55 of the
168 complaints about the 2003 Volvo S60 are about the
electrical system — 33% of everything
reported for this model year.
Half of the failures with a mileage on record happened before
111,166 miles.
The problem is when the weather turns cold my car a Volvo 2003 S 60 turn signals do not operate, or if they do turn on sometimes the turn signals won't stop flashing until you turn the ignition off. The head lights also will not turn on at any setting during this time. When the weather turns warm again everything works until the weather turns cold again. It appears to be related to the CENTRAL ELECTRONIC MODULE. It happens every time the weather is cold. It happen very unexpectedly my wife was driving down the road and was almost in an accident. The turn signals switch has already been replaced with a new Volvo turn signal switch.The turn signal still does not work. According to XEMODEX.INC this is a common problem for Volvo's S 60 2001-2010.
NHTSA complaint #11711744 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 158,000 milesLeeds, AL
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
INSTRUMENT PANEL/CLUSTER GOES OUT WHILE DRIVING WHICH MEANS YOU CAN'T READ ANY OF THE GUAGES OR WARNINGS LIGHTS OTHER THAN IF CHECK ENGINE LIGHT IS ON. THIS IMPOSES A SAFETY RISKS TO ME AND OTHER TRAFFIC ON THE ROAD. IT DOES THIS ERRATICALLY, GOING OUT COMPLETELY AND COMING BACK ON IN TIME. NO FUSE PROBLEMS, THEY ARE CHECKED WHEN THIS ISSUE HAPPENS. I HAVE A PICTURE OF EXACTLY WHAT HAPPENS RIGHT BEFORE THE WHOLE PANEL GOES OUT.
NHTSA complaint #11207081 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 145,085 milesLynnwood, WA
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
THE DASHBOARD INSTRUMENT PANEL AND LIGHTS GO OFF AND COME BACK ON WHENEVER. I HAVE HAD THE CAR FOR OVER A YEAR. IT WAS A GIFT. I JUST FOUND OUT TONITE FROM AN OFFICER THAT WHEN THE INSTRUMENT PANEL AND LIGHTS ARE OFF I HAVE NO TAIL LIGHTS. I WAS WONDERING IF THERE HAS EVER BEEN A RECALL. THIS IS VERY DANGEROUS THE DATE BELOW IS IT AN APPROXIMATE. I REALLY DO NOT REMEMBER THE EXACT DATE.
NHTSA complaint #11130034 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 66,100 milesWestfield, NJ
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
INSTRUMENT CLUSTER NOT ILLUMINATING. I UNDERSTAND THIS IS A COMMON ISSUE WITH 2003 S60 VOLVOS. MANUFACTURER NEEDS TO RECALL/REPAIR AS THIS IS A SIGNIFICANT SAFETY ISSUE WHEN ALL THE INSTRUMENTS GO DARK AND YOU CANNOT GAUGE YOUR SPEED AND GAS LEFT IN TANK
NHTSA complaint #11011251 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 179,000 milesKansas City, MO
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 VOLVO S60. WHILE DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE INSTRUMENT PANEL INDICATOR INTERMITTENTLY ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT A CABLE BEHIND THE MILEAGE GAUGE FAILED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 179,000.
NHTSA complaint #10958314 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 100,000 milesButler, PA
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
DASH CLUSTER LIGHTS AND GAUGES AND TURN SIGNAL INDICATOR SHUT DOWN AND BACK ON INTERMITTENTLY, MOTOR SEEMS TO LOSE POWER WHEN DRIVING, AND ROUGH IDLE. THE DASH CLUSTER PROBLEM HAPPENS WHILE DRIVING AND IN THE PARK POSITION.
NHTSA complaint #10928324 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Detroit, MI
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
ENTIRE DASHBORAD HAS WENT BLACK GAS GAUGE,SPEEDODMETOR,TURNING SIGNALS AND HAZARD LIGHTS.
