DT: 2003 VOLVO S60. WHILE DRIVING 35 MPH VEHICLE STALLED INTERMITTENTLY, AND THEN ACCELERATED. TOOK VEHICLE TO DEALER 4 TIMES. REPLACED THROTTLE BODY. *AK
2003 Volvo S60
Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations
More warning signs than most S60 years
Owner complaints for the 2003 Volvo S60 are substantially higher than the model-year median of 20.5.
About this comparison →How this year compares
Owner complaints by model year
Compare all S60 years →Counts vary with age, sales and reporting. They are not failure rates.
What owners reported most
All reported categories
Tap a category to read its complaints. One report may name several components.
When problems were reported
Mileage at the reported incident
101 reports with mileage · 19 unknown
NHTSA’s mileage field refers to the reported incident, not necessarily the filing date. This shows report counts, not the likelihood of a failure.
What to inspect
Issues worth paying extra attention to based on owner reports.
- Electrical System. Review the 54 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Vehicle Speed Control. Review the 18 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Engine And Engine Cooling. Review the 16 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
What owners actually said
120 reportsDT: CONTACT STATDS 2003 VOLVO CUT OFF WHILEGOING 60 MPH. CAR COMPLETELY LOST POWER IN THE MIDDLE LANE. IT WAS TOWED ,AND THEY KEPT IT FOR 3 DAYS. CONSUMER PICKED IT UP ON 7-16-05. THE DEALER REPLACED THE BATTERY. NINE DAYS LATER ON 7-24-05 THE CAR COMPLETELY QUIT AGAIN. THEY CALLED HECONSUME R AT HOME AND TOLD HER THEY TH…
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DT: CONTACT STATDS 2003 VOLVO CUT OFF WHILEGOING 60 MPH. CAR COMPLETELY LOST POWER IN THE MIDDLE LANE. IT WAS TOWED ,AND THEY KEPT IT FOR 3 DAYS. CONSUMER PICKED IT UP ON 7-16-05. THE DEALER REPLACED THE BATTERY. NINE DAYS LATER ON 7-24-05 THE CAR COMPLETELY QUIT AGAIN. THEY CALLED HECONSUME R AT HOME AND TOLD HER THEY THOUGHT IT WAS A FUEL PRESSURE ISSUE. HER CAR HAS BEEN IN THE SHOP 2 TIMES PREVIOUSLY FOR HESITATION AND DELAYS, AND THEY KEPT TELLING HER IT WAS CHIP RELATED .THE LAST TWO INCIDENTS OCCURRED AT RELATIVE HIGHER SPEEDS THAN THE FIRST TIME. CAR HAS BEEN IN THE SHOP FOR ONE WEEK, AND SHE DID HEAR FROM THE SERVICE DEALERSHIP LAST NIGHT. HE TOLD HER HE THOUGHT IT WAS A FUEL PRESSURE ISSUE AND HE WAS GOING TO CALL IN A SPECIALIST. *AK
I WAS TRAVELING ON I-65 FROM LOUISVILLE, KY TO CHICAGO, ILLINOIS AND ENCOUNTERED SUDDEN LOSS OF POWER AFTER DRIVING 205 MILES AT STEADY FREEWAY SPEEDS. THE CAR (VOLVO S60, 2003 MODEL) SUDDENLY LOST POWER AND SPEED FROM 70 MPH. I PULLED OVER TO THE SHOULDER AT A SPEED OF 40 MPH AND TURNED OFF THE ENGINE. I WAITED 10 MINUTES AN…
