On two separate occasions in the past two months June 6 and Aug. 15, this vehicle experienced a severe unintended engine surge / unintended acceleration event while at a complete stop with my foot firmly on the brake. On both occasions, the engine RPMs spiked above 1,000 RPM, forcing the vehicle to pull heavily against the brakes as if trying to race forward into the intersection. On the most recent event (Aug. 15) when stopping at a red light it appeared that the supercharger kicked in, pulling against the brakes. Six or eight pedestrians were crossing directly in front of the vehicle. If I had taken my foot of the brake I would have hit them. 1.June 12, 2026 Service Visit (RO #192480, attached): Following the June 6 incident, the vehicle was brought to Beyer Volvo Cars Falls Church, Va. The repair order explicitly notes:"Tech found the front sunroof drains to have clogged with dirt/debris and the floorboard to be full of water.""Interior was removed to dry out carpets and the sunroof drains were cleared." Clogged sunroof drains cause water ingress down the A pillar. 2.Diagnostic Code & Part Replacement: During this visit, fault code 161615 was retrieved. The technician noted "unable to duplicate the problem at this time" regarding the engine flare, and no physical inspection or remediation of the flooded wiring harnesses or module connectors beneath the carpet was performed. This same A6 electrical code 161615 was noted on a previous service on 25 Sep. 2025, (RO#184284, attached). There is clear precedent with NHTSA Recall 22V-288 (of a different Volvo model, the XC40), where water intrusion into Volvo wiring harnesses caused corrosion and unintended acceleration. Given that my passenger footwell flooded prior to the engine surge, the CAN bus harness and floor connectors beneath that carpet must undergo a full electrical continuity and corrosion inspection, not just a surface drying. I am requesting further service by the dealer.
NHTSA complaint #11758721 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
On 4/6/2026 At about 2:30 p.m. my son [XXX] stated that he started the car and was in the process of driving out of the parking lot when he saw smoke coming thru the vents in the car. My son [XXX] stated that he got out the car and opened the hood and the car was on fire. [XXX] stated that he called the fire department and they came and put out the fire. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)
NHTSA complaint #11734068 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
I am submitting a formal vehicle safety complaint regarding a sudden and complete system failure in my Volvo S60 2023, which occurred in March 2026 in [XXX] . While traveling on [XXX] at highway speed, the vehicle abruptly and without warning lost all electrical power. The dashboard went completely blank, and all electronic systems ceased functioning. Critically, the steering became unresponsive/locked at the same time, creating an immediate and severe safety hazard. I was fortunate to avoid a collision, but the incident had clear potential for catastrophic consequences. The vehicle was inspected by an authorized Volvo dealership; however, I was informed that the issue could not be duplicated and no repairs were performed. As a result, the root cause of this failure remains unknown, and the safety risk persists. Key details: Mileage at time of incident: Approximately 40,000 miles Location: [XXX] Date: March 2026 Conditions: Normal highway driving, no prior warning indicators I am reporting this incident because: It involves a complete loss of vehicle control systems; It presents a significant risk of serious injury or death; It may indicate a broader defect affecting similar vehicles. I respectfully request that this matter be reviewed for potential investigation and that any similar complaints be evaluated for patterns. Please let me know if additional information is needed. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)
NHTSA complaint #11733466 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
I experienced an engine issue that I believe is related to excessive oil consumption and the lack of an oil pressure light warning. The car was driven out of town when a noise was heard coming from the engine. A visual inspection of the engine revealed smoke coming from the engine department when the oil cap was removed. The dipstick was checked and showed no visible oil on the stick. Later in that evening, 3 additional quarts of oil were added to the engine but the addition of oil did not remedy the noise from the engine. The final result was that the car was towed to a Volvo dealership in Florida for repair. I checked the status of the recalls (oil comsumption and no oil pressure light) and the status is closed. From what I can tell, this issue appears to be directly related to previous recalls for the vehicle.