NHTSA complaint #10887584 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 125,000 milesCincinnati, OH
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
THE INSTRUMENT PANEL WENT DEAD LAST WINTER; NO LIGHTS, NO INDICATORS, NO INSTRUMENTS, NOTHING. I RECENTLY BECAME AWARE THAT THIS IS NOT AN UNCOMMON PROBLEM. JUST AN EXTREMELY EXPENSIVE ONE. A VOLVO TECHNICIAN INFORMED ME THAT THE JAPANESE FIRM THAT VOLVO HIRED DID A POOR JOB AND MANY OF THE INSTRUMENT PANELS HAVE DEFECTIVE SOLDERING AND REQUIRE REPLACEMENT OR HAVE THE PANEL "RE-POINTED". APPARENTLY, IT IS LESS OF AN ISSUE IN MOIST CLIMATES. VOLVO WILL NOT REPAIR THE PANEL. THEY WILL ONLY REPLACE IT. I WAS QUOTED $1,605.00 PLUS $157.00 TO PROGRAM IT TO THE CAR'S COMPUTER. THE TECHNICIAN KNEW EXACTLY WHAT I WAS TALKING ABOUT. SO, AS I SAID BEFORE, THIS IS NOT A UNCOMMON PROBLEM. WITH A DEAD INSTRUMENT PANEL, YOU CANNOT DETERMINE HOW FAST YOU ARE GOING, HOW MUCH GAS YOU HAVE IN YOUR CAR, NO OIL INDICATOR, NO TURN SIGNALS, NO HIGH BEAM, OR ANY OF THE ALERTS OR REMINDERS THAT THE COMPUTER PUTS UP.
NHTSA complaint #10851444 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 154,000 milesLowell, MA
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
INSTRUMENT CLUSTER FAILURE
NHTSA complaint #10845559 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 160,000 milesBiscoe, NC
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
AIR BAGS SAY URGENT SERVICE NEEDED ,CLOCK GOING BACKWARDS , ON BOARD COMPUTER GOING CRAZY , WORRIED ABOUT IT CATCHING FIRE ,TAIL LIGHTS HAVE BEEN REPLACED 2 TIMES AND STILL THEY GO OUT RIGHT AFTER BEING REPLACED
NHTSA complaint #10838582 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 165,000 milesIndianapolis, IN
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
WHILE DRIVING MY 2003 VOLVO S60, THE DASH INSTRUMENT PANEL SUDDENLY LOST ALL POWER W/THE GAUGES/DISPLAY ALL STOPPING. THEN IT WOULD RETURN AND KEEP WORKING. THEN IT WOULD DO IT A DIFFERENT TIME, CONTINUING IN THIS CYCLE - RANDOMLY SHUTTING OFF COMPLETELY SO I HAD NO GAUGES, WARNING LIGHTS, TURN SIGNAL LIGHTS, ETC. JUST A LARGE BLACK AREA WHERE THE INSTRUMENT PANEL IS. THIS WAS ESPECIALLY CONCERNING AT NIGHT WHEN I WOULD JUST RANDOMLY LOOSE THE DISPLAY WHILE DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY. I CONTACTED VOLVO AND THEY SAID THIS IS A KNOWN PROBLEM W/THEIR VEHICLES (AND IS ALSO CONFIRMED WHEN LOOKING ONLINE FOR OTHERS WHO HAVE HAD THE SAME PROBLEM). THE REPAIR IS NOT COVERED UNDER ANY SORT OF SAFETY RECALL, AND IS VERY EXPENSIVE. FOR A MFG WHOSE CARS ARE TOUTED AS BEING VERY SAFE, HAVING THE INSTRUMENT PANEL SUDDENLY STOP WORKING SO NO IDEA OF SPEED NOR ANY GAUGES/WARNING LIGHTS ARE AVAILABLE WHILE DRIVING IS CLEARLY NOT IN-LINE W/SAFE DRIVING. NO OTHER CAR I'VE OWNED HAS EVER HAD THIS KNOWN PROBLEM, ESPECIALLY W/A PART NOT PRONE TO WEAR & TEAR LIKE OTHER PARTS TYPICALLY ARE IN A CAR.
NHTSA complaint #10836420 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 56,000 milesIndianapolis, IN
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
TRANSMISSION SHIFTING PROBLEMS OIL LEAKS.