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I WAS TRAVELING ON I-65 FROM LOUISVILLE, KY TO CHICAGO, ILLINOIS AND ENCOUNTERED SUDDEN LOSS OF POWER AFTER DRIVING 205 MILES AT STEADY FREEWAY SPEEDS. THE CAR (VOLVO S60, 2003 MODEL) SUDDENLY LOST POWER AND SPEED FROM 70 MPH. I PULLED OVER TO THE SHOULDER AT A SPEED OF 40 MPH AND TURNED OFF THE ENGINE. I WAITED 10 MINUTES AND THEN STARTED THE ENGINE AND REENTERED THE HIGHWAY AND WAS ABLE TO ACCELERATE TO 70 MPH. AFTER ABOUT 3-5 MINUTES THE SAME LOSS OF POWER OCCURRED AND THE ENGINE TURNED OFF AND THE OIL LIGHT REMAINED ON. I ONCE AGAIN PULLED OFF TO THE SHOULDER, TURNED OFF THE VEHICLE AND CALLED FOR TOW ASSISTANCE. THE CAR WAS TOWED TO A VOLVO DEALER IN , INDIANA (NAPLETON AUTO) AND LEFT FOR 24 HRS. DEALER REPORTED NO DIAGNOSTIC EVIDENCE OF PROBLEM AND WAS UNABLE TO REPLICATE THE PROBLEM ON NON-HIGHWAY DRIVE TESTS. I SUBSEQUENTLY DROVE THE CAR ON A RETURN TRIP TO LOUISVILLE, KY ( 350 MI.) BUT WITH SEVERAL STOPS ALONG THE WAY TO REST THE ENGINE. THIS LOSS OF POWER CREATED A VERY SERIOUS SAFETY RISK. WHEN THE LOSS OF POWER OCCURRED I HAD A FAST MOVING TRUCK BEHIND ME AND AVOIDED AN ACCIDENT BY QUICKLY MOVING TO THE SHOULDER. I WAS VERY DISTRESSED BY THIS EXPERIENCE. *NM
I OWN A 2003 VOLVO S60, 4 DR SEDAN, PURCHASED FROM DON BEYER VOLVO IN FALLS CHURCH, VA, SERVICED AT DON BEYER VOLVO IN DULLES, VA. THE CAR HAS SUDDENLY STALLED IN THE MIDDLE OF AN INTERSECTION TWICE IN THE LAST 2 WEEKS BUT WOULD RE-START ALMOST IMMEDIATELY. LAST NIGHT, IT STALLED GOING 70 MPH ON A MAJOR HIGHWAY WITH NO WARNING W…
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I OWN A 2003 VOLVO S60, 4 DR SEDAN, PURCHASED FROM DON BEYER VOLVO IN FALLS CHURCH, VA, SERVICED AT DON BEYER VOLVO IN DULLES, VA. THE CAR HAS SUDDENLY STALLED IN THE MIDDLE OF AN INTERSECTION TWICE IN THE LAST 2 WEEKS BUT WOULD RE-START ALMOST IMMEDIATELY. LAST NIGHT, IT STALLED GOING 70 MPH ON A MAJOR HIGHWAY WITH NO WARNING WHATSOEVER. I LOST ALL POWER IMMEDIATELY AND HAD TO MANEUVER OVER LANES OF TRAFFIC TO PULL OVER WITHOUT POWER STEERING. VERY DANGEROUS SITUATION. TOWED TO THE DEALERSHIP WHERE THEY REPLACED THE FUEL PRESSURE REGULATOR AND SAID THEY'VE HAD NO OTHER COMPLAINTS OF THIS SORT. HOWEVER, JUST TONIGHT I SAW A NEWS REPORT ON CHANNEL 8 NEWS IN WASH DC STATING THAT VOLVO IS BEING INVESTIGATED FOR CLAIMS OF THIS EXACT TYPE. DID NOT SEE ANY MENTION OF THE S60 MODEL SO THOUGHT I WOULD REPORT MY INCIDENT TO BE INCLUDED IN THE INVESTIGATION. *NM
DT: VEHICLE STALLED FOR NO APPARENT REASON. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALERSHIP THREE TIMES BUT THEY COULD NOT FIND ANY CAUSE. THERE WAS NO WARNING AND THE VEHICLE COULD BE STARTED BACK UP. CONSUMER STATED THAT THIS OCCURRED AT LEAST 6 TIMES, AND THEY DID NOT DRIVE THE VEHICLE ANYMORE. THIS STARTED IN MARCH 2005.*AK
