Owners have filed 40 complaints with NHTSA about this car, most about the electrical, brakes, and wipers and visibility. The 9 checks below target those problems, in the order you would do them at the car.
2023Tick items off on your phone at the car, or print it. Ticks stay on this device.
0/9 checked
2023 Volvo XC60: 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 2023's design and most of its parts, so their problems are the ones to look for on this car too.
Worth adding to your 2023 checks
Worth adding to your 2023 checks
Worth adding to your 2023 checks
EPA figures for each version of the 2023 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-cylHybrid | AWD, FWD | 25–26 mpg |
| 2.0L 4-cylPlug-in hybrid | AWD | 560 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.
Early electrical and starting faults
300–1,250 miles
NHTSA complaints for the 2023 Volvo XC60, grouped by the part owners named. Open a row to read what goes wrong.
The center screen freezes, reboots, or goes dark. When it does, climate control, audio, navigation, cameras, turn-signal sounds, and safety alerts go with it. A second pattern is a drained 12-volt battery after the car sits a few days, sometimes while plugged in. That leads to limp mode with reduced power, propulsion warnings, or a no-start. Key-not-detected warnings also block starting. Several cases appear within the first 300 to 1,250 miles. Dealers often cannot reproduce the faults and rely on software updates and battery replacements that do not always last.
The brake pedal turns hard and will not press down, usually right after shifting into reverse, and the car keeps rolling backward. Some drivers got the pedal back only by shifting into drive or pumping it repeatedly. Others describe a stiff, odd pedal feel in reverse and automatic braking that fires with nothing behind the car. Dealers have not clearly explained a cause or fix. The main risk is a low-speed collision while backing up in parking lots or driveways.
Front wipers stop moving in heavy snow when snow packs into the well where the arms rest under the hood, and no warning light comes on. The washer and rear wiper may keep working. Reports span several winters, and one dealer cited an internal service bulletin and a slow back-and-forth diagnosis with Volvo. Separately, the rear windows turn blurry in hot weather. Losing the front wipers during a storm is a direct visibility hazard.
The car brakes hard and without warning while backing up or parking, with nothing in its path. The parking sensors may beep intensely just before it happens. One report involves an injury: the driver was thrown forward and was left with neck and shoulder pain. In that case the fault appeared within days of purchase. The only workaround described is turning off automatic rear braking every time before reversing. No permanent fix has been offered.
The engine surges to 3000 to 4000 RPM while the driver brakes for a stop. That forces hard braking, a shift to neutral, or a shutdown. At about 300 miles the dealer found no codes. The car also rolls after the park button is pressed, even though the display shows park. One report adds that the steering pulled hard to the right with adaptive cruise control on. Each of these faults carries crash risk.
Tread separates and falls off in chunks on Pirelli Scorpion Zero All Season tires in size 255/40R21, on both the front and rear wheels. Only two short reports exist, so no mileage pattern shows. A related report under other components describes original Pirelli tires bulging at 3,000 miles. Tires with missing tread chunks need replacement before the car is driven further.
Excerpts from complaints XC60 owners filed with NHTSA, as written. Listen for the same symptoms on your test drive.
Problem with the 12v batteru charging faulty. Took to it the dealer but said its common with undriven vehciles. My car sat in the garage for 1day and got this error message when started for a trip. Speed has been limited to 3mph. Not able to use the car. Searched and verified lot of fourms about volvo this is know issue with xc60B5 engines. But dealers are nt acknowledging this issue.
Filed with NHTSA, January 2023
For more than a year, we have experienced issues with the infotainment system. Despite many trips to the dealership it has not been fixed. The infotainment system randomly shuts down and or reboots, which seems to affect other systems like turn signals, climate control, lane departure alerts, etc.
Filed with NHTSA, June 2025
Twice within two weeks the car was shifted into reverse and the brake became unresponsive. The car started moving backward, but the brake was not depressible. On one occasion, the car was shifted into drive, which then allowed the brake to be fully depressed. On the other occasion, the brake was pushed repeatedly until the car finally allowed it to be fully depressed after a few seconds of rolling backward.
Filed with NHTSA, July 2023
The automatic breaking system was deployed while backing up in a parking lot. There were no obstacles, either stationary or moving, that should have triggered the braking. We have had several other times when the brake "felt odd" during reverse. It becomes very stiff and hard to depress but still works.
