Owners have filed 9 complaints with NHTSA about this car, most about the brakes, steering, and electrical. The 9 checks below target those problems, in the order you would do them at the car.
2020Tick items off on your phone at the car, or print it. Ticks stay on this device.
0/9 checked
2020 Volvo S60: inspection sheet
Before you go, or before you touch the car0/2
Ask the seller not to warm the car up first0/2
At least 20 minutes, with some highway0/5
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 2020's design and most of its parts, so their problems are the ones to look for on this car too.
Worth adding to your 2020 checks
Worth adding to your 2020 checks
Worth adding to your 2020 checks
EPA figures for each version of the 2020 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 | 25–27 mpg |
| 2.0L 4-cylPlug-in hybrid | AWD | 510 mi range |
NHTSA complaints for the 2020 Volvo S60, grouped by the part owners named. Open a row to read what goes wrong.
Rear brakes wear out early. One dealer found rear pads under 2mm with grooved rotors at 24,018 miles and called it normal wear. A "brake fluid is low, stop safely" warning also appears on nearly new cars, and a dealer found no external leak before topping the fluid off. The most serious report describes false crash detection: the car slams on the brakes at highway speed with no hazard ahead, then keeps going. Sudden stops like that raise the risk of a rear-end crash.
Vibration comes through the wheel at highway speeds, from about 65 to 75 mph and above. Dealers struggle to fix it. Owners report new front and rear rotors, new tires, road-force balancing, rotations, and alignments, and the shake stays every time. One complaint cites a Volvo technical journal on speed-dependent vibrations at highway speeds, which suggests the problem is known. Dealers have not found a lasting fix, and some decline to keep working on it.
Steering wheel controls can stop working all at once. The failure starts with a turn indicator error message, after which the wipers, signals, and every steering wheel button go dead. In that case the manufacturer advised against driving and had the car towed. The dealer blamed a software or electrical fault and replaced the stalks and buttons. Other reports describe several failed sensors, brakes that pulled the car to one side, and a leaking A/C hose, all within the first 12 months.
Excerpts from complaints S60 owners filed with NHTSA, as written. Listen for the same symptoms on your test drive.
The car has “detected” a crash many times and automatically stopped even on the highway. It jerks and to slam on the brakes and then keeps going. It’s very dangerous and I have a strong theory it’s the model in general and not an isolated situation with my car.
Filed with NHTSA, January 2025
Ongoing Problem as mentioned in Volvo's Technical Journal "Speed Dependent Vibrations at Highway Speeds" Ref No: TJ 20803.20.0 . At any speed of 75 mph and above the front continuously vibrates. The tires have been replaced two times in less than 2 weeks and road forced balanced by the dealership twice. The vibration does not go away. The dealership does not want to address the issue. The car is NEW.
Filed with NHTSA, December 2021
Complaints for this year next to the average for the other model years, area by area.
The 2020 ranks fourth for owner complaints among 5 S60 years, well under 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 2020 is the second model year of the S60's third generation (2019–2024).
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.
Cars shoppers compare with the Volvo S60, with their own 2020 checklists.
2020 owner complaints, side by side
