CarBrief

NHTSA has 25 owner complaints on file for the 2014 Volvo S60, and the engine is the most named part[1][2]. The car earns 5 stars overall in NHTSA crash ratings[3].

25owner complaints[1]
3recalls[4]
21–24MPG combined (EPA)[5]
5★NHTSA overall rating[3]

Most reported problems

Owners filed 25 complaints with NHTSA[1]. One mentions a crash and one an injury. None mention a fire or a death[1]. These are unverified reports, and one complaint can name several parts.

Smaller groups are wheels (2), tires (2), unknown or other (2) and exterior lighting (1)[10][11][12][13]. With counts this low, we do not call them common problems.

Recalls

NHTSA lists 3 recalls for this model year[4]. None of them concerns engine oil use. Each one has a dealer fix described in the recall. The door latch and software fixes are stated as free of charge[14][7].

The recall pages list affected units of 308,260 for the seat belt recall[15], 144,937 for the door latch recall[14] and 7,767 for the software recall[7]. Those counts cover several models.

Fuel economy

EPA lists three versions. All use regular fuel and an automatic (S6)[16][5][17].

Version City / Hwy / Combined MPG Annual fuel cost
2.5L 5-cyl turbo, front-wheel drive[5] 21 / 30 / 24 $2,800
2.5L 5-cyl turbo, all-wheel drive[17] 20 / 29 / 23 $2,900
3.0L 6-cyl turbo, all-wheel drive[16] 18 / 25 / 21 $3,200

Annual cost uses EPA's current fuel price assumptions, not prices when the car was new. The 3.0L costs about $400 more a year than the front-wheel drive 2.5L by EPA's estimate[16][5].

Safety ratings

NHTSA gives the 4-door all-wheel drive and front-wheel drive versions 5 stars overall[3][18]. Frontal, side and rollover are each 5 stars too[3][18]. Rollover risk is 10.0% for both[3][18].

Engine and size

EPA lists a 3.0L 6-cylinder turbo and a 2.5L 5-cylinder turbo[16][5][17]. These sizes are Canadian-market specifications and can differ slightly from US models.

Version Length Width Height Wheelbase Curb weight
T5 FWD sedan[19] 182 in 74 in 58 in 109 in 3,547 lb
T6 AWD/R-DESIGN sedan[20] 182 in 74 in 58 in 109 in 3,772 lb

How 2014 compares with other years

2001: 223 complaints, 8 recalls20012002: 186 complaints, 8 recalls2003: 120 complaints, 6 recalls20032004: 198 complaints, 5 recalls2005: 44 complaints, 3 recalls20052006: 31 complaints, 3 recalls2007: 21 complaints, 2 recalls20072008: 10 complaints, 2 recalls2009: 7 complaints, 3 recalls20092011: 5 complaints, 6 recalls2012: 121 complaints, 8 recalls20122013: 87 complaints, 4 recalls2014: 25 complaints, 3 recalls2520142015: 59 complaints, 2 recalls2016: 28 complaints, 4 recalls20162017: 18 complaints, 6 recalls2018: 4 complaints, 1 recalls20182019: 25 complaints, 5 recalls2020: 12 complaints, 6 recalls20202021: 8 complaints, 3 recalls2022: 15 complaints, 4 recalls20222023: 3 complaints, 7 recalls2024: 22 complaints, 4 recalls2024
Owner complaints filed with NHTSA for each S60 model year. The 2014 is highlighted[4].
Show the numbers
Model yearComplaintsRecalls
20012238
20021868
20031206
20041985
2005443
2006313
2007212
2008102
200973
201156
20121218
2013874
2014253
2015592
2016284
2017186
201841
2019255
2020126
202183
2022154
202337
2024224

The 2014 model year has 25 complaints and 3 recalls on file[4]. That is fewer complaints than 2012 (121), 2013 (87), 2015 (59) and 2016 (28)[4]. 2019 also has 25[4]. Counts are not adjusted for sales, so read them as a rough guide only. Later years have fewer complaints in several cases, such as 2018 with 4 and 2021 with 8[4].

Should you buy a used 2014 Volvo S60?

The complaint count is modest and the crash ratings are strong[1][3][18]. One theme stands out in the sample we read: engine oil use, described in 10 of the 12 engine complaints[2]. That is a small sample, but it is worth checking. Ask for service records, watch oil level and low oil warnings, and check that the three recalls were done[15][14][7]. A pre-purchase inspection by a Volvo-savvy mechanic is a sensible step.

