2001 Volvo S60 problems and owner complaints
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
223 owner complaints analyzed
8 distinct recall campaigns
80,500 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 2001 model year. Data snapshot: . 178 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Vehicle Speed Control is the most frequently named component, appearing in 42 of 223 complaints (18.8%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Fuel system concerns | 69 | 30.9% |
| Engine operation | 35 | 15.7% |
| Transmission and shifting | 25 | 11.2% |
| Braking behavior | 18 | 8.1% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 10 | 4.5% |
| Steering behavior | 10 | 4.5% |
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 |
|---|---|
| Vehicle Speed Control | 42 |
| Fuel System, Gasoline:Delivery:Fuel Pump | 38 |
| Fuel System, Gasoline | 28 |
| Electrical System | 27 |
| Fuel/Propulsion System | 16 |
| Power Train:Automatic Transmission | 16 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine | 7 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling | 6 |
Vehicle Speed Control: 42; Fuel System, Gasoline:Delivery:Fuel Pump: 38; Fuel System, Gasoline: 28; Electrical System: 27; Fuel/Propulsion System: 16; Power Train:Automatic Transmission: 16; Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine: 7; Engine And Engine Cooling: 6
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 15 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 17 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 51 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 36 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 36 |
| 150,000 and above | 23 |
Under 25,000: 15; 25,000 to 49,999: 17; 50,000 to 74,999: 51; 75,000 to 99,999: 36; 100,000 to 149,999: 36; 150,000 and above: 23
50,000 to 74,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (51). 45 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 |
|---|---|
| 2001 | 2 |
| 2002 | 7 |
| 2003 | 14 |
| 2004 | 5 |
| 2005 | 38 |
| 2006 | 33 |
| 2007 | 27 |
| 2008 | 24 |
| 2009 | 11 |
| 2010 | 11 |
| 2011 | 10 |
| 2012 | 9 |
| 2013 | 6 |
| 2014 | 8 |
| 2015 | 5 |
| 2016 | 5 |
| 2017 | 2 |
| 2018 | 1 |
| 2019 | 2 |
| 2020 | 1 |
| 2021 | 1 |
| 2023 | 1 |
2001: 2; 2002: 7; 2003: 14; 2004: 5; 2005: 38; 2006: 33; 2007: 27; 2008: 24; 2009: 11; 2010: 11; 2011: 10; 2012: 9; 2013: 6; 2014: 8; 2015: 5; 2016: 5; 2017: 2; 2018: 1; 2019: 2; 2020: 1; 2021: 1; 2023: 1
Pattern summary
Vehicle Speed Control leads the component reports. Fuel system concerns appears in 69 complaint narratives. Engine operation appears in 35 complaint narratives. Transmission and shifting appears in 25 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.
Complaint evidence
Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.
Owner report 10061081 · 2004-03-01 (March 1, 2004)
WHILE AT A GAS STATION DRIVER OPENED THE GAS TANK DOOR, AND THE DOOR SHEARED OFF FROM THE PLASTIC HINGES. DRIVER WILL TAKE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER FOR REPAIRS. *AK
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10061081 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10089909 · 2004-11-09 (November 9, 2004)
THE CONSUMER STATED THAT THIS IS NOT THE COMPLAINT SHE FILED HER COMPLAINT WAS ABOUT HER GAS TANK DOOR COMING OFF. *AK *TC *SC
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10089909 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10130899 · 2005-08-01 (August 1, 2005)
SUDDEN LOSS OF POWER WHILE LEAVING A PARKING LOT. THE SPEED DROPPED TO BELOW 20 MPH. I WAS UNABLE TO DRIVE ABOVE 20 MPH. THE CAR WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER WHO SUBSEQUENTLY REPLACE THE ELECTRONIC THROTTLE CONTROL AT A COST OF OVER $900. *NM
Owner-reported narrative. 75,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10130899 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10130946 · 2005-08-02 (August 2, 2005)
