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2021 Volvo S60

Plug-in hybrid Gas

Compact Cars
4 EPA-rated configurations
Data refreshed 2026-10-26

Safety Signal

72 / 100 from the NHTSA recall record

Recalls1 critical 3

Complaintsnone reporting a crash, fire or injury 8

Crash ratingNHTSA overall 5★

Fuel economybest combined, EPA 30 mpg

2025 2024 2023 2022 2021 2020 2019 2018 2017 2016

The 2021 Volvo S60 is sold in the U.S. as a plug-in hybrid and gas compact sedan with 4 EPA-rated configurations. The most efficient version, the S60 AWD PHEV, is EPA-rated at 30 mpg combined. NHTSA lists 3 recall campaigns for this model year, 1 rated critical, which gives it a Safety Signal grade of C. Owners have filed 8 complaints, most often about the electrical system. NHTSA crash-tested it at 5 stars overall.

Volvo S60 — photograph via Wikimedia Commons — Volvo S60 · Photo: Benespit · CC BY-SA 4.0 · Wikimedia Commons

Specs & fuel economy

Source: EPA fueleconomy.gov

Configuration	Powertrain	Drive	Engine / motor	City	Hwy	Comb	Range	kWh/100mi	Charge (240V)	Annual fuel*
S60 AWD PHEV	Plug-in hybrid	AWD	2.0L 4-cyl turbo + 34 and 65 kW 3-phase Sync.	28	33	30 (42 MPGe blended)	22 mi electric	47	3 h	$2,750
S60 FWD	Gas	FWD	2.0L 4-cyl turbo	23	34	27	—	—	—	$3,050
S60 AWD	Gas	AWD	2.0L 4-cyl turbo	22	33	26	—	—	—	$3,150
S60 AWD	Gas	AWD	2.0L 4-cyl turbo	21	32	25	—	—	—	$3,300

*EPA estimate at 15,000 miles/year at EPA reference fuel and electricity prices. fueleconomy.gov record ids: 43408, 42675, 43174, 42676.

Emissions & certification

Source: EPA emission certificates

Configuration	Smog rating	Emission standard	Where it can be sold new	SmartWay
S60 AWD PHEV	7 / 10	California LEV-III SULEV30 / Federal Tier 3 Bin 30	All 50 states (federal, all altitudes); California and states following California standards	SmartWay
S60 AWD, S60 FWD	5 / 10	Federal Tier 3 Bin 70	All 50 states (federal, all altitudes)	—
S60 AWD	7 / 10	California LEV-III SULEV30 / Federal Tier 3 Bin 30	All 50 states (federal, all altitudes); California and states following California standards	—

Certified for all fifty states, so it can be registered new anywhere in the U.S.

The smog rating scores tailpipe pollutants other than greenhouse gases, 1 (worst) to 10 (best), and is comparable only within a model year. The standard is the federal bin or California tier the configuration was certified to. Both come from the EPA certificate behind the window sticker.

Specifications filed with NHTSA

Source: NHTSA vPIC

Dimensions Exterior

Body style	Sedan/Saloon
Doors	4
GVWR class	Class 1: 6,000 lb or less (2,722 kg or less)

Engine Basics

Cylinders	4
Displacement	2 L

Engine Output

Horsepower

250 hp

Fuel Economy

Fuel	Gasoline

Seating

Seat rows	2
Seating capacity	5 seats

Transmission

Drivetrain	AWD/All-Wheel Drive
Transmission	Automatic
Transmission speeds	8

Driver assistance

Standard: Anti-lock brakes, Automatic emergency braking, Backup camera, Blind-spot monitoring, Electronic stability control, Forward collision warning, Lane departure warning, Lane keeping assist, Pedestrian automatic emergency braking

Optional: Adaptive cruise control, Parking assist

Filed by the manufacturer with NHTSA under the federal vehicle-identification rule and decoded from the VIN pattern — not a manufacturer press kit, so it describes the configurations we could identify rather than every trim (seen: Inscription, Momentum, R-Design, R-design (Momentum)). Figures for the trim you are looking at may differ.

