Home · 2011 Volvo XC60 B5 · Complaints

What 36 owners told NHTSA about the 2011 Volvo XC60 B5

These are the actual owner complaints behind this car’s reliability verdict, filed with the federal government, unedited. They’re unverified reports, not confirmed defects: read them as leads for your pre-purchase inspection, not a diagnosis.

All (36)Crash / fire / injury (2)Seat belts (8)Visibility & wipers (8)Electrical system (6)Body & structure (3)Engine (3)Steering (3)Airbags (2)Brakes (2)Electronic Stability Control (esc) (2)Equipment (2)

Newest first · 36 complaints · page 1 of 2

Feb 5, 2024Visibility & wipers

Windshield is original from Volvo but leaks during rain and car washes. Rain floods my driver’s side floor board and heavy enough might effect my electrical system.

NHTSA ODI 11570078

Jan 23, 2023Visibility & wipersSeat belts

The contact owns a 2011 Volvo XC60. The contact stated that the front driver’s side belt was restraining her extremely tightly and failed to release as needed. No warning light was illuminated. The contact also stated that water had leaked from around the windshield into the vehicle. The vehicle was taken to the dealer where the contact was informed that water was in the vehicle and the sunroof drain needed to be flushed out however, the contact stated that she was denied service unless the sunroof drain was flushed out. The vehicle was repaired however, the failure recurred, and the contact was concerned for her safety. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and the contact was informed that the VIN was not included in a recall. The failure mileage was approximately 49,000.

NHTSA ODI 11503120

Aug 8, 2022Engine

The contact owns a 2011 Volvo XC60. The contact stated that she noticed an oil leak underneath the vehicle. The contact stated no warning light was illuminated. The contact had taken the vehicle to a local dealer, where it was diagnosed and determined that the turbo needed to be replaced. The vehicle had not been repaired. The manufacturer had not been informed of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 100,000.

NHTSA ODI 11478127

Aug 8, 2022Seat belts

The front passenger seat belt will not release without much difficultly. If the vehicle started on fire or went into water, the passenger would likely die. I contacted Volvo and they will not help other than charging over $800 to replace the seat belt.

NHTSA ODI 11478196

Apr 16, 2022Visibility & wipers

Original OEM front windshield developed a leak causing water to start dripping onto my hands on the steering wheel and on my lap during a rainstorm. seems to be numerous accounts of the front windshield bonding failing, definitely can be hazardous when driving in an already higher-risk situation rain causes. Not to mention the dripping runs down the inside of the windshield they don't make windshield wipers for the inside of the car and you have to wipe it away while driving to help with the visibility.

NHTSA ODI 11460995

May 25, 2021Seat belts

This SUV. 2011 Volvo XC60 is our family travel vehicle. I had a bad scenario, The drivers side seat belt Buckle got stuck. Would not release, My girlfriend was in car trying to release buckle. This is not normal. its scary felling she told me. In a MVA. this may be a risk of stuck in car. The Dealer had replaced shoulder harness under recall. But My complaint was the seat belt buckle get stuck wont release. It seems to sit too close to seat I don't know why It was not replaced as an assembly. Does any record show seat belt buckle stuck issues and wont release.? Other than the Seat belt gets stuck wont release. My issue I think the buckle should be at a higher above lower seat to accommodate average size people.

NHTSA ODI 11418442

Sep 27, 2020Electrical system

LOCKING MECHANISMS IN PASSENGER SIDE DOOR FAILING, UNABLE TO LOCK OR UNLOCK REMOTELY, HAVE TO MANUALLY LOCK OR UNLOCK FROM REAR PASSENGER SIDE DOOR TO ENTER VEHICLE.

NHTSA ODI 11361346

Sep 2, 2020Seat belts

SEAT BELT RECALL ISSUED JUNE 30, 2020 (INFO BELOW). CALLED THE VOLVO DEALER (AUTONATION IN BELLEVUE, WA) AND THEY REPORTED THAT NO PARTS WILL BE AVAILABLE UNTIL NOVEMBER 2020 AND THAT I SHOULD CALL BACK THEN. THIS APPEARS TO BE AN UNREASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME TO REPLACE SUCH A CRITICAL PIECE OF SAFETY EQIPMENT. MANUFACTURER RECALL NUMBER: R10029 NHTSA RECALL NUMBER: 204378

NHTSA ODI 11352748

May 27, 2020Electrical systemElectronic Stability Control (esc)

THE PARK ASSIST DOES NOT WORK, REAR CAMERA NOT WORKING. *TR

NHTSA ODI 11326154

Feb 22, 2020Seat belts

DRIVERS SEATBELT RANDOMLY COMES UNDONE WHEN DRIVING - UNRELATED TO SPEED OR BRAKING.. HAS BEEN OCCURRING FOR LAST 15-18 MONTHS ABOUT 1-2 WEEKLY.

