TIRE AND LOADING PRESSURE INFORMATION IS INC...
Risk
A MISPRINTED LABEL WOULD LEAD TO IMPROPER VEHICLE LOADING SPECIFICATIONS OR TIRE INFLATION WHICH COULD RESULT IN A TIRE FAILURE, INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH.
Remedy
DEALERS WILL MAIL THE CORRECT LABELS FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON DECEMBER 18, 2006. OWNERS MAY CONTACT VOLVO AT 1-800-458-1552.
Reported Mar 10, 2006
Get notified if a recall hits this car.
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Under the Hood
Each number is a complaint. Darker = bigger problem.
By Category
By Severity
Worst Problems
Complaints
While I was driving I felt very hot under my buttock than I heard it pop and burst, I pulled over to check, oh my got (OMG) thanks God I'm safe! There was a burn on my car seat!
ANGLE/COLLAR GEAR/SLEEVE, HALDEX AWD. HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS OF AWD VOLVOS HAVE THIS ISSUE YET VOLVO HAS NEVER TAKEN ACTION OR RECALLED PART. THIS IS JUST ONE OF MANY ISSUES THOUSANDS OF VOLVO'S HAVE. BUT THE AWD SYSTEM NON FUNCTIONING DUE TO STRIPPED TEETH CAUSED BY RUST BECAUSE OF INADEQUATE GREASE/LUBE ETC. ON THOUSANDS OF VEHICLES RANGING FROM THEIR SMALL SEDANS TO SUV'S SHOULD BE SOMETHING. THEY HAVE EVEN UPDATED THE ANGLE GEAR/COLLAR SLEEVE WITH ONE THAT HAS "HARDENED" TEETH, BUT NO RECALL ON A PART OF THE VEHICLE THAT IS SUPPOSE TO ALWAYS FUNCTION. A LOT WERE LUCKY ENOUGH IT HAPPENED WHILE STILL UNDER WARRANTY. BUT GETTING STUCK/STRANDED IN SNOW BECAUSE YOUR VEHICLE IS ONLY 2 WHEEL DRIVE WHEN ITS SUPPOSE TO BE AWD. I DID NOT FIND OUT MY AWD DID NOT WORK UNTIL I HAD GOTTEN STUCK IN THE SNOW. TURNS OUT HUNDREDS IF NOT THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE HAD TO FIND OUT THIS SAME WAY. I BELIEVE VOLVO HAS JUST BEEN LUCKY NO ONE HAS DIED YET DUE TO FAILED AWD SYSTEM. I AM NOT CERTAIN ABOUT WHAT CONDITIONS NEED TO BE MET BEFORE A RECALL IS DONE. THIS IS JUST ONE OF THE ISSUES WITH VOLVO'S. I AM NOT SURE ON THE EXACT DATE MY AWD SYSTEM STOPPED WORKING BECAUSE DRIVING ON ANYTHING OTHER THAN SNOW, OR ICE YOU CANNOT TELL. BUT A SIMPLE SEARCH ON THE INTERNET AND HUNDREDS IF NOT THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE STARTING EARLY AS 2000'S TO MOST RECENT AS 2019 HAVING SAME ISSUES, SOME MORE THAN ONCE, AND A FEW COMING UP WITH THEIR OWN WAY OF FIXING VOLVOS ISSUE. BUT PHOTOS CAN BE FOUND ALL OVER THE WEB. ALSO VOLVO SELLS THESE ADVERTISED AS AWD WHEN IN FACT IT IS FWD ALL TIME, UNTIL FRONT TIRES LOSE TRACTION WHICH ONLY THEN DO THE REAR WHEELS ENGAGE. YET CAN BREAK OR MALFUNCTION EVEN THOUGH THEY ONLY EVER COME ON 20-30% OF THE VEHICLES TOTAL MILES DRIVEN. NOT SURE OF AWD DEFINITION BUT I ALWAYS THOUGHT IT STOOD FOR ALL WHEEL DRIVE, NOT FRONT WHEEL DRIVE; ALL WHEEL DRIVE WHEN FRONT WHEELS LOSE TRACTION.
