Owners have filed 23 complaints with NHTSA about this car, most about the electrical, wheels and tires, and seats. The 9 checks below target those problems, in the order you would do them at the car.
2019Tick items off on your phone at the car, or print it. Ticks stay on this device.
0/9 checked
2019 Volvo S60: inspection sheet
Before you go, or before you touch the car0/2
Engine off, key in hand0/2
Ask the seller not to warm the car up first0/2
At least 20 minutes, with some highway0/3
These checks are specific to this model year. For tires, body panels, fluids, and the other basics every used car needs, use the general inspection guide.
These years share the 2019's design and most of its parts, so their problems are the ones to look for on this car too.
Worth adding to your 2019 checks
Worth adding to your 2019 checks
Worth adding to your 2019 checks
EPA figures for each version of the 2019 Volvo S60. Use them to confirm you are looking at the version that was advertised, and as a yardstick on the test drive.
| Version | Drive | EPA rating |
|---|---|---|
| 2.0L 4-cylGas | AWD, FWD | 25–28 mpg |
| 2.0L 4-cylPlug-in hybrid | AWD | 520 mi range |
NHTSA complaints for the 2019 Volvo S60, grouped by the part owners named. Open a row to read what goes wrong.
Smoke comes out of the air vents and a 12V battery warning appears, followed by fire on the left side of the trunk. Two of the 5 complaints involve fire, and one owner was burned trying to put it out. Other reports describe the driver instrument display flickering or going blank, which takes the speedometer and fuel gauge with it, and a car that shuts off while driving and will not restart. Liquid spilled near the cup holders is blamed for disabling the parking brake switch and blanking the dash information.
Sudden, severe vibration at highway speed is the main pattern. Shops trace it to foam lining separating inside the factory Pirelli P Zero tires in size 235/40R19. The separation also causes uneven wear, tire breakup and alignment problems, and can make the car hard to drive. Dealers have advised replacing all four tires rather than hunting for the bad one. Separately, the low-profile front tires are reported as easily damaged by potholes, and neither Volvo nor Pirelli covered that damage without an extra road hazard plan.
A power front seat moves forward and tilts down on its own after a driver profile is selected on the center display, and the driver cannot stop it as it nears the steering wheel. No injury is reported. The other complaint is a dealer error, not a design fault: a passenger seat left unbolted after service rocked during acceleration, braking and turns until the dealer fixed it. With only 2 complaints, no broad pattern is visible.
Headlights flicker, blink or shut off, and a headlamp malfunction alert appears on the dash. One report ties the failure to turning at night, and the fog lights can blink too. The only fix reported is replacing the whole headlight, quoted at $3,400, even with no accident damage to the lamp. The main safety risk is losing the low beams while driving at night.
Automatic emergency braking clamps down hard with nothing in the road. One event happened at 60 to 70 mph on an interstate and another at low speed on an open road, and both create a risk of being hit from behind. One complaint also says lane keep assist works only about 10% of the time and that an unknown warning light flashed during the false stop. A dealer told that owner the failures were not widespread.
Excerpts from complaints S60 owners filed with NHTSA, as written. Listen for the same symptoms on your test drive.
The DIM (Driver Instrument Module) flickers intermittently and I have no idea when it's going to go out completely. It actually does go out and there's a solid white panel or colored lines, but it comes back in. This displays the speedometer & fuel. This is a safety issue. I would hate for this to go completely out while I am driving. I do not know the cause for the malfunction. However, per the Volvo tech; they're aware this is a reoccurring issue.
Filed with NHTSA, February 2025
I was driving down our main road and I saw and smelled smoke coming out of the air vents, then a warning light came on my dashboard for my 12V battery I pulled over right away and opened the trunk and saw fire on the left-hand side. I attempted to extinguish the fire myself using soda, I was pulling clothing (2 shirts and napkins) out of the car and burned my hand
Filed with NHTSA, July 2022
235/40/19 XL RUN FLAT: At 20,750 miles, Sudden Extreme Vibration at Interstate Speed. Confirmed by Schumacher Volvo Service on 28 Oct 2023. Service Writer and Technician advised tire/s failing due to 'foam' separating inside tire. Rotated tires and could not determine which tire. Advised to replace all tires due to experience with same problem on same tires. Recommended purchasing another brand at Costco.
