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Swedish make

Volvo Car Guide: Common Problems, Maintenance & Best Used Models

What Volvo owners report most, model by model, drawn from 2,482 complaints filed with the U.S. safety regulator. Plus recalls, a service schedule and the model years to check carefully.

Data as of 2010 to 2026 model years

Quick facts

Volvo

Origin
Swedish
Status
Sold new in the U.S.
Most complaints
XC60 (633)
Most-reported area
Electrical system
Busiest model year
2016 (313 complaints)
owner complaints on file with NHTSA
2,482
models with at least one complaint
46
of complaints mention electrical system
23%
recall campaigns covering the XC60
36

01Common problems by model

Volvo Common Problems by Model

The 8 Volvo models with the most owner complaints, and the part of the car each complaint was about.

Volvo models with the most NHTSA complaints, 2010 to 2026 model years
ModelComplaintsMost-reported areasModel year with the mostRecalls
XC60633Electrical system and visibility or wipers2022 (74)36
XC90602Electrical system and engine2016 (197)26
S60419Engine and electrical system2012 (121)28
XC40205Electrical system and backup camera system2023 (47)13
EX9079Electrical system and fuel or propulsion system2025 (72)3
XC7067Visibility or wipers and powertrain2010 (15)10
S8062Engine and powertrain2010 (27)11
VNL56Powertrain and suspension2016 (12)44
Source: NHTSA complaints and recalls databases, read on October 12, 2026. Complaints are reports filed by owners and are not verified by NHTSA. Counts are not adjusted for how many of each model were sold, so best-selling models appear higher.

The XC60 leads with 633 complaints, most of them about electrical system and visibility or wipers. That does not make it the worst Volvo. A model that sells in large numbers collects more reports, and these counts are not adjusted for sales.

Use the table to know where to look. If you own or are buying one of these models, ask about the area in the third column first, and price the repair with the repair cost estimator.

02Problem areas

Where Volvo Problems Concentrate

Every Volvo complaint names the part of the vehicle involved. These are the areas named most often across all 46 models.

By part of the vehicle

  1. Electrical system573 · 23%
  2. Engine487 · 20%
  3. Brakes241 · 10%
  4. Visibility or wipers223 · 9%
  5. Body structure181 · 7%
  6. Fuel or propulsion system166 · 7%

One complaint can name more than one area, so the shares add up to more than 100%.

By model year

  1. 2010136
  2. 2011118
  3. 2012231
  4. 2013205
  5. 201458
  6. 2015147
  7. 2016313
  8. 2017132
  9. 2018124
  10. 2019138
  11. 202092
  12. 2021107
  13. 2022177
  14. 2023181
  15. 2024122
  16. 2025162
  17. 202639

Recent model years have had less time to gather complaints, so a short bar at the bottom is not yet good news.

03Best and worst used models

Volvo Model Years to Check Carefully

The model years of each popular model that drew the most complaints. Start your questions there when you shop used.

How to choose a used car

  • 633 complaints

    Volvo XC60

    1. 202274 complaints
      6 recalls
    2. 201366 complaints
      3 recalls
    3. 201056 complaints
      7 recalls

    Mostly about electrical system and visibility or wipers.

  • 602 complaints

    Volvo XC90

    1. 2016197 complaints
      8 recalls
    2. 201780 complaints
      7 recalls
    3. 201851 complaints
      3 recalls

    Mostly about electrical system and engine.

  • 419 complaints

    Volvo S60

    1. 2012121 complaints
      8 recalls
    2. 201386 complaints
      4 recalls
    3. 201558 complaints
      2 recalls

    Mostly about engine and electrical system.

  • 205 complaints

    Volvo XC40

    1. 202347 complaints
      4 recalls
    2. 202140 complaints
      5 recalls
    3. 202237 complaints
      3 recalls

    Mostly about electrical system and backup camera system.

A year with many complaints is one to inspect closely, not one to rule out. The fault may have been fixed under recall, and a well-maintained car from a busy year can be a better buy than a neglected one from a quiet year.

Before you buy any used Volvo, decode the VIN, check it for open recalls and follow the inspection checklist. A complaint count cannot tell you about the one car in front of you.

04Recalls

Volvo Recalls by Model

The number of safety recall campaigns that cover each model, with the most recent ones listed.

  • Volvo XC60 recalls

    36

    recall campaigns, 2010 to 2025 model years

    1. Dec 23, 2025Backup camera system: software25V908000
    2. Nov 25, 2025Seats: critical fasteners25V818000
    3. May 8, 2025Backup camera system: software25V282000
    4. Mar 24, 2025Electrical system: software25V179000
    5. Mar 22, 2023Electrical system23V188000

  • Volvo XC90 recalls

    26

    recall campaigns, 2010 to 2025 model years

    1. Dec 23, 2025Backup camera system: software25V908000
    2. May 8, 2025Backup camera system: software25V282000
    3. Mar 24, 2025Electrical system: software25V179000
    4. Dec 7, 2023Seat belts: critical fasteners23V827000
    5. Mar 22, 2023Electrical system23V188000