MY SEAT BELT GOT STUCK IN THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE . NOW I'M GETTING A SERVICE MESSAGE ABOUT THE SRS SERVICE URGENT I DON'T KNOW WHY IT GOT STUCK BUT IT DID I CAN'T GET IT OUT OF SEAT BELT CLIP .
APPLIED BRAKE, ENGINE CONTINUED TO ACCELERATE. I HAD TO PUMP THE BRAKE SEVERAL TIMES RAPIDLY BEFORE THE ENGINE DECELERATED. THIS HAS OCCURRED ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 VOLVO S60. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE SRS AIR BAG LIGHT REMAINED ILLUMINATED EVER SINCE THE VEHICLE WAS PURCHASED TEN MONTHS AGO. THE DEALER WAS UNABLE TO DIAGNOSE THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE RECURRED AND WAS NOT REMEDIED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 215,077. UPDATED 08/10/16*LJ *CN
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 VOLVO S60. WHILE DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 40 MPH, THE CHECK ENGINE WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED AND THE ENGINE STALLED. THE VEHICLE RESTARTED, BUT THE ENGINE STALLED AGAIN. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE MASS AIR FLOW SENSOR FAILED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED, BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 165,000.
TRANSMISSION HAS HARD ERATIC SHIFTING FROM FIRST TO SECOND. THEN SECOND TO THIRD GEAR WITH OVER REVING BEFORE ENGAGING INTO GEAR. DRIVING AROUND CORNERS TRANSMISSION COMPLETELY SLIPS OUT OF GEAR, OVER REVS AND THEN LUNGES FORWARD VERY HARD. VERY UNSAFE FOR THE SAFEST BRAND OF CAR ON THE MARKET. RECALL?
TWICE NOW OVER A TEN DAY PERIOD FIRST WHEN REDUCING SPEED TO A STOP OR THEN AGAIN AT A SPEED OF LESS THAN 5 MPH, THE CAR DIED...FIRST THE ENGINE DIED THEN ALL ELSE DIED. THE CAR WENT DEAD. I STILL HAD MY STEERING AND SLOWLY ROLLED TO THE CURBED THEN AS I GENTLY PUT ON THE BRAKES THE CAR JERKED TO A HALT. DURING THE SECOND INCIDENT THE CAR STILL JERKED AFTER I HAD STOPPED. A LOUD SOUND OF A FAN FROM THE ENGINE COULD BE HEARD. THE FAN STOPPED AFTER 10 TO 15 SECONDS. AFTER A MINUTE I RESTARTED THE CAR AND MADE IT HOME BOTH TIMES. *TR
THE CAR HAD DIFFICULTY IN STARTING ALL OF A SUDDEN. IT APPEARED TO BE AN ELECTRONIC IGNITION PROBLEM. AFTER A FEW STARTS, WARNING SIGNALS STARTED COMING ON. FIRST WAS "ENGINE UNDER PERFORMANCE" AND THEN IT WAS "BREAK FAILURE". THE CAR WAS STOPPED AND TOWED TO VOLVO DEALER. THE DEALER INDICATED THAT THE CAR'S FUEL PUMP / LINES WERE DESIGNED AND INSTALLED OUTSIDE THE WEATHER SHIELDED HOUSING. THE SALT USED FOR SNOW MELTING CORRODES THESE LINES AND SEVERAL CARS SHOW UP WITH THIS ISSUE.SO THEY REPLACED THEM AND MOVED THEM TO WITHIN THE WEATHER PROTECTED AREA. SEARCHING THE INTERNET, I FOUND SEVERAL VOLVO CARS OF THIS ERA HAVE THIS PROBLEM AND SEVERAL OCCURRED WHILE DRIVING - BOTH LOSS OF SPEED AND BREAK FAILURE. MY CAR WAS WELL MAINTAINED, REGULAR OIL