This is a Technical Journal: Text plus 2 PDFs and 1 .PNG Oil Consumption test. Perform the test. Follow service procedure Description and Service sections updated to clarify that vehicle reports are not required.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗2013 Volvo S60 engine problems
moderate 29 complaints filed with NHTSA · avg repair $3,100 · see engine across all vehicles →
Failure mileage
Complaints
29
Recalls
0
Avg fix
$3,100
When does it fail?
Of the 29 engine complaints filed for the 2013 Volvo S60, here's the actual mileage breakdown — failures cluster heaviest at 50,000-75,000 mi.
0-25k
25-50k
50-75k
75-100k
100-125k
125-150k
150k+
Each bar shows the share of total complaints filed at that mileage range. Peak failure window highlighted. Some owners report problems earlier; some make it well past 150,000 miles symptom-free. Maintenance habits and driving conditions shift the curve as much as mileage alone.
What stands out
Engine accounts for 34% of every owner complaint on file for this vehicle — the dominant problem area across 8 categories tracked.
Owners have filed 29 engine complaints with NHTSA against this vehicle, but no formal recall covers the issue — the federal record reflects what manufacturers have admitted, not everything owners are reporting.
Is there a fix? Manufacturer service bulletins
The manufacturer has issued service bulletins covering engine on this vehicle — documented repair instructions, service campaigns, or warranty extensions sent to dealers. A TSB isn't a recall (it's not a free safety remedy), but it's the manufacturer acknowledging the issue and how to fix it.
Extended Warranty
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗Engine Control Module (EMS) Software (MSW) Information â August 2022; Improvement List (Change Log) - US21+OBD22 (13L VGT, TC) And US17+OBD22 (11L) Emissions
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗This is a Technical Journal: High oil consumption. Engine 61
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗This is a Service Journal: Coolant Filling Equipment Tool
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗Source: NHTSA manufacturer communications. Bring the bulletin number to your dealer or shop.
The failure pattern owners describe
The 2013 S60's T5 engine exhibits a widespread pattern of severe, internal oil consumption tied to defective piston rings or seals. Owners report burning 2–8 quarts per month or 0.5–1.0 liters per 1,000 miles starting around 50,000–95,000 miles, with no visible external leaks. Volvo USA issued an internal technical bulletin documenting the problem across 16 different model/year combinations and voluntarily extended warranty to 8 years/100,000 miles—but many 2013 S60 owners state they were explicitly excluded from that coverage.
The bigger hazard: the oil pressure warning light frequently fails to alert drivers until oil is completely depleted. One owner's engine knocked and shut down on a highway with zero oil on the dipstick; another changed oil five weeks prior and found the tank bone dry with no warning until knocking started. Owners consistently report being told to check oil every 500–5,000 miles manually, since the dash system cannot be relied upon.
When oil starvation progresses unchecked, engines suffer rod knock, bent valves, loss of compression, and complete mechanical failure. Multiple owners face $5,000+ engine replacement costs with Volvo refusing to cover repairs once mileage exceeds the extended warranty threshold or the original eight-year window closes. A class-action settlement exists, but affected owners report it covered only a subset of vehicles. No full recall has been issued despite the acknowledged defect.
Same Volvo S60 engine reports on nearby years: 2012 · 2015
Failure modes owners describe
Excessive oil consumption due to piston ring/seal failure
Engine burns or internally consumes oil at abnormal rates without visible external leaks. Owners report consuming 2–8 quarts per month or 0.5–1.0 liters per 1,000 miles. Multiple narratives attribute this to defective piston rings, O-rings, or pistons that allow oil to seep past and burn internally, with some alleging scored engine cylinder walls.
When: Begins around 50,000–95,000 miles; problem worsens over time
Symptoms owners cite: Abnormally rapid oil consumption between scheduled oil changes; Check Engine Light or Service Engine Light illumination; Engine knocking or abnormal noise under hood; Vehicle vibration and dashboard warnings (e.g., 'Reduce Speed or Shift Up'); Oil level drops to zero or critically low on dipstick despite recent oil changes
Codes mentioned: High oil consumption bulletin (Volvo internal technical bulletin referenced in narratives)
Repairs/costs cited: Owners report being quoted for O-ring replacement (described as costly with no guarantee), engine teardown and rebuild, full engine replacement (cost not specified but described as expensive), or ongoing oil top-ups every 500–5,000 miles. One owner cited a dealer suggesting the need for diagnostic testing at customer expense (hundreds of dollars) before determining if engine replacement necessary.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Volvo USA issued a technical bulletin documenting the problem for 16 different model/year combinations. Volvo voluntarily extended warranty to 8 years/100,000 miles on some model years, but many 2013 S60 owners report being excluded. A class-action settlement was reached but did not cover all affected owners. Volvo declined financial assistance to out-of-warranty or high-mileage vehicles. One owner received a recall notification but VIN was not eligible. NHTSA Campaign 13V592000 (Engine and Engine Cooling) mentioned but owners state their VINs were not under recall eligibility.
