CarBrief

The 2015 Volvo S60 has 59 owner complaints on file with NHTSA, and the engine is the most named part[1][2]. It has 2 recalls[3], and dealers will replace the parts for both[4][5].

59owner complaints[1]
2recalls[3]
21–29MPG combined (EPA)[6]
5★NHTSA overall rating[7]

Most reported problems

NHTSA lists 59 owner complaints for this model year[1]. Three mention a crash, 2 mention a fire and 1 mentions injuries[1]. None report a death[1]. These are unverified owner reports, and one complaint can name several parts.

Component group Complaints
Engine[2] 25
Unknown or other[8] 11
Electrical system[9] 9
Power train[10] 5
Brakes[11] 5
Fuel/propulsion system[12] 4
Speed control[13] 3
Structure[14] 3

Engine. This group has the most complaints, with 2 fires, no crashes and a median mileage at failure of 80,000[2]. In the sample of engine complaints we read, owners describe the engine using a lot of oil, low-oil warnings and, in some cases, piston or engine damage[2]. Owners also describe the engine shutting off while driving or while stopped[2]. One owner describes a fire in the engine compartment of a parked car with nobody inside[2].

Electrical. In the electrical complaints we read, owners describe sudden loss of power, stalls and blank screens. Several mention a battery, alternator or starter being replaced[9]. The median mileage at failure is 64,999[9].

Brakes. The group has 5 complaints and no crashes, fires or injuries[11]. In the brake complaints we read, owners describe the pedal going to the floor while the car was slow to stop. Some say the dealer could not find or repeat the fault[11].

Power train. Owners in the sample describe a gear shifter that stuck or would not shift[10]. The group has 5 complaints in total[10].

The speed control group has 3 complaints, one of which mentions a crash[13]. That is too few to call a pattern. Counts are not adjusted for how many cars were sold, and we read only a small sample of the complaint texts, so treat these themes as signals and not as rates.

Recalls

NHTSA lists 2 recalls for the 2015 S60[3]. Newest first.

Owners can contact Volvo customer service at 1-800-458-1552[4][5].

Fuel economy

The EPA lists five versions of the 2015 S60[15][16][6][17][18]. Ratings are city, highway and combined miles per gallon.

Version City / Hwy / Combined Est. annual fuel cost
2.0L 4-cyl turbo, front-wheel drive, regular[6] 25 / 36 / 29 $2,300
2.0L 4-cyl turbo, front-wheel drive, premium[17] 24 / 34 / 27 $3,050
2.5L 5-cyl turbo, all-wheel drive, regular[15] 20 / 28 / 23 $2,900
3.0L 6-cyl turbo, all-wheel drive, regular[16] 19 / 28 / 22 $3,050
PoleStar 3.0L 6-cyl turbo, all-wheel drive, regular[18] 18 / 27 / 21 $3,200

The 2.0L front-wheel-drive version rates best at 29 combined MPG on regular fuel[6]. All versions use an automatic transmission[15][16][6][17][18]. The EPA estimates annual cost using its current fuel price assumptions, not the price when the car was new, so use it to compare versions and not as a budget.

Safety ratings

NHTSA gives the 4-door all-wheel-drive S60 5 stars overall, with 5 stars in the frontal, side and rollover tests[7]. Rollover risk is 10.0%[7]. The 4-door front-wheel-drive S60 has the same ratings[19].

Engine and size

The sizes below are Canadian-market specifications from Transport Canada, so they can differ slightly from US cars[20][21]. The engines the EPA lists are a 2.0L 4-cylinder turbo, a 2.5L 5-cylinder turbo and a 3.0L 6-cylinder turbo[15][16][6].

Measure All-wheel drive Front-wheel drive
Length[20][21] 182 in 182 in
Width[20][21] 74 in 74 in
Height[20][21] 58 in 58 in
Wheelbase[20][21] 109 in 109 in
Curb weight[20][21] 3,856 lb 3,655 lb

How 2015 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 recalls20142015: 59 complaints, 2 recalls5920152016: 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 2015 is highlighted[3].
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 2015 model year has 59 complaints[3]. Only 2013 (87 complaints) and 2012 (121) have more among the 2012 and later years, and 2001 to 2004 were higher still[3]. Every year from 2016 to 2025 has between 0 and 28 complaints, and 2014 has 25[3].

For recalls, 2015 has 2, and only 2018 has fewer, with 1[3]. The years 2007 and 2008 also have 2[3]. Complaint counts are not adjusted for sales, so these comparisons are rough.

Should you buy a used 2015 S60?