I HAVE A 2003 VOLVO S 60 THAT HAS BEGUN STALLING OUT WHILE DRIVING. I BELIEVE THAT THIS IS SIMILAR TO OTHER CAR PROBLEMS THAT HAVE BEEN REPORTED RECENTLY. AT THIS TIME THE DEALER HAS NOT BEEN ABLE TO LOCATE OR CORRECT THE PROBLEM. THE CAR DIES AFTER IT HAS REACHED OPERATING TEMPERATURES. IT JUST STOPS ON THE INTERSTATE, FLOR…
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I HAVE A 2003 VOLVO S 60 THAT HAS BEGUN STALLING OUT WHILE DRIVING. I BELIEVE THAT THIS IS SIMILAR TO OTHER CAR PROBLEMS THAT HAVE BEEN REPORTED RECENTLY. AT THIS TIME THE DEALER HAS NOT BEEN ABLE TO LOCATE OR CORRECT THE PROBLEM. THE CAR DIES AFTER IT HAS REACHED OPERATING TEMPERATURES. IT JUST STOPS ON THE INTERSTATE, FLORIDA'S TOLL ROAD, IN INTERSECTIONS, ETC. IT TAKES BETWEEN 15 AND 60 SECONDS BEFORE IT CAN BE RESTARTED. MY CONCERN IS THAT THIS COULD BE AN UNREPORTED PROBLEM WITH THIS VEHICLE.
VEHICLE CONTINUED TO ROW WHEN CONSUMER REMOVED FOOT FROM THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL WHEN DRIVING UP AN INCLINE. DEALER WAS NOTIFIED, AND THEY INFORMED THE CONSUMER THAT WAS THE NORMAL CHARACTERISTIC OF THAT VEHICLE. *AK
CONSUMER RECEIVED A RECALL NOTICE(04C002000) REGARDING THE THE HARNESS STRAP, THERE WERE NO PARTS AVAILABLE!!!!!!!!!!*JB
MY WIFE, JANELLE, AND I HAVE A 2003 VOLVO S60 WHICH WE PURCHASED NEW IN APRIL, 2003, AND WHICH HAD FOUR ORIGINAL EQUIPMENT MICHELIN TIRES (MXV-4, I BELIEVE). WE USE IT FOR NORMAL HIGHWAY AND SUBURBAN TRAVEL IN THE BOSTON AREA. WHEN THE CAR HAD GONE ONLY 8000 MILES, ONE OF THE LEFT TIRES GAVE OUT ON US. THE SIDE WALL OF THE TIR…
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MY WIFE, JANELLE, AND I HAVE A 2003 VOLVO S60 WHICH WE PURCHASED NEW IN APRIL, 2003, AND WHICH HAD FOUR ORIGINAL EQUIPMENT MICHELIN TIRES (MXV-4, I BELIEVE). WE USE IT FOR NORMAL HIGHWAY AND SUBURBAN TRAVEL IN THE BOSTON AREA. WHEN THE CAR HAD GONE ONLY 8000 MILES, ONE OF THE LEFT TIRES GAVE OUT ON US. THE SIDE WALL OF THE TIRE UNRAVELED, AND THE TIRE COULD NOT BE REPAIRED. NO SPECIFIC CAUSE COULD BE DETERMINED. FORTUNATELY, THIS HAPPENED IN A QUIET CAPE COD TOWN AND WE WERE NOT IN ANY DANGER (BUT I WAS OUT ABOUT $150). WE HAD NO FURTHER PROBLEMS UNTIL SEPTEMBER 13, WHEN THE RIGHT FRONT TIRE GAVE OUT FROM THE SIDE IN THE SAME MANNER AS THE PREVIOUS TIRE ON ROUTE 128 IN WAKEFIELD, MA (AT 23000 MILES), WHILE I WAS TRAVELING MORE THAN 60 MILES AN HOUR IN HEAVY TRAFFIC. WE WERE LUCKY NOT TO HAVE BEEN KILLED OR INJURED. AGAIN, THE TIRE WAS RUINED. AGAIN, IT COST ME OVER $150 FOR A REPLACEMENT TIRE. BOTH TIRE DEALERS WHO SOLD US REPLACEMENT MICHELIN MATCHING TIRES ADVISED US THAT PERHAPS THE PROBLEM HAD TO DO WITH THE "LOW PROFILE" OF THE VOLVO S60 AND BUMPING INTO