2006 Volvo S60: complaints, problems and recalls
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
31 owner complaints analyzed
3 distinct recall campaigns
46,563 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 2006 model year. Data snapshot: . 20 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Air Bags is the most frequently named component, appearing in 6 of 31 complaints (19.4%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Braking behavior | 7 | 22.6% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 3 | 9.7% |
| Transmission and shifting | 2 | 6.5% |
| Steering behavior | 2 | 6.5% |
| Engine operation | 1 | 3.2% |
| Fuel system concerns | 1 | 3.2% |
Topic matches use published keyword rules. They describe mentions, including negations or comparisons, and do not confirm a diagnosis. Read the matching rules.
Component breakdown
Number of unique complaints naming each component. Top eight shown.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Air Bags | 6 |
| Engine | 6 |
| Fuel/Propulsion System | 4 |
| Electrical System | 3 |
| Exterior Lighting | 3 |
| Steering | 3 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling | 2 |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic | 2 |
Air Bags: 6; Engine: 6; Fuel/Propulsion System: 4; Electrical System: 3; Exterior Lighting: 3; Steering: 3; Engine And Engine Cooling: 2; Service Brakes, Hydraulic: 2
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 6 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 5 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 2 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 5 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 2 |
| 150,000 and above | 0 |
Under 25,000: 6; 25,000 to 49,999: 5; 50,000 to 74,999: 2; 75,000 to 99,999: 5; 100,000 to 149,999: 2; 150,000 and above: 0
Under 25,000 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (6). 11 complaints have missing, zero or invalid mileage.
Complaints over time
Year the complaint was filed, not the vehicle model year or incident year. The snapshot year is partial.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| 2006 | 2 |
| 2007 | 2 |
| 2008 | 2 |
| 2009 | 2 |
| 2010 | 3 |
| 2011 | 1 |
| 2012 | 1 |
| 2013 | 3 |
| 2015 | 3 |
| 2016 | 3 |
| 2018 | 1 |
| 2019 | 1 |
| 2022 | 3 |
| 2023 | 2 |
| 2024 | 2 |
2006: 2; 2007: 2; 2008: 2; 2009: 2; 2010: 3; 2011: 1; 2012: 1; 2013: 3; 2015: 3; 2016: 3; 2018: 1; 2019: 1; 2022: 3; 2023: 2; 2024: 2
Pattern summary
Air Bags leads the component reports. Braking behavior appears in 7 complaint narratives. Electrical and battery issues appears in 3 complaint narratives. Transmission and shifting appears in 2 complaint narratives. Use these patterns to inspect individual reports and prepare questions for a mechanic.
Calculated from recorded counts. An AI narrative has not been published for this selection.
Examples from the source records
Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.
Owner report 10155044 · 2006-04-11 (April 11, 2006)
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE MAKING A LEFT U-TURN AT LOW SPEEDS THERE WAS A KNOCKING SOUND HEARD COMING FROM THE PASSENGER SIDE FRONT NEAR THE TIRE. THE DEALER INSPECTED AND DETERMINED THE LINK ARM WAS BROKE IN HALF AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. ALSO, THE COOLANT LIGHT ILLUMINATED AND THE SUNROOF WOULD NOT OPEN. THE DEALER DETERMINED THERE WAS A CRACK IN THE RADIATOR AND THE SUNROOF MODULE WAS INOPERABLE, AND BOTH WERE REPLACED.
Owner-reported narrative. 17,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10155044 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10163024 · 2006-07-21 (July 21, 2006)
CAR TYPE: VOLVO S60R MODEL YEAR 2006 (EURO SPEC.) MANUAL TRANSMISSION. TECHNICALLY NEAR IDENTICAL WITH VOLVO S60R SOLD IN US MARKET, EXCEPT FOR LIGHTS AND SPEEDOMETER. TEMPORARY COMPLETE LOSS OF BRAKE POWER GOING UPHILL AT MODERATE SPEED (+/- 30MPH), WHEN DEPRESSING CLUTCH AND ATTEMPTING TO BRAKE. OCCURRED A NUMBER OF TIMES, UNDER SIMILAR CONDITIONS. UNDER THIS CONDITION, THE BRAKING DISTANCE BECOMES VERY VERY LONG. WHEN IT HAPPENS, IT IS ACCOMPANIED BY A SORT OF SPRING RELEASE NOISE THAT SEEMS TO COME FROM THE REAR HALDEX COUPLING. WOULD…
Owner-reported narrative. 1,900 miles reported. Look up ODI 10163024 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10177601 · 2007-01-02 (January 2, 2007)
