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Light NHTSA footprint — 26 owner complaints and 4 active recall campaigns. Either a clean record or thin data; we'll show what's there.
The 2016 Volvo S60 has 26 NHTSA owner complaints and 4 recalls on file (U.S. federal records, as of August 2026). The most-reported system is electrical at 5 complaints, typically surfacing around 37,286 miles (~$850 to repair). Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation.
| Model year | Owner complaints | Recalls |
|---|---|---|
| 2013 S60 | 85 | 4 |
| 2014 S60 | 25 | 3 |
| 2015 S60 | 57 | 2 |
| 2016 S60 (this page) | 26 | 4 |
| 2017 S60 | 15 | 5 |
| 2018 S60 | 4 | 1 |
| 2019 S60 | 0 | 4 |
Solid reliability overall. Common issues are concentrated in a few systems.
Worth owning if you verify the specific issues below before you buy.
Our read of the federal NHTSA complaint and recall record for this exact year and model — not a substitute for a pre-purchase inspection. How we score.
Driver-assist features on the tested model: Electronic stability control: Standard · Forward collision warning: Optional · Lane departure warning: Optional
Source: NHTSA New Car Assessment Program — tested configuration: 2016 Volvo S60 4 DR FWD. Stars rate crash protection in NHTSA's tests, not overall reliability — see the owner-complaint data below for what actually goes wrong.
Here's what this model is known to do — so you can inspect for it, price it in, or make the seller fix it before you sign.
⚠ The one to take seriously: electrical is flagged severe on this model , showing up around 37,286 mi. Inspect it closely on a test drive.
Run the VIN from the listing — 4 active recalls on this model. Recall repairs are always free.
Verdict for buyers: 7.6/10 model. The priciest documented failure is engine (~$3,100) — get the seller's service records for it or inspect closely. Otherwise an average-risk used buy at a fair price.
We tell you what this model is known for and what to inspect — a vehicle-history report tells you what this exact car has been through. Smart buyers get both.
See the full pre-purchase inspection checklist →A noise, a warning light, a repair quote, "should I buy this?" — get an answer grounded in this vehicle's actual NHTSA record, not generic advice.
Answers use this vehicle's NHTSA complaint & recall record — owner-reported and unverified, not a diagnosis. Verify anything safety-critical with a mechanic.
Purchased a brand new 2016 Volvo s60 - the car at incident date had 200 miles on it. While driving in traffic on a california freeway - the car lost all power, steering, lights, etc while in the number 4 of 7 lane freeway at night. The car was blacked out, no lights, no power,…
Steering wheel squeaks and creaks when cold. Told it relates to airbag spring, trim around airbag. Going back for 4th repair.
Windscreen wiper motors failed during inclement weather making visibility impossible. The vehicle was only approximately 2 years old at the time of failure. This created a serious safety issue and may have led to a crash and injury. The dealer diagnosed the issue as failed wiper…
We bought this car used from a Volvo dealership in august of 2019 while still under factory warranty. It has 19-inch Volvo alloy wheels with 235/40/r19 tires. In a little over a year, two of the wheels have cracked presumably after hitting potholes. We had both wheels…
Drag to your current mileage. Numbers are derived from this vehicle's complaint history.
An unsecured occupant has an increased risk of injury in the event of a crash.
A door that is not securely latched could open while the vehicle is in motion, increasing the risk of injury to a vehicle occupant.
If the seat belt buckle separates from the bracket, the front seat passenger may not be adequately restrained in the event of a crash, increasing their risk of injury in the event of a crash.
Mostly yes. With a reliability score of 7.6 out of 10 based on 26 owner complaints filed with NHTSA, the 2016 Volvo S60 is generally a sound vehicle. The areas to watch are listed in the top problem section above — most are budget items, not deal-breakers.
The 2016 Volvo S60 is acceptable, with specific caveats. Worth owning if you verify the specific issues below before you buy. The record behind that call: Reliability score 7.6/10 — above the segment average; 4 recall campaigns on file. This is our read of the federal complaint and recall data — not a substitute for a pre-purchase inspection.
Inspect the electrical first — it's the most-reported issue on this model, with 5 owner complaints filed. Typical failure occurs around 37,286 miles. Average repair cost runs about $850 at an independent shop. Also confirm any open recalls have been completed by running the VIN, and ask for service records covering the problem areas listed above.
It scores 7.6 out of 10 on our NHTSA-based read of 26 owner complaints. The main thing to watch is electrical. Typical failure occurs around 37,286 miles. Priced fairly and clean on inspection, it's a reasonable used buy. Our data covers what this model is known for — pair it with a vehicle-history report on the VIN to see what that specific car has been through.
Based on NHTSA records, the most-reported issue is electrical, with 5 complaints filed. Typical failure occurs around 37,286 miles. Average repair cost runs about $850 at an independent shop.
The electrical is one of the costlier repair items. Average repair cost runs about $850 at an independent shop. Typical failure occurs around 37,286 miles. Catching early warning signs can sometimes extend life by 20–30,000 miles.
Paste your VIN into the decoder at the top of this page. We pull live from NHTSA, so you'll see exactly which campaigns apply to your vehicle and whether the dealer has logged the fix. Recall repairs are always free regardless of mileage or warranty status.
Math is straightforward: a quality service contract runs $1,800–3,500 over 3 years. With 26 complaints on file and the costliest repair averaging $850, one major failure more than pays for it. The catch is reading the contract — many providers exclude wear items and require pre-authorization, so cheaper plans are not always better value.