NHTSA ODI 11310766

Sep 26, 2019Seat belts

MALFUNCTIONING SEAT BELT LATCHES AND BUCKLES- THE SEAT BELT LATCHES DO NOT RELEASE THE BUCKLE VERY GOOD WHEN NEEDING TO EXIT THE VEHICLE (THEY STICK IN PLACE UNTIL THE LATCH IS HELD AT A SPECIFIC ANGLE WHILE PRESSING THE RELEASE BUTTON) I DONT BELIEVE THIS IS AN INTENDED SAFETY FEATURE. THIS ISSUE IS PRESENT IN ALL 5 SEAT POSITIONS LATCHES AND BUCKLES IN MY CAR. AFTER SPECIAL ATTENTION TO UNBUCKLE MYSELF, I OFTEN HAVE TO WALK AROUND TO THE BACK DOORS TO GET IN THE BACK SEAT SO I CAN UNLATCH MY SONS BUCKLE ALSO. HE IS 6YRS OLD AND HAS NOT EVER HAD ANY PROBLEM UNBUCKLING HIMSELF IN OUR LAST SUV NOR IN OUR OTHER CURRENT CAR. HE HAS LOTS OF ANXIETY OVER THIS, HE PANICKS AND THEN WILL CRY BECAUSE HE FEELS HE IS TRAPPED IN. ALSO, THE BUCKLES DO NOT ALWAYS LOCK INTO THE LATCH WHEN PUTTING THE SAFETY BELT ON WHEN ENTERING THE VEHICLE. OFTEN TIMES WHILE IN ROUTE, THE SYSTEM WARNING LIGHT COMES ON TO NOTIFY ME THAT A BUCKLE IS NOT ON IN A SEAT POSITION BECAUSE ALTHOUGH THE BUCKLE SOUNDED AND FELT LIKE IT WAS LATCHED, IT WAS NOT.BUPON CHECKING THE SEAT POSITION THE SYSTEM WARNS, THE BELT FLYS RIGHT UP AND OUT OF THE LATCH, INDICATING IT WAS NOT SECURE AFTERALL. THIS ISSUE ALSO PRESENT IN ALL 5 SEAT POSITIONS LATCH AND BUCKLES. THE ISSUES ARE INTERMITTENT BUT OCCURS MORE THAN LIKELY MORE OFTEN THAN WE THINK BECAUSE WE HAVE GOTTEN USED TO THE DEFECTIVE FUNCTIONING AND HAVE ADAPTED TO DURING NORMAL USE OF THE VEHICLE. I AM CONFIDENT THAT MY FAMILY'S RISK OF HARM DURING A TRUE EMERGENCY IS GREATER BECAUSE OF THESE BUCKLES AND LATCHES AND THEIR MALFUNCTIONING.

NHTSA ODI 11258369

Sep 26, 2019Body & structureVisibility & wipers

MY CAR HAS AN ODOR FOR DAYS AFTER IT RAINS WHEN THE WINDSHIELD STREAMS WATER ABOVE THE DRIVERS STEARING WHEEL AND ALSO ALLOWS WATER TO STREAM DOWN INTO THE DRIVER'S SIDE FLOOR BOARD- IT'S A FULL ON STREAM OF WATER THAT COMES OUT THE TOP CORNER DRIVER SIDE OF THE WINDSHIELD AND ROLLS DOWN OVER THE STEARING WHEEL AND DRIVERS HANDS AND DOWN THROUGH THE DRIVERS FLOORBOARD OVER THE ACCELERATOR AND THE DRIVERS FEET. I'VE BEEN IN THE CAR DURING THE RAIN AND WHILE AT THE CAR WASH TO WITNESS THIS STREAMING OF WATER. THERE IS A 1 TO 2 INCH PUDDLE OF WATER THAT FORMS IN THE FLOOR BOARD RIGHT UNDER THE ACCELERATOR IF LEFT TO STREAM FREELY. THE WATER DOES NOT GUSH OUT RIGHT AWAY BUT SOMETIMES WILL REMAIN DRY UNTIL MOVING -HAS HAPPENED AT LOW SPEEDS WHILE PULLING OUT OF MY DRIVEWAY BUT AS DELAYED UP TO10 MINUTES LATER AFTER I'VE GOTTEN ON THE HIGHWAY WHERE I'M AT A SPEED OF @ 70MPH) ITS A HUGE SAFETY HAZARD- I HAVE BEEN STARTLED (SAFETY DISTRACTION) BECAUSE OF UNEXPECTED COLD WATER FLOODING MY FOOT AND MY PANT LEG WHILE ON THE ACCELERATOR.I'VE SPOKE TO AUTO GLASS REPAIR COMPANIES, WHO REPORT SEVERAL THINGS COULD BE HAPPENING BUT EITHER WAY, COST ME A LOT OF MONEY WHILE LIABILITY IS ON ME IF THEY ACCIDENTALLY CRACK THE GOOD WINDSHIELD IF IT ISNT A SIMPLE SEAL PROBLEM. THE MAJORITY OF WINDSHIELD REPAIR COMPANY'S I'VE SPOKEN TO STATE THAT THEY HAVE SEEN THIS BEFORE IN THIS MODEL VEHICLE AND IT HAS (IN THIER EXPERIENCE) BEEN A CRACK IN THE SUNROOF DRAINAGE SYSTEM? HOWEVER, JUST TO TEST THIS PROBLEM ALONE IS A $400+ IN SHOP DIