Owners have filed 17 complaints with NHTSA about this car, most about the electrical, brakes, and engine. 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 XC60: inspection sheet
Before you go, or before you touch the car0/2
Engine off, key in hand0/1
Ask the seller not to warm the car up first0/1
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 XC60. 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 | 23–24 mpg |
| 2.0L 4-cylPlug-in hybrid | AWD | 520 mi range |
Owners report these failures starting around the mileages below. A car inside one of these ranges deserves a closer look at that part, or records showing it was already fixed.
Warped rotors, uneven brake wear
13,058–34,000 miles
NHTSA complaints for the 2020 Volvo XC60, grouped by the part owners named. Open a row to read what goes wrong.
Screens and power cut out without warning. Reports describe the center screen and backup camera going dark while reversing, the instrument panel blacking out while driving, and the dashboard display turning into a bright barcode pattern. One car shut down fully when stopping, flashed all its lights, and would not restart for 5 minutes. Other complaints cover the car slowing on its own at 45 mph with no warning light, repeated stop/start repairs, and lane assist that does not work properly. One injury is reported. Dealers often cannot reproduce the faults.
Rotors warp early and the problem keeps coming back. One report describes brake disc and rotor replacements at 13,058 and 22,996 miles, with surging under braking returning by 33,000 miles. A second pattern is uneven wear: one inspection near 20k miles found the rear brakes nearly worn out while the fronts were close to new. Neither report describes a crash, but both describe recurring brake trouble on a fairly new vehicle.
A separated upper torque mount and a heavy oil leak are the two problems reported. In one case a service warning light led to the discovery that the upper engine torque mount had separated from its bracket at 52,000 miles, and the manufacturer offered no help with the repair. Another complaint describes a severe oil leak that the dealer blamed on a loose oil filter, but fresh oil was dripping again right after the visit. Neither report mentions a fire or loss of power.
Excerpts from complaints XC60 owners filed with NHTSA, as written. Listen for the same symptoms on your test drive.
Vehicle with 34,000 miles has started to have surging of rotors when applying brakes at 33,000. Vehicle has had brake disc kit replaced due to warping at 13,058 miles. Vehicle had brake disc kits and front and rear brake rotors replaced due to high spots for pad engagement at 22,996 miles. The vehicle has a continuous problem with brake/rotor system!
Filed with NHTSA, January 2025
Severe oil leak coming from the engine. I had it in the Volvo Dealership, they claimed it was due to a loose oil filter. When I drove the vehicle home and parked in my driveway, It started to stain the driveway with a fresh oil leak.
Filed with NHTSA, June 2024
Complaints for this year next to the average for the other model years, area by area.
The 2020 ranks seventh for owner complaints among 8 XC60 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 third model year of the XC60's second generation (2018–2023).
Volvo updated the XC60 for 2021, so a 2020 does not have those changes.
What changed for 2021 (not on a 2020)
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 2020-2021 S90, 2020-2022 S60, V60, XC60, XC90, and 2022 V90 plug-in hybrid vehicles. The high-voltage battery may experience a short circuit within the battery module when the battery is fully charged and the vehicle is parked.
Risk: A short circuit in a high-voltage battery increases the risk of a fire.
Fix: Owners are advised not to charge their vehicles until the remedy has been completed. Dealers will inspect and replace the high-voltage battery module as necessary. In addition, dealers will update the software to monitor the battery. All repairs will be performed free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed May 28, 2025. Owners may contact Volvo Car's customer service at 1-800-458-1552. Volvo Car's number for this recall is R10312.
Volvo Car USA, LLC (Volvo Car) is recalling certain 2019-2022 V60CC, XC60, and XC90 vehicles. During steering gear assembly, double screws may have been assembled on top of each other, which can cause a screw to fall into the gearbox housing.
Risk: A screw inside the gearbox housing can cause the steering wheel to lock up and increase the risk of a crash.
Fix: Dealers will replace the steering gear, free of charge. Owner notification letters are expected to be mailed March 1, 2023. Owners may contact Volvo Car's customer service at 1-800-458-1552. Volvo Car's number for this recall is R10213.
Volvo Car USA, LLC (Volvo Car) is recalling certain 2021 S90L, 2020-2021 XC60, and XC90 vehicles. An improperly welded rotor and shaft may separate within the integrated brake system.
Risk: Separation of the rotor and shaft may cause a reduction in braking assistance and a loss of the Antilock Brake System (ABS) and Electronic Stability Control (ESC), increasing the risk of a crash.
Fix: Dealers will replace the hydraulic unit, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed October 22, 2021. Owners may contact Volvo Car customer service at 1-888-458-1552. Volvo Car's number for this recall is R10120.
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 Car of N.A., LLC (Volvo Cars) is recalling certain 2018-2020 XC60 vehicles. The nuts that secure the front wipers may not have been sufficiently tightened, possibly causing the wipers to not function properly.
Risk: The risk of the front wiper arms nut fixation to loosen and not holding the arm in correct position, the wiper function could be reduced and vision could be impaired, thus increasing the risk of a crash.
Fix: Volvo Car will notify owners, and dealers will tighten the nuts holding the front windshield wiper arms in position, free of charge. The recall began September 29, 2020. Owners may contact Volvo Car customer service at 1-800-458-1552. Volvo Car's number for this recall is R10044.
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 XC60, with their own 2020 checklists.
