Volvo S60 steering problems

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See attached document for complaint.

NHTSA complaint #11742020 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

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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.

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The contact owns a 2009 Volvo S60. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the column turn signal lever detached. The contact stated that the turn signal and headlight switches were inoperable due to the failure. No warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired by an independent mechanic or the dealer. The dealer was made aware of the failure, and an appointment was scheduled for a future date. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 155,000.

NHTSA complaint #11713865 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

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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.

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POWER STEERING BRAKES BATTERY ADAS

NHTSA complaint #11612411 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

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Automatic Intervention Collision Avoidance system activated unnecessarily and unexpectedly during a freeway exit. There were no cars ahead within a reasonable distance, but there was a car in the adjacent lane of a “dual” parallel exit lane on the freeway. There was a solid white line between vehicles and the system seemed to interpret both vehicles exiting the freeway simultaneously as a “near collision” when in fact we were both operating correctly. I did not notice any intrusion or movement of the adjacent vehicle into our lane. The response from the vehicle was a sudden and violent movement of the steering wheel to the left and I believe application of the brakes although I am not certain of that. This event occurred in the southbound lanes of [XXX] near [XXX]. The exit, I believe, is for [XXX] [XXX] . This was a rental vehicle. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

NHTSA complaint #11589772 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

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I was driving in the right hand lane on a two lane road where the speed limit is 30mph. While the road was curving to the left slightly the vehicle's Collision Avoidance System was triggered and swerved the car into the left lane towards on coming traffic and cutting off a car behind me. The road was completely empty in front of me. It created a dangerous situation for no reason. I have dashcam footage that captured the moment the car intervened that I can provide if requested, I'm unable to upload video on this portal.

NHTSA complaint #11584487 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

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Since purchase of my vehicle, the vehicle has had a vibration on the highway from 72-83mph with 2 different sets of wheels AND tires, both Pirelli tires but different models. My local Volvo dealer refused to address the issue due to the issue occurring over the speed limit. So they were no help. There are quite a few other 2019 and up Volvo S60 and XC90 owners that experience this same issue. The issue is felt through the bottom of the seats, backrest and steering wheel. You can also visually see the vibration if there is a bottle in the cup holder. The steering wheel "shakes" left to right.

NHTSA complaint #11564956 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

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Hi, 2021 Volvo S60 VIN: [XXX] License plate: [XXX] (PA) Title date 12/7/2021 (bought the Volvo new...) I have barely 11,000 miles on the clock and have already replaced 4 low profile tires owing to potholes in highways and other roads across the United States. I really, truly want to file this complaint. I'm not sure why Volvo included low profile tires in the size 235/40R19 on their S60 models. When I drive, I feel like a downhill skier gliding from left to right, dodging potholes... According to my dealership Keystone Volvo of Doylestown, [XXX] , selling low profile tyres is a thriving industry…. According to AAA Mobile Mechanics, low-profile tyres are more prone to tyre and rim damage since they have less air cushioning to withstand heavy impacts from potholes and uneven places on the road. Low-profile tires are also more sensitive to road damage. Blowouts and tire failure are actually more likely on pothole-infested roadways. Given the state of the US road network, I believe your organization or whoever is in charge should not provide a TYPE certification for cars built within the US or imported from other countries both equipped with low profile tires... Please advise, and I eagerly await your response... Best , [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

NHTSA complaint #11535353 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

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I have experienced the steering in my car to become looser over time. I have found the culprit to be a plastic tension cap on the steering rack itself. The cap appears to have stripped and backed out completely and is now resting against the subframe. There is no warning of this happening and very hard to pinpoint the cause. The effect is that there is about 10 degrees of play in the steering wheel. It appears that it only affects the left wheel as that one is loose and the right wheel is tight. I will be taking it to the dealer to see if there is a replacement or an upgraded version of this cap but feel this should be addressed further as this could happen without warning.

NHTSA complaint #11526710 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

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It is unknown what caused this issue but ever since I bought my vehicle on April 5, 2021, I have been experiencing vibration issues when driving between 65-75 MPH. I have had my vehicle inspected at multiple Volvo Service Centers across Texas and no one can seem to figure out what is causing the vibration issues. My front rotors have been replaced 3 TIMES, my rear rotors have been replaced once, I have had multiple tire rotations, alignments and balancing from Volvo Service Centers and even from Discount Tire. With all of these items serviced/repaired/replaced, the vibration is still present in the steering wheel traveling at highway speeds. I went on a test drive today, 6/22/22, with a Volvo Service Technician and he confirmed that the vibration is valid. He also stated that the only thing left to do is to replace all 4 tires, at my cost, to see if the vibration goes away. He advised that when new cars are on the lot parked waiting to be sold, dealerships typically inflate the tires to about 50 PSI so as to avoid any "flat spots" on the tires. He also stated that many dealers also typically do not inflate tires on their new fleet due to the rough ride it causes. I have contacted Volvo regarding this issue without any remedy or advice. Additionally, my Volvo dealer cannot say for sure that they will reimburse me for tires, if I do choose to replace my current ones, even though this issue has been present since day 1.

