Brake complaints by model year
| Year | Complaints | Share of year's complaints | Typical mileage |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 4 | 18% | 4,000 miles |
| 2022 | 2 | 13% | — |
| 2021 | 2 | 25% | — |
| 2020 | 5 | 42% | 8,000 miles |
| 2019 | 2 | 8% | — |
| 2017 | 1 | 6% | 12,000 miles |
| 2016 | 1 | 4% | 54,000 miles |
| 2015 | 5 | 9% | 20,000 miles |
| 2013 | 5 | 6% | 25,000 miles |
| 2012 | 6 | 5% | 7,000 miles |
| 2007 | 2 | 10% | 60,000 miles |
| 2006 | 5 | 16% | 8,000 miles |
| 2005 | 2 | 5% | 98,000 miles |
| 2004 | 9 | 5% | 78,000 miles |
| 2003 | 4 | 3% | 95,000 miles |
| 2002 | 2 | 1% | 229,000 miles |
| 2001 | 6 | 3% | 142,000 miles |
Which parts fail
Components named in complaints (service brakes, ABS, rotors and pads, parking brake).
Mileage when the problem started
What owners report
The contact owns a 2024 Volvo S60. The contact stated that while pulling into a handicap parking spot in the parking spot located in front of Barnes and Noble, on 12/16/2025 around 6:40 P.M., the vehicle experienced uncommanded /unattended acceleration, and the brakes failed when depressed and pressed against the floorboard. and crashed into the cement barrier, which slowed it, and then the vehicle stopped. There were no warning lights illuminated. The vehicle was able to drive away from the crash. The vehicle was towed to a local dealer. The contact had pre-existing spinal injuries and five cervical surgeries. It was undetermined if he was injured during the failure, but he will be seeking medical attention. There was no reported fire, airbag deployment, or police report filed. The local dealer was contacted. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. …
I was at a stoplight with my foot on the brake. The car lurched forward, which prompted me to push harder on the brake. Then, with my foot firmly on the brake, the car accelerated into the car in front of me. There was body damage to the car. Volvo investigated and said that the computer indicated that the gas pedal was engaged at 90% while the brake was engaged at the same time. This would involve me putting my foot on the gas and brake at the same time, which simply is not what happened. There is clearly something wrong with their computer system. The same problem was identified in the XC40 Recharge EV model.
The car has "detected" a crash many times and automatically stopped even on the highway. It jerks and to slam on the brakes and then keeps going. It's very dangerous and I have a strong theory it's the model in general and not an isolated situation with my car.
2020 Volvo S60 t-6 r went in for service at Volvo dealer, 5/12/21, mileage 24,018. Technician noted rear brakes less than 2mm & rotors grooved, needs to be replaced. I was told this is not under warranty, it's normal wear. This vehicle had service at the same dealer on 12/8/20, mileage 16,952 the service report stated, "brakes in the green 7mm or more". The vehicle is driven highway miles mainly, regardless of that fact, brake pads don't not wear down 5mm in 7,000 miles on a new car unless there's an underlying problem, there has already been a recall on the rear automatic park brake, seems likely that there's additional problems with the rear brakes. The replacement cost me $888.00
The contact owns a 2015 Volvo S60. The contact stated while driving approximately 15 MPH and slowing down for a crosswalk with pedestrians in the crosswalk, the vehicle independently accelerated while depressing the brake pedal. The contact stated that she had not noticed any warning lights being illuminated. The contact stated that the failure was intermittent. The contact had taken the vehicle to a local dealer, where it was diagnosed and determined that the failure could not be duplicated. The vehicle had not been repaired. The manufacturer had been informed of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 15,000.
The contact owns a 2015 Volvo S60. The contact stated while driving 20 MPH, the brake pedal was depressed however, the vehicle failed to stop until the brake pedal had gone to the floorboard. There was no warning light illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, but no failure was found. The contact stated that the failure had occurred several times. The contact stated that the vehicle was test driven by the mechanic however, the cause of the failure was not yet determined. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure and no assistance was offered. The failure mileage was approximately 14,000.
I started losing brake pressure rapidly about a month ago. Took it to a shop and they recommended replacing the master cylinder. The repair was completed and the braking improved for about 2 weeks and then I lost all brake pressure. The vehicle was not safe to operate and I had it towed back to the shop once again. Again they suggested replacing the master cylinder. We completed that repair and I had brake pressure for about three days. Then my low brake fluid light came on. As of right now my pedal is squishy and I have to put brake fluid in every 24 hours. There are no external leaks but we can't figure out what the issue is. It's become a serious safety hazard. Possibly an internal leak into the brake booster. It's also a common issue among other Volvo owners of this year and model.
City Safety feature is triggering on intermittently with no reason to trigger. It occurs when initially accelerating. City Safety applies the brakes and stops the car violently. Occurs when light or dark. Has occurred several times within the past week. The feature can be manually turned off and now is with every ignition start. The default is for the feature be on, so turning off is required every time the car is turned on.
Related recalls (1)
Service brakes, hydraulic
Volvo Car USA, LLC (Volvo Car) is recalling certain 2023 S60, V60, V60CC, V90CC, XC60, XC90, XC40, and C40 vehicles. A diagnostic error in the Brake Control Module 2 (BCM2) may cause a loss of Antilock Brake System (ABS), Electronic Stability Control (ESC), and traction control.
Remedy: Volvo will release an over-the-air (OTA) BCM2 software update, free of charge. Owner notification letters are expected to be mailed March 15, 2023. Owners may contact Volvo Car customer service at 1-800-458-1552.
Frequently asked questions
Which Volvo S60 years have brake problems?
By NHTSA complaints, the 2004 (9), 2001 (6), 2012 (6), 2006 (5) and 2013 (5) model years. Brake complaints make up 5% of all complaints for the 2004.
Is there a recall for Volvo S60 brake problems?
Yes — 1 recall, including 23V-012 (service brakes, hydraulic, Jan 19, 2023). Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers; check a specific car with the VIN recall check.
At what mileage do Volvo S60 brake problems start?
Across all years, half of the complaints with a recorded mileage happened before about 59,000 miles; 49% happened before 50,000 miles.
What part fails most often?
Owners most often name the antilock/traction control/electronic limited slip (3 mentions), followed by the foundation components › disc › pads (1).
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.