CURBS. YET THE FIRST TIRE WHICH UNRAVELED WAS ON THE LEFT SIDE OF THE VEHICLE AND THE SECOND TIRE WHICH UNRAVELED HAD ABSOLUTELY NO CONTACT WITH A CURB FOR ABOUT 100 MILES PRIOR TO THE INCIDENT. I DO NOT BELIEVE THAT THIS SHOULD HAVE HAPPENED. I BELIEVE THAT THE ORIGINAL TIRES WERE DEFECTIVE, AND WE ARE NOW AFRAID TO DRIVE THE CAR AT ALL, EVEN THOUGH WE ARE PLANNING LONG TRIPS IN THE NEXT FEW WEEKS. I WANT THE REMAINING TIRES REPLACED BY MICHELIN ASAP, AND I WANT TO BE REIMBURSED FOR THE $300 I HAVE ALREADY SPENT ON THE FIRST 2 REPLACEMENT TIRES. HAVE THERE BEEN OTHER COMPLAINTS? WHAT SHOULD I DO? COULD YOU CONTACT MICHELIN FOR ME? VOLVO REFUSES TO DO ANYTHING. MY OFFICE PHONE NUMBER IS 781/431-9788, AND MY HOME PHONE NUMBER IS 781/641-0668. MY CELL PHONE NO. IS 617/645-4345. THANK YOU IN ADVANCE FOR YOUR PROMPT ASSISTANCE. *JB
MY HUSBAND AND I DROVE OUR VOLVO (WE ARE LEASING THIS CAR) FIRST TIME FOR A LONG TRIP (ABOUT 800 MILES). THE CAR MILEAGE WAS ABOUT 13,000. AFTER DRIVING WITH THE SPEED 75M/H FOR ABOUT 4 HOURS, WE TOOK AN EXIT AND LOST CONTROL OVER THE CAR. ACTUALLY CAR TOOK CONTROL. IT SHIFTED INTO NEUTRAL GEAR, JUMPED AND STOPPED. IT TOOK A…
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MY HUSBAND AND I DROVE OUR VOLVO (WE ARE LEASING THIS CAR) FIRST TIME FOR A LONG TRIP (ABOUT 800 MILES). THE CAR MILEAGE WAS ABOUT 13,000. AFTER DRIVING WITH THE SPEED 75M/H FOR ABOUT 4 HOURS, WE TOOK AN EXIT AND LOST CONTROL OVER THE CAR. ACTUALLY CAR TOOK CONTROL. IT SHIFTED INTO NEUTRAL GEAR, JUMPED AND STOPPED. IT TOOK A COUPLE OF MINUTES BEFORE CAR ALLOWED TO CONTROL ITSELF. THIS SCARY EXPERIENCE REPEATED A FEW TIMES ON THE ROAD. NEEDLESS TO SAY, IT WAS A SHOCKING EXPERIENCE. THE FIRST THING WE DID, WE BROUGHT A CAR TO A DEALER. THEY INFORMED US THAT THE CAR WAS LEASED TO US WITH OUTDATED OLD SOFTWARE, THAT THIS SOFTWARE ALSO HAD A GLITCH. THAT THEY HAD TO DOWNLOAD A NEW VERSION OF SOFTWARE. NOT A BIG DEAL, AND IT A MASS PRODUCTION OF VOLVO CARS, AND THINGS LIKE THAT HAPPEN ALL THE TIME I WAS TOLD BY THE VOLVO SERVICE. I DID NOT BELIEVE IT AND COULD NOT BELIEVE IT. CALL THE VOLVO OF NORTH AMERICA CUSTOMER SERVICE. SURE ENOUGH, THEIR REPRESENTATIVE, JENNI WITH EXTENSION #1979 CONFIRMED THE SAME THING FOR ME. SHE SAID IT IS A SCARY EXPERIENCE, BUT WE UPDATED YOUR CAR SOFTWARE. I ASKED WHY THIS OLD, NOT SAFE VERSION WAS GIVEN TO ME AND HER RESPONSE WAS THAT THEY HAVE NO WAY TO KNOW WHEN AND WHAT WILL HAPPEN WITH THE SOFTWARE ON THE ROAD. SO WHAT HAPPENS WITH THEIR SLOGAN THAT VOLVO IS FOR LIFE? ANY ANSWERS BESIDES, WELL, IT IS A MASS PRODUCTIONS AND THE SAFETY CANNOT BE GUARANTEED. SORRY FOR THE EMOTIONS, IF YOU WHO WILL BE SO KIND TO READ MY MESSAGE WOULD BE HEARING HOW HAPPY AND RELAXED VOLVO REPRESENTATIVES ABOUT THIS INCIDENT. ANY COMMENTS? THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR YOU TIME. *AK
