2001 Volvo S60

■ Significantly worse — known issue year
2001 Volvo S60
BUILT 2026-08-02

This year had more than double the complaints of this model's typical year.

This verdict reflects complaint volume compared to this model's typical year. Recalls and safety issues below apply regardless of the verdict — always check them.

How is this computed?

COMPLAINTS PER YEAR

Complaints per year, Volvo S60 Bar chart of distinct NHTSA complaints filed per model year, 2001 highlighted. 1999: 0 complaints 1999 2000: 1 complaints 2001: 223 complaints 2001 2002: 186 complaints 2003: 120 complaints 2003 2004: 198 complaints 2005: 44 complaints 2006: 31 complaints 2007: 21 complaints 2007 2008: 10 complaints 2009: 7 complaints 2011: 5 complaints 2012: 121 complaints 2012 2013: 86 complaints 2014: 25 complaints 2015: 57 complaints 2016: 25 complaints 2016 2017: 15 complaints 2018: 4 complaints 2019: 24 complaints 2020: 10 complaints 2020 2021: 7 complaints 2022: 15 complaints 2023: 3 complaints 2024: 18 complaints 2024 2025: 0 complaints 2025
2001: 223 complaints
View as data table
YearComplaints
19990
20001
2001223
2002186
2003120
2004198
200544
200631
200721
200810
20097
20115
2012121
201386
201425
201557
201625
201715
20184
201924
202010
20217
202215
20233
202418
20250

KNOWN PROBLEM AREAS

VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL 19%

19% of complaints: vehicle speed control — 42 distinct reports on file.

CRASH
Show complaint excerpts

CAR STALLED WHILE DRIVING THEN WOULD NOT GO ANY FASTER THAN 15MPH.

NHTSA ODI report, 20180622

FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE 17%

17% of complaints: fuel system, gasoline — 38 distinct reports on file.

FIRE
Show complaint excerpts

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 VOLVO S60. WHILE PARKED, THE CONTACT NOTICED A STRONG FUEL SMELL. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING.

NHTSA ODI report, 20120802

FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE 13%

13% of complaints: fuel system, gasoline — 28 distinct reports on file.

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM 12%

12% of complaints: electrical system — 27 distinct reports on file.

FIRE
Show complaint excerpts

1. The vehicle caught fire while driving. The radiator cooling fan stayed on after parking, The vehicle the night before. The vehicle had to be jump started the next morning. yes the vehicle is available for inspection. 2.

NHTSA ODI report, 20230615

MY WIFE DROVE THE 2001 VOLVO S60 AND NOTICED A NOXIOUS BURNING SMELL AND IMMEDIATELY DROVE IT HOME. SHE THOUGHT IT WAS SOMETHING EXTREMELY WRONG WITH THE HEATER. I DROVE THE CAR 3 DAYS LATER AND AFTER 3 MINUTES NOTICED THE BURNING SMELL AS WELL.

NHTSA ODI report, 20131202

CAR STALLED WHILE DRIVING THEN WOULD NOT GO ANY FASTER THAN 15MPH.

NHTSA ODI report, 20180622

POWER TRAIN 7%

7% of complaints: power train — 16 distinct reports on file.

SAFETY TIMELINE

2001 — complaint volume: 223
R 20031219 — equipment

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

Remedy: OWNERS WILL RECEIVE A LETTER/PACKAGE CONSISTING OF THE SECOND ISOFIX GUIDE WITH INSTALLATION INSTRUCTIONS, AND IN CERTAIN CASES, THE CORRECTED OWNER'S MANUAL MAY BE PROVIDED. IF THE OWNER WANTS TO TA

Campaign 03V284000 — check if this car was fixed

R 20041129 — engine and engine cooling

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 ENGIN

Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE COOLING FAN. THE RECALL BEGAN ON NOVEMBER 29, 2004. CUSTOMERS SHOULD CONTACT VOLVO CARS AT 1-800-458-1552.

Campaign 04V451000 — check if this car was fixed

I 20050726 — PE (closed 20051207)

THROTTLE CONTROL MALFUNCTION

I 20051206 — EA (closed 20061212)

THROTTLE CONTROL MALFUNCTION

I 20061115 — PE (closed 20070405)

FUEL PUMP LEAKAGE

R 20061229 — vehicle speed control

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

Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSTALL THE CURRENT SOFTWARE UPGRADE ONTO THE INVOLVED VEHICLES. THE RECALL BEGAN ON DECEMBER 29, 2006. OWNERS MAY CONTACT VOLVO AT 1-800-458-1552.