NHTSA complaint #10785481 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 170,000 milesJacksonville, AL
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
I AM SURPRISED THERE HAS NOT BEEN A RECALL ISSUED FOR CERTAIN MODEL YEAR VOLVOS RELATIVE TO THE CENTER DASH MODULE LOSING ALL COMMUNICATION APPARENTLY DUE TO FAILED SOLDER CONNECTIONS (BASED ON CHAT-ROOMS, VOLVO SPECIFIC). I UNDERSTAND COMPONENTS CAN FAIL, BUT THE SHEER NUMBER OF FAILURES AND THE FAILURE MODE IS BEYOND TYPICAL OR EXPECTED FAILURES. THE FAILURE MODE CAUSES MOST OR ALL DASH GAUGES, INDICATORS AND LIGHTS TO FAIL, INCLUDING THE SPEEDOMETER. THESE FAILURES APPARENTLY OCCUR RANDOMLY, AND AT ANY AGE/MILEAGE.
NHTSA complaint #10760492 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 129,091 milesMunster, IN
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
WHILE DRIVING HOME AFTER HAVING STEERING RACK REPLACED THE DASH LIGHTS (SPEEDOMETER, TURN SIGNALS, MESSAGE CENTER, ETC.) WENT COMPLETELY OUT. AFTER MULTIPLE DRIVES THE DASH LIGHTS GO ON AND OFF INTERMITTENTLY WHILE DRIVING.
NHTSA complaint #10725661 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 90,000 milesBuena Park, CA
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 VOLVO S60. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE ENTIRE INSTRUMENT PANEL GRADUALLY BECAME INOPERABLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE INSTRUMENT PANEL NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 90,000. UPDATED 4/20/15
NHTSA complaint #10676782 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 153,000 milesPoughkeepsie, NY
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
DRIVING CAR LIGHTS ON DASH BOARD WENT COMPLETELY OFF. TOOK IT TO SHOP THEY TAP IT AND DASH CAME ON AGAIN, CHANGE FUSE . LIGHTS WENT OFF AGAIN AND STAYED OFF.
NHTSA complaint #10663718 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 124,570 milesMilwaukee, WI
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
THE ENTIRE GAUGE CLUSTER TURNS OFF AND ON WHEN THE VEHICLE IS TRAVELING DOWN THE ROAD. THIS IS A WIDE SPREAD PROBLEM THATS WELL DOCUMENTED BY THE VOLVO COMMUNITY. THE ISSUE IS A POORLY SOLDERED CIRCUIT BOARD ON THE DIM.
NHTSA complaint #10643749 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 148,000 milesManassas, VA
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
VEHICLE DRIVER INFORMATION MODULE (DIM) STOPPED WORKING WHILE VEHICLE WAS TRAVELING ON THE ROAD AT APPROXIMATELY 45 MILES PER HOUR.
NHTSA complaint #10610083 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 130,000 milesSacramento, CA
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
I STARTED MY CAR AND WHERE IT TELLS YOU IF SOMETHING NEEDS TO BE DONE TO CAR IT SAID AIRBAG WARNING URGENT SERVICE NEEDED. THEN LATER WHILE DRIVING ALL THE GAUGES STOPPED WORKING. NOW THE GAUGES DON'T WORK AT ALL. PLUS WHEN DRIVING AND TURNING A CORNER THE CAR STALLS NOW THIS HAS BEEN HAPPENING FOR A COUPLE YEARS NOW. PLUS A COUPLE YEARS AGO ALL MY HEAD LIGHTS BURNT OUT AT ONCE THEN THEY ONLY LASTED A COUPLE DAYS HAD TO BUY MORE THAT HAPPENED 5 TIMES IN ONE YEAR STILL HAVE NO BRIGHTS.
NHTSA complaint #10604873 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Baton Rouge, LA
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
DASHBOARD WENT DEAD WHILE DRIVING. GAS METER, RPM, EVERYTHING WENT DEAD. THE DASH LIGHTS LATER CAME ON FOR A WHILE, BUT THE SPEEDOMETER WENT BACK TO 40 MPH. NOTHING WORKS PROPERLY.
