Most common 2013 Volvo S60 problems
Share of the 87 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 →
2013 Volvo S60 recalls (4)
Seat belts › Front
Volvo Cars of N.A., LLC (Volvo) is recalling certain 2008-2016 V70 and XC70, 2007-2016 S80, 2011-2018 S60 and V60, 2016-2018 S60 Cross Country, 2014-2020 S60L, 2009-2015 S80L, 2009-2016 XC60 and 2015-2018 V60 Cross Country vehicles.
Remedy: Volvo will notify owners, and dealers will replace the seat belt anchor cable for both front seats. The recall began December 10, 2020. Owners may contact Volvo customer service at 1-800-458-1552.
Latches/locks/linkages › Doors › Latch
Volvo Car of USA LLC (Volvo) is recalling certain 2011-2017 S60, S60I, V60, S60CC and V60CC vehicles. A component within the door latches may break, making the doors difficult to latch and/or leading the driver or a passenger to believe a door is securely closed when, in fact, it is not.
Remedy: Volvo will notify owners, and dealers will replace all four door latches, free of charge. The recall began April 9, 2020. Owners may contact Volvo customer service at 1-800-458-1552.
Equipment › Other › Labels
Volvo is recalling certain model year 2013 S60 and XC60 vehicles, manufactured on January 7, 2013. The product identification labels were printed with the incorrect manufacture year. Thus, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of 49 CFR Part 567, "Certification Regulation."
Remedy: Volvo has quarantined the affected vehicles and will install correct labels prior to sale. The recall began during March 2013. Owner notification letters will not be sent.
Air bags › Frontal › Sensor/control module-inactive
Volvo is recalling certain model year 2013 S60 and XC60 vehicles. A manufacturing defect within the Supplemental Restraint System (SRS) control unit may lead to an inadvertent deployment of the seat belt pretensioner and/or inflatable curtain.
Remedy: These vehicles have not been sold and the SRS control unit will be replaced prior to the cars being sold. Owners may contact Volvo at 1-800-458-1552.
What 2013 Volvo S60 owners say
Engine & cooling all 37 →
The contact owns a 2013 Volvo S60. The contact stated that the vehicle failed to warn of low oil pressure. The contact stated he would become aware that the engine oil pressure was low when the vehicle stalled or while servicing the vehicle. The contact was concerned for his safety and for the potential engine damage that could occur. The contact related the failure NHTSA Campaign Number: 13V592000 (Engine and Engine Cooling). Additionally, the contact stated that the vehicle was experiencing excessive oil consumption. The contact stated that he had been adding a quart of oil every 3,000 miles. The vehicle was taken to the dealer where it was diagnosed but no issues were found. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and informed the contact that the VIN was not under recall. No additional assistance was provided. …
The contact owns a 2013 Volvo S60. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the oil pressure warning light illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, where the engine was replaced; however, the failure recurred. The vehicle was taken back to the dealer, where they were unable to duplicate the failure. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 86,000.
Air bags
I was driving through an intersection and my curtain airbags on each side deployed on their own without being in a accident or collision of any kind. There were no indicators or warning lights of malfunction at the time. I just heard a loud pop and saw smoke and the airbags were deployed.
On feb. 3rd, I was pulling into a parking space in front of a store when my S60 r type Volvo began to accelerate on its own and reached very high RPM. My foot was not even on the accelerator as the car normally idles fast enough to perform parking maneuvers. I hit the brake but the car continued to move. It jumped the sidewalk; hit the building and proceeded to dig a hole in the flowerbed at the store's front. This all happened in the length of a parking space. I can't remember whether I shut the ignition off or of the engine stopped on its own shortly after the collision. Neither the airbags nor the pedestrian avoidance braking system deployed. I hit the building so hard that the brick cracked inside and out of the structure. The door is still inoperable.
Electrical system
Car has had regular oil changes and was well below the recommended time for the next change when the engine began knocking in September. I took the car for inspection at a Volvo mechanic repair shop and was told all of the oil was gone and engine is damaged beyond repair. No engine or oil indicator light came on to warn me that the oil was low. I understand the 2011-2012 models were recalled for this issue and apparently the problem continued to the 2013 model. The car has low mileage and I am shocked that it is now effectively totaled. I am now without a vehicle and feel that Volvo should have to correct the situation and that a recall should be issued.
The "Tire Pressure System" warning appeared and has not turned off. New TPMS sensors were installed but the dealership could not get the car to calibrate despite multiple attempts. It has come to my attention that other models of Volvo have this same trouble, and a software update is required.
2013 Volvo S60 engines & fuel economy
| Engine | Transmission | Drive | MPG city / hwy / combined |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2.5L 5-cyl turbo | 6-speed automatic | FWD | 21 / 30 / 24 |
| 2.5L 5-cyl turbo | 6-speed automatic | AWD | 20 / 29 / 23 |
| 3.0L 6-cyl turbo | 6-speed automatic | AWD | 18 / 25 / 21 |
EPA ratings. Class: Compact car.
Frequently asked questions
Is the 2013 Volvo S60 a good car?
Based on 87 owner complaints filed with NHTSA, the 2013 S60 rates avoid: 2.5× as many complaints as a typical year of the S60 at the same age. It is one of the S60 years we suggest avoiding. 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 2013 Volvo S60?
The engine & cooling — 37 complaints, 43% of all complaints for this model year. Next are the air bags (8) and electrical system (7).
How many recalls does the 2013 Volvo S60 have?
There are 4 recalls for the 2013 Volvo S60, the most recent from June 30, 2020 (front). 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 2013 Volvo S60 problems happen?
The median mileage reported in complaints is about 53,000 miles; 49% 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.