CHANGES WITH THE SYNTHETIC OIL AND MAINTAINED BY VOLVO DEALER OR SPECIALIST. I ALSO USE THE RECOMMENDED 91 OR 93 OCTANE GAS, SO IT CANNOT BE ATTRIBUTED TO LAX MAINTENANCE OR LESSER QUALITY FUEL. THE ONLINE FORUMS SEEM TO HAVE ALL KINDS OF DIAGNOSTICS FOR THIS PROBLEM. IF IT WAS A DESIGN FAULT AT MANUFACTURER, AS ADVISED BY THE VOLVO DEALER, I WOULD THINK IT WOULD SHOULD BE INVESTIGATED FOR RECALL. *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 VOLVO S60. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS SLOW TO START. ONCE STARTED, THE VEHICLE WOULD RIVE SLUGGISH AND WAS SLOW TO ACCELERATE. THE CONTACT HAD AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC REPLACE THE MASS AIR FLOW SENSOR MORE THAN THREE TIMES BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE MASS AIR FLOW SENSOR WAS CLEANED AND THE SENSOR WAS RESET BY THE INDEPENDENT MECHANIC BUT THAT DID NOT REMEDY THE FAILURE. THE CONTACT INDICATED THAT AN INTERIM SOLUTION WAS TO DISCONNECT THE MASS AIR FLOW SENSOR AND UPON DOING SO THE VEHICLE DID NOT HAVE THE HESITATION. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED AND THE FAILURE WAS RECURRING INTERMITTENTLY. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 130,000.
CAR CUT OUT AND STALLED WHILE DRIVING ON A BUSY HIGHWAY. THE CAR HAD MORE THAN A QUARTER TANK OF FUEL AT THE TIME. THIS HAS HAPPENED ON MORE THAN ONE OCCASION SINCE I PURCHASED THE CAR EARLY FEBRUARY 2014. THIS IS NOT SAFE AND THERE IS A HIGH POTENTIAL FOR AN ACCIDENT. I HAVE READ OTHER VOLVO S60'S FROM OTHER YEARS WERE RECALLED FOR THE SAME ISSUE IN RELATION TO FUEL SYSTEM. WHY WAS THIS YEAR NOT RECALLED WHEN THERE IS CLEARLY THE SAME PROBLEM?
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 VOLVO S60. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 30 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED WITH THE ILLUMINATION OF THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSIS WHERE IT WAS STATED THAT THE FUEL PRESSURE SYSTEM NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED AND THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 63,000.
VEHICLE HAS STALLED WITHOUT ANY WARNING SEVERAL TIMES WHILE TRAVELING AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS (60 MPH). FIRST INCIDENT OCCURRED DURING THE SUMMER OF 2011 AT 105,000 MILES. A SECOND, SIMILAR INCIDENT OCCURRED IN THE FALL OF 2011 AT 108,000 MILES. AUTO SCANDIA IN HERNDON, VA, REPLACED MASS AIR FLOW METER IN AN ATTEMPT TO ADDRESS THE PROBLEM. THE VEHICLE PERFORMED WELL FOR SEVERAL MONTHS WITHOUT INCIDENT. UNFORTUNATELY IT STALLED AGAIN IN MARCH 2012. THIS WAS ALSO WITHOUT ANY WARNING WHILE TRAVELING AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS (60 MPH). THE UNUSUAL HIGHWAY BREAKDOWN WAS VERY DANGEROUS. *TR