NHTSA complaint #10594976 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 45,023 milesWestchester, IL
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
CLOCK STARTED ROTATING NUMBERS.. AND NOT STOP. THEN INSTRUMENT DASH INFORMATION STOPPED. NO DASH LIGHTS, SPEED, GAS, WARNINGS. ALL OFF. WHEN I CAN SEE DASH. ONCE A MONTH, MAYBE....IT SAYS AIR BAGS NEED CHECKING, CHECK ENGINE. I AM CONCERNED THAT THE AIR BAGS WILL NOT WORK IF AN ACCIDENT OCCURS. AND IF I WERE TO BE ABLE TO AFFORD THE REPAIR, THEN WILL I HAVE TO PAY TO CHECK AIR BAGS? ENGINE? WHAT IF A FIRE DID OCCUR... HOW WOULD I KNOW? DEALER STATES $ 1700 TO REPAIR. IT IS SAFETY ISSUE FOR SPEED LIMIT, AIR BAG DEPLOYMENT IF AN ACCIDENT OCCURS, FUEL CONSUMPTION. CAN'T SEE MILEAGE FOR THIS COMPLAINT! DASH NOT WORKING... ENGINE MOUNTS SHOT. SEAT WARMER BROKE FIRST YEAR. NEEDED REPLACEMENT. THE ELECTRICAL HARNESS IN THIS CAR IS SHOT, BROKE, NOT CORRECT. TOO MANY COMPLAINTS ENTERED FOR THIS TO NOT BE A RECALL. PLEASE, PLEASE HELP!
NHTSA complaint #10524811 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Cincinnati, OH
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
THE DASHBOARD HAS A FAULT IN IT, POSSIBLY A SHORT OR SOME OTHER ELECTRICAL FAULT THE PROBLEM HAS BEEN INTERMITTENT. BUT, ONLY RECENTLY HAS BECOME RATHER ACUTE. LIGHTS AND GAUGES GO ON AND OFF. PROBLEM HAS ADVERSELY AFFECTED THE SRS AIRBAG SYSTEM TO THE POINT THAT IT IS NO LONGER FUNCTIONS AND REQUIRES RESETTING; APPARENTLY. I AM FILING THIS COMPLAINT BECAUSE SINCE DOING MY RESEARCH, THERE HAVE BEEN NUMEROUS INCIDENTS BEING REPORTED ON THE INTERNET. CONSIDERING THE LARGE NUMBER OF ISSUES/COMPLAINTS I HAVE SEEN ABOUT THIS ISSUE, THE PROBLEM WITH MY CAR IS APPARENTLY NOT AN ISOLATED INCIDENT. REPAIR FOR SUCH APPEARS TO BE IN THE $1,500.00 TO $2,000.00 RANGE.
NHTSA complaint #10521829 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 138,000 milesEast Lyme, CT
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
LOST INSTRUMENT PANEL WHILE DRIVING. ALL GAUGES NOT WORKING. IT HAPPENED WHILE DRIVING.
NHTSA complaint #10521898 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 183,000 milesTrenton, NJ
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
MY 2003 S60 VOLVO HAS FAILED IT ALL STARTED WITH THE RADIO FLICKERING TO DIFFERENT STATIONS.I NOTICED FROM THAN MY LIGHTS STARTED BLINKING ON AND OFF I HAS NO IDEA WHAT WAS GOING ON WITH THIS CAR I SERIOUSLY ALMOST GOT INTO IN ACCIDENT I PULLED OVER AND TURNED THE CAR OFF 5MINS AFTER I STARTED IT UP NOW ALL THE GUAGES WHERE DOWN EVE FUEL WAS PASS EMPTY I WAS TERRIFIED THAT MY CAR WOULD SHUT OFF I HAD MY 7 YEAR OLD IN THE CAR AS I WAS CAREFULLY WAS DRIVING HOME THE GUAGES STARTING MOVING ALL OVER THE PLACE RADIO SWITCHING FROM LEFT TO RIGHT THE MSG WINDOW SAID SEA BAG SERVICE SOON IAM VERY SCARE OF MY SAFETY JUS BOUGHT THIS CAR ON FEB 12/2013.
