2008 Volvo S60 recalls & complaints
Source: NHTSA, updated daily. Last checked 2026-10-18. Recalls apply to specific VINs — run your VIN to confirm.
2 safety recalls, most serious first
1. Airbags
What's wrong, in plain English: The airbag system — the part that is supposed to protect you in a crash. 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.
What could happen: An inflator explosion may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants, resulting in serious injury or death.
The fix: 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. Volvo's number for this recall is R10125.
What to do
- Check whether your car is affected: enter your 17-digit VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls. A recall covers specific VINs, not every 2008 S60.
- Book a repair at any authorized Volvo dealer. Quote NHTSA campaign 21V766000 (manufacturer code R10125).
- The repair is free. By US law, safety recall repairs cost the owner nothing, no matter the car's age or mileage.
- Manufacturer hotline: 1-800-458-1552.
- Buying this car used? Ask the seller for proof the recall was completed, or run the VIN yourself before paying.
Official wording from NHTSA
Component: AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:DRIVER SIDE:INFLATOR MODULE
Summary: 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.
Consequence: An inflator explosion may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants, resulting in serious injury or death.
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. Volvo's number for this recall is R10125.
Notes: Owners may also contact the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration Vehicle Safety Hotline at 1-888-327-4236 (TTY 1-800-424-9153), or go to www.nhtsa.gov.
2. Electrical system
What's wrong, in plain English: Wiring, modules, batteries. Short circuits can cause stalls or fires.
What could happen: AN OVERHEATED BATTERY COULD LEAD TO A FIRE.
The fix: 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. THE UNIT'S BATTERY WILL BE REPLACED WITH A NEW BATTERY AND A SPACER WILL BE INSERTED ON TOP OF THE BATTERY NEXT TO THE PCB. THIS SERVICE WILL BE PERFORMED FREE OF…
What to do
- Check whether your car is affected: enter your 17-digit VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls. A recall covers specific VINs, not every 2008 S60.
- Book a repair at any authorized Volvo dealer. Quote NHTSA campaign 10V566000.
- The repair is free. By US law, safety recall repairs cost the owner nothing, no matter the car's age or mileage.
- Buying this car used? Ask the seller for proof the recall was completed, or run the VIN yourself before paying.
Official wording from NHTSA
Component: EQUIPMENT:ELECTRICAL:NAVIGATIONAL SYSTEM(GLOBAL POSITIONING SYSTEM)
Summary: VOLVO IS RECALLING CERTAIN VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH GARMIN 760 PORTABLE GLOBAL POSITIONING SYSTEM (GPS) UNITS BECAUSE THE BATTERIES ON THOSE UNITS MAY OVERHEAT.
Consequence: AN OVERHEATED BATTERY COULD LEAD TO A FIRE.
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. THE UNIT'S BATTERY WILL BE REPLACED WITH A NEW BATTERY AND A SPACER WILL BE INSERTED ON TOP OF THE BATTERY NEXT TO THE PCB. THIS SERVICE WILL BE PERFORMED FREE OF CHARGE. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN ON NOVEMBER 18, 2010. OWNERS MAY CONTACT GARMIN AT 866-957-1981 OR VISIT GARMIN'S WEBSITE AT WWW.GARMIN.COM/NUVIBATTERYPCBRECALL.
Notes: VOLVO SAFETY RECALL NO. R231. OWNERS MAY ALSO CONTACT THE NATIONAL HIGHWAY TRAFFIC SAFETY ADMINISTRATION'S VEHICLE SAFETY HOTLINE AT 1-888-327-4236 (TTY 1-800-424-9153), OR GO TO <A HREF=HTTP://WWW.SAFERCAR.GOV>HTTP://WWW.SAFERCAR.GOV</A> .
Useful for owners
- OBD2 code reader — see what the car's computer is reporting
- Compact car fire extinguisher
- Portable jump starter
- 2008 Volvo S60 owner's manual
Owner complaints filed with NHTSA
Most complained-about parts: Vehicle Speed Control (4), Airbags (2), Engine (2), Transmission / drivetrain (2), Visibility (wipers / glass) (1).
