Most common 2006 Volvo S60 problems
Share of the 31 complaints; one complaint can involve more than one system. "~" is the median mileage when the problem started.
Volvo S60 complaints by model year
Best S60 years: 2011, 2025, 2021. Years to avoid: 2012, 2024, 2013, 2015, 2001. Compare all years →
2006 Volvo S60 recalls (3)
Air bags › Frontal › Driver side › Inflator module
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.
Equipment › Electrical › Navigational system(global positioning system)
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.
Equipment › Other › Labels
Certain vehicles fail to conform to the requirements of federal motor vehicle safety standard no. 110, "tire selection and rims." the label denoting the tire and loading pressure information is incorrect.
Remedy: Dealers will mail the correct labels free of charge. The recall began on December 18, 2006. Owners May contact Volvo at 1-800-458-1552.
What 2006 Volvo S60 owners say
Engine & cooling
My 06 s60 has blown 3 charge air hoses in the EXACT same spot. (The hose behind the radiator.) A golf-ball sized hole blows out in a bend in the hose while driving. The car will idle , but throttle up at all. The dealer says this is a fluke.
I have made a recent complaint regarding safety concerns with a faulty etm (electronic throttle module) on my vehicle. I dropped it off at my local authorized dealer for Volvo and I did not tell them that the car produced an error code p2135 / ECM-9200 -- throttle position sensor --faulty signal, because I wanted to see what error codes they would pull off. It is my understand even if I reset the 'check engine' light the dealer is able to pull the codes of the computer. Well in this case the dealer called me today and advised me that no codes could be pulled but wanted to know if the person working on my car could take it home with him and take a reader. I said no, but I did not take my car there because I want something for free. I am beyond frustrated with the Volvo because of the faulty design. …
Air bags
The contact owns a 2006 Volvo S60. The contact stated that the air bag was replaced under NHTSA Campaign Number: 21V766000 (Air Bags) and approximately 2 weeks later, while the vehicle was idling at a stop sign, the air bag compartment on the driver's side started smoking and the air bag warning light illuminated. The smoke then dissipated. There were no injuries or medical attention needed. The contact returned the vehicle to the dealer who was unable to duplicate the failure. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. the manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 84,190.
I was expected to pay over one thousand dollars to have the recall remedy performed. My home and location of car is Ketchikan, Alaska. There is no Volvo dealer in Ketchikan and no roads connecting town with the mainland road system. The car would have to be shipped by either aircraft or oceangoing vessel to the mainland for access to a Volvo dealer. This would cost a lot of money. I perform all maintenance and repairs myself so I contacted Volvo asking then to ship me the air bag for installation. Volvo responded that I must take the car to a dealer at my own expense. The practical reality is that transporting the car to a dealer for this (or any other recall) is completely unreasonable, making it virtually impossible to have the recall repair performed unless Volvo will simply supply the part so I can install it.
Brakes
This report concerns the failure of the parking brake assembly on mid 2000s Volvo sedans and specifically, a 2006 Volvo S60, 2.5t. Specifically, a de-lamination of the parking brake shoe assembly, which results in a tendency for a metal component of the shoe assembly to dislodge and jam between the brake pad and rotor, resulting in the brake suddenly locking up with no warning. While the event giving rise to this report occurred at approximately 20mph, at high speeds, a brake jam event of this nature could result in serious injury or death. The onset of the de-lamination of the parking brake shoe assembly occurs with no warning, other than a mild bumping noise when the vehicle is placed into reverse or drive at low speeds. …
Jan., 2007: car was towed to Volvo dealership. After taking car to car wash in 14 degree weather, tire, brake pads or rotor froze, making the car undriveable. Feb. 24, 2007: drove 45 minutes on highway during blowing snow. My car had been parked in my home garage. I parked car outside for 3 hours at my destination. Driving the 45 minutes return trip, the steering wheel shook like I was holding onto a battering Ram or jack hammer resulting in extremely rough driving. According to the dealership, the tire, brake pads or rotor froze and the freezing problem makes the tire(s) seem out of balance. The tires felt extremely out of balance. My hands were literally shaking like I had parkinsons. 3/7/07: on my way to work after car was parked in my home garage, the tires or brakes, etc. Must have frozen again within ten minutes. …
2006 Volvo S60 engines & fuel economy
| Engine | Transmission | Drive | MPG city / hwy / combined |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2.4L 5-cyl | 5-speed automatic | FWD | 19 / 26 / 22 |
| 2.4L 5-cyl | 5-speed manual | FWD | 19 / 27 / 22 |
| 2.5L 5-cyl turbo | 5-speed automatic | FWD | 19 / 28 / 22 |
| 2.4L 5-cyl turbo | 6-speed manual | FWD | 18 / 26 / 21 |
| 2.4L 5-cyl turbo | 5-speed automatic | FWD | 18 / 26 / 21 |
| 2.5L 5-cyl turbo | 5-speed automatic | 4WD/AWD | 17 / 25 / 20 |
| 2.5L 5-cyl turbo | 6-speed manual | 4WD/AWD | 16 / 23 / 19 |
| 2.5L 5-cyl turbo | 6-speed automatic | 4WD/AWD | 16 / 23 / 18 |
EPA ratings. Class: Compact car.
Frequently asked questions
Is the 2006 Volvo S60 a good car?
Based on 31 owner complaints filed with NHTSA, the 2006 S60 rates better than average: 42% fewer complaints than a typical year of the S60 at the same age. Complaint counts don't account for sales volume or individual maintenance, so have any used car inspected before buying.
What is the most common problem with the 2006 Volvo S60?
The engine & cooling — 9 complaints, 29% of all complaints for this model year, most often about cooling system › radiator assembly. Next are the air bags (6) and brakes (5).
How many recalls does the 2006 Volvo S60 have?
There are 3 recalls for the 2006 Volvo S60, the most recent from September 30, 2021 (inflator module). Recall repairs are free at any authorized dealer — check whether yours has been done with the VIN recall check.
What are the best and worst years of the Volvo S60?
The best years by complaints, compared at the same age, are 2011, 2025 and 2021. Years to avoid or approach with caution: 2012, 2024, 2013, 2015 and 2001. See the full Volvo S60 years comparison.
At what mileage do 2006 Volvo S60 problems happen?
The median mileage reported in complaints is about 48,000 miles; 55% of problems with a recorded mileage started before 50,000 miles.
Source: U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) — owner complaints through October 20, 2026, recalls and defect investigations; fuel economy from the EPA. Complaints are unverified reports and are not proof of a defect. How we rate model years.