I HAVE HAD TO REPLACE THE ENGINE COOLING SYSTEM (RADIATOR) TWICE FOR THIS CAR IN LESS THAN 66K. WHILE YOU ARE DRIVING, THE WARNING "STOP CAR IMMEDIATELY COOLANT LOW" COMES ON. VOLVO HAS CHANGED THE SUPPLIER FOR THIS PART, WHICH TELLS ME THEY KNOW IT IS A PROBLEM. NOT ONLY IS THIS SCARY, BUT THE COST TO REPLACE (WITH LABOR) IS OVER $1,300. I THINK THIS IS BOTH A HAZARD FOR THE DRIVER, OTHER DRIVERS (IF YOU NEED TO PULL OVER QUICKLY AND STOP YOUR ENGINE) AS WELL AS AN UNNECESSARY COST. AS A CONSUMER WHO HAS TOLERATED ENOUGH CORPORATE ABUSE (BANKS, WALL STREET, CAR BAILOUTS) I AM HOPEFUL THAT THE NHTSA WILL LOOK INTO THIS ISSUE AND REQUIRE THAT VOLVO STAND BEHIND THE QUALITY OF THE CARS THEY MAKE AND SELL. *TR
INTERMITTENT SUDDEN LOSS OF POWER AT FREEWAY SPEEDS AND IN TOWN .. VERY DANGEROUS !!! FUEL PRESSURE SWITCH PART NO. 8699449 HAS FAILED. VOLVO MODEL S60 IN YEARS 2003, 2004 HAVE BEEN RECALLED FOR SAME PROBLEM. VOLVO MODEL S40 & V70 IN YEAR 2005 & 2006 HAVE BEEN RECALLED FOR SAME PROBLEM. THE PRESSURE SWITCH WITH PART NUMBER 8699449 IS THE REAL PROBLEM ACROSS ALL VOLVO MODELS AND RECALLS SHOULD NOT BE LIMITED CERTAIN MODELS ONLY. ALL MODELS WITH PART NUMBER 8699449 FUEL PRESSURE SWITCH SHOULD BE RECALLED. *TR
I OWN A 2005 VOLVO S60. WHEN DRIVING TODAY TO WORK, WITH NO WARNING, THE VEHICLE STALLED. I WAS UNABLE TO CONTROL THE GAS AND THE STEERING BECAME ROUGH. HITTING THE ACCELERATOR DID NOTHING. I WAS ABLE TO SLOW THE VEHICLE TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. ONCE I TURNED IT OFF AND BACK ON IT RESTARTED. IF THIS HAD HAPPENED ON A HIGHWAY, IT COULD HAVE RESULTED IN A MAJOR ACCIDENT. RESEARCH SHOWS THAT THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH VOLVO. THERE WAS A RECALL FOR THESE INCIDENTS FOR UNDER YEARS 2003 -AND 2004- 07V226000 . THE RECALL FOR THE S40 COVERED THROUGH 2006 - 08V033000. A SEARCH OF THE INTERNET FORUM SHOWS THAT THIS IS HAPPENING FOR A LOT OF THE 2005 MODELS AS WELL. PLEASE CONSIDER INCLUDING THESE MODEL YEARS AS THIS IS A DANGER. *KB
WITHOUT WARNING OR OTHER PROBLEMS, THE CAR'S ENGINE SUDDENLY LOST POWER AT ABOUT 55 MPH ON THE HIGHWAY, MESSAGE OF "REDUCED ENGINE PERFORMANCE" CAME ON. ALTHOUGH THE CAR REMAINED TURNED ON, PRESSING ON THE GAS PEDAL HAD LITTLE TO NO EFFECT ON EITHER THE MOVEMENT OF THE CAR OR THE RPM'S. ONCE THE CAR WAS STOPPED BUT WAS STILL TURNED ON, IT MAINTAINED A STRONG "PULSING" ACTION AND SOUND FROM THE ENGINE. WHEN PUT INTO "DRIVE" AND "REVERSE" GEARS, THE CAR MOVED IN "LIMP MODE" AT APPROXIMATELY 2 MPH REGARDLESS OF HOW MUCH PRESSURE WAS PLACED ON THE GAS PEDAL. THE CAR WAS TOWED TO THE DEALERSHIP. AFTER COASTING IT OFF THE TOW TRUCK, THE CAR STARTED NORMALLY AND RESPONDED NORMALLY WHEN PUT INTO REVERSE AND FORWARD GEARS, BUT THE "REDUCED ENGINE PERFORMANCE" MESSAGE REMAINED. DEALER'S SERVICE COMPUTER INDICATED AT LEAST 10 ERROR CODES, MOST PERTAINING TO FUEL PUMP PROBLEMS. THE SERVICE COMPUTER ALSO INDICATED THAT THE INITIAL AND PRIMARY PROBLEM WAS WITH THE