  • Volvo S60 recalls

    28

    recall campaigns, 2011 to 2024 model years

    1. Dec 23, 2025Backup camera system: software25V908000
    2. May 8, 2025Backup camera system: software25V282000
    3. Mar 24, 2025Electrical system: software25V179000
    4. Nov 21, 2023Airbags: frontal23V780000
    5. Mar 22, 2023Electrical system23V188000

  • Volvo XC40 recalls

    13

    recall campaigns, 2019 to 2025 model years

    1. Dec 23, 2025Backup camera system: software25V908000
    2. Jun 12, 2025Hydraulic brakes: power assist25V392000
    3. May 8, 2025Backup camera system: software25V282000
    4. Jan 10, 2024Electrical system: software24V010000
    5. Mar 22, 2023Electrical system23V188000
Check your VIN at NHTSA

A recall is free to have repaired at a Volvo dealer. The lookup shows only the recalls still open on your vehicle.

05Maintenance schedule

Volvo Maintenance Schedule

Typical service intervals for a gasoline Volvo. Your owner’s manual has the exact figures for your engine.

Build a schedule for your mileage
Typical maintenance intervals for a Volvo
ServiceTypical intervalGood to know
Engine oil and filter5,000 to 10,000 milesFull synthetic sits at the long end. Short trips and towing shorten it.
Tire rotation5,000 to 8,000 milesEasiest to do at every oil change.
Cabin air filter15,000 to 30,000 milesSooner in dusty or high-pollen areas.
Engine air filter15,000 to 30,000 milesInspect at every oil change and replace when dirty.
Brake fluidEvery 2 years or 30,000 milesIt absorbs moisture with age, whatever the mileage.
Transmission fluid30,000 to 60,000 milesVaries widely, and some manuals allow longer. Use only the specified fluid.
Engine coolant30,000 to 60,000 milesLong-life coolants can go further. Never mix types.
Drive belt inspection60,000 to 100,000 milesReplace at the first cracks, fraying or squeal.
Timing belt, if fitted60,000 to 100,000 milesEngines with a timing chain do not have this service.
Spark plugs30,000 to 100,000 milesCopper plugs wear fastest. Iridium and platinum last longest.
Typical intervals drawn from AAA's maintenance guidance, not Volvo's own schedule. Follow the schedule in your owner's manual, and use its severe-service intervals if you tow, make short trips or drive in extreme heat or cold.
Maintenance by mileageOil change calculatorWhat each service costs

06Manufacturer OBD2 codes

Volvo OBD2 Codes

How to read the codes a Volvo stores, and why some of them mean something different on another make.

A Volvo stores two kinds of trouble code. Generic codes, which have 0 as their second character, mean the same thing on every make: P0420 is a catalyst efficiency fault on a Volvo exactly as it is on any other car. Manufacturer-specific codes, which have 1 as their second character, are defined by Volvo and can mean something different elsewhere.

We do not publish a list of Volvo’s own P1 codes, because we could not verify one against Volvo’s service information. For a P1 code, use a scanner that reads Volvo codes, or ask a Volvo dealer to look it up.

Free toolLook up a generic codeMeaning, common causes and whether it is safe to keep driving.
How OBD2 code types work

07Related guides and tools

Next steps for Volvo owners and buyers.

Guides

Free tools

All car brandsUsed car buying guide

08Questions

Volvo: common questions.

What are the most common Volvo problems?

Among 2010 to 2026 model-year Volvo vehicles, the areas owners report most often to NHTSA are electrical system (23% of complaints), engine (20% of complaints) and brakes (10% of complaints). A complaint is an owner's report, not a confirmed defect.

Which Volvo model has the most complaints?

The XC60, with 633 complaints on file for 2010 to 2026 model years. Its 2022 model year has the most, at 74. Popular models attract more complaints simply because more of them are on the road.

How do I check a Volvo for recalls?

Enter the 17-character VIN in NHTSA's recall lookup at nhtsa.gov/recalls. It shows safety recalls that have not been repaired on that exact vehicle, and recall repairs are carried out by the manufacturer's dealers at no charge.

How often does a Volvo need servicing?

Most gasoline cars need an oil change and tire rotation every 5,000 to 10,000 miles, filters every 15,000 to 30,000 miles and brake fluid every two years. Your Volvo owner's manual gives the exact schedule for your engine.

09About this guide

Where the figures come from.

Every count on this page comes from records published by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration and was read on . We count the records. We do not reproduce owners’ statements, and we do not rate or rank models ourselves.

CarTipsMentor is not affiliated with, sponsored by or endorsed by Volvo. The Volvo name and logo belong to their owner and are used only to identify the make. Full disclaimer.

Sources

  1. [1]National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, Vehicle owner complaints database
  2. [2]National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, Safety recalls by vehicle
  3. [3]AAA Automotive, Time-Stamped Car Maintenance Checklist

Complaint counts cover 2010 to 2026 model years. Each complaint is counted once and assigned to the model named in the complaint. Counts change as new complaints are filed.