Complaints are unverified reports from owners. A pattern (many complaints about the same part) matters more than any single one.
Read recent complaints (8)
12/06/2021 · Airbags · crash
My air bags malfunctioned when I was in a motor vehicle accident in this vehicle. We were hit in the front left side and both the drivers side and passenger airbags tried to deploy, but never deployed releasing a form of mist instead. This vehicle was totaled and towed away after the accident, but both me and the other person in the vehicles safety were put…
12/04/2021 · Airbags · crash
My vehicle was involved in a head on collison on 10-30-2021. My driver side air bag came out but had a hole in it while my passenger side airbags didn't come out at all.
09/11/2015 · Visibility (wipers / glass)
THERE IS AN AREA ON THE OUTSIDE OF THE DRIVERS SIDE WINDSHIELD ABOUT 5 INCHES TALL AND 14 INCHES LONG THAT DOES NOT HAVE CLEAR VISIBILITY WHEN IT GETS WET. THE MOISTURE DOES NOT WIPE AWAY WHEN THE WIPER BLADES WIPE THIS AREA. INSTEAD, THE MOISTURE REMAINS OBSTRUCTING THE VIEW UNTIL THE WIPER BLADE PASSES THE AREA AGAIN BLURRING THE AREA EVEN MORE. THIS VISU…
08/01/2015 · Engine
ON THE FIST INCIDENT I WAS TALKING MY KIDS TO SCHOOL, DROPPED THEM OFF AND WHEN I STARTED TO ACCELERATE I GOT LOW ENGINE PERFORMANCE LIGHT AND CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ON, THE CAR WOULD ONLY GO 5 MPH. THE VOLVO DEALER FIXED IT NO CHARGE AND IT WAS OK FOR A WHILE. NEXT INCIDENT MY HUSBAND WAS DRIVING AND THE CAR STALLED AND SAID THE SAME THING REDUCED ENGINE PERFO…
04/05/2015 · Fuel system
I WAS DRIVING ON THE FREEWAY IN SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA HEADING TO SAN DIEGO DURING EVENING RUSH HOUR TRAFFIC. THE TRAFFIC HAD COME TO A COMPLETE STOP AND AS TRAFFIC WAS STARTING AGAIN AS I PRESSED THE ACCELERATOR THE CAR ENGINE BEGAN TO SPUTTER. THERE WERE NO DASHBOARD WARNING LIGHTS OR INDICATORS TO GIVE US ANY INFORMATION ON WHAT WAS GOING ON WITH THE CAR.…
07/26/2014 · Transmission / drivetrain
MY CAR SEEMS TO BE STALLING. I TALKED TO SEVERAL MECHANICS AND THEY SAID IT MAY BE THE THROTTLE. THE CAR SEEMS TO STALL AS I ATTEMPT TO ACCELERATE. AFTER I CONTINUE TO ACCELERATE IT DOES IMPROVE, BUT ONCE I STOP OR NEED TO REDUCE MY SPEED AS I BEGIN TO RE-ACCELERATE IT SEEMS SLUGGISH. FROM MY UNDERSTANDING THIS MAY BE AN ISSUE WITH THE THROTTLE. I DON'T…
06/02/2014 · Vehicle Speed Control
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 VOLVO S60. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 60 MPH, THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY STALLED. AFTER RESTARTING THE ENGINE THE VEHICLE OPERATED NORMALLY. THE VEHICLE STALLED A SECOND TIME WHILE THE CONTACT WAS SITTING AT A TRAFFIC STOP. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC, WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE MOTOR THROTTLE…
12/05/2012 · Transmission / drivetrain · crash
ON THE ABOVE DATE I STARTED MY VEHICLE AND PUT THE VEHICLE IN REVERSE TO PULL OUT OF PARKING SPACE. IMMEDIATELY AFTER RELEASING MY FOOT FROM THE BRAKE AND BEFORE TOUCHING THE GAS PEDAL, THE CAR ACCELERATED IN REVERSE SO FAST THAT I BOUNCED OFF A CEMENT POLE IN THE MIDDLE OF THE PARKING LOT. THE FORCE WAS SO GREAT THAT THE VEHICLE BOUNCED THREE TIMES BEFORE…