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2004 Volvo S60

Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations

More warning signs than most S60 years

Owner complaints for the 2004 Volvo S60 are substantially higher than the model-year median of 20.5.

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When problems were reported

Mileage at the reported incident

173 reports with mileage · 25 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.

  • Engine And Engine Cooling. Review the 63 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Fuel System, Gasoline. Review the 30 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Engine. Review the 22 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

12 crash reports12 fire reports8 injury reports

Service Brakes, Hydraulic complaints

3 reports
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72,500 miles · Mar 13, 2012
Service Brakes, HydraulicVehicle Speed ControlCrash

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 VOLVO S60. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING 25 MPH WITH CRUISE CONTROL ACTIVATED WHEN THE BRAKES WERE DEPRESSED BUT THE VEHICLE FAILED TO STOP. THE CONTACT CRASHED INTO FIVE VEHICLES. THE CONTACT'S VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED. THE POLICE WERE CONTACTED AND A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A PRIV…

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 VOLVO S60. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING 25 MPH WITH CRUISE CONTROL ACTIVATED WHEN THE BRAKES WERE DEPRESSED BUT THE VEHICLE FAILED TO STOP. THE CONTACT CRASHED INTO FIVE VEHICLES. THE CONTACT'S VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED. THE POLICE WERE CONTACTED AND A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A PRIVATE MECHANIC AND THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED. UPDATED 04/16/12 *BF THE CONSUMER STATED THE CRUISE CONTROL WAS NOT FUNCTIONING PROPERLY. THE THROTTLE REMAINED OPEN. UPDATED 04/25/12

NHTSA ODI #10451468

70,000 miles · Jun 9, 2008
Engine And Engine CoolingEquipmentService Brakes, Hydraulic

2004 VOLVO S60 2.5T. PURCHASED THE CAR USED IN SEPT 07. 6-5-08 PANEL DISPLAYED OPEN REAR DOOR WHILE DRIVING 65MPH ON HIGHWAY, MY DOOR WAS NOT OPENED. CAR JERKED AS IF THERE WAS POWER LOSS, AC WENT OFF, BRAKE FAILURE LIGHT ON PANEL, POWER WINDOWS AND LOCKS DID NOT WORK, TEMP 105 , THEN DRIVER PANEL WENT BLACK. CAR JERKED 3 T…

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2004 VOLVO S60 2.5T. PURCHASED THE CAR USED IN SEPT 07. 6-5-08 PANEL DISPLAYED OPEN REAR DOOR WHILE DRIVING 65MPH ON HIGHWAY, MY DOOR WAS NOT OPENED. CAR JERKED AS IF THERE WAS POWER LOSS, AC WENT OFF, BRAKE FAILURE LIGHT ON PANEL, POWER WINDOWS AND LOCKS DID NOT WORK, TEMP 105 , THEN DRIVER PANEL WENT BLACK. CAR JERKED 3 TIMES IN MID TRAFFIC, I WAS SCARED TO DEATH FOR MY LIFE. ARRIVED AT MY EXIT, PULLED OVER TO A GAS STATION, ENGINE STILL RUNNING BUT SLUGGISH, RADIO WAS STILL ON, POWER DOOR LOCKS AND WINDOWS DID NOT WORK, AC OFF. ENGINE STILL RUNNING SO I MADE IT A COUPLE OF MILES UP THE STREET TO MY HOME. CUT THE CAR OFF AND BACK ON, ALL POWER RETURNED, NOW CHECK ENGINE AND AIR BAG TROUBLE ON PANEL. WENT TO VOLVO DEALER NEXT DAY 6-6-08 NEAR MY HOME, THEY CAN NOT SEE MY CAR TIL NEXT WEEK TUESDAY. WENT TO PEPBOYS, BATTERY AND ALTERNATOR ARE OK, CAN NOT ACCESS ENGINE BOX, MUST GO TO DEALER. CALLED VOLVO FOR TUESDAY 6-10-08 APPOINTMENT. CAR DUPLICATED SAME PROBLEM MONDAY 6-9-08 ON DRIVE HOME FROM WORK ON THE HIGHWAY TEMP 105 ETC. SEARCHED FOR COMPLAINTS AND RECALLS, MY RECALLS WERE REPORTED COMPLETED WHEN I PURCHASED THE CAR, FOUND ALL OF THIS VALUABLE INFO ONLINE, WILL SEE DEALER TOMORROW AND TAKE THESE RELATED COPIES OF COMPLAINTS WITH ME. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10230386

24,500 miles · Feb 27, 2008
Engine And Engine CoolingService Brakes, HydraulicCrashInjury