Official recalls
621V766000 · Air Bags:frontal:driver Side:inflator Module
Sep 30, 2021
Volvo Car USA, LLC (Volvo Car) is recalling certain 2001-2006 S80 and 2001-2009 S60 vehicles. The driver's air bag inflator may explode during deployment, due to propellant degradation occurring after long-term exposure to high absolute humidity, high temperatures, and high temperature cycling.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: An inflator explosion may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants, resulting in serious injury or death.
Remedy: Dealers will replace the driver's air bag, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed November 29, 2021. Owners may contact Volvo Car customer service at 1-800-458-1552. Volvo's number for this recall is R10125.
20V681000 · Air Bags:frontal:driver Side:inflator Module
Nov 4, 2020
Volvo Car USA LLC (Volvo Car) is recalling certain 2001-2003 S80 and S60 vehicles sold or ever registered in Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Louisiana, Mississippi, North Carolina, Oklahoma, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Puerto Rico, American Samoa, Guam, the Northern Mariana Islands (Saipan), and the U.S. Virgin Islands. The driver side frontal air bag inflator may rupture, sending metal fragments into the passage compartment, when the driver side air bag is deployed.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: Metal fragments can strike vehicle occupants increasing the risk of serious injury or death.
Remedy: Volvo Car will notify owners, and dealers will replace the driver side air bag module, free of charge. The recall began April 20, 2021. Owners may contact Volvo Car customer service at 1-800-458-1552. Volvo Car's number for this recall is R10058.
10V566000 · Equipment:electrical:navigational System(global Positioning System)
Nov 8, 2010
VOLVO IS RECALLING CERTAIN VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH GARMIN 760 PORTABLE GLOBAL POSITIONING SYSTEM (GPS) UNITS BECAUSE THE BATTERIES ON THOSE UNITS MAY OVERHEAT.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: AN OVERHEATED BATTERY COULD LEAD TO A FIRE.
Remedy: VOLVO ADVISES OWNERS TO PLEASE STOP USING THE GARMIN PORTABLE GPS DEVICE IMMEDIATELY, AND VISIT THE GARMIN WEBSITE TO DETERMINE IF THEIR UNIT IS AFFECTED. THE UNIT'S BATTERY WILL BE REPLACED WITH A NEW BATTERY AND A SPACER WILL BE INSERTED ON TOP OF THE BATTERY NEXT TO THE PCB. THIS SERVICE WILL BE PERFORMED FREE OF CHARGE. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN ON NOVEMBER 18, 2010. OWNERS MAY CONTACT GARMIN AT 866-957-1981 OR VISIT GARMIN'S WEBSITE AT WWW.GARMIN.COM/NUVIBATTERYPCBRECALL.
