Most common 2018 Volvo XC60 problems
Share of the 36 complaints; one complaint can involve more than one system. "~" is the median mileage when the problem started.
Volvo XC60 complaints by model year
Best XC60 years: 2014, 2017, 2012. Years to avoid: 2022, 2023, 2025, 2024, 2021. Compare all years →
2018 Volvo XC60 recalls (5)
Seats › Critical fasteners
Volvo Car USA, LLC (Volvo) is recalling certain 2026 XC60MHEV, 2018 and 2025 XC60 vehicles. The front seat bolts may have been improperly tightened, resulting in loose bolts.
Remedy: Dealers will tighten the front seat bolts, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed December 17, 2025. Owners may contact Volvo's customer service at 1-800-458-1552.
Visibility/wiper
Volvo Car of N.A., LLC (Volvo Cars) is recalling certain 2018-2020 XC60 vehicles. The nuts that secure the front wipers may not have been sufficiently tightened, possibly causing the wipers to not function properly.
Remedy: Volvo Car will notify owners, and dealers will tighten the nuts holding the front windshield wiper arms in position, free of charge. The recall began September 29, 2020.
Seats
Volvo Car USA LLC (Volvo) is recalling certain 2018-2019 XC60 and S90 vehicles. The driver and passenger front seat rail rear flange nuts may not have been installed during assembly.
Remedy: Volvo will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the front seat rails for missing flange nuts, installing them as necessary, free of charge. The recall began May 7, 2019.
Structure › Body › Tailgate
Volvo Car USA LLC (Volvo) is recalling certain 2018-2019 Volvo XC60 vehicles. Under certain conditions and cold temperatures, the tailgate lifting arms may freeze which may cause the lifting arms to separate from the vehicle.
Remedy: Volvo has notified owners, and dealers will replace the tailgate lift arms with an improved designed, free of charge. The recall began May 14, 2019. Owners may contact Volvo customer service at 1-800-458-1552.
Electrical system › Software
Volvo Car USA LLC (Volvo) is recalling certain 2017-2019 Volvo XC90, S90, V60, V60 Cross Country, V90, XC40, XC60, and V90 Cross Country vehicles. The software installed in the Vehicle Connectivity Module (VCM) may have an error causing the Telematics and Driver Support Systems to function improperly.
Remedy: Volvo will notify owners, and dealers will correct the software, free of charge. The recall began December 26, 2018. Owners may contact Volvo customer service at 1-800-458-1552. Volvo's number for this recall is R39917.
NHTSA defect investigations
Federal safety investigators have looked into a possible defect involving the 2018 Volvo XC60:
Pedestrian alert sounds
NHTSA received a petition on or about July 18, 2022, requesting that Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) 141 be applied to all electric and hybrid vehicles operating in the United States. The petition can be reviewed at NHTSA.gov under ODI Number 11486072. FMVSS 141 establishes performance requirements for pedestrian alert sounds for motor vehicles.
What 2018 Volvo XC60 owners say
Electrical system
Rainwater leaked into front of vehicle and settled in undercarriage causing a short in the passenger side airbag and error message for gear selector. The warning light for the airbag lit up. The vehicle has been inspected by a dealership and the cause of the problem was a clog in the drainage system under the windshied. The clog was redirecting water down into the vehicle and destroyed the main wiring harness. My passenger's safety was at risk because the airbag malfunctioned during driving. Other components could have also shorted out. The ability of the rainwater to drain into the vehicle's electrical components is the result of poor water drainage design and could be remedied easily.
When I had to slow down or suddenly stop because there were other cars in front of me, I. stepped on the break, but it did not stop; maybe it slowed down a little, but the acceleration seemed to accelerate faster. I could hear the acceleration sound. I had to push the gear to stop. The car finally stopped. But I almost hit the front car. Similar occurrences happened when I came to a stop signal, which could have involved me in a serious accident, even fatal. I still drive the car because I have only one car. Most of the time, it works normally, but the problem occurs occasionally. I am scared, thinking it will happen again.
Brakes
When I had to slow down or suddenly stop because there were other cars in front of me, I. stepped on the break, but it did not stop; maybe it slowed down a little, but the acceleration seemed to accelerate faster. I could hear the acceleration sound. I had to push the gear to stop. The car finally stopped. But I almost hit the front car. Similar occurrences happened when I came to a stop signal, which could have involved me in a serious accident, even fatal. I still drive the car because I have only one car. Most of the time, it works normally, but the problem occurs occasionally. I am scared, thinking it will happen again.
Brakes continue to malfunction & I am having to replace brakes & rotors each time at approximately 25k mile intervals. Local dealership in Baton Rouge Louisiana & Lafayette Louisiana continue diminish my concerns and state this in normal wear for this vehicle. i am certain this not the case.
Driver assistance
The contact owns a 2018 Volvo XC60. The contact stated while driving 75 MPH, The Forward Collision Avoidance feature inadvertently activated, and the vehicle stopped abruptly without warning. The vehicle was taken to the dealer and a software update was performed; however, the failure reoccurred. The vehicle was taken back to the dealer however, the mechanic found no cause for the failure. The contact was informed that the vehicle performed as designed. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was contacted but no assistance was provided. The failure mileage was 13,000.
When Pilot Assist's steering assistance is unable to keep the car in the lane, it will disengage without any audible warning nor visual warning (screen flash, popup message,...). The only indication is the 3/4" steering wheel icon at the bottom left of the instrument cluster, changes color from green to grey. It has been behaving this way since the day I purchased the car in early 2018 and continues to behave this way today. The owner's manual makes no mention of any audible or visual warning. The owner's manual can be downoaded at Volvo's website https://volvo.custhelp.com/app/manuals/ownersmanualinfo/year/2018/model/XC60
2018 Volvo XC60 engines & fuel economy
| Engine | Transmission | Drive | MPG city / hwy / combined |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2.0L 4-cyl turbo supercharged plug-in hybrid | 8-speed automatic | AWD | 26 / 28 / 26 |
| 2.0L 4-cyl turbo | 8-speed automatic | AWD | 22 / 28 / 24 |
| 2.0L 4-cyl turbo supercharged | 8-speed automatic | AWD | 21 / 27 / 23 |
EPA ratings. Class: Small SUV.
Frequently asked questions
Is the 2018 Volvo XC60 a good car?
Based on 36 owner complaints filed with NHTSA, the 2018 XC60 rates use caution: 1.5× as many complaints as a typical year of the XC60 at the same age. It is one of the XC60 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 2018 Volvo XC60?
The electrical system — 11 complaints, 31% of all complaints for this model year. Next are the brakes (7) and driver assistance (4).
How many recalls does the 2018 Volvo XC60 have?
There are 5 recalls for the 2018 Volvo XC60, the most recent from November 25, 2025 (critical fasteners). 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 XC60?
The best years by complaints, compared at the same age, are 2014, 2017 and 2012. Years to avoid or approach with caution: 2022, 2023, 2025, 2024 and 2021. See the full Volvo XC60 years comparison.
At what mileage do 2018 Volvo XC60 problems happen?
The median mileage reported in complaints is about 16,000 miles; 87% 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.