What are the most common problems with the 2006 Volvo S60?

Engine complaints are the biggest group, followed by air bags and brakes.

Does the 2006 Volvo S60 have recalls?

Yes. The year has 3 recalls. See the Recalls section on this page for the list.

Is the 2006 Volvo S60 reliable?

Owner reports are mixed. Engine and air bag groups have the most complaints. Read the problems section and check the recalls before you decide.

What is the gas mileage of the 2006 Volvo S60?

See the fuel economy section on this page for the EPA figures.

2006 Volvo S60 Problems, Recalls and MPG

Q: How many complaints does the 2006 Volvo S60 have?

NHTSA has 31 owner complaints on file.

NHTSA has 31 owner complaints on file for the 2006 Volvo S60^[1]. Engine reports are the biggest group^[2].

31owner complaints^[1]

3recalls^[3]

18–22MPG combined (EPA)^[4]

Problems
Recalls
Fuel economy
Safety
Engine and size
By year
Verdict
FAQ

Most reported problems

Here are the complaint groups in the stories we read, biggest first.

Engine. 9 complaints^[2]. Owners describe cars that stall, hesitate or drop into a reduced power mode. Some talk about a throttle part that needed replacing and a costly repair bill. Others mention a car that sometimes would not start.
Air Bags. 6 complaints^[5]. Owners describe trouble with a recall repair, such as waiting for parts or a long trip to reach a dealer. One owner describes smoke from the driver side after a replacement. This group includes the crash and the fire counted in the total^[1].
Brakes. 5 complaints^[6]. Owners describe the pedal giving little stopping power for a moment on hills. Others describe brake parts that froze in cold weather or a parking brake part that came loose.
Power Train. 4 complaints^[7]. Owners describe a shifter that stays stuck in park, especially on cold mornings.
Fuel/Propulsion System. 4 complaints^[8].
Steering. 3 complaints^[9].
Exterior Lighting. 3 complaints^[10].
Electrical System. 3 complaints^[11].

Recalls

Newest first. Each recall covers only certain vehicles, so not every 2006 S60 is necessarily included.

Air Bags › Frontal › Driver Side › Inflator Module (21V766), September 2021. About 259,383 vehicles are potentially affected across every model and year the recall names. The recall names these risks: explosion, injury, death. Dealers do the repair free of charge.^[12]
Equipment › Electrical › Navigational System(Global Positioning System) (10V566), November 2010. About 416 vehicles are potentially affected across every model and year the recall names. The recall names these risks: fire. Dealers do the repair free of charge.^[13]
Equipment › Other › Labels (06V375), October 2006. About 19,700 vehicles are potentially affected across every model and year the recall names. The recall names these risks: a crash. Dealers do the repair free of charge.^[14]

Fuel economy

EPA ratings depend on the engine and drive. Annual fuel cost uses EPA's current fuel price assumptions, not prices when the car was new.

Version	City / highway / combined MPG	Annual fuel cost
S60 AWD, 2.5L 5-cyl turbo, Automatic 5-spd, Premium, 4-Wheel or All-Wheel Drive^[15]	17 / 25 / 20	$4,100
S60 AWD, 2.5L 5-cyl turbo, Automatic (S5), Premium, 4-Wheel or All-Wheel Drive^[16]	18 / 25 / 20	$4,100
S60 FWD, 2.4L 5-cyl, Automatic 5-spd, Premium, Front-Wheel Drive^[4]	19 / 26 / 22	$3,750
S60 FWD, 2.4L 5-cyl, Manual 5-spd, Premium, Front-Wheel Drive^[17]	19 / 27 / 22	$3,750
S60 FWD, 2.4L 5-cyl turbo, Manual 6-spd, Premium, Front-Wheel Drive^[18]	18 / 26 / 21	$3,900
S60 FWD, 2.4L 5-cyl turbo, Automatic (S5), Premium, Front-Wheel Drive^[19]	18 / 26 / 21	$3,900
S60 FWD, 2.5L 5-cyl turbo, Automatic 5-spd, Premium, Front-Wheel Drive^[20]	19 / 28 / 22	$3,750
S60 FWD, 2.5L 5-cyl turbo, Automatic (S5), Premium, Front-Wheel Drive^[21]	19 / 28 / 22	$3,750
S60 R AWD, 2.5L 5-cyl turbo, Manual 6-spd, Premium, 4-Wheel or All-Wheel Drive^[22]	16 / 23 / 19	$4,350
S60 R AWD, 2.5L 5-cyl turbo, Automatic (S6), Premium, 4-Wheel or All-Wheel Drive^[23]	16 / 23 / 18	$4,550

Safety ratings

Version	Overall	Frontal	Side	Rollover	Rollover risk
4 DR FWD/AWD^[24]	n/a	n/a	n/a	5	9.3%

Engine and size

These are Canadian-market specifications from Transport Canada, so US models can differ slightly.