ELECTRONIC FUEL PUMP MODULE. THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT'S INSPECTION OF THIS ELECTRONIC PART, AND THE STAFF'S EXPERIENCE WITH SIMILAR PROBLEMS ON OTHER VOLVO'S MANUFACTURED PRIOR TO 2006, INDICATED THAT THE ELECTRONIC FUEL PUMP MODULE HAD SUFFERED CORROSION DUE TO ITS PLACEMENT ON THE OUTSIDE OF THE VEHICLE. THIS PROBLEM WAS CORRECTED WHEN A NEW ELECTRONIC FUEL PUMP MODULE WAS INSTALLED INSIDE THE VEHICLE. THIS WAS A VERY COSTLY REPAIR. I WAS INFORMED BY A REPRESENTATIVE OF NO. AMERICA'S VOLVO CUSTOMER CARE DEPARTMENT THAT THIS DEFECT CONTRIBUTED TO RECALLS OF TWO DIFFERENT VOLVO MODELS OF THE SAME YEAR, BUT NOT THE S60. THE REASON FOR OMITTING THE S60 FROM THE RECALL WAS NOT EXPLAINED, BUT CLEARLY IT SHOULD HAVE BEEN INCLUDED SINCE THE LOCATION OF THE FUEL MODULE AND THE RESULTING PROBLEMS ARE THE SAME. IN ADDITION TO THE HIGH COST OF THE REPAIR, THE UNUSUAL HIGHWAY BREAKDOWN WAS VERY DANGEROUS. *TR
MY 2005 VOLVO S60 SUDDENLY STALLS FOR NO APPARENT REASON,THEN WILL RESTART PROMPTLY. MAINLY THIS HAPPENS WHEN SLOWING. *LN
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 VOLVO S60. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE CHECK ENGINE WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS STARTED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN IN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO DIAGNOSED THE FAILURE TO BE THE EVAPORATIVE EMISSION SYSTEM LEAK DETECTION PUMP WHICH WOULD NEED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 35,663. UPDATED 01/18/11 *BF UPDATED 03/23/11
I HAVE SEEN THE RECALL OF VOLVO S60 MODELS 2001-2005 IN US IN REGARDS TO THE FUEL PUMP CRACKS IN FLANGE AND THUS LEAK OF FUEL WHICH MAY RESULT IN A FIRE. I AM CURRENTLY (SINCE 7 DAYS OF THE DATE OF WRITING THIS COMPLAINT) HAVING THE SAME PROBLEM WITH MY CAR (VOLVO S60 MODEL 2005) IN UAE/ ABU DHABI. THE DEALER ALONG WITH THE SERVICE MANAGERS AND WORKSHOP REFUSED TO CARRY THE REPAIR FREE OF CHARGE SINCE THE RECALL IS NOT WITHIN UAE AND MY CAR CHASSIS NUMBER IS NOT LISTED EITHER. I WAS DOING THE UTMOST TO LET THEM UNDERSTAND THAT THIS A SAFETY ISSUE REGARDLESS THE RECALL LIST AND REGARDLESS IF IT IS INSIDE UAE OR OUTSIDE AND THUS VOLVO DEALER MUST REPAIR FOR ME AT ONCE FREE OF CHARGE. THEY DO NOT CARE ABOUT MY SAFETY WHERE I STILL SMELL THE GAS INSIDE THE CAR AND I AM EXPOSED TO A FIRE AS LONG AS I AM DRIVING IT WITH NO REPAIR. I AM WRITING THIS TO ANNOUNCE THE UNSATISFIED ABOUT THE WAY THE DEALER/ SERVICE MANAGER TREATED THIS SUBJECT AND CONCENTRATING ABOUT THE MONEY TO BE PAID BY THE CUSTOMER RATHER THAN SUSTAIN THE SAFETY OF PERSONNEL/ OWNERS OF VOLVO. I TOLD THEM THAT THEY NEED TO REPORT TO VOLVO INTERNATIONAL THAT THE SUBJECT OF THE RECALL IN US HAPPENED WITH ONE OF THE CUSTOMERS IN UAE. YET I GOT A NEGATIVE ACTION AND/ OR CARE. *TR
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