Delayed or absent low-oil-pressure warning
Oil pressure warning light either does not illuminate until oil level is critically depleted, illuminates only intermittently, or fails to warn at all before severe damage occurs. One owner reported the warning light flashed on and off twice but was initially dismissed as a glitch. Another owner had no warning light illuminate before engine reached zero oil on the dipstick.
When: Occurs during oil consumption progression; typically becomes critical between maintenance intervals
Symptoms owners cite: No Oil Pressure or Low Oil Pressure warning light illuminates late or not at all; Warning light appears only intermittently or during specific driving conditions (e.g., turning); Owner discovers zero or critically low oil upon manual checking, not via dashboard alert; Engine seizes or knocks before warning provided
Repairs/costs cited: No specific repair cited; the issue is the absence or delay of warning system function. One owner noted that tire pressure loss generates continuous warnings, implying the oil pressure warning system should perform similarly.
Catastrophic engine failure resulting from oil starvation
Engine suffers severe internal damage—rod knock, bent valves, loss of compression, or complete mechanical breakdown—when oil consumption combined with absent/late warning results in prolonged operation with insufficient or zero oil. Multiple owners report engine knockdown, inability to drive, or need for engine replacement after oil level dropped undetected.
When: Between 60,000 and 120,000 miles; timing varies but occurs during active oil-consumption phase when warning system fails or owner is not monitoring oil level closely
Symptoms owners cite: Loud engine knocking or clunking noise; Complete engine shutdown while driving (e.g., on highway); No compression in one or more cylinders; Bent valves detected during inspection; Engine mechanically destroyed and unable to start or run
Repairs/costs cited: Engine replacement required; cost is substantial and most owners cannot afford repair. One owner with 120,000 miles reported unable to afford engine replacement and cited rod knock as result. Another owner had engine replaced under warranty at dealer, but oil pressure warning light recurred and dealer could not duplicate failure on second visit.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Volvo acknowledged the oil consumption issue but refused to cover repairs for vehicles outside the 8-year/100,000-mile extended warranty window or for owners with higher mileage. One owner reported Volvo informed them the VIN was not eligible for extended coverage in an earlier settlement.
Synthesized from 29 NHTSA owner complaints — unverified consumer allegations, summarized for patterns. The verbatim filings appear below.
What owners are reporting 4 most recent
While driving on the highway to work on 12/3/18 my vehicle driver information center displayed a message of "no oil pressure - park safely". As I attempted to pull to the shoulder of the highway the engine started knocking very loudly and shutdown! The engine now has catastrophic failure, with a terrible knocking if the engine is started. It cannot be driven!
Car is burning oil. No oil leaks detected via mechanic or loss on the ground. Have to put multiple quarts of oil per month. The "check oil pressure" illuminates typically when making a turn which is extremely disconcerting. This is a known problem for this vehicle, just google it. They are well aware that these cars were incorrectly rated with the amount of oil initially. Volvo has done…
Tl* the contact owns a 2013 Volvo s60. The contact stated that while driving at 30 MPH, there was an abnormal noise under the hood of the vehicle. The contact pulled into the driveway where her husband checked the oil levels. The contact stated that the oil pressure warning was illuminated. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic where the vehicle was diagnosed and the mechanic…
I have owned my 2013 s60 Volvo for 3.5 years. About 2 years ago, I started noticing that my car was burning/ consumption an excessive amount of oil between oil change intervals. I get my oil changed on the recommended schedule, but I always have to add oil before the next scheduled service. I started doing research and it appears that a recall was done for some cars, but my VIN was not…
Had engine trouble with your 2013 Volvo S60?
File a complaint with NHTSA → It's free, official, and how every report above got here — owner filings are the federal safety record this page is built on.
Common questions
How serious is the engine problem on the 2013 Volvo S60?
It's a documented issue but not catastrophic. 29 complaints have been filed. Repairs average $3,100 and most owners catch it before it causes a breakdown.
At what mileage does the engine typically fail?
Across the 15 complaints that reported odometer mileage, most engine failures cluster between 69,000 and 113,000 miles, with the median around 86,000. A quarter of owners report trouble before 69,000; a quarter make it past 113,000. Maintenance history matters more than the odometer alone — this is the reported failure window, not a guarantee.
What does it cost to fix?
Independent shops typically charge around $3,100 for engine repairs on this vehicle. Dealer pricing tends to run 20-40% higher. The exact figure depends on the specific failure mode, parts availability, and your local labor rates. If you're outside factory warranty, an extended service contract often covers this category.
Are there any recalls related to engine?
No active recalls currently cover engine issues on this vehicle. The complaints filed represent owner-reported failures that haven't risen to the level of a manufacturer-issued recall — but they're still worth knowing about before you buy or budget for repairs.
Related
Complaint and recall data sourced from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA)
public records database. Verify the raw federal record at
nhtsa.gov/vehicle/2013/Volvo/S60.
Severity ratings are derived from reported crashes, fires, injuries, and fatalities. Repair cost estimates are
independent-shop national averages and may differ in your area. Some links on this page are affiliate links.