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2005 Volvo S60

Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations

Similar to other model years

Owner complaints for the 2005 Volvo S60 do not stand out strongly from the model-year median of 20.5.

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When problems were reported

Mileage at the reported incident

38 reports with mileage · 6 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 7 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Electrical System. Review the 6 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Tires. Review the 6 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

0 crash reports0 fire reports0 injury reports

Electronic Stability Control (esc) complaints

2 reports
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130,000 miles · Aug 17, 2019
Electronic Stability Control (esc)Power Train

ANGLE/COLLAR GEAR/SLEEVE, HALDEX AWD. HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS OF AWD VOLVOS HAVE THIS ISSUE YET VOLVO HAS NEVER TAKEN ACTION OR RECALLED PART. THIS IS JUST ONE OF MANY ISSUES THOUSANDS OF VOLVO'S HAVE. BUT THE AWD SYSTEM NON FUNCTIONING DUE TO STRIPPED TEETH CAUSED BY RUST BECAUSE OF INADEQUATE GREASE/LUBE ETC. ON THOUSANDS OF VEH…

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ANGLE/COLLAR GEAR/SLEEVE, HALDEX AWD. HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS OF AWD VOLVOS HAVE THIS ISSUE YET VOLVO HAS NEVER TAKEN ACTION OR RECALLED PART. THIS IS JUST ONE OF MANY ISSUES THOUSANDS OF VOLVO'S HAVE. BUT THE AWD SYSTEM NON FUNCTIONING DUE TO STRIPPED TEETH CAUSED BY RUST BECAUSE OF INADEQUATE GREASE/LUBE ETC. ON THOUSANDS OF VEHICLES RANGING FROM THEIR SMALL SEDANS TO SUV'S SHOULD BE SOMETHING. THEY HAVE EVEN UPDATED THE ANGLE GEAR/COLLAR SLEEVE WITH ONE THAT HAS "HARDENED" TEETH, BUT NO RECALL ON A PART OF THE VEHICLE THAT IS SUPPOSE TO ALWAYS FUNCTION. A LOT WERE LUCKY ENOUGH IT HAPPENED WHILE STILL UNDER WARRANTY. BUT GETTING STUCK/STRANDED IN SNOW BECAUSE YOUR VEHICLE IS ONLY 2 WHEEL DRIVE WHEN ITS SUPPOSE TO BE AWD. I DID NOT FIND OUT MY AWD DID NOT WORK UNTIL I HAD GOTTEN STUCK IN THE SNOW. TURNS OUT HUNDREDS IF NOT THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE HAD TO FIND OUT THIS SAME WAY. I BELIEVE VOLVO HAS JUST BEEN LUCKY NO ONE HAS DIED YET DUE TO FAILED AWD SYSTEM. I AM NOT CERTAIN ABOUT WHAT CONDITIONS NEED TO BE MET BEFORE A RECALL IS DONE. THIS IS JUST ONE OF THE ISSUES WITH VOLVO'S. I AM NOT SURE ON THE EXACT DATE MY AWD SYSTEM STOPPED WORKING BECAUSE DRIVING ON ANYTHING OTHER THAN SNOW, OR ICE YOU CANNOT TELL. BUT A SIMPLE SEARCH ON THE INTERNET AND HUNDREDS IF NOT THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE STARTING EARLY AS 2000'S TO MOST RECENT AS 2019 HAVING SAME ISSUES, SOME MORE THAN ONCE, AND A FEW COMING UP WITH THEIR OWN WAY OF FIXING VOLVOS ISSUE. BUT PHOTOS CAN BE FOUND ALL OVER THE WEB. ALSO VOLVO SELLS THESE ADVERTISED AS AWD WHEN IN FACT IT IS FWD ALL TIME, UNTIL FRONT TIRES LOSE TRACTION WHICH ONLY THEN DO THE REAR WHEELS ENGAGE. YET CAN BREAK OR MALFUNCTION EVEN THOUGH THEY ONLY EVER COME ON 20-30% OF THE VEHICLES TOTAL MILES DRIVEN. NOT SURE OF AWD DEFINITION BUT I ALWAYS THOUGHT IT STOOD FOR ALL WHEEL DRIVE, NOT FRONT WHEEL DRIVE; ALL WHEEL DRIVE WHEN FRONT WHEELS LOSE TRACTION.

NHTSA ODI #11244571

110,000 miles · Feb 1, 2009
Electronic Stability Control (esc)

INTERMITTENT ABS/ANTI SKID LIGHT. MY BRAKES ALSO SEEMED AFFECTED, PARTICULARLY THE STOPPING DISTANCE. AFTER THIS PROBLEM HAPPENED TO ME ABOUT 6 TIMES, I ASKED A SERVICE TECH AT MY LOCAL DEALER TO FIND THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM. OTHER PEOPLE HAVE REPORTED BRAKES LOCKING. AFTER SEARCHING ON THE INTERNET I FOUND MANY OWNERS OF VOLV…

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INTERMITTENT ABS/ANTI SKID LIGHT. MY BRAKES ALSO SEEMED AFFECTED, PARTICULARLY THE STOPPING DISTANCE. AFTER THIS PROBLEM HAPPENED TO ME ABOUT 6 TIMES, I ASKED A SERVICE TECH AT MY LOCAL DEALER TO FIND THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM. OTHER PEOPLE HAVE REPORTED BRAKES LOCKING. AFTER SEARCHING ON THE INTERNET I FOUND MANY OWNERS OF VOLVOS HAVE SUFFERED FROM THIS PROBLEM. IT SEEMS THAT THE ABS MODULE IS KNOWN FOR CAUSING STRANGE PROBLEMS CAUSED BY MALFUNCTIONS MOSTLY DUE TO COLD SOLDER JOINTS. MY CAR IN PARTICULAR IS AN '05 S60 2.4 M WITH 118K MILEAGE. AT WHAT POINT SHOULD A RECALL BE PLACED ON THESE UNITS? AN INTEGRAL PART OF AN ABS SYSTEM SEEM TO BE A MAJOR SAFETY ISSUE, DOES IT NOT? *TR

NHTSA ODI #10257078

Official recalls

3

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.

06V375000 · Equipment:other:labels

Oct 3, 2006

CERTAIN VEHICLES FAIL TO CONFORM TO THE REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 110, "TIRE SELECTION AND RIMS." THE LABEL DENOTING THE TIRE AND LOADING PRESSURE INFORMATION IS INCORRECT.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: A MISPRINTED LABEL WOULD LEAD TO IMPROPER VEHICLE LOADING SPECIFICATIONS OR TIRE INFLATION WHICH COULD RESULT IN A TIRE FAILURE, INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL MAIL THE CORRECT LABELS FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON DECEMBER 18, 2006. OWNERS MAY 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

0

No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.