09V483000 · Fuel System, Gasoline:delivery:fuel Pump
Dec 18, 2009
VOLVO IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2001-2005 S80, MODEL YEAR 2001-2004 V70, S60, XC70 AND MODEL YEAR 2003-2005 XC90 VEHICLES SOLD IN OR REGISTERED IN THE STATES OF ALABAMA, ARIZONA, ARKANSAS, CALIFORNIA, FLORIDA, GEORGIA, HAWAII, KENTUCKY, LOUISIANA, MISSISSIPPI, NEVADA, NEW MEXICO, NORTH CAROLINA, OKLAHOMA, SOUTH CAROLINA, TENNESSEE, TEXAS, UTAH, VIRGINIA AND THE U.S. TERRITORIES. WHEN EXPOSED TO CERTAIN ENVIRONMENTAL CONDITIONS (HOT CLIMATE AND TEMPERATURE CYCLING) OVER TIME AND IN COMBINATION WITH VARYING FUEL QUALITY, THE FUEL PUMP CAN DEVELOP CRACKS IN THE FUEL PUMP FLANGE.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: IF THE CONDITION OCCURS VEHICLE OWNERS MAY NOTICE FUEL SMELL AND/OR FUEL LEAK WHICH, IN THE PRESENCE OF AN IGNITION SOURCE, COULD RESULT IN A FIRE.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSPECT THE FUEL PUMP INSTALLED IN THE VEHICLE, AND IF NECESSARY REPLACE THE FUEL PUMP WITH A PART OF A MODIFIED DESIGN. THIS SERVICE WILL BE PERFORMED FREE OF CHARGE. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN ON JANUARY 15, 2010. OWNERS MAY CONTACT VOLVO AT 1-800-458-1552.
07V226000 · Engine And Engine Cooling
Jun 5, 2007
ON CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES, THE FUEL PRESSURE SENSOR LOCATED ON THE LEFT END OF THE FUEL RAIL MAY, AT TIMES, TRANSMIT INCORRECT SIGNAL REGARDING THE FUEL PRESSURE TO THE ENGINE CONTROL MODULE. IF THE SIGNAL IS OUTSIDE OF THE PRE-PROGRAMMED ALLOWABLE LIMITS, A DIAGNOSTIC TROUBLE CODE MAY BE SET AND THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT WILL COME ON. THE SOLDERED JOINTS ON THE CIRCUIT BOARD OF THE FUEL PRESSURE SENSOR MAY CRACK DUE TO TEMPERATURE CHANGES AND EXCESSIVE VIBRATIONS.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: MISFIRE MAY OCCUR DURING DRIVING THAT, IN TURN, WILL REDUCE THE ENGINE TORQUE AND IN THE WORST CASE SCENARIO, THE ENGINE MAY STALL WITHOUT WARNING. IN CERTAIN TRAFFIC SITUATIONS THIS COULD CAUSE AN UNSAFE SITUATION AND POSSIBLY A CRASH.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE FUEL PRESSURE SENSOR FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON JUNE 29, 2007. OWNERS MAY CONTACT VOLVO AT 1-800-458-1552.
03V284000 · Equipment:other:labels
Aug 1, 2003
CERTAIN PASSENGER CARS FAIL TO COMPLY WITH THE REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 225, "CHILD RESTRAINT ANCHORAGE SYSTEMS." THE SECOND ISOFIX GUIDE WAS NOT INSTALLED IN THESE VEHICLES AND, IN CERTAIN CASES, THE OWNER'S MANUAL ISOFIX INFORMATION IS INCORRECT.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: THIS DOES NOT MEET THE REQUIREMENTS OF THE STANDARD.
Remedy: OWNERS WILL RECEIVE A LETTER/PACKAGE CONSISTING OF THE SECOND ISOFIX GUIDE WITH INSTALLATION INSTRUCTIONS, AND IN CERTAIN CASES, THE CORRECTED OWNER'S MANUAL MAY BE PROVIDED. IF THE OWNER WANTS TO TAKE THEIR VEHICLE TO A VOLVO DEALER FOR INSTALLATION OF THE GUIDE, IT WILL BE PERFORMED AT NO CHARGE TO THE OWNER. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN ON DECEMBER 19, 2003. OWNERS SHOULD CONTACT VOLVO AT 1-800-458-1552.
Model-level recall history does not show whether a particular VIN is affected or has received a repair. Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗
NHTSA investigations
0No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.
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