Volvo V60 common problems and buying guide (2010–on)

Written by the C4R team from DVSA data and owner reports. Fact-checked 2026-10-08.

The 30-second verdict

The V60 is a comfortable premium estate, but the badge covers two quite different generations and a wide range of drivetrains. The first-generation car needs especially careful identification: manuals, Geartronic automatics, Powershift dual-clutch automatics, five- and four-cylinder diesels, petrol engines and the diesel plug-in hybrid were all sold. The second generation moved to Volvo's SPA platform and later added petrol mild hybrids and T6/T8 Recharge plug-in hybrids.

For a first-generation diesel, inspect the emissions-system history and make sure its previous use suited a DPF. Test any automatic from cold and fully warm, and identify the gearbox rather than assuming every V60 automatic is the same. Selected 2015–2016 four-cylinder petrol engines also deserve an oil-consumption check. On a plug-in hybrid, test charging and electric rear-axle drive as well as the petrol or diesel engine. For every car, the registration and VIN should be checked for completed recall work.

Generations at a glance

GenerationUK periodMain choicesBuyer note
First generation2010–2018Petrol and diesel engines, manuals, Geartronic and selected Powershift automatics; diesel plug-in hybrid; V60 Cross CountryEngine and gearbox identification matter more than the trim badge. The 2014-model-year update brought revised styling and a changing engine range. RAC 2010–2013 review · RAC 2014–2018 review
Second generation (SPA)2018–onFour-cylinder petrol and diesel engines, later mild hybrids, and T6/T8 plug-in hybrids; V60 Cross CountryThe used-fault record is less settled than for the older car. Recall and software history are important. Auto Express Mk2 buying guide

Known issues

These are inspection points, not claims that every V60 will fail. Each non-recall issue below is supported by two genuinely independent sources. A warning light or symptom still needs diagnosis on the individual car.

1. DPF blockage and EGR faults on first-generation diesels

2. Jerky or jumping shifts on some first-generation automatics

3. Excessive oil consumption on selected early four-cylinder petrol engines

4. Electric rear-axle drive noise or loss of drive on plug-in hybrids

MOT watch-points

No audited V60-specific MOT aggregate was supplied with the source guide, so this page does not invent a pass rate, mileage figure or defect ranking. Check the exact registration at GOV.UK — Check MOT history and inspect the car itself.

Useful checks include:

The underlying DVSA anonymised MOT tests and results are open data, but no model statistic is quoted until C4R's model-level analysis has been audited.

Confirmed recalls — DVSA data

C4R programmatically filtered the local DVSA Vehicle Safety Branch recalls CSV for rows where Make is exactly VOLVO CAR and Model is exactly V60. That produced 45 rows covering 39 unique recall references. V60 Cross Country rows labelled V60CC were excluded rather than silently merged. R/2019/180 occupies six V60 rows with different build windows, and R/2015/249 occupies two.

Dates below are campaign launch and build dates recorded in the CSV, not registration years. Where the CSV has no build dates, this guide says so rather than inferring them. Campaign vehicle totals are not quoted because they relate to the wider campaign row, not the number of V60s still affected. Always check the registration at the GOV.UK recall checker and ask a Volvo retailer to check the VIN and completion status.

Wheels, steering, suspension and braking

Engine, fuel, cooling and driveline

Airbags, seatbelts, trim and communications

Recall interpretation: these campaigns are separate from the non-recall inspection points above. Only a registration or VIN check can establish whether a particular car was included and whether the work is complete.

Buying one? Our checklist

  1. Match the VIN on the car, V5C and service record; identify the exact engine, gearbox and drivetrain.
  2. Check the registration on GOV.UK, then ask a Volvo retailer to confirm open and completed campaigns by VIN.
  3. Arrange a genuinely cold start and investigate smoke, warning lamps, fluid loss, fuel smells or abnormal mechanical noise.
  4. Scan every control module with Volvo-capable equipment before and after the road test.
  5. On a diesel, inspect DPF and EGR codes and live data, and ask about the car's normal journey pattern.
  6. Test any automatic from cold and warm, including Reverse, parking manoeuvres, crawling traffic and open-road acceleration.
  7. On a 2015–2016 four-cylinder petrol, check oil-consumption history and any evidence of formal testing or piston-and-ring work.
  8. On a plug-in hybrid, test charging, electric-only running, rear electric drive and the charging cable; obtain a high-voltage-battery assessment.
  9. Test every key, screen, camera, sensor, seat, window, mirror, light, climate-control function and the powered tailgate if fitted.
  10. Inspect the tyres, brakes and suspension, and compare the car with its online MOT history.
  11. Commission an independent Volvo-specialist inspection if the history, warning lights or road-test behaviour are unclear.

Running costs

Related checks and fault codes

P0401 (EGR flow) · P2002 (DPF efficiency) · P2463 (DPF soot accumulation) · P0700 (transmission control request) · P0562 (low system voltage)

Sources and further reading

Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0.

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