Filed with NHTSA, August 2023
My Volvo XC60 rear windows turns blurry in the heat. For long I didn't bothered, but recently I have noticed that there are more people facing the same issue with 23 & 25 models. Please see the attached picture. Volvo America is aware about the issue but they have not taken any action.
Filed with NHTSA, September 2024
The parking sensors and auto brake malfunctioned while I was parking. Nothing was in the car's vicinity, but the car sensors started to beep intensely and the car automatically broke abruptly.
Filed with NHTSA, January 2023
Complaints for this year next to the average for the other model years, area by area.
The 2023 ranks second for owner complaints among 8 XC60 years, about 1.4 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 2023 is the sixth model year of the XC60's second generation (2018–2023).
It includes the 2021 update.
What changed for 2021
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 2021-2025 XC40, 2022 V90, 2022-2024 C40BEV, 2022-2025 S90, V90CC, XC60, 2023-2025 S60, V60, V60CC, XC90, and 2025 EC40, and EX40 vehicles. The rearview camera image may not display when the vehicle is placed in reverse. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 111, "Rear Visibility.".
Risk: A rearview camera image that does not display reduces the driver's view behind the vehicle, increasing the risk of a crash.
Fix: The software will be updated by a dealer or through an over-the-air (OTA) update, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed February 24, 2026. Owners may contact Volvo Car’s customer service at 1-800-458-1552. Volvo Car's number for this recall is R10333. Vehicle Identification Numbers (VINs) involved in this recall will be searchable on NHTSA.gov beginning February 16, 2026. This recall replaces previous NHTSA recall number 25V282. Vehicles previously repaired under recall 25V282 will need to have the new remedy performed.
Volvo Car USA, LLC (Volvo Car) is recalling certain 2021-2025 XC40, 2022 V90, 2022-2025 S90, V90CC, C40, XC60, 2023-2025 S60, V60, V60CC, XC90, and 2025 EC40 and EX40 vehicles. The rearview camera image may not display when the vehicle is placed in reverse. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 111, "Rear Visibility.".
Risk: A rearview camera image that does not display reduces the driver's view of what is behind the vehicle, increasing the risk of a crash.
Fix: The software will be updated by a dealer or through an over-the-air (OTA) update, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed June 27, 2025. Owners may contact Volvo Car customer service at 1-800-458-1552. Volvo Car's number for this recall is R10320.
Volvo Car USA, LLC (Volvo Car) is recalling certain 2023 S60, V60CC, XC60, XC90, XC40, and C40 vehicles. A diagnostic trouble code (DTC) may be falsely detected for the emergency call system (e-call) and display "e-Call Service Required" in the driver information module (DIM).
Risk: The false warning message could prevent the detection of an actual e-call system failure, which could delay an emergency response during a crash, increasing the risk of injury.
Fix: Dealers will update the telematics and connectivity antenna module (TCAM) software, free of charge. Owner notification letters are expected to be mailed May 16, 2023. Owners may contact Volvo Car's customer service 1-800-458-1552. Volvo Car's number for this recall is R10225.
Volvo Car USA, LLC (Volvo Car) is recalling certain 2023 S60, V60, V60CC, V90CC, XC60, XC90, XC40, and C40 vehicles. A diagnostic error in the Brake Control Module 2 (BCM2) may cause a loss of Antilock Brake System (ABS), Electronic Stability Control (ESC), and traction control.
Risk: A reduction in brake support functions can increase the risk of a crash.
Fix: Volvo will release an over-the-air (OTA) BCM2 software update, free of charge. Owner notification letters are expected to be mailed March 15, 2023. Owners may contact Volvo Car customer service at 1-800-458-1552. Volvo Car's number for this recall is R10217.
Volvo Car USA, LLC (Volvo Car) is recalling certain 2022-2023 S60, V60, S90L, XC60, and XC90 vehicles. An electronic control module (ECM) software error may prevent the combustion engine from starting, causing a loss of drive power.
Risk: The vehicle may lose drive power as the high voltage battery is depleted, increasing the risk of a crash.
Fix: Dealers will update the ECM software, free of charge. Owner notification letters are expected to be mailed December 8, 2022. Owners may contact Volvo Car's customer service at 1-800-458-1552. Volvo Car's number for this recall is R10198.
Cars shoppers compare with the Volvo XC60, with their own 2023 checklists.
2023 owner complaints, side by side