Dimensions & weight

Source: Transport Canada

Length	187.4 in
Width (body, without mirrors)	72.8 in
Height	56.3 in
Wheelbase	113.0 in
Track, front	63.0 in
Track, rear	63.0 in
Curb weight	3,719–4,482 lb
Weight distribution, front/rear	56/44

Measured by Transport Canada for its Canadian Vehicle Specifications database, which covers the North American versions of each model — here 4 configurations: 4-door Sedan AWD, 4-door Sedan FWD, Polestar 4-door Sedan, Recharge 4-door Sedan. Where a range is shown, those versions differ. Width is the body without mirrors, which is why it can read narrower than a brochure figure. Before we used it we checked it against the US manufacturer press kits we hold (27 Sep 2026): wheelbase agreed within 1% on every vehicle we could compare, length on 98%, and the curb weight fell inside the manufacturer's range on 96%. Source dataset. Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence – Canada. Licence.

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Recalls (3)

Source: NHTSA recall database

!critical

Electrical System

R10312

7,483 vehicles 85% reported repaired built Jun 25, 2019 – Nov 30, 2021

Problem Volvo Car USA, LLC (Volvo Car) is recalling certain 2020-2021 S90, 2020-2022 S60, V60, XC60, XC90, and 2022 V90 plug-in hybrid vehicles. The high-voltage battery may experience a short circuit within the battery module when the battery is fully charged and the vehicle is parked. Risk A short circuit in a high-voltage battery increases the risk of a fire. Fix Owners are advised not to charge their vehicles until the remedy has been completed. Dealers will inspect and replace the high-voltage battery module as necessary. In addition, dealers will update the software to monitor the battery. All repairs will be performed free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed May 28, 2025. Owners may contact Volvo Car's customer service at 1-800-458-1552. Volvo Car's number for this recall is R10312.

Filed with NHTSADefect report PDF

NHTSA campaign 25V179000 reported Mar 24, 2025 Volvo Car USA, LLC the full filing, and every vehicle covered →

▲high

Air Bags

R10254

346 vehicles 94% reported repaired

Problem Volvo Car USA, LLC. (Volvo Car) is recalling certain 2019-2024 S60 vehicles. The passenger air bag may not be secured properly, which can cause the air bag to deploy improperly. Risk An air bag that does not deploy properly in a crash increases the risk of injury. Fix Dealers will inspect and tighten the bolts securing the passenger air bag, as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed January 5, 2024. Owners may contact Volvo Car customer service at 1-800-458-1552. Volvo Car's number for this recall is R10254.

Filed with NHTSARemedy instructions PDF

NHTSA campaign 23V780000 reported Nov 21, 2023 Volvo Car USA, LLC the full filing, and every vehicle covered →

▲high

Seat Belts

R10111

19,149 vehicles 98% reported repaired

Problem Volvo Car USA, LLC (Volvo Car) is recalling certain 2021 XC40, XC 40 Recharge, V60CC, V90, V90CC, XC90, and 2021-2022 V60, XC60, S60 vehicles. The seat belt automatic locking retractors may deactivate early, which can prevent the child restraint system from securing properly. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 208, "Occupant Crash Protection." Risk An unsecured child restraint system can increase the risk of injury during a crash. Fix Dealers will inspect and replace the seat belt assemblies, as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed October 13, 2021. Owners may contact Volvo Car customer service at 1-888-458-1552. Volvo Car's number for this recall is R10111.

Filed with NHTSAOwner letter PDF Remedy instructions PDF

NHTSA campaign 21V682000 reported Sep 1, 2021 Volvo Car USA, LLC the full filing, and every vehicle covered →

These are vehicle campaigns — the ones the automaker filed against this model. NHTSA also records equipment recalls, filed by a parts maker against a component (a tyre, a child seat, an aftermarket part), and those are not listed here or counted above. nhtsa.gov/recalls shows both for a VIN.

