Skip to content
Volvo S60Model year report

2005 Volvo S60 Problems

Complaints
44filed with NHTSA
Median mileage
55,500miles, 38 complaints with mileage
Recalls
3campaigns on record
Trend
FallingComplaints filed in the last 3 full calendar years are at least 25% lower than in the 3 years before.
NHTSA crash rating
—overall rating starts with 2011 models
EPA fuel economy
22 mpgcombined, 2.4L 5-cyl FWD · 19 city / 27 hwy

Sources: NHTSA records for the 2005 Volvo S60 (complaints, recalls, investigations), NHTSA crash tests, EPA fuel economy. Report an error

NHTSA recorded 44 consumer complaints for the 2005 Volvo S60. The part named most often is fuel system, with 10 complaints (23% of the total), followed by engine cooling (7) and electrical system (6). 38 of the complaints include a mileage, and 50% of those were filed for vehicles with under 50,000 miles; the median is 55,500 miles. NHTSA lists 3 recall campaigns and 174 technical service bulletins for this model year. Fuel system complaints overlap with 5 technical service bulletins filed under the same part. Engine cooling complaints overlap with 7 technical service bulletins filed under the same part.

Not compared (before 2008). Model years 2008–2023 of the same vehicle that have at least 25 complaints are compared, and a model needs at least 3 of them.

Which parts are reported most

Complaints can name more than one part, so the counts add up to more than the total. Select a part to see its complaints, recalls and bulletins.

Also reported: Suspension (2), Transmission and drivetrain (2), Vehicle speed control (2), Air bags (1), Exterior lighting (1), Seat belts (1), Seats (1), Visibility (wipers, defrost, mirrors) (1), Wheels (1).

Example complaints

Fuel system: “Twice now over a ten day period first when reducing speed to a stop or then again at a speed of less than 5 MPH, the car died...first the engine died then all else died. The car went dead. I still had my steering and slowly rolled to the curbed then as I gently put on the brakes the car jerked to a halt. During the second incident the car still jerked after I had stopped. A loud sound of a fan from the engine could be heard. The fan stopped after 10 to 15 seconds. After a minute I restarted the car and made it home both times.”

NHTSA complaint #10713001, filed 2015-04, 74,171 miles

Engine cooling: “I have had to replace the engine cooling system (radiator) twice for this car in less than 66k. While you are driving, the warning stop car immediately coolant low comes on. Volvo has changed the supplier for this part, which tells me they know it is a problem. Not only is this scary, but the cost to replace (with labor) is over $1,300. I think this is both a hazard for the driver, other drivers (if you need to pull over quickly and stop your engine) as well as an unnecessary cost. …”

NHTSA complaint #10439062, filed 2011-12, 32,000 miles

Electrical system: “I have a 2005 Volvo s60r which has a vehicle immobilizer in which if it there is not a 2 way communication between the car and the key, it prevents the car from starting. Nice feature, but I called 3 dealerships when I got this warning and there is no workaround. So if I have an emergency, of if I am in a bad part of town, I cannot use my car... This is a major safety flaw...”

NHTSA complaint #10291821, filed 2009-11, 66,000 miles

Tires: “We have a 2005 Volvo s60r. After hitting a pothole and destroying the right front tire and rim we replaced all four tires and wheels with o.e.m. 17 wheels and pirelli p6 tires. Less than 1000 miles later two of the tires developed bulges in the sidewall at the exact same location on each tire. Kline Volvo would do nothing about it saying it was road hazard damage, but these tires didn't hit anything that doesn't occur in the normal course of driving, small road irregularities at low speed, etc. …”

NHTSA complaint #10157906, filed 2006-05, 18,795 miles

Mileage when problems were reported

50% of the 38 complaints with a mileage were filed for vehicles with under 50,000 miles; the middle half falls between 7,500 and 94,000 miles.

26%0–108%10–2516%25–5016%50–7513%75–10016%100–1505%150+
Share of complaints by mileage when the problem was reported, in thousands of miles (38 complaints with mileage). Red bars: under 50,000 miles. Bucket widths differ. Median: 55,500 miles.

Complaints by year filed

Trend: falling. Complaints filed in the last 3 full calendar years are at least 25% lower than in the 3 years before.

’0513’07’09’11’13’15’17’21
Complaints by year the complaint was filed with NHTSA. Red bars: the last 3 full calendar years used for the trend. The current year (2026) is partial.

Crash test ratings

NHTSA's 5-Star Safety Ratings for the 2005 Volvo S60. Frontal results are shown driver / passenger; rollover shows the star rating and NHTSA's estimated risk of rolling over in a single-vehicle crash.

