2003 Volvo S60: problems, recalls and reliability
7 recalls and 120 owner complaints on record; the weakest area is electrical system (32% of complaints); the 2005 model year looks more trouble-free.
Data updated weekly · latest recall Sep 2021
All counts are reports filed with NHTSA in the United States - US market only, not worldwide totals.
Common problems
Computed from 120 owner complaints filed with NHTSA for this exact model year.
“The steering has become less responsive and I experience steering wheel play, replacing fluid has not resolved this issue. *tr”Owner report · Steering · May 2020
“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.”Owner report · Electrical System · Mar 2019
“Fuel leaking from tank (most likely top of tank), when fuel pump is operating. Upon some search, I found that there was a recall for this problem for the s60 from 2001 to 2009. But for some reason my VIN is not covered. Seems like there's some loophole that they managed to use, why not all vins should be covered. Its clearly a very dangerous failure.”Owner report · Fuel/Propulsion System · Jan 2018
Show 7 more owner reports
“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”Owner report · Electrical System · Jul 2017
“I have a 2003 s60 volvo. The instrument panel was fine yesterday, but when I got in the car today the panel instrument panel is completely black. This includes all gauges, speedometer, rpm, fuel, temp and blinkers, all gauges are off.. (see attached pic). The vehicle was stationary in my driveway. The car still run great.”Owner report · Exterior Lighting · Jun 2017
“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.”Owner report · Electrical System · May 2017
“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.”Owner report · Electrical System · Feb 2017
“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. *tr”Owner report · Engine · Jun 2016
“Tl* the contact owns a 2003 volvo s60. While driving at various speeds, there was an abnormal odor of fuel in the vehicle. The contact stated that the rear seat was lifted and the seal was missing from the fuel tank. The vehicle was not diagnosed nor repaired. The VIN was not included in NHTSA campaign number: 09v483000 (fuel system, gasoline). The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was 220,000.”Owner report · Fuel/Propulsion System · Feb 2016
“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”Owner report · Electronic Stability Control (Esc) · Feb 2016
When filing, owners marked a crash in 1 of these complaints and injuries in 0 - self-reported to NHTSA, not verified accident statistics.
Recalls - 7 campaigns
Volvo Car USA, LLC (Volvo Car) is recalling certain 2001-2006 S80 and 2001-2009 S60 vehicles. The driver's air bag inflator may explode during deployment, due to propellant degradation occurring after long-term exposure to high absolute humidity, high temperatures, and high temperature cycling.
Remedy: Dealers will replace the driver's air bag, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed November 29, 2021. Owners may contact Volvo Car customer service at 1-800-458-1552. Volvo's number for this recall is R10125.
Volvo Car USA LLC (Volvo Car) is recalling certain 2001-2003 S80 and S60 vehicles sold or ever registered in Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Louisiana, Mississippi, North Carolina, Oklahoma, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Puerto Rico, American Samoa, Guam, the Northern Mariana Islands (Saipan), and the U.S. Virgin Islands. The driver side frontal air bag inflator may rupture, sending metal fragments into the passage compartment, when the driver side air bag is deployed.
Remedy: Volvo Car will notify owners, and dealers will replace the driver side air bag module, free of charge. The recall began April 20, 2021. Owners may contact Volvo Car customer service at 1-800-458-1552. Volvo Car's number for this recall is R10058.
VOLVO IS RECALLING CERTAIN VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH GARMIN 760 PORTABLE GLOBAL POSITIONING SYSTEM (GPS) UNITS BECAUSE THE BATTERIES ON THOSE UNITS MAY OVERHEAT.
Remedy: VOLVO ADVISES OWNERS TO PLEASE STOP USING THE GARMIN PORTABLE GPS DEVICE IMMEDIATELY, AND VISIT THE GARMIN WEBSITE TO DETERMINE IF THEIR UNIT IS AFFECTED. THE UNIT'S BATTERY WILL BE REPLACED WITH A NEW BATTERY AND A SPACER WILL BE INSERTED ON TOP OF THE BATTERY NEXT TO THE PCB. THIS SERVICE WILL BE PERFORMED FREE OF CHARGE. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN ON NOVEMBER 18, 2010. OWNERS MAY CONTACT GARMIN AT 866-957-1981 OR VISIT GARMIN'S WEBSITE AT WWW.GARMIN.COM/NUVIBATTERYPCBRECALL.
CERTAIN CARDONE MASTER CYLINDERS WITH PART NUMBERS 10-2925, 10-2987, 10-2987MZA, 10-3083, 11-3015, 11-3042, 11-3044, 11-3045, 11-3047, 11-3064, AND 11-3156, AND WITH DATE CODES LOWER THAN DCA7078 SOLD AS REPLACEMENT EQUIPMENT FOR USE ON THE VEHICLES LISTED ABOVE. THE SEAL ON MASTER CYLINDER CAN FAIL AND LEAK BRAKE FLUID.