NHTSA complaint #10509339 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 100,520 milesBaltimore, MD
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
THE DASH INFORMATION SYSTEM WILL RANDOMLY GO BLANK AND DISPLAY SRS FAILURE. ALONG WITH ALL INFORMATION LIGHTS START BLINKING ON AND OFF. THE ANALOG GAUGE LIKE THE SPEEDOMETER AND FUEL GAUGE WILL GO TO "0" OR JUST MOVE ERATICALLY TO ANY NUMBER OR POSITION WHILE DRIVING. AT NIGHT THE ENTIRE INFORMATION CENTER GO BLANK THE CLOCK AND THE MILEAGE(NO LIGHTS AT ALL).
NHTSA complaint #10504535 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 125,000 milesLincoln Park, NJ
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 VOLVO S60. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS, SHE WAS INFORMED THAT THE TURN SIGNALS HAD FAILED. THE CONTACT ALSO MENTIONED THAT THE CLOCK FAILED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE INSTRUMENT PANEL MODULE FAILED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED FOR THE INSTRUMENT PANEL MODULE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AND THEY OFFERED NO ASSISTANCE. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE APPROXIMATELY 125,000.
NHTSA complaint #10500620 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 124,000 milesPlymouth, MI
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
WHILE DRIVING THE DASH (NOT THE RADIO, OR OTHER ELECTRICAL COMPONENTS) WENT OUT-COMPLETELY BLANK. I LOST, THE TAC, THE SPEEDOMETER/ODOMETER, ENGINE GAUGE AND GAS GAUGE. THIS PROBLEM HAS CONTINUED INTERMITTENTLY AND I CAN NOT RELATE IT TO A GIVEN SPEED OR WEATHER. NOT KNOWING YOUR SPEED IS A SAFETY ISSUE AND AT NIGHT IT'S ODD TO BE DRIVING A CAR W/OUT AN ILLUMINATED DASH/CONTROLS. I DO HAVE AN SRS CODE-SERVICE IMMEDIATELY. WHEN I WAS LAST AT THE DEALER THEY HAD "NEVER HEARD OF THIS ISSUE" AND WOULD HAVE TO CHARGE ME DIAGNOSTIC FEES. ONLINE RESEARCH SHOWS THIS TO BE A COMMON PROBLEM AND A NEW DIM ($1200) CAN FIX THE PROBLEM. THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE AND THERE ARE TOO MANY COMPLAINTS POSTED ONLINE FOR THIS TO BE A LITTLE PROBLEM. WHAT IS THE R/1000 (REPAIR PER THOUSAND VEHICLES)?
NHTSA complaint #10500558 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 82,000 milesAugusta, GA
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 VOLVO S60. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 40 MPH, THE INSTRUMENT PANEL FAILED AND THE GAUGES STOPPED FUNCTIONING. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 82,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 82,300.
NHTSA complaint #10486375 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 38,000 milesReno, NV
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 VOLVO S60. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 65 MPH, THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO DECELERATE INDEPENDENTLY TO APPROXIMATELY 5 MPH. THE CONTACT STOPPED THE VEHICLE ON THE SHOULDER AND SHUT THE ENGINE OFF. AFTER RESTARTING, THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO DRIVE NORMALLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER THREE TIMES FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING. THE TECHNICIAN WAS UNABLE TO DIAGNOSE THE FAILURE. THE THIRD TIME THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER, THE TECHNICIAN REPLACED THE ECM. THE FAILURE CONTINUED AFTER THE REPAIR. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN BACK TO THE DEALER WHERE THE TURBO WAS REPLACED BUT TO NO AVAIL. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT FURTHER REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 38,000.
NHTSA complaint #10485155 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 48,672 milesRock Hill, SC
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
THE DASH INFORMATION SYTEM WILL RANDOMLY GO BLANK AND DISPLAY SRS AND BRAKE FAILURE, ALONG WITH ALL INFORMATION LIGHTS BLINKING ON AND OFF. ALSO THE ANALOG GAUGES LIKE THE SPEEDOMETER AND FUEL GAUGE WILL GO TO "0" AND EMPTY OR JUST MOVE ERATICALLY TO ANY NUMBER OR POSITION WHILE DRIVING. AT NIGHT SOMETIMES THE ENTIRE DASH OR INFORMATION CENTER WILL GO BLACK (NO LIGHTS AT ALL) AND ON ODD OCCASIONS ONE HEADLIGHT MAY GO OUT AND COME BACK ON.
NHTSA complaint #10482872 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.