TL* - THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE TIRE FAILED WHILE DRIVING 40 MPH. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE WEATHER WAS VERY COLD, AND IT WAS RAINING ON AND OFF. HE WAS TOLD BY THE DEALER THAT THE TIRE PSI WAS 35 WHEN IT IS ACTUALLY WAS 38 PSI. THE CONTACT STATED THAT HE HAD BEEN DRIVING FOR OVER A YEAR AT 35 PSI. THERE WAS A S RECALL ON THE TIRE LABEL 110, S161A120106. OTHER THAN DRIVING FOR A YEAR UNDER INFLATED HE HAD NO OTHER PROBLEMS WITH THE TIRES. ALSO, THE CONTACT ALSO DAMAGED THE RIM BECAUSE HE COULDN'T GET OFF THE ROAD QUICKLY. *AK UP…
Owner-reported narrative. 15,300 miles reported. Look up ODI 10177601 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10186292 · 2007-03-27 (March 27, 2007)
JAN., 2007: CAR WAS TOWED TO VOLVO DEALERSHIP. AFTER TAKING CAR TO CAR WASH IN 14 DEGREE WEATHER, TIRE, BRAKE PADS OR ROTOR FROZE, MAKING THE CAR UNDRIVEABLE. FEB. 24, 2007: DROVE 45 MINUTES ON HIGHWAY DURING BLOWING SNOW. MY CAR HAD BEEN PARKED IN MY HOME GARAGE. I PARKED CAR OUTSIDE FOR 3 HOURS AT MY DESTINATION. DRIVING THE 45 MINUTES RETURN TRIP, THE STEERING WHEEL SHOOK LIKE I WAS HOLDING ONTO A BATTERING RAM OR JACK HAMMER RESULTING IN EXTREMELY ROUGH DRIVING. ACCORDING TO THE DEALERSHIP, THE TIRE, BRAKE PADS OR ROTOR FROZE AND THE …
Owner-reported narrative. 7,800 miles reported. Look up ODI 10186292 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10216232 · 2008-01-28 (January 28, 2008)
TURNING RADIUS IS EXTREMELY SHORT. IMPOSSIBLE TO MAKE TIGHT TURNS. DANGEROUS TO MAKE TURNS WHEN IN HEAVY TRAFFIC OR AT TIMES THAT TURNS MUST BE MADE QUICKLY. *CN
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10216232 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10217326 · 2008-02-07 (February 7, 2008)
I OWN A 2006 VOLVO S60 R AND I AM FILING A COMPLAINT FOR THE LOSS OF BRAKING POWER WHEN GOING UPHILL SLOWLY OR MODERATELY FAST. THE CONDITION WILL OCCUR IN ANY TYPE OF WEATHER. TIRES OR BRAKES SUCH AS ROTORS AND PADS HAVE NO ROLL IN THE PROBLEM AS REPORTED BY OTHER OWNERS AND MYSELF. MY CAR HAS HAD THIS PROBLEM WHEN IT WAS BRAND NEW, WITH ONLY A FEW THOUSAND MILES. THE ONLY WAY TO GET PROPER BRAKE PRESSURE BACK IS TO REAPPLY THE BRAKES AGAIN. I HAVEN'T BEEN TO THE VOLVO DEALERSHIP ABOUT THE PROBLEM BECAUSE THERE IS NO REPORTED FIX FOR THIS ISSU…
Owner-reported narrative. 3,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10217326 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10282501 · 2009-09-01 (September 1, 2009)
I FIRST EXPERIENCED THIS BRAKE FAILURE 2 YEARS AGO DURING AN EXIT FROM A HIGHWAY ON AN UPHILL OFF-RAMP. WHEN I PRESSED THE BRAKE PEDAL, THERE WAS ABSOLUTELY NO BRAKING POWER. ONLY AFTER I LIFTED MY FOOT FROM THE BRAKE AND REAPPLIED PRESSURE DID I HAVE ANY BRAKING POWER. THIS HAS ONLY HAPPENED A FEW TIMES AND IS VERY INFREQUENT AND RANDOM IN ITS APPEARANCES, BUT IS A RECIPE FOR DISASTER AND IS ONLY A MATTER OF TIME BEFORE SOMEONE IS KILLED FROM IT. THERE ARE MULTIPLE OWNERS REPORTING THE SAME FAILURE. VOLVO HAS NOT PROVIDED A SOLUTION TO CO…
Owner-reported narrative. 32,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10282501 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10285235 · 2009-09-25 (September 25, 2009)
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 VOLVO S60. THE CONTACT STATED THAT INTERMITTENTLY WHEN ATTEMPTING TO START THE VEHICLE IT FAILED TO START. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER AND THE TECHNICIAN COULD NOT DUPLICATE THE FAILURE OR PROVIDE A REMEDY. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 15,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 47,000.
Owner-reported narrative. 15,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10285235 at NHTSA ↗
Recall history
3 distinct campaigns affect this selection. Announcement dates below are different from vehicle model years. A campaign may cover multiple years.
06V375000 · Equipment:Other:Labels
Reported: 2006-10-03 (October 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: 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.
NHTSA campaign record ↗10V566000 · Equipment:Electrical:Navigational System(Global Positioning System)
Reported: 2010-11-08 (November 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: 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.
NHTSA campaign record ↗21V766000 · Air Bags:Frontal:Driver Side:Inflator Module
Reported: 2021-09-30 (September 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: 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.
NHTSA campaign record ↗