NHTSA complaint #11732954 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
My Volvo S60 has developed excessive oil consumption consistent with the condition described in Volvo’s “Engine Oil Consumption” extended-warranty notice. I only received this notice after my vehicle had already passed the 8-year/100,000-mile eligibility period, preventing me from accessing the program intended for this defect. I visited an authorized Volvo dealer regarding the oil-consumption issue, and the dealer recommended performing Volvo’s official oil-consumption test. Before authorizing the test, I asked Volvo to cover the cost and confirm reimbursement eligibility. Volvo declined these requests, requiring me to pay for the test and any related repairs. I proceeded with the official oil-consumption test at my own expense, and the results confirmed abnormal oil consumption. Despite this, Volvo again declined reimbursement or goodwill assistance and did not provide any written, technical explanation based on the confirmed test results. This condition poses safety concerns, including possible engine damage, stalling, or sudden loss of power if oil drops unexpectedly. To maintain safe operation, I must frequently check and top off the oil. I also previously owned another Volvo model (XC60 2015.5) equipped with the same engine family, which experienced a piston-ring failure in late 2021. At that time, the recommended repair was piston-ring replacement—the same repair now recommended for this S60. Volvo declined coverage for that prior failure as well. Experiencing similar defects in two Volvo vehicles with the same engine family suggests a broader pattern that may impact safety. I am reporting this issue to NHTSA because: • Volvo sent the program notice only after my vehicle was no longer eligible. • Volvo denied reimbursement despite a confirmed defect. • The defect creates safety risks due to potential loss of power. • My experience aligns with reported patterns of excessive oil consumption and piston-ring failures in this engine family.
NHTSA complaint #11704130 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
The contact owns a 2015 Volvo S60. The contact stated that the vehicle was experiencing excessive oil consumption. The contact stated that the vehicle had consumed 3 quarts of oil after driving 2,100 miles. Additionally, the contact stated that the low oil pressure warning light only illuminated after the vehicle had consumed over 3 quarts of oil. The dealer was notified of the failure; however, the vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and informed the contact that an unknown related extended warranty would not be extended to repair the vehicle. The failure mileage was approximately 90,900.
NHTSA complaint #11704171 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
The check engine light appeared on my 2018 Volvo s60. After taking the car to 2 Independent mechanics and the dealer, it was diagnosed as an Engine Control Module (ECM) failure. My 2018 Volvo s60 has ONLY 44,200 miles. The dealer stated that they "haven't seen this failure in cars with such low mileage. Usually, cars have 125,000+ miles if/when the ECM fails". The dealer and an Independent mechanic both stated that the brakes, steering, starter, thermostat, etc., could fail at any time. This could put my family, and other families on the road, at risk. Volvo refused to pay for the repairs.
NHTSA complaint #11671445 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Vehicle Make/Model/Year: 2014 Volvo S60 Mileage at Failure: 111,000 Incident Description: I am reporting a complete engine failure in my 2014 Volvo S60 due to excessive oil consumption, a known defect in these models as documented in Volvo’s Quality Bulletin P10207. I purchased this vehicle used only 7 months ago, unaware of this defect. There was no notification of any warranty extension or known issue, and the vehicle showed no signs of oil leakage —it simply failed. Volvo has refused to assist me because the vehicle is now beyond 100,000 miles and 8 years, despite their documented acknowledgment of this design flaw. This is a serious safety issue that could have resulted in an accident had the engine seized at highway speed. I am requesting NHTSA investigate further or reopen the matter as a public safety concern.
NHTSA complaint #11669402 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
The contact owns a 2015 Volvo S60. The contact stated that while operating the vehicle, the check engine warning light remained illuminated, and had flashed off and on while driving at highway speeds. The contact stated that the vehicle also stalled on several occasions. The vehicle was taken to the local dealer who diagnosed the vehicle and determined that the engine cylinders were faulty, and the engine needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer and local dealer were notified of the failure, but no assistance was offered. The failure mileage was 117,000.