VersionOverallFrontalSideSide poleRollover
S60 · sedan not rated4 / 4——5 · 9.3% risk

Ratings before the 2011 model year come from an older, less demanding test and are not comparable with ratings for 2011 and later.

Source: NHTSA New Car Assessment Program (5-Star Safety Ratings), nhtsa.gov/ratings.

Fuel economy and running cost

EPA ratings for each 2005 Volvo S60 version. Annual fuel cost is the EPA's estimate at its current fuel prices for 15,000 miles a year (55% city driving).

VersionEngineTransmissionCityHwyComb.Fuel / yr
S60 AWD2.5L 5-cyl5-speed automatic172420$4,100
S60 FWD2.4L 5-cyl5-speed automatic192722$3,750
S60 FWD2.4L 5-cyl5-speed manual192722$3,750
S60 FWD2.4L 5-cyl6-speed manual182621$3,900
S60 FWD2.4L 5-cyl5-speed automatic182621$3,900
S60 FWD2.5L 5-cyl5-speed automatic192722$3,750
S60 R AWD2.5L 5-cyl6-speed manual162319$4,350
S60 R AWD2.5L 5-cyl5-speed automatic162218$4,550

Source: U.S. EPA and Department of Energy, fueleconomy.gov. Ratings are for comparing vehicles; real-world mileage varies with driving and conditions.

Recalls and investigations

Recall details for the 2005 Volvo S60 → · Check a VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls

Technical service bulletins

TSBs are manufacturer notes to dealers about known repair procedures. They are not recalls and do not by themselves mean a vehicle has a fault. 174 on record; the latest 10 are shown.

See all 174 bulletins →

Other model years of the Volvo S60

YearComplaintsMedian miRecallsCrash ★MPGScore (50 = typical)Trend
20242213,0004530—Too new
20221542,0004530—Rising
20218—3527—Not enough data
20201211,7506527—Not enough data
20192515,3005—2857 · TypicalStable
20171742,4276529—Stable
20162733,000452929 · FewerFalling
20155947,535252941 · TypicalRising
20142531,000352420 · FewerStable
20138753,000452467 · MoreFalling
201212178,500852394 · MoreFalling
2011513,1506—21—Not enough data
20097106,7503—22—Not enough data
20081051,5002—22—Not enough data
20072156,9182—22—Falling
20063146,5623—22Not compared (before 2008)Rising
20054455,5003—22Not compared (before 2008)Falling
200419879,1225—22Not compared (before 2008)Falling
200312079,6956—21Not compared (before 2008)Falling
200218689,1268—21Not compared (before 2008)Falling
200122380,5008—21Not compared (before 2008)Falling

All Volvo S60 model years · Best and worst years by complaints

Frequently asked questions

How many NHTSA complaints does the 2005 Volvo S60 have?

NHTSA recorded 44 consumer complaints for the 2005 Volvo S60 as of Oct 27, 2026. Complaints are unverified consumer reports and may be duplicated or inaccurate.

What part of the 2005 Volvo S60 is reported most often?

Fuel system is named most often, in 10 complaints (23% of the total), followed by engine cooling with 7.

Has the 2005 Volvo S60 been recalled?

NHTSA lists 3 recall campaigns for this model year. To check a specific vehicle, enter its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.

What gas mileage does the 2005 Volvo S60 get?

The EPA rates the 2005 Volvo S60 (S60 FWD, 2.4L 5-cyl) at 22 mpg combined, 19 city and 27 highway, with an estimated annual fuel cost of $3,750 at 15,000 miles a year. Other engine and drive versions are rated differently.

At what mileage are problems with the 2005 Volvo S60 reported?

Among the 38 complaints that include a mileage, the median is 55,500 miles and the middle half falls between 7,500 and 94,000 miles; 50% were filed for vehicles with under 50,000 miles.

About this data. Data from NHTSA (ODI) complaints, recalls, TSBs and investigations, updated Oct 27, 2026. Complaints are unverified consumer reports and may be duplicated or inaccurate. Crash ratings are from NHTSA’s New Car Assessment Program. Fuel economy is from the EPA and DOE (fueleconomy.gov).

Complaint counts come from NHTSA’s public complaint database; we count each complaint once. The source records for this vehicle are on nhtsa.gov. Scores and trends are our own summaries of that data, described in the methodology. This page is not legal, safety or repair advice: for a specific vehicle, check its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls and ask a qualified mechanic. See an error? Tell us.