2018 Volvo XC60 problems and owner complaints
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
36 owner complaints analyzed
5 distinct recall campaigns
15,635 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 2018 model year. Data snapshot: . 15 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Electrical System is the most frequently named component, appearing in 11 of 36 complaints (30.6%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Braking behavior | 10 | 27.8% |
| Steering behavior | 10 | 27.8% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 3 | 8.3% |
| Transmission and shifting | 1 | 2.8% |
| Fuel system concerns | 1 | 2.8% |
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 |
|---|---|
| Electrical System | 11 |
| Service Brakes | 7 |
| Unknown Or Other | 4 |
| Air Bags | 3 |
| Engine | 3 |
| Structure:Body | 3 |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 3 |
| Electronic Stability Control (Esc) | 2 |
Electrical System: 11; Service Brakes: 7; Unknown Or Other: 4; Air Bags: 3; Engine: 3; Structure:Body: 3; Vehicle Speed Control: 3; Electronic Stability Control (Esc): 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 | 11 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 2 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 1 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 1 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 0 |
| 150,000 and above | 0 |
Under 25,000: 11; 25,000 to 49,999: 2; 50,000 to 74,999: 1; 75,000 to 99,999: 1; 100,000 to 149,999: 0; 150,000 and above: 0
Under 25,000 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (11). 21 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 |
|---|---|
| 2018 | 4 |
| 2019 | 7 |
| 2020 | 5 |
| 2021 | 2 |
| 2022 | 5 |
| 2023 | 5 |
| 2024 | 4 |
| 2025 | 3 |
| 2026 | 1 |
2018: 4; 2019: 7; 2020: 5; 2021: 2; 2022: 5; 2023: 5; 2024: 4; 2025: 3; 2026: 1
Pattern summary
Electrical System leads the component reports. Braking behavior appears in 10 complaint narratives. Steering behavior appears in 10 complaint narratives. Electrical and battery issues appears in 3 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 11076417 · 2018-03-06 (March 6, 2018)
MY WIFE AND I PICKED UP OUR NEW VOLVO XC60 T8 A WEEK AGO AND WE TRIED THE PARK ASSIST PILOT FUNCTION FOR THE FIRST TIME LAST NIGHT IN OUR APARTMENT'S GARAGE. WE TURNED ON THE PARK ASSIST PILOT FOR PERPENDICULAR PARK AS WE LOOKED FOR A PARKING SPOT. AFTER THE CENTRAL MONITOR INDICATED A SPOT HAS BEEN FOUND, I PUT THE GEAR IN REVERSE AS ADVISED AND PLACED MY FOOT ON THE BRAKES AS THE CAR BEGINS TO DO ITS JOB. THE CAR BACKED UP AND ATTEMPTED TO TURN INTO THE PARKING SPOT; HOWEVER, IT ACCELERATED AND TURNED SO QUICKLY THAT BEFORE I COULD REACT, THE…
Owner-reported narrative. 307 miles reported. Look up ODI 11076417 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11182168 · 2019-02-23 (February 23, 2019)
THIS HAPPENED ON TWO SEPARATE OCCASIONS - WHILE DRIVING NORMALLY ON A REGULAR CITY STREET THE ENGINE SUDDENLY SHUT OFF. WITH NO POWER AVAILABLE, THE POWER STEERING AND BRAKES WERE ALSO AFFECTED. THIS CAUSED AN EXTREMELY DANGEROUS SITUATION AS THE CAR SUDDENLY STOPPED IN THE MIDDLE OF A BUSY STREET. AFTER A MINUTE OR SO THE ENGINE WAS ABLE TO BE RESTARTED. THE ENGINE SHUTOFF OPTION WAS DISABLED AND ALL OTHER FUNCTIONS HAD BEEN WORKING NORMALLY AT THE TIME.
Owner-reported narrative. 5,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 11182168 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11207490 · 2019-05-14 (May 14, 2019)
ON THE EVENING OF NOVEMBER 20, 2018 MY FAMILY AND I WERE IN A CAR ACCIDENT. MY DAUGHTER WAS DRIVING MY HUSBAND'S NEW XC60 THAT HE HAD RECENTLY PURCHASED. AS THE FIVE OF US SAT STOPPED AT A TRAFFIC LIGHT, 2 CARS COLLIDED AND ONE HIT US HARD ENOUGH FROM THE FRONT CORNER THAT THE IMPACT FORCED MY DAUGHTER BACK INTO THE SEAT AND THEN PROPELLED HER FORWARD SLAMMING HER CHEST INTO THE STEERING WHEEL DESPITE HER WEARING HER SEATBELT. NO AIR BAGS DEPLOYED. THE DAMAGE TO THE CAR WAS SO EXTENSIVE IT TOOK OVER 2 MONTHS TO REPAIR. YET NO AIR BAGS DEPL…
Owner-reported narrative. 4,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 11207490 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11492401 · 2022-11-05 (November 5, 2022)
Rainwater leaked into front of vehicle and settled in undercarriage causing a short in the passenger side airbag and error message for gear selector. The warning light for the airbag lit up. The vehicle has been inspected by a dealership and the cause of the problem was a clog in the drainage system under the windshied. The clog was redirecting water down into the vehicle and destroyed the main wiring harness. My passenger's safety was at risk because the airbag malfunctioned during driving. Other components could have also shorted out. T…
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 11492401 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11569169 · 2024-01-31 (January 31, 2024)
Vehicle completely had multiple warning lamps come on while I was driving and it was apparent the computer was failing. Car would not turn off when I moved to turn off the ignition knob. When restarted, car would not shift. Car had to be taken to dealership by tow truck. Dealership notes that water leaked through sunroof over time and accumulated under seats of car, entering into electrical systems. This is also noted by owners of other Volvo cars in public forums.
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 11569169 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11708031 · 2025-12-31 (December 31, 2025)
Water leaking from the windshield seal (possibly the moonroof) gets into electronics under the dash and causes the transmission to stop working properly and also causes the engine to just stop completely. It happened 4 years ago and Volvo replaced a module but it happened again a week ago.
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 11708031 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11104618 · 2018-06-28 (June 28, 2018)
I BOUGH THE CAR IN APRIL 2018 AND IN JUNE 2018 WITH THE CAR HAVING 1200 MILES ON BOARD, WHILE I WAS ON A TRIP 85 MILES AWAY FROM HOME, I'VE EXPERIENCED AN ENGINE FAILURE. AFTER A STOP ON THE TRIP, I PROCEEDED TO START THE CAR AND AFTER A FEW SECONDS OF RUNNING IT, A TICKING NOISE COMING FROM THE ENGINE COULD BE HEARD. ( IT SOUNDED AS IF THE ENGINE WASN'T RECEIVING GAS). WITHIN A MINUTE THE CAR COMPLETED STOPPED. THE ENGINE TURNED OFF ON ITS OWN. I PROCEEDED TO TRY TO TURN THE ENGINE ON A COUPLE OF TIMES BUT THE CAR WOULDN'T COME ON. AT THE THIR…
Owner-reported narrative. 1,271 miles reported. Look up ODI 11104618 at NHTSA ↗