NHTSA complaint #11663339 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
I am submitting this report to formally document a severe safety-related failure involving my 2013 Volvo S60, VIN # [XXX] . This vehicle is part of the Volvo brand, widely recognized and marketed as among the safest in the world. Incident Summary: On [XXX], at approximately [XXX] in Norwalk, Connecticut, the vehicle experienced a catastrophic mechanical failure while in operation. The auxiliary (serpentine) belt suddenly failed, shredded itself, and wrapped around the timing pulley. Debris from the failed belt entered the timing belt housing — a supposedly sealed and protected compartment — causing the timing belt to jump. This resulted in an immediate loss of engine power while driving, placing me in a highly vulnerable position. Fortunately, I was not on a multi-lane highway or in fast-moving traffic. Had I been traveling on a busier route, the sudden loss of power could have led to a serious crash and potential injury. This failure represented a genuine threat to my safety. Further inspection revealed that: The lower crankshaft sprocket had skipped three teeth due to the intrusion of the auxiliary belt. The timing belt, although not broken, was off track. A new timing belt was installed in an attempt to restart the engine. The engine would crank but failed to start. A compression test revealed zero compression in all cylinders. The valve train was severely damaged (bent valves), and the engine sustained internal mechanical failure beyond repair. Conclusion and Context: This is not an isolated incident. Upon further research, I discovered that this failure — specifically the auxiliary belt disintegrating and compromising the timing belt system — is a known and well-documented problem in vehicles equipped with the B5254T12 Turbo engine. Volvo has been previously alerted to similar cases before. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)
NHTSA complaint #11660749 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Engine has failed and is unrepairable. The car has been maintained well according to the manufacturer’s guidelines with regular oil changes. It has only 94,875 miles. The mechanic said that there is probably a piston gasket failure leading to oil leak into the engine. This appears to have been reported with this year/model vehicles. I would like Volvo to take ownership of poor manufacturing and fix the problem to my satisfaction.
NHTSA complaint #11644323 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Requesting reimbursement from Volvo Cars USA for a known defect in the engine’s piston rings. This defect has resulted in excessive oil consumption and necessitated costly repairs. Volvo reached a legal settlement in May 2023 regarding this defect—which affects the piston rings, pistons, and/or piston heads in certain 2013–2016 models. I never received a recall notice or any communication from the company informing me of the issue and the extension of warranty for my car. Had I received a letter before the expiration of the 8-year extended warranty, I would have had the opportunity to have the oil consumption test performed and the piston ring repair completed, all at no cost to me per Volvo quality notice P10207. Vehicle: •Year/Model: 2015.5 Volvo S60, VIN [XXX] •Current Mileage: 92,850 •Purchase: Purchased new in 2015 from Volvo of Princeton, NJ (Princeton Volvo) and delivered at the factory in Gothenburg, Sweden May 2023 then shipped to Princeton Volvo in July 2023. •Maintenance History: The vehicle has been consistently serviced at either the Princeton Volvo dealership or at a local AAA-approved repair center. Defect Timeline (for details and costs incurred see full letter attached) 1.[XXX] (47,044 miles): “low oil” light came on. 2.April 2019–November 2024: oil additions needed each 750 to 1,000 miles. 3.September 01, 2023: Replaced oil trap. 4.January 8, 2024 (83,582 miles): Stage 1 oil consumption test. 5. January 29, 2024: Failed stage 2 of oil consumption test. Needed piston ring repair. 6.January – June 2024: Volvo Princeton and Volvo USA refused to cover full costs of repair. 7. November 2024: Piston rings replaced. Total Costs Incurred to Date: $1,431.68 Total Costs Incurred and Anticipated Costs: $2,065.68 I respectfully request full reimbursement from Volvo Cars USA for expenses incurred and anticipated due to this issue, totaling $2,065.68. Thank you for your attention to this matter. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)
NHTSA complaint #11628340 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
I was driving approximately 65 MPH on the highway and suddenly my car started shuttering, stuttering, and my check engine light started blinking. My car started slowing down as if it was having trouble accelerating. I also received a warning message that said, “Reduce speed or shift up.” I only have 123,263 miles on the vehicle. My mechanic informed me I was having a cylinder 2 misfire and that my exhaust valve burnt up. I also need a new timing belt. This is not the first time I’ve had a cylinder misfire on this car, so I believe there is something faulty in this vehicle. As a result of this incident, I pulled over on the highway and waited for a tow truck.