Frequently asked questions

What are the most common problems with the 2014 Volvo S60?
The engine group has the most complaints, 12 of 25[1][2]. In the engine complaints we read, 10 of 12 describe heavy oil use[2].
Does the 2014 Volvo S60 have recalls?
Yes, 3 recalls: seat belt cable (20V378), door latches (19V849) and electronic module software (13V377)[15][14][7][4].
What is the gas mileage of the 2014 Volvo S60?
EPA combined ratings are 24 MPG for the 2.5L front-wheel drive, 23 for the 2.5L all-wheel drive and 21 for the 3.0L all-wheel drive[16][5][17].
How safe is the 2014 Volvo S60?
NHTSA rates the sedan 5 stars overall in all-wheel drive and front-wheel drive versions[3][18].
Is 2014 a good year for the Volvo S60?
It has 25 complaints, fewer than 2012, 2013, 2015 and 2016[4]. Several later years have fewer[4].

Facts and sources

  1. NHTSA has 25 owner complaints on file for the 2014 Volvo S60 (1 mention a crash, 0 a fire, 1 injuries, 0 deaths reported). NHTSA vehicle records
  2. 12 complaints name the engine component group (0 crashes, 0 fires, 0 injuries). NHTSA vehicle records
  3. NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings, 4 DR AWD: overall 5 stars, frontal 5 stars, side 5 stars, rollover 5 stars; rollover risk 10.0%. NHTSA vehicle records
  4. Owner complaints and recalls for every Volvo S60 model year (chart above). NHTSA recall database
  5. EPA rating for S60 FWD, 2.5L 5-cyl turbo, Automatic (S6), Regular, Front-Wheel Drive: 21 city / 30 highway / 24 combined MPG; EPA estimated annual fuel cost $2,800. EPA / DOE fueleconomy.gov
  6. 3 complaints name the electrical system component group (1 crashes, 0 fires, 0 injuries). NHTSA vehicle records
  7. Recall 13V377, filed August 21, 2013: Electrical System. NHTSA recall database
  8. 3 complaints name the speed control component group (1 crashes, 0 fires, 0 injuries). NHTSA vehicle records
  9. 2 complaints name the visibility/wiper component group (0 crashes, 0 fires, 0 injuries). NHTSA vehicle records
  10. 2 complaints name the wheels component group (0 crashes, 0 fires, 0 injuries). NHTSA vehicle records
  11. 2 complaints name the tires component group (0 crashes, 0 fires, 0 injuries). NHTSA vehicle records
  12. 2 complaints name the unknown or other component group (0 crashes, 0 fires, 0 injuries). NHTSA vehicle records
  13. 1 complaints name the exterior lighting component group (0 crashes, 0 fires, 0 injuries). NHTSA vehicle records
  14. Recall 19V849, filed November 26, 2019: Latches / Locks / Linkages › Doors › Latch. NHTSA recall database
  15. Recall 20V378, filed June 30, 2020: Seat Belts › Front. NHTSA recall database
  16. EPA rating for S60 AWD, 3.0L 6-cyl turbo, Automatic (S6), Regular, All-Wheel Drive: 18 city / 25 highway / 21 combined MPG; EPA estimated annual fuel cost $3,200. EPA / DOE fueleconomy.gov
  17. EPA rating for S60 AWD, 2.5L 5-cyl turbo, Automatic (S6), Regular, All-Wheel Drive: 20 city / 29 highway / 23 combined MPG; EPA estimated annual fuel cost $2,900. EPA / DOE fueleconomy.gov
  18. NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings, 4 DR FWD: overall 5 stars, frontal 5 stars, side 5 stars, rollover 5 stars; rollover risk 10.0%. NHTSA vehicle records
  19. Transport Canada specifications via NHTSA vPIC, S60 4 DR SEDAN T5 FWD: length 182 in, width 74 in, height 58 in, wheelbase 109 in, curb weight 3,547 lb (converted from centimeters and kilograms). vpic.nhtsa.dot.gov
  20. Transport Canada specifications via NHTSA vPIC, S60 4 DR SEDAN T6 AWD/R-DESIGN: length 182 in, width 74 in, height 58 in, wheelbase 109 in, curb weight 3,772 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.