Filed with NHTSA, October 2023
Sudden, Extreme vibration of front tires on I-95 West Palm Beach FL. Drove immediately to Schumacher Volvo to keep initial service appointment. Service manager advised to replace all 4 tires due to previous experience with OEM Perelli tire failures on Volvo vehicles. Replaced all 4 tires at Costco at $1112+ cost. All photos show failure of foam/padding inside tires by Pirelli P Zero Run Flat. Tire size: 235/40/19 XL
Filed with NHTSA, November 2023
Headlight Failure. Light flickers on and off intermittently and triggers " low beam headlamp malfunction" on dashboard. No vehicle accidents or other trauma to the affected headlight. Only remedy is to replace headlight at a cost of $3,400.
Filed with NHTSA, October 2022
2019 Volvo S60 headlamp system malfunction alert headlights/foglights to blink or turn off when turning the vehicle at night. I keep my headlights on auto so they are on during the day and I have only seen the error at night
Filed with NHTSA, September 2024
Complaints for this year next to the average for the other model years, area by area.
The 2019 has the most owner complaints of the 5 S60 years we cover, about 2.2 times the average of the others. Newer years have had less time to collect complaints, so compare like with like.
Redesigns and mid-cycle updates change what can go wrong.
The 2019 is the first model year of the S60's third generation (2019–2024). First years of a redesign often carry teething problems that Volvo fixes in later years, so the checks above matter more than usual.
Should you avoid the first year of a redesign? See the 45-car study.
Recall repairs are free at any Volvo dealer, but the seller may never have had them done. Check each campaign number against the VIN.
Volvo Car USA, LLC. (Volvo Car) is recalling certain 2019-2024 S60 vehicles. The passenger air bag may not be secured properly, which can cause the air bag to deploy improperly.
Risk: An air bag that does not deploy properly in a crash increases the risk of injury.
Fix: Dealers will inspect and tighten the bolts securing the passenger air bag, as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed January 5, 2024. Owners may contact Volvo Car customer service at 1-800-458-1552. Volvo Car's number for this recall is R10254.
Volvo Car USA, LLC (Volvo Car) is recalling certain 2019-2020 V90, XC60, S60, V60, V60CC, S90, V90CC, S90L, and XC90 vehicles. The low-pressure fuel pump can blow a fuse and fail.
Risk: Failure of the low-pressure fuel pump can cause a stall, increasing the risk of a crash.
Fix: Dealers will replace the fuse, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed July 2, 2021. Owners may contact Volvo Car customer service at 1-888-458-1552. Volvo Car's number for this recall is R10100.
Volvo Cars USA LLC (Volvo Cars) is recalling certain 2019-2020 S60, V60, V60 Cross Country, S90L, V90, V90 Cross Country, XC40, XC60, and XC90 vehicles. Due to a software/hardware incompatibility, the Automatic Emergency Brake (AEB) system may not detect obstacles and engage as intended.
Risk: If the automatic emergency braking system does not engage as intended, it can increase the risk of a crash.
Fix: Volvo will notify owners, and dealers will update the Active Safety Domain Master (ASDM) software, free of charge. The recall began April 9, 2020. Owners may contact Volvo customer service at 1-800-458-1552. Volvo's number for this recall is R29998.
Volvo Car USA LLC (Volvo) is recalling certain 2019 S60 vehicles. The rear suspension toe link flange lock nuts may not have been properly tightened, possibly resulting in a sudden change in vehicle handling.
Risk: A sudden change in vehicle handling can increase the risk of a crash.
Fix: Volvo will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the rear toe link flange bolts and lock nuts, replacing them if necessary, free of charge. The recall began June 6, 2019. Owner's my contact Volvo Customer Service at 1-800-458-1552. Volvo's number for this recall is R19938.
Cars shoppers compare with the Volvo S60, with their own 2019 checklists.
2019 owner complaints, side by side