NHTSA complaint #11621005 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
In November of 2021, I purchased my dream car, a 2016 Volvo s60 Cross Country, proud to own a vehicle from a company known for their safe and reliable vehicles. In April of 2022, a class action case ([XXX], et al., v. Volvo Car USA, LLC, Volvo Cars of North America, LLC, and Volvo Personvagnar AB) was issued against Volvo due to a KNOWN-TO-VOLVO DESIGN FLAW in their engines which could lead to engine failure. The case was settled out of court in early 2023 and Volvo issued an extended warranty for vehicles owners to take preventative measures against potential engine failure. Although my car is listed under the extended warranty, I was never sent any notice of it from Volvo. On [XXX], while driving on a highway, at speed limit, my 2016 Volvo s60 Cross Country's engine failed. I learned about the Extended Warranty from a National Highway Traffic Safety Administration Quality Bulletin (Extended Warranty P10183: I5T Oil Consumption Replace; Model Year 20132016 S60, 2015-2016 V60, V60CC and XC60, 2016 XC70, S60CC and S60L) while researching the issue with my car online. I contacted Volvo Customer Care to ask why I was not sent notice and what they could do. I was told that to open a case with Volvo I would need a diagnostic from a dealership. On August 5, 2024, I took my car in for a diagnostic at Patrick Volvo Cars in Schaumburg, IL, from who I also purchased the car in 2021. August 6, 2024 I received a partial diagnostic and was told that they would require 10x the original diagnostic price to find the root of the issue in the engine. On the same day, I called Volvo customer care and opened a case. After weeks of little to no communication, on September 3 Volvo denied my case. I was not provided any opportunity to communicate over the phone with my case manager at Volvo - only after she sent me the decision did I receive a call from her to learn Volvo does not care about my side of the story. Please view attached documents for more details, thank you. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT
NHTSA complaint #11617818 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Engine has excessive oil consumption and sets owners up for expensive testing and repairs, because when the original recall came out, many Volvo s60 with excessive oil consumption were barely out of the allowed mileage range, which sticks the owners with excessive repairs. Volvo should stand behind this problem that effects numerous Volvo s60’s and compensate the repairs.
NHTSA complaint #11610422 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
2004 VOLVO S60 PURCHASED THE CAR USED IN SEPT 04. On 7/8/24 STRANDED AT 7-11 CAR WOULDN'T START. ACTING AS IF THERE WAS POWER LOSS, AC WENT OFF, BRAKE FAILURE LIGHT ON PANEL, POWER WINDOWS AND LOCKS DID NOT WORK, TEMP 105 OUTSIDE , THEN DRIVER PANEL WENT BLACK., I WAS SCARED. ENGINE WOULDN'T START. FINALLY, AFTER WAITING 10 MINUTES...IT STARTED RUNNING BUT WAS SLUGGISH. RADIO WAS ON, POWER DOOR, LOCKS, AND WINDOWS, DID NOT WORK. CUT THE CAR OFF AND BACK ON, ALL POWER RETURNED, NOW CHECK ENGINE AND AIR BAG TROUBLE ON PANEL. CALLED VOLVO DEALER NEXT DAY NEAR MY HOME, THEY CAN NOT SEE MY CAR TIL NEXT WEEK TUESDAY. CAN NOT ACCESS ENGINE BOX, MUST GO TO DEALER.
NHTSA complaint #11600289 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Discovered that my engine is burning oil. There was no warning from my vehicle or from Volvo (during regular maintenance) that this was happening. It was just sudden that the check engine light went on and I checked the oil and found that it was basically empty. Volvo confirmed that the engine is burning oil and that this model and make was discovered to have this engine issue. Volvo did not offer a solution other than to buy a new vehicle to replace this one. In my research online, this problem is common for this model and make 2012 S60 T5, may other have reported the same issue and it seems that there is a recall for this problem but my vehicle (VIN) does not report this to be a problem for my car. I’m not sure what to do.
NHTSA complaint #11599825 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
The contact owns a 2012 Volvo S60. The contact stated that upon starting the vehicle, an unknown belt fractured, and the vehicle failed to start. There were no warning lights illuminated. The contact called the local dealer, who informed the contact about diagnostic testing, but the vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was contacted, but no assistance was provided. The failure mileage was approximately 80,000.
NHTSA complaint #11589833 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Alternator belt shredded and got underneath the timing belt causing the engine timing to go off and severe engine damage that I will now have to total the car or spend $13-15K to replace. The car stalled after leaving a stop sign so I wasn't going fast. I spoke to my local mechanic and he had another Volvo S60 T5 in his shop with the same issue showing up but that owner was lucky enough to not have the engine destroyed in the process. From what he is saying is that every other car has some kind of timing belt protection that the Volvo S60 is missing. In searching the Internet this is a very common issue that occurs. I registered a complaint with Volvo today.
NHTSA complaint #11580623 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.