Remedy: CARDONE WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND OFFER TO REPURCHASE ANY DEFECTIVE MASTER CYLINDERS. THE RECALL BEGAN DURING APRIL 2007. OWNERS CAN CONTACT CARDONE AT 1-800-777-4780.
ON CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES, THE FUEL PRESSURE SENSOR LOCATED ON THE LEFT END OF THE FUEL RAIL MAY, AT TIMES, TRANSMIT INCORRECT SIGNAL REGARDING THE FUEL PRESSURE TO THE ENGINE CONTROL MODULE. IF THE SIGNAL IS OUTSIDE OF THE PRE-PROGRAMMED ALLOWABLE LIMITS, A DIAGNOSTIC TROUBLE CODE MAY BE SET AND THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT WILL COME ON. THE SOLDERED JOINTS ON THE CIRCUIT BOARD OF THE FUEL PRESSURE SENSOR MAY CRACK DUE TO TEMPERATURE CHANGES AND EXCESSIVE VIBRATIONS.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE FUEL PRESSURE SENSOR FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON JUNE 29, 2007. OWNERS MAY CONTACT VOLVO AT 1-800-458-1552.
VOLVO IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2001-2005 S80, MODEL YEAR 2001-2004 V70, S60, XC70 AND MODEL YEAR 2003-2005 XC90 VEHICLES SOLD IN OR REGISTERED IN THE STATES OF ALABAMA, ARIZONA, ARKANSAS, CALIFORNIA, FLORIDA, GEORGIA, HAWAII, KENTUCKY, LOUISIANA, MISSISSIPPI, NEVADA, NEW MEXICO, NORTH CAROLINA, OKLAHOMA, SOUTH CAROLINA, TENNESSEE, TEXAS, UTAH, VIRGINIA AND THE U.S. TERRITORIES. WHEN EXPOSED TO CERTAIN ENVIRONMENTAL CONDITIONS (HOT CLIMATE AND TEMPERATURE CYCLING) OVER TIME AND IN COMBINATION WITH VARYING FUEL QUALITY, THE FUEL PUMP CAN DEVELOP CRACKS IN THE FUEL PUMP FLANGE.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSPECT THE FUEL PUMP INSTALLED IN THE VEHICLE, AND IF NECESSARY REPLACE THE FUEL PUMP WITH A PART OF A MODIFIED DESIGN. THIS SERVICE WILL BE PERFORMED FREE OF CHARGE. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN ON JANUARY 15, 2010. OWNERS MAY CONTACT VOLVO AT 1-800-458-1552.
CERTAIN PASSENGER CARS FAIL TO COMPLY WITH THE REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 225, "CHILD RESTRAINT ANCHORAGE SYSTEMS." THE SECOND ISOFIX GUIDE WAS NOT INSTALLED IN THESE VEHICLES AND, IN CERTAIN CASES, THE OWNER'S MANUAL ISOFIX INFORMATION IS INCORRECT.
Remedy: OWNERS WILL RECEIVE A LETTER/PACKAGE CONSISTING OF THE SECOND ISOFIX GUIDE WITH INSTALLATION INSTRUCTIONS, AND IN CERTAIN CASES, THE CORRECTED OWNER'S MANUAL MAY BE PROVIDED. IF THE OWNER WANTS TO TAKE THEIR VEHICLE TO A VOLVO DEALER FOR INSTALLATION OF THE GUIDE, IT WILL BE PERFORMED AT NO CHARGE TO THE OWNER. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN ON DECEMBER 19, 2003. OWNERS SHOULD CONTACT VOLVO AT 1-800-458-1552.
How other years compare
Check your exact S60 by VIN
Recalls and equipment differ between individual vehicles. Decode your VIN to see what applies to yours.
Open VIN decoderFrequently asked questions
Is the 2003 Volvo S60 reliable?
NHTSA has 120 owner complaints and 7 recall campaigns on record for the 2003 Volvo S60. The most complained-about area is electrical system (32% of complaints).
At what mileage do 2003 Volvo S60 problems usually appear?
Half of the complaints that mention mileage were filed at 82,000 miles or less.
Does the 2003 Volvo S60 have open recalls?
7 recall campaigns have been issued, the latest concerning air bags:frontal:driver side:inflator module. Check your specific vehicle by VIN - recall repairs are free at franchised dealers.
Source: NHTSA recall campaigns and owner complaints (public domain). Counts reflect reports on file and are not a defect rate.