Version	Length	Width	Height	Wheelbase	Curb weight
S60 4DR SEDAN 2.5T/ T5^[25]	181 in	71 in	56 in	107 in	3,208 lb
S60 4DR SEDAN AWD^[26]	181 in	71 in	56 in	107 in	3,375 lb
S60R 4DR SEDAN AWD^[27]	182 in	71 in	56 in	107 in	3,532 lb

How 2006 compares with other years

Owner complaints filed with NHTSA for each S60 model year. The 2006 is highlighted^[3].

Show the numbers

Model year	Complaints	Recalls
2001	223	8
2002	186	8
2003	120	6
2004	198	5
2005	44	3
2006	31	3
2007	21	2
2008	10	2
2009	7	3
2011	5	6
2012	121	8
2013	87	4
2014	25	3
2015	59	2
2016	28	4
2017	18	6
2018	4	1
2019	25	5
2020	12	6
2021	8	3
2022	15	4
2023	3	7
2024	22	4

NHTSA's counts for the S60 show 31 complaints and 3 recalls for 2006^[3]. Among the 24 model years listed, 15 have fewer complaints than 2006 and 8 have more^[3]. The fewest complaints are for 2025 (0) and the most are for 2001 (223)^[3]. These counts are not adjusted for sales, so treat them as a rough guide. The chart above shows every year.

Should you buy a used 2006 S60?

The 2006 Volvo S60 has 31 complaints on file^[1]. Engine and air bag reports lead the list^[2]^[5]. The year also has 3 recalls^[3], so check the Recalls section on this page. These are unverified owner reports and are not adjusted for how many cars were sold. A careful inspection of the engine, brakes and air bags is a sensible step before buying.

Frequently asked questions

What are the most common problems with the 2006 Volvo S60?: Engine complaints are the biggest group, followed by air bags and brakes^[2]^[5]^[6].
Does the 2006 Volvo S60 have recalls?: Yes. The year has 3 recalls^[3]. See the Recalls section on this page for the list.
How many complaints does the 2006 Volvo S60 have?: NHTSA has 31 owner complaints on file^[1].
Is the 2006 Volvo S60 reliable?: Owner reports are mixed. Engine and air bag groups have the most complaints^[2]^[5]. Read the problems section and check the recalls before you decide.
What is the gas mileage of the 2006 Volvo S60?: See the fuel economy section on this page for the EPA figures.

Keep exploring

Other model years of the Volvo S60

2006 this page
2012 121 complaints, 8 recalls
2013 87 complaints, 4 recalls
2014 25 complaints, 3 recalls
2015 59 complaints, 2 recalls
2016 28 complaints, 4 recalls

Compare all model years of the Volvo S60

All Volvo models

Similar cars from 2006: compact cars

2006 Pontiac G6 1,910 complaints, 6 recalls
2006 Saab 9-3 179 complaints, 2 recalls
2006 Saturn Ion 1,235 complaints, 4 recalls
2006 Subaru Legacy/Outback 364 complaints, 7 recalls