I WAS LEAVING UCLA PARKING GARAGE (I'M AN RN THERE) WHEN I PUT MY VOLVO 2004 S60 INTO GEAR AND IT TOOK OFF BACKWARDS LIKE A ROCKET, CAR WAS THROWN INTO A CONCRETE POST FAR AWAY FROM WHERE I BEGAN. I IMMEDIATELY PUT CAR IN PARK SINCE I THOUGHT I'D GET OUT AND SEE WHAT ON EARTH HAPPENED, BUT IT THEN LUNGED FORWARD BY ITSELF AND TO…

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I WAS LEAVING UCLA PARKING GARAGE (I'M AN RN THERE) WHEN I PUT MY VOLVO 2004 S60 INTO GEAR AND IT TOOK OFF BACKWARDS LIKE A ROCKET, CAR WAS THROWN INTO A CONCRETE POST FAR AWAY FROM WHERE I BEGAN. I IMMEDIATELY PUT CAR IN PARK SINCE I THOUGHT I'D GET OUT AND SEE WHAT ON EARTH HAPPENED, BUT IT THEN LUNGED FORWARD BY ITSELF AND TOOK OFF WITHOUT STOPPING!!! THANK GOD IT WAS 6PM AND NOT AN HOUR EARLIER WHEN MANY STAFF WOULD HAVE BEEN IN GARAGE, I'D HAVE RUN THEM OVER! I ALSO TURNED OFF IGNITION WITH KEY, NOTHING HELPED!! IT KEPT GOING ALONG WITH A MIND OF ITS OWN AT APPROX 15 MPH MAKING A GROWLING WHIRRING SOUND. I WAS ABLE TO STEER CAR AND AVOID OTHER VEHICLES BUT EVENTUALLY HAD TO MAKE SERIOUS DECISION TO PURPOSELY CRASH INTO ANOTHER CONCRETE MASSIVE POST WHICH I DID AND THE "POSSESSED BEAST". FINALLY CAME TO A HALT WITH FLUID POURING OUT ALL OVER,. MY BRAKES DID NOT WORK DURING THIS EVENT, NOT AT ALL, THAT'S WHY I COULDN'T STOP THE CAR (ALONG WITH FOOT ON BRAKE, TRIED PUTTING CAR IN PARK GEAR AND TURNED OFF IGNITION KEY LAST AUGUST WHEN I HAD ONLY 22, 000 MILES ON CAR IT TOOK IT TO VOLVO DEALER TWICE, SINCE CAR WAS OFTEN STALLING AND STOPPING ON THE STREET WHILE I WAS DRIVING. I WAS TOLD THEY COULDN'T FIND IT STALLING WHEN THEY TEST DROVE IT BUT THEY MENTIONED THEY CLEANED THE THROTTLE AND SAID THAT COULD HELP (WHICH IT DID UNTIL 2, 500 MILES LATER WHEN THIS HAPPENED. I HAVE DEALER PAPERWORK INDICATING CAR STALLING AND THAT THEY CLEANED THROTTLE BOX ALSO, THEY SAID I SHOULD BE TAKING CAR ON THE FREEWAY MORE AT HIGH ENOUGH SPEED TO "BLOW OFF THE CARBON" I SPENT FRIDAY NIGHT IN ER WITH NECK/SHOULDER INJURIES, BUT THIS COULD HAVE BEEN A DISASTER. FORGOT TO MENTION THAT WHEN I TOOK CAR IN FOR SERVICE JULY 2007 DEALER REPLACED FUEL PRESSURE SENSOR AS PER RECALL. DON'T KNOW IF THIS IS SIGNIFICANT. ALSO WROTE ON FORM "DURING INSPECTION FOUND UPPER ENGINE MOUNT COLLAPSED, CAUSE........ ENGINE REPAIR". UPDATED 03-25-08 *BF THE DEALER STATED REAR BRAKE PADS HAD TO BE REPLACED. UPDATED 03/25/08 *TR

NHTSA ODI #10219547

Official recalls

5

21V766000 · 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.

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.

04V029000 · Steering:linkages

Jan 16, 2004

ON CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES, THE FRONT CONTROL ARMS MAY NOT HAVE BEEN MANUFACTURED CORRECTLY AND, AS A RESULT, THE STUD AND NUT THAT SECURE THE ARM TO THE SPINDLE MAY LOSE THEIR INITIAL AXIAL TENSION. UNDER CERTAIN DRIVING CONDITIONS, THE STEERING MAY BECOME LESS RESPONSIVE AND THE DRIVER MAY EXPERIENCE STEERING WHEEL PLAY.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: THIS DRIVING CONDITION COULD EVENTUALLY LEAD TO SEPARATION BETWEEN THE FRONT CONTROL ARM AND THE SPINDLE, WHICH COULD RESULT IN A CRASH.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSTALL A NEW TYPE OF NUT. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN ON FEBRUARY 16, 2004. OWNERS SHOULD CONTACT VOLVO CARS 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

0

No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.