NHTSA defect investigations

Electrical System:Propulsion System — Pedestrian alert sounds closed

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. The standard applies to hybrid and electric vehicles that have a gross vehicle weight rating of 4,536 KG or less or are defined as low-speed vehicles. The standard became fully applicable to all such vehicles manufactured on or after March 1, 2021. On January 27, 2023, NHTSA opened Defect Petition (DP) 22-005 to evaluate the subject mat

Opened Jan 27, 2023 · closed Aug 7, 2023 · action DP22005 · the investigation’s page →

Whether any of this applies to one specific S60

A campaign covers a build range, not a model year, so two identical-looking cars from 2021 can differ. Both of these check a VIN against the manufacturer’s own list, free, in about ten seconds. Volvo publishes its own lookup because federal rule 49 CFR 573.15 requires it to, and to keep it current to within seven days.

NHTSA VIN check →Volvo’s own VIN lookup →

Hear about a recall before the letter does

The manufacturer’s letter is the last step of a recall: it has up to 60 days after filing to mail owners, at the address on the registration. We email you the day NHTSA posts a recall on the 2021 Volvo S60, with what to do next. Nothing else, ever — no newsletter, no marketing, one-click unsubscribe in every message.

Owner complaints

Source: NHTSA complaint database

8complaints filed

0 involved a crash · 0 a fire · 0 injuries · 0 deaths reported

8.2 per 10,000 built · Volvo reported 9,730 S60 built (its Early Warning production report to NHTSA)

Filed per year: 2021: 1 · 2022: 1 · 2023: 1 · 2025: 2 · 2026: 3

Most-cited components

Electrical System 4

Unspecified 3

Visibility/Wiper 3

Service Brakes 2

Engine 1

Steering 1

In owners' own words

Filed with NHTSA by the people who own these cars, one per problem area. Quoted as written, with anything identifying removed.

The high voltage coolant heater failed. It will not heat when running solely on battery. Defrost therefore will not get warm to clear windshield

Electrical System Feb 27, 2026 NHTSA owner report · ODI 11721000

I believe that there is a material or design defect in the front brakes of this car that is leading to the premature failure of the front brake rotors. Two sets of front brake rotors have been replaced on the car due to excessive warping in the first 15K miles of operation.

Service Brakes Dec 14, 2023 NHTSA owner report · ODI 11560138

The "Maintenance Mode" required to change the wiper blades malfunctioned, and the wipers- without the rubber blades attached- suddenly smashed onto the windshield, creating a large star crack/shatter, which spread across the entire windshield in two long cracks by the next day.

Visibility/Wiper Aug 19, 2026 NHTSA owner report · ODI 11758056

2021 Volvo S60 T8 AWD, VIN , ~71k miles Component: SUNROOF / DRAINAGE SYSTEM / ELECTRICAL SYSTEM Summary: Water entered the passenger compartment through clogged sunroof drain hoses and accumulated under the front passenger seat, causing catastrophic failure of wide angle module (WAM) and related electronic components (incl.

Electrical System Nov 29, 2025 NHTSA owner report · ODI 11701998

My car developed a severe shake in the steering wheel and pulsing in the brake pedal while under braking. The problem has worsened to the point that braking at high speed creates a serious shaking. I took the car to the dealership and they diagnosed the problem as warped rotors. The car started this with less than 15000 miles on the car.

Service Brakes Nov 20, 2022 NHTSA owner report · ODI 11494338

While I was going down a small side street that is a hill, the air conditioning system suddenly went off and immediately the entire car's mechanisms ceased. The engine stopped and the car was unstearable and the brakes were not working.

Electrical System May 29, 2021 NHTSA owner report · ODI 11418969

Complaint counts are raw owner reports to NHTSA, not verified defects, and scale with how many were sold. Use them to spot patterns, not to rank.

Reported by Volvo itself: 1 death-or-injury claim on this model year in its quarterly Early Warning reports to NHTSA (49 CFR 579.21): 1 injured, as claimed, not verified — about 10 per 100,000 built. Every S60 model year, by year and system → Dated and by system, they are exhibit F of the defect dossier.

Crash ratings

Source: NHTSA NCAP

Configuration	Overall	Frontal	Side	Rollover	Rollover risk
4 DR AWD	★★★★★	★★★★☆	★★★★★	★★★★★	10%
4 DR AWD	★★★★★	★★★★☆	★★★★★	★★★★★	10%
4 DR FWD	★★★★★	★★★★☆	★★★★★	★★★★★	10%

NHTSA New Car Assessment Program. Standard driver-assist: forward collision warning.