The 2015 S60 earns 5 NHTSA stars in every category listed, and dealers will replace the parts for both recalls[7][19][4][5]. The 2015 S60's complaint count is higher than every later year, led by the engine group[3][2]. In the sample we read, owners describe heavy oil use and sudden shutoffs, so ask for service records and check the oil level when you look at a car[2]. Ask the seller whether the door latch and seat belt cable recall work has been done. Pick the engine by your fuel budget, because the EPA ratings range from 21 to 29 combined MPG[6][18].

Frequently asked questions

What are the most common problems with the 2015 Volvo S60?
The engine group has the most NHTSA complaints at 25 of 59[2][1]. In the sample we read, owners describe heavy oil use and the engine shutting off[2].
Does the 2015 Volvo S60 have any recalls?
Yes, 2 recalls[3]: front seat belt cables (20V378) and door latches (19V849). Dealers will replace the parts for both[4][5].
What gas mileage does the 2015 Volvo S60 get?
The EPA rates it from 21 to 29 combined MPG, depending on the engine and drive[6][18]. The 2.0L front-wheel-drive version rates 29 on regular fuel[6].
Is the 2015 Volvo S60 safe?
NHTSA rates it 5 stars overall, with 5 stars for frontal, side and rollover tests, in both the all-wheel-drive and front-wheel-drive sedans[7][19].
Which Volvo S60 model year has the fewest complaints?
The 2025 model year has 0 complaints on file, and 2023 has 3[3]. The 2015 model year has 59[3].

Facts and sources

  1. NHTSA has 59 owner complaints on file for the 2015 Volvo S60 (3 mention a crash, 2 a fire, 1 injuries, 0 deaths reported). NHTSA vehicle records
  2. 25 complaints name the engine component group (0 crashes, 2 fires, 0 injuries, median mileage at failure 80,000). NHTSA vehicle records
  3. Owner complaints and recalls for every Volvo S60 model year (chart above). NHTSA recall database
  4. Recall 20V378, filed June 30, 2020: Seat Belts › Front. NHTSA recall database
  5. Recall 19V849, filed November 26, 2019: Latches / Locks / Linkages › Doors › Latch. NHTSA recall database
  6. EPA rating for S60 FWD, 2.0L 4-cyl turbo, Automatic (S8), Regular, Front-Wheel Drive: 25 city / 36 highway / 29 combined MPG; EPA estimated annual fuel cost $2,300. EPA / DOE fueleconomy.gov
  7. 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
  8. 11 complaints name the unknown or other component group (1 crashes, 0 fires, 0 injuries, median mileage at failure 45,000). NHTSA vehicle records
  9. 9 complaints name the electrical system component group (0 crashes, 0 fires, 0 injuries, median mileage at failure 64,999). NHTSA vehicle records
  10. 5 complaints name the power train component group (0 crashes, 0 fires, 0 injuries). NHTSA vehicle records
  11. 5 complaints name the brakes component group (0 crashes, 0 fires, 0 injuries). NHTSA vehicle records
  12. 4 complaints name the fuel/propulsion system component group (0 crashes, 0 fires, 0 injuries). NHTSA vehicle records
  13. 3 complaints name the speed control component group (1 crashes, 0 fires, 0 injuries). NHTSA vehicle records
  14. 3 complaints name the structure component group (0 crashes, 0 fires, 0 injuries). NHTSA vehicle records
  15. EPA rating for S60 AWD, 2.5L 5-cyl turbo, Automatic (S6), Regular, All-Wheel Drive: 20 city / 28 highway / 23 combined MPG; EPA estimated annual fuel cost $2,900. EPA / DOE fueleconomy.gov
  16. EPA rating for S60 AWD, 3.0L 6-cyl turbo, Automatic (S6), Regular, All-Wheel Drive: 19 city / 28 highway / 22 combined MPG; EPA estimated annual fuel cost $3,050. EPA / DOE fueleconomy.gov
  17. EPA rating for S60 FWD, 2.0L 4-cyl turbo, Automatic (S8), Premium, Front-Wheel Drive: 24 city / 34 highway / 27 combined MPG; EPA estimated annual fuel cost $3,050. EPA / DOE fueleconomy.gov
  18. EPA rating for S60 PoleStar AWD, 3.0L 6-cyl turbo, Automatic (S6), Regular, All-Wheel Drive: 18 city / 27 highway / 21 combined MPG; EPA estimated annual fuel cost $3,200. EPA / DOE fueleconomy.gov
  19. 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
  20. Transport Canada specifications via NHTSA vPIC, S60 4DR SEDAN T5/T6 AWD: length 182 in, width 74 in, height 58 in, wheelbase 109 in, curb weight 3,856 lb (converted from centimeters and kilograms). vpic.nhtsa.dot.gov
  21. Transport Canada specifications via NHTSA vPIC, S60 4DR SEDAN T5/T6 FWD: length 182 in, width 74 in, height 58 in, wheelbase 109 in, curb weight 3,655 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.