Campaign 06V441000 — check if this car was fixed

R 20070402 — service brakes, hydraulic

CERTAIN CARDONE MASTER CYLINDERS WITH PART NUMBERS 10-2925, 10-2987, 10-2987MZA, 10-3083, 11-3015, 11-3042, 11-3044, 11-3045, 11-3047, 11-3064, AND 11-3156, AND WITH DATE CODES LOWER THAN DCA7078 SOLD

Remedy: CARDONE WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND OFFER TO REPURCHASE ANY DEFECTIVE MASTER CYLINDERS. THE RECALL BEGAN DURING APRIL 2007. OWNERS CAN CONTACT CARDONE AT 1-800-777-4780.

Campaign 07E023000 — check if this car was fixed

R 20070710 — fuel system, gasoline

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,

Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE FUEL PUMP FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON JULY 10, 2007. OWNERS MAY CONTACT VOLVO AT 1-800-458-1552.

Campaign 07V152000 — check if this car was fixed

R 20100115 — fuel system, gasoline

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, CALIF

Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSPECT THE FUEL PUMP INSTALLED IN THE VEHICLE, AND IF NECESSARY REPLACE THE FUEL PUMP WITH A PART OF A MODIFIED DESIGN. THIS SERVICE WILL BE PERFORMED FREE OF CHARGE. THE SAFETY RECALL

Campaign 09V483000 — check if this car was fixed

R 20101118 — equipment

VOLVO IS RECALLING CERTAIN VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH GARMIN 760 PORTABLE GLOBAL POSITIONING SYSTEM (GPS) UNITS BECAUSE THE BATTERIES ON THOSE UNITS MAY OVERHEAT.

Remedy: VOLVO ADVISES OWNERS TO PLEASE STOP USING THE GARMIN PORTABLE GPS DEVICE IMMEDIATELY, AND VISIT THE GARMIN WEBSITE TO DETERMINE IF THEIR UNIT IS AFFECTED. THE UNIT'S BATTERY WILL BE REPLACED WITH A N

Campaign 10V566000 — check if this car was fixed

R 20210420 — air bags

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...

Remedy: Volvo Car will notify owners, and dealers will replace the driver side air bag module, free of charge. The recall began April 20, 2021. Owners may contact Volvo Car customer service at 1-800-458-1552. Volvo Car's number for this recall is R10058.

Campaign 20V681000 — check if this car was fixed

R 20211129 — air bags

Volvo Car USA, LLC (Volvo Car) is recalling certain 2001-2006 S80 and 2001-2009 S60 vehicles.

Remedy: Dealers will replace the driver's air bag, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed November 29, 2021. Owners may contact Volvo Car customer service at 1-800-458-1552. Volvo's number for this recall is R10125.

Campaign 21V766000 — check if this car was fixed

BUY-SMART CHECKLIST

2001 Volvo S60 — pre-purchase inspection

  • Test/inspect for vehicle speed control issues (42 reports on file for this year).
  • Test/inspect for fuel system, gasoline issues (38 reports on file for this year).
  • Test/inspect for fuel system, gasoline issues (28 reports on file for this year).
  • Verify recall 03V284000 (equipment) has been completed.
  • Verify recall 04V451000 (engine and engine cooling) has been completed.
  • Verify recall 06V441000 (vehicle speed control) has been completed.
  • Verify recall 07E023000 (service brakes, hydraulic) has been completed.
  • Verify recall 07V152000 (fuel system, gasoline) has been completed.
  • Verify recall 09V483000 (fuel system, gasoline) has been completed.
  • Verify recall 10V566000 (equipment) has been completed.
  • Verify recall 20V681000 (air bags) has been completed.
  • Verify recall 21V766000 (air bags) has been completed.

OTHER YEARS OF THIS MODEL

BEST YEARS

▲ 2006 ▲ 2005 ▲ 2015

WORST YEARS

◆ 2004 ◆ 2002 ● 2012

See all years ranked →

FAQ

Is the 2001 Volvo S60 reliable?

Based on NHTSA complaint volume compared to this model's typical year, the 2001 Volvo S60 is rated "significantly worse".

What are the most common problems with the 2001 Volvo S60?

The most-reported component is vehicle speed control, accounting for 19% of complaints on file.

How many recalls does the 2001 Volvo S60 have?

9 recalls on file for this model year.

Data updated 2026-07-11 · Complaints are unverified owner reports filed with NHTSA, not independently verified defects. Methodology.