The Volvo V60 is a compact executive premium estate car based on the Volvo S60 sedan. It was first introduced back in 2010, and it got a hefty refresh in 2014. The second generation of the V60 was introduced in 2018 and is still being sold to this day.
The V60 aims to offer the sophistication and luxury of the S60 sedan while also increasing the overall practicality. As such, the V60 competes against the likes of the Audi A4 Avant, the BMW 3-Series Touring, and the Mercedes Benz C-Class estate.
The V60 has a good reputation when it comes to reliability, but it is not perfect. The most common V60 issues are associated with the in-car electronics, fuel system issues, A/C issues, brake system issues, and engine-related issues.
Most of these can be solved relatively easily which means that your V60 should be back on the road in no time. Either way, all cars need maintenance, especially luxury cars. Many Volvo specialists deem the V60 to be a really well-built car which means that it should last a few hundred thousand miles without needing major overhauls.
Volvo V60 – in-car electronics issues
The Volvo V60 is a relatively modern car, but even the newest V60 models do sometimes experience issues with the in-car electronics such as the speakers, the GPS, the audio players, communication systems. The infotainment screen is also known to freeze from time to time which renders it completely useless.
Many owners reported issues with the backup camera and the parking sensors as well. Most of these are typically associated with software issues and can be solved by simply taking the car to a Volvo dealer. Rarely do these also need replacement parts, but when they do, they don’t tend to cost all that much money.
Volvo V60 – Fuel system issues
The Volvo V60 was part of a recall due to a faulty low-pressure fuel 15A fuse that tends to blow and makes the engine stall or unable to start up. This fuse is there to regulate the current needed to operate the fuel pump. When it blows, the fuel pump is unable to do its job which means that the car can’t get any fuel into the engine.
Some owners even reported issues with the fuel sensors, fuel injectors, and O2 sensors. Whenever any of these fail, your car is likely to stall and is probably not going to be able to start.
Volvo V60 – A/C issues
Many owners have also reported various issues with the A/C system, more specifically the A/C condenser, or the motor fan. If you sense your A/C is unable to heat up the car fast enough, chances are that your condenser is likely broken. Vice-versa, if you are unable to cool down the cabin fast enough, your condenser is likely the issue.
These can be remedied by replacing the A/C condenser altogether. However, at times you are able to solve this issue with a simple repair.
Volvo V60 – Brake system issues
The Volvo V60 is sometimes known to experience issues with the brakes which can be a huge safety concern as your brakes are an essential part of a safe on-road experience. The most common brake issues are a failing wheel speed sensor which typically throws off the ABS system which in turn causes issues with a myriad of active safety systems such as collision prevention systems.
If you do experience these, be sure to take the car to a mechanic as soon as possible in order to avoid having to pay a lot more money for solving more issues that could be caused by this in the future.
Volvo V60 – Engine issues
The ECM (Engine control module) is a small electronic unit tasked with regulating when and how to release the pressure situated within the fuel tank. The V60 is known to come with ECM modules that sometimes tend to fail which inevitably leads to the fuel tank not being able to release the pressure build-up.
This can cause the tank to contract and later deform. This issue is also likely going to cause the engine to stall as the pressure build-up within the fuel tank tends to find its way into the engine.
FAQ Section
Is the Volvo V60 a reliable car?
According to most online reliability charts and surveys, the Volvo V60 manages to offer above-average reliability which is more or less in line with the most reliable modern Volvo models. Some modes like the S90 fall below the average reliability category while the V60/S60 models continuously offer a relatively trouble-free experience.
Most of the issues that plague the V60 are not all that detrimental which means that you should be able to enjoy a V60 for quite a long time without needing to spend exorbitant amounts of money on repairs.
How much does the Volvo V60 cost to maintain?
According to many online sites, the Volvo V60 tends to cost around $10-$11k in both maintenance and repair costs in the first 10 years of ownership. These sources also state that the V60 has a 30% chance of needing a major repair in the first 10 years of ownership.
These numbers are somewhat better when compared to many of its German rivals. All in all, the V60 is not all that expensive to maintain and repair considering the market positioning and the competition.
How long can the Volvo V60 last?
It depends on how well the car has been taken care of. Some sources state that the V60 should easily be able to last about 20 years or 200,000-miles. However, these can last a lot longer than that if they are maintained properly. Volvos in general are known to last quite a long time, especially the ones with an above-average reliability result.
The Volvo S60 is more or less the same as the V60 with the only difference being the interior and cargo space. The earlier Volvo V60 generations are a bit more troubling, but they also seem to be able to last upwards of 200,000 miles if maintained well enough.