NHTSA complaint #11470504 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

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Ongoing Problem as mentioned in Volvo's Technical Journal "Speed Dependent Vibrations at Highway Speeds" Ref No: TJ 20803.20.0 . At any speed of 75 mph and above the front continuously vibrates. The tires have been replaced two times in less than 2 weeks and road forced balanced by the dealership twice. The vibration does not go away. The dealership does not want to address the issue. The car is NEW.

NHTSA complaint #11443977 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

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While I was going down a small side street that is a hill, the air conditioning system suddenly went off and immediately the entire car's mechanisms ceased. The engine stopped and the car was unstearable and the brakes were not working. I had my foot on the brake and that was not responsive, the car slid with all electrical systems not working and the brake not holding the car or stopping the movement of the car. I could not start the car to get the engine going.I could not stop nor start the car that slid into a major street that is a thoroughfare for a hospital. I had no control of the car at all. I attempted at least 7 times to start the Volvo that requires keeping your foot on the brake and turning a small switch that is located right next to the cup holder. Nothing would work. I called Volvo On Call who instead of immediately helping told me to call 911 since the car slid into the middle of the major street and it was an emergency regarding my safetly . A police officer came after a few minutes and blocked the traffic. Meanwhile, I was suddenly able by the 9 or 10th time to start the car and move it to the side of the road. The police officer drove in back of me literally a block away from where the Volvo dealer just happened to be located. There were no warning messages prior to the car ceasing. The car is now in the Volvo dealership who upon receiving it said that I must have gotten the ignition switch wet. This is totally false. I did not have any liquids nor should that be a reason why a car suddenly stops and becomes a piece of metal in the middle of the road. What's worse was that there is no emergency brake on this model. My life was in danger and I am lucky that I was not hit. A passenger got out of her car and stood next to mine in the middle of the road with oncoming traffic coming at my driver's side. Volvo dealership is claiming it's the starter switch and it must have shorted. There is a defect and safety problem requiring investigating.

NHTSA complaint #11418969 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

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TL* THE CONTACT OWN A 2003 VOLVO S60. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FRONT STRUTS WERE COMING THROUGH THE STRUT MOUNTS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE SHOOK VIOLENTLY WHILE DRIVING. THE CHECK ENGINE WARNING LIGHT AND ANOTHER UNKNOWN WARNING LIGHT WERE ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO CHERRY HILL VOLVO CARS (1810 W RTE 70, CHERRY HILL, NJ 08002), WHERE THE STRUT MOUNTS WERE REPLACED HOWEVER, THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN BACK TO A DEALER OR AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC FOR A DIAGNOSTIC TEST. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WAS HE AFRAID THAT WHILE DRIVING OVER A BUMP THE STRUTS MIGHT DETACH. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 126,000.

NHTSA complaint #11349171 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

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THE STEERING HAS BECOME LESS RESPONSIVE AND I EXPERIENCE STEERING WHEEL PLAY, REPLACING FLUID HAS NOT RESOLVED THIS ISSUE.

NHTSA complaint #11329423 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

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WHILE DRIVING, COMPUTER SCREENS ALL WENT BLACK AND ENGINE SHUT DOWN. IF IT HAD HAPPENED 1 MILE PRIOR, WOULD HAVE BEEN GOING 50-55 ON A CURVY TWO LANE ROAD AND WOULD HAVE RESULTED IN SERIOUS INJURY OR DEATH. TOWED TO DEALER AWAITING RESULTS.

NHTSA complaint #11301338 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

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BOUGHT USED VOLVO ONLY HAD 66,000 MILES ON IT 1ST SHIFTER STUCK IN PARK, THERE APPARENTLY IS A SLOT IN BEHIND SHIFTER IN THE CUBBY TO STICK KEY IN AND MANUALLY UNLOCK SHIFTER, 2ND SERIOUS WABBLE AT 50+ MPH WAS TOLD BY VOLVO IT WAS WASHER SYSTEM NEEDED IN ALL WHEEL DRIVE, THE WAS NOT THE ISSUE NEEDED DRIVERS AXEL. ONLY 1 MONTH AFTER REPLACING FRONT DRIVERS AXEL I ALREADY HEAR THE TELL TAIL CLICKING OF AXEL BEARING GONE BAD ON A NEW 750.00 AXEL, 3RD FOG / RUNNING LIGHT ON BUMPER FLICKERS OVER BUMPS. 4TH HAD THE REPLACE BEARINGS ON STRUTS ALL UNDER 70,000 MILES ON THE CAR NOT IMPRESSED VOLVO

NHTSA complaint #11218326 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.