All compact cars we cover

Facts and sources

NHTSA has 31 owner complaints on file for the 2006 Volvo S60 (1 mention a crash, 1 a fire, 0 injuries, 0 deaths reported). NHTSA vehicle records
9 complaints name the engine component group (0 crashes, 0 fires, 0 injuries, median mileage at failure 74,351). NHTSA vehicle records
Owner complaints and recalls for every Volvo S60 model year (chart above). NHTSA recall database
EPA rating for S60 FWD, 2.4L 5-cyl, Automatic 5-spd, Premium, Front-Wheel Drive: 19 city / 26 highway / 22 combined MPG; EPA estimated annual fuel cost $3,750. EPA / DOE fueleconomy.gov
6 complaints name the air bags component group (1 crashes, 1 fires, 0 injuries). NHTSA vehicle records
5 complaints name the brakes component group (0 crashes, 0 fires, 0 injuries, median mileage at failure 7,800). NHTSA vehicle records
4 complaints name the power train component group (0 crashes, 0 fires, 0 injuries). NHTSA vehicle records
4 complaints name the fuel/propulsion system component group (0 crashes, 0 fires, 0 injuries). NHTSA vehicle records
3 complaints name the steering component group (0 crashes, 0 fires, 0 injuries). NHTSA vehicle records
3 complaints name the exterior lighting component group (0 crashes, 0 fires, 0 injuries). NHTSA vehicle records
3 complaints name the electrical system component group (0 crashes, 0 fires, 0 injuries). NHTSA vehicle records
Recall 21V766, filed September 30, 2021: Air Bags › Frontal › Driver Side › Inflator Module. NHTSA recall database
Recall 10V566, filed November 8, 2010: Equipment › Electrical › Navigational System(Global Positioning System). NHTSA recall database
Recall 06V375, filed October 3, 2006: Equipment › Other › Labels. NHTSA recall database
EPA rating for S60 AWD, 2.5L 5-cyl turbo, Automatic 5-spd, Premium, 4-Wheel or All-Wheel Drive: 17 city / 25 highway / 20 combined MPG; EPA estimated annual fuel cost $4,100. EPA / DOE fueleconomy.gov
EPA rating for S60 AWD, 2.5L 5-cyl turbo, Automatic (S5), Premium, 4-Wheel or All-Wheel Drive: 18 city / 25 highway / 20 combined MPG; EPA estimated annual fuel cost $4,100. EPA / DOE fueleconomy.gov
EPA rating for S60 FWD, 2.4L 5-cyl, Manual 5-spd, Premium, Front-Wheel Drive: 19 city / 27 highway / 22 combined MPG; EPA estimated annual fuel cost $3,750. EPA / DOE fueleconomy.gov
EPA rating for S60 FWD, 2.4L 5-cyl turbo, Manual 6-spd, Premium, Front-Wheel Drive: 18 city / 26 highway / 21 combined MPG; EPA estimated annual fuel cost $3,900. EPA / DOE fueleconomy.gov
EPA rating for S60 FWD, 2.4L 5-cyl turbo, Automatic (S5), Premium, Front-Wheel Drive: 18 city / 26 highway / 21 combined MPG; EPA estimated annual fuel cost $3,900. EPA / DOE fueleconomy.gov
EPA rating for S60 FWD, 2.5L 5-cyl turbo, Automatic 5-spd, Premium, Front-Wheel Drive: 19 city / 28 highway / 22 combined MPG; EPA estimated annual fuel cost $3,750. EPA / DOE fueleconomy.gov
EPA rating for S60 FWD, 2.5L 5-cyl turbo, Automatic (S5), Premium, Front-Wheel Drive: 19 city / 28 highway / 22 combined MPG; EPA estimated annual fuel cost $3,750. EPA / DOE fueleconomy.gov
EPA rating for S60 R AWD, 2.5L 5-cyl turbo, Manual 6-spd, Premium, 4-Wheel or All-Wheel Drive: 16 city / 23 highway / 19 combined MPG; EPA estimated annual fuel cost $4,350. EPA / DOE fueleconomy.gov
EPA rating for S60 R AWD, 2.5L 5-cyl turbo, Automatic (S6), Premium, 4-Wheel or All-Wheel Drive: 16 city / 23 highway / 18 combined MPG; EPA estimated annual fuel cost $4,550. EPA / DOE fueleconomy.gov
NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings, 4 DR FWD/AWD: rollover 5 stars; rollover risk 9.3%. NHTSA vehicle records
Transport Canada specifications via NHTSA vPIC, S60 4DR SEDAN 2.5T/ T5: length 181 in, width 71 in, height 56 in, wheelbase 107 in, curb weight 3,208 lb (converted from centimeters and kilograms). vpic.nhtsa.dot.gov
Transport Canada specifications via NHTSA vPIC, S60 4DR SEDAN AWD: length 181 in, width 71 in, height 56 in, wheelbase 107 in, curb weight 3,375 lb (converted from centimeters and kilograms). vpic.nhtsa.dot.gov
Transport Canada specifications via NHTSA vPIC, S60R 4DR SEDAN AWD: length 182 in, width 71 in, height 56 in, wheelbase 107 in, curb weight 3,532 lb (converted from centimeters and kilograms). vpic.nhtsa.dot.gov

Complaints submitted to NHTSA by owners; unverified reports, one complaint can name several components. Complaint counts are not normalized by sales; compare years of the same model, not different models. EPA annual fuel cost uses EPA's current fuel price assumptions, not the price when the car was new. Horsepower is the rating listed for EPA test vehicles. Dimensions are Canadian-market specifications and can differ slightly from US models.

2006 Volvo S60: problems, recalls and fuel economy