I OWNED A 1991 VOLVO S60 SEDAN AND I UNDERSTAND YOU ARE INVESTIGATING THIS CAR. FROM TIME TO TIME AS I DROVE IT, IT WOULD UNEXPECTEDLY LOOSE SPEED AND POWER FOR A FEW SECONDS AND THEN RESUME. IT NEVER FULLY STALLED OUT. I HAD MENTIONED THIS AT A SERVICE TIME FOR THE CAR BUT NOTHING WRONG WAS UNCOVERED. RECENTLY MY DAUGHTER WAS DRIVING THE CAR ON INTERSTATE 5 SOUTH OF LA WHEN THE CAR ENGINE CEASED FUNCTIONING WHILE SHE WAS DRIVING IN THE HOV LANE. FORTUNATELY THE DRIVER WAS ABLE TO COAST TO THE SHOULDER THROUGH TRAFFIC WITHOUT GETTING HIT. THE …
Owner-reported narrative. 20,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10130946 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10002018 · 2003-01-03 (January 3, 2003)
TRANSMISSION FAILED AT 20 MPH. CONSUMER WAS ALMOST RAN OVER CONSUMER FELT THIS WAS VERY DANGEROUS. THERE WAS NO WARNING. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION. TS...*AK
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10002018 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10049389 · 2003-12-08 (December 8, 2003)
FOR BOTH OUR 2001 VOLVO S60 2.4T AND OUR 2003 VOLVO XC90 2.5T AWD, THERE HAVE BEEN UNSUCCESSFUL ATTEMPTS TO REPAIR A TRANSMISSION DEFECT (ESSENTIALLY SAME TRANSMISSION IN BOTH VEHICLES PER VOLVO TECH SUPPORT). BETWEEN 2ND AND 3RD THERE IS. *AK INTERMITTENT/UNPREDICTABLE FAILURE TO ENGAGE 3RD IN TIMELY FASHION WITH RESULTANT LOSS OF ACCELERATION AS VEHICLE IS FUNCTIONALLY IN NEUTRAL FOR 0.5 TO 2.5 SECONDS. THIS IS EXTREMELY DANGEROUS, ESPECIALLY WHEN PULLING ON TO A HIGHWAY. WE HAVE EXPERIENCED 2 NEAR COLLISIONS (ALMOST BEING STRUCK FROM BEH…
Owner-reported narrative. 30,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10049389 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10131000 · 2005-08-02 (August 2, 2005)
(1) DRIVING ON INTERSTATE AT MAXIMUM LEGAL SPEED FOR SEVERAL HOURS. (2) ENGINE ABRUPTLY STOPS WITHOUT WARNING RESULTING IN LOSS OF POWER STEERING AND BRAKES. ATTEMPTS TO RESTART ENGINE WHILE MOVING NOT SUCCESSFUL. NEGOTIATE THROUGH TRAFFIC TO SHOULDER OF ROAD, NARROWLY AVOIDING ACCIDENT. (3) VEHICLE SAT ON SIDE OF ROAD FOR APPROXIMATELY FIVE MINUTES AND THEN RESTARTED WITHOUT ANY PROBLEMS. WERE ABLE TO CONTINUE TRIP AND RETURN HOME. (4) TOOK VEHICLE TO DEALERSHIP. ENGINE WAS CHECKED, BUT NO PROBLEMS FOUND. (5) THIS HAS OCCURRED TWO TI…
Owner-reported narrative. 29,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10131000 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10131416 · 2005-08-03 (August 3, 2005)
DT: CONSUMER STATED 2001 VOLVO S 60 WAS HAVING A PROBLEM WITH THE UNIT THAT REGULATED THE AIR FLOW INTO THE BRAKES AND ENGINE. THE CAR WAS MAKING A HISSING SOUND, LIKE AIR BEING LET INTO THE CABIN. THIS WAS HAPPENING A LOT, ESPECIALLY IN THE HEAT. THE BRAKES HAD TO BE DEPRESSED TO GET THE CAR TO STOP. CONSUMER HAD THE CAR FIXED LAST WEEK AT THE DEALERSHIP; THE MECHANIC INFORMED CONSUMER THAT THE AIR PUMP TO THE BRAKES HAD TO BE REPLACED. THIS VEHICLE WAS NOT STALLING,OR LOSING POWER, NOR WERE THERE NEAR MISSES. CONSUME R WAS JUST RESPO…
Owner-reported narrative. 52,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10131416 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10005077 · 2003-02-01 (February 1, 2003)
ELECTRICAL PROBLEM IN VOLVO S60 2001. TS
Owner-reported narrative. 13,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10005077 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10009781 · 2003-03-04 (March 4, 2003)
THE VEHICLE HEAD/TAIL LIGHTS CONTINUED TO FAIL DUE TO AN ELECTRICAL PROBLEM. *NLM
Owner-reported narrative. 21,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10009781 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10096625 · 2004-12-07 (December 7, 2004)
THE CONSUMER BELIEVES THAT EH VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN A FRONTAL COLLISION PRIOR TO HER PURCHASING THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE HAS A CRACKED TRANSMISSION, POWER STEERING LEAK, OIL LEAK AND TWO DEPLOYED AIR BAGS. *JB *NM
Owner-reported narrative. 43,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10096625 at NHTSA ↗