Service bulletins & campaigns

Source: NHTSA manufacturer communications

Communicationsfiled with NHTSA 356

Most recentmanufacturer date 2026-09-14

Kindsas classified by NHTSA 347 service bulletins, 5 others, 4 service campaigns

Most often about: Electrical System, Equipment, Unknown Or Other, Exterior Lighting, Engine.

37426.2.0 Service bulletin
2026-09-14 · Exterior Lighting
This is a TJ Text only no attachments. --- If the crystal gear shift knob light stays illuminated after the vehicle is locked and is not in active mode, A fix for this issue is introduced with software version 5.0.5.
37774.1.0 Service bulletin
2026-07-28 · Exterior Lighting
This is a TJ - Text plus 1 PDF attachment - f the headlamp horizontal light aim cannot be adjusted via the set screw, If the horizontal light aim cannot be adjusted because the cogwheel knob is broken, do not replace the entire headlamp. Instead, use the spare part kit part number 32476677 to replace the affected component, please follow the instructions under "Service".
37631.3.0 Service bulletin
2026-07-28 · Exterior Lighting
This is a TJ - text only no attachments - If customer complains of a headlamp error message in DIM, in combination with any of the DTCs stated below, follow advice under "Service".
36863.4.0 Service bulletin
2026-07-28 · Electrical System
This is a Technical Journal: DIM Message and DTC IEM P0C0500. 1. Erase the DTC 2. Test drive the vehicle in electrical mode and accelerate until the vehicle reaches a minimum of 30 km/h (19 mph). 3. Perform a new VIDA readout If the DTC IEM P0C0500 does not return, do not replace any parts. Release the car to customer.
37839.1.1 Service bulletin
2026-05-23 · Unknown Or Other
This is a TJ - Text plus two .mov attachments - If the customer is experiencing a frozen Sirius Radio banner, meaning in the app view the title of the song and station name will stay on the previous selected station; the audio will be for the station that is selected and not what is shown on the screen, follow the advice on this TJ under “Service”
33031.6.0 Service bulletin
2026-05-23 · Unknown Or Other
This is a Technical Journal: Text plus 1 .jpg attachment - If remote control key is not detected by the car and shows message in DIM "Car key not found" or if functions such as lock/unlock are not working, please follow advice for detecting key
37839.1.1 Service bulletin
2026-05-20 · Unknown Or Other
This is a TJ - Text plus two .mov attachments - If the customer is experiencing a frozen Sirius Radio banner, meaning in the app view the title of the song and station name will stay on the previous selected station; the audio will be for the station that is selected and not what is shown on the screen, follow the advice on this TJ under “Service”
36496.10.0 Service bulletin
2026-05-07 · Power Train
This is a Technical Journal: Intermittent knocking noise during acceleration. If the sound corresponds to attached sound file, change front drive shafts to the below part numbers.

A service bulletin is the manufacturer telling its dealers how to diagnose or repair a known condition. It is not a recall, not a finding that the vehicle is defective, and the work is not automatically free — though a bulletin is often what a dealer works from when you describe a symptom, so quoting the document number can save a diagnosis. The count is every communication filed; the list shows the most recent, one entry per campaign, because a single campaign is usually filed as several documents on the same day. The summaries are NHTSA's; the full documents come from the manufacturer.

Diagnostic trouble codes on file

Source: NHTSA manufacturer communications and complaints

Codes documented against this model year in the federal record. A code appearing here does not mean this vehicle will set it — it means the code is part of this nameplate-year's documented history.

Code	What it means	Most often filed under	Where it appears
U029D U029D on Volvo →	Manufacturer-defined — the meaning is set by the automaker, not the standard.	Engine	2 bulletins
U029E	Manufacturer-defined — the meaning is set by the automaker, not the standard.	Engine	2 bulletins
U02A3	Manufacturer-defined — the meaning is set by the automaker, not the standard.	Engine	2 bulletins

Generic codes (the second character is 0 or 2) mean the same thing on every vehicle sold in the United States. Manufacturer-specific codes (1 or 3) mean whatever the automaker assigned, and no honest source can define them for you — which is why the ones here carry the evidence instead of a definition. A code is a link when enough separate federal documents name it across the catalogue to be worth a page of its own; the rest are listed here, where the vehicle is the context that makes them mean something.

At the New York inspection station

Source: New York State DMV

New York inspections 0.94%

failed emissions

531 initial inspections of 518 vehicles.

Measure	The 2021 S60	Every 2021 vehicle	Behind it
Failed the emissions check	0.94%	1.9%	531
Failed the safety inspection	1.3%	1.5%	531
Air-bag warning lamp stayed lit	0%	0.19%	531
Miles driven a year	8,533	10,343	odometer at inspection
Average odometer	45,038	54,681	odometer at inspection

New York’s emissions test on these model years is an on-board diagnostics check: it fails a car whose check-engine light is on or whose self-tests have not finished. First inspections only, so a car that failed and came back is counted once; private and special plates, not taxis, livery or commercial plates. A rate appears only where at least 200 inspections stand behind it. “Every 2021 vehicle” is every 2021 model-year car, SUV and pickup inspected in the same window, all makes. This is the state’s record of test results, not a reliability score by itself. Source: New York State Department of Motor Vehicles, Vehicle Inspections (data.ny.gov, Open NY terms).

S60 by model year

all years, side by side →

Year Safety Recalls Complaints

2025 C 3 0 31 mpg 2024 C 4 22 31 mpg 2023 D 7 3 31 mpg 2022 D 4 15 31 mpg 2021 this page C 3 8 30 mpg 2020 D 6 12 30 mpg 2019 C 5 25 31 mpg 2018 A 1 4 29 mpg 2017 D 6 18 29 mpg 2016 C 4 29 30 mpg

Common questions about the 2021 S60

Source: EPA, NHTSA and manufacturer press kits

Does the 2021 Volvo S60 have any recalls?

NHTSA has posted 3 recall campaigns for the 2021 Volvo S60, 1 of them rated critical. The most serious on file is 25V179000, covering Electrical System. Check your own VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls; a recall applies to specific build ranges, not every car.

How safe is the 2021 Volvo S60?

NHTSA gave the 2021 Volvo S60 5 stars overall in its New Car Assessment Program tests — 4-star frontal crash, 5-star side crash, 5-star rollover. WhichTrim also grades it C (72/100) on its recall record, which is a different question from crash protection.

What is the fuel economy of the 2021 Volvo S60?

Across the 4 EPA-rated configurations of the 2021 Volvo S60, the best EPA combined figure is 30 mpg (MPGe on the electrified versions). Figures are the EPA's own, per configuration, and every one is listed above.

What are the dimensions of the 2021 Volvo S60?

Transport Canada measured it at 187.4 in long, 72.8 in wide (body, without mirrors), 56.3 in tall, on a 113.0 in wheelbase. Curb weight: 3,719–4,482 lb depending on configuration. Those are its measurements of the North American versions; every figure is in the table above.

What do owners complain about on the 2021 Volvo S60?

Owners have filed 8 complaints with NHTSA about the 2021 Volvo S60, most often about electrical system, unspecified, visibility/wiper. Complaints are unverified owner reports, so treat the pattern as a signal and the individual report as an anecdote.

How clean is the 2021 Volvo S60?

The EPA smog rating for the 2021 Volvo S60 runs 5 to 7 out of 10 across its configurations. That score covers tailpipe pollutants other than greenhouse gases, and it only compares vehicles within the same model year. It is certified for all fifty states, so it can be registered new anywhere in the U.S. Its configurations were certified to different standards — California LEV-III SULEV30, Federal Tier 3 Bin 30, Federal Tier 3 Bin 70 — which the table above lists per configuration.

Are there service bulletins for the 2021 Volvo S60?

The manufacturer has filed 356 service bulletins and related communications with NHTSA for the 2021 Volvo S60, most often covering electrical system, equipment, unknown or other. The most recent is dated 2026-09-14. A bulletin is not a recall: it is the repair procedure a manufacturer sends its dealers for a condition it knows about, and the work is not automatically paid for. It is still worth knowing — if the symptom matches, quoting the bulletin number at the service desk can save a diagnosis. The document numbers and summaries are listed above.

How does the 2021 Volvo S60 do at state inspection?

In New York’s inspection lanes over the 12 months to Oct 10, 2026, the 2021 Volvo S60 failed the emissions check on 0.94% of first inspections — lower than the 1.9% for every 2021 model-year vehicle inspected; and the safety inspection on 1.3% (every 2021 vehicle: 1.5%). The figures are New York State DMV’s own inspection records, first inspections only, and the table above sets each one against every vehicle of the same model year.

What we hold, and what an empty row means

Paid vehicle-history reports will not tell you the difference between “nothing happened to this car” and “we never received that record” — both of the big two say as much in their own help pages. Most of what is on this page comes from complete federal registers, so we can tell you which is which, row by row.

Data	Held	Source	What it covers — or what empty means
Fuel economy & configurations	4 configurations	EPA certification records	Every configuration the EPA certified for sale, with its own test figures.
Emission certificates	4 configurations	EPA emission certificates	Smog rating, standard and the sales area that decides where the car can be sold new.
Recalls	3	NHTSA recall campaigns	A complete federal register: every campaign covering this model year, with severity and advisory flags.
Owner complaints	8	NHTSA complaint database	Also complete, but unverified: these are reports owners filed, not findings. Counts scale with how many were sold.
Crash ratings	3 tested	NHTSA NCAP	Only the configurations NHTSA chose to crash-test, which is never all of them.
Service bulletins	356	NHTSA manufacturer communications	Everything the manufacturer told its dealers about a defect or malfunction, short of a recall.
Investigations	1	NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation	Open and closed defect investigations, with the agency's own narrative.
Driver-assist crash reports	none	NHTSA Standing General Order 2021-01	No report has been filed. Only entities named in the order report, and only crashes they hear of — so this is also what an unequipped car, or a manufacturer without telematics, looks like.
Specifications filed with NHTSA	12 fields	NHTSA vPIC, decoded from VIN patterns	What the manufacturer filed under the federal VIN rule — a configuration, not the full trim ladder.
Measured dimensions	7 fields	Transport Canada, Canadian Vehicle Specifications	Length, width, height, wheelbase, track and curb weight, measured on the North American versions.
Trims, pricing & equipment	none	Manufacturer press kit	We have not transcribed a press kit for this model year yet. This is our gap, not the manufacturer's — the one row here where an empty cell means we are behind.

Rebuilt nightly; this page was generated 2026-10-26. Every figure above is traceable to the source named beside it, and the JSON for this page carries the same values with their identifiers.

Sources & method

Safety Signal starts every model-year at 100 and subtracts points per open NHTSA recall campaign by severity: critical 15 (fire risk, park-outside or do-not-drive advisories), high 8 (brakes, steering, airbags, loss of drive power, structure, battery), moderate 6, minor 3 (software, labels, lighting fixed by an update). The most serious recall counts in full and each further one counts 85% of the one before, because a vehicle sold in millions is recalled more often than a rare one without being more dangerous — and because a flat subtraction bottomed the scale out, scoring a vehicle with 22 recalls within a point of one with six. A ≥ 90, B ≥ 80, C ≥ 70, D ≥ 60, otherwise F. Read it as what it counts: recall campaigns on the federal record, weighted by severity. The damping reduces the sales bias by roughly 40% but does not remove it: like our complaint counts, this is not normalized by how many were sold, so a best-seller still scores somewhat worse than an obscure model with the same real risk. NHTSA crash ratings, do-not-drive and park-outside advisories, and the crash, fire, injury and death counts in owner complaints are reported separately on every page and never blended into the letter — a vehicle can hold five stars and a poor letter at once, and where that happens we say so rather than leave you to notice. Because the scale subtracts from a clean sheet, a model year too new to have been recalled, complained about or bulletined scores full marks on an empty record; we label those grades provisional rather than present them as earned.

EPA figures come from fueleconomy.gov vehicle records. Recalls, complaints, investigations and crash ratings come from NHTSA's public flat files, refreshed nightly.

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