2011 Volvo XC60 problems & reliability
36 owner complaints filed with NHTSA for the 2011 Volvo XC60, alongside 4 safety recall campaigns. Last verified Aug 7, 2026. Complaints are unverified reports submitted by owners to the federal Office of Defects Investigation.
Each complaint is counted once (by NHTSA case number), even when it names several vehicles.
Federal crash records (FARS 2020–2023): 2011 Volvo XC60 vehicles were involved in 4 fatal crashes with 2 occupant deaths. Involvement counts are not adjusted for how many are on the road and do not imply fault or a vehicle defect.
Most reported problems
| Component | Complaints | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Seat Belts | 8 | 22% |
| Electrical System | 6 | 17% |
| Unknown OR Other | 6 | 17% |
| Visibility/wiper | 6 | 17% |
| Engine | 3 | 8% |
| Steering | 3 | 8% |
| Structure | 3 | 8% |
| Air Bags | 2 | 6% |
| Electronic Stability Control (esc) | 2 | 6% |
| Equipment | 2 | 6% |
Component groups as classified by NHTSA. A complaint can name more than one component, so shares may sum to more than 100%.
All 16 reported components →Mileage when problems occurred
Among the 21 complaints that included a usable odometer reading, the median reported incident mileage was 50,000 miles (middle 50% between 37,000 and 68,000 miles).
Complaints by incident year
What owners report
“Windshield is original from Volvo but leaks during rain and car washes. Rain floods my driver’s side floor board and heavy enough might effect my electrical system.”
Visibility/wiper · filed Feb 5, 2024
“The contact owns a 2011 Volvo XC60. The contact stated that the front driver’s side belt was restraining her extremely tightly and failed to release as needed. No warning light was illuminated. The contact also stated that water had leaked from around the windshield into the vehicle. The vehicle was taken to the…”
Visibility · filed Jan 23, 2023
“The contact owns a 2011 Volvo XC60. The contact stated that she noticed an oil leak underneath the vehicle. The contact stated no warning light was illuminated. The contact had taken the vehicle to a local dealer, where it was diagnosed and determined that the turbo needed to be replaced. The vehicle had not been…”
Engine · filed Aug 8, 2022
Verbatim excerpts from complaints filed with NHTSA. Reports are not independently verified.
Technical service bulletins
268 manufacturer communications (TSBs, service campaigns, warranty extensions) are on file with NHTSA for the 2011 Volvo XC60. The 10 most recent:
This is a Technical Journal: Text plus 2 PDFs and 1 .PNG Oil Consumption test. Perform the test. Follow service procedure Description and Service sections updated to clarify that vehicle reports are not…
35526.1.8 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions · issued Apr 23, 2026
This is a TJ text only - The purpose of this TJ is to be a master reference list to easily identify any components that are on prior approval. This TJ will be regularily updated as items are added or removed from prior…
37809.1.1 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions · issued Apr 7, 2026
This is a Technical Journal. Vehicle type and platform identification.
19245 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions · issued Dec 6, 2025
This is a Technical Journal: Remote connection, BOMGAR application. Before joining a remote session: •Connect a suitable battery maintainer/charger and verify that the battery voltage indicated in VIDA is between…
8501 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions · issued Apr 10, 2025
Volvo Cars USA LLC and Volvo Car Canada LTD on behalf of the Volvo Car Corporation has decided to launch Service Action S10303 on certain model year 2025 EX90 vehicles. Volvo Car Investigations have identified that…
S10303 · Service Campaign · issued Feb 21, 2025
Volvo Cars USA LLC and Volvo Car Canada LTD on behalf of the Volvo Car Corporation has decided to launch Service Action S10303 on certain model year 2025 EX90 vehicles. Volvo Car Investigations have identified that…
S10303 · Service Campaign · issued Feb 13, 2025
This is a Technical Journal: Vehicle/Connectivity report checklist. To provide timely and high-quality feedback to the appropriate department or factory
37175 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions · issued Jan 16, 2025
This is a Technical Journal: Remote connection, BOMGAR application. Before joining a remote session: •Connect a suitable battery maintainer/charger and verify that the battery voltage indicated in VIDA is between…
8501 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions · issued Jan 16, 2025
This is a Technical Journal: Software Upgrade / Download Guide. If one control unit is upgraded and not all, it may result in various problems.
TJ31543 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions · issued Oct 22, 2024
Information about valid Software partnumbers to order and download Software for "PDS" Pre-Delivery Service
TJ27536.21.1-2024-08-07 · Other · issued Aug 14, 2024
TSBs are repair guidance manufacturers send to dealers — they are not recalls and repairs are not automatically free. Full documents are available on NHTSA’s site.
Safety recalls
The 2011 Volvo XC60 has 4 NHTSA recall campaigns — recall repairs are free at franchised dealers regardless of the vehicle’s age.
Check whether your specific vehicle is affected
Recall campaigns often cover only certain VIN ranges. Enter your VIN on the official NHTSA site to confirm whether your vehicle is included and whether the repair is still open.
Check VIN on NHTSA →Buying a used 2011 Volvo XC60?
- · Decode the seller’s VIN with our free VIN decoder to confirm the exact year, engine and trim.
- · Check for unrepaired recalls by VIN on NHTSA’s official lookup — recall repairs are free.
- · Among complaints with usable mileage, the median reported incident mileage was 50,000 miles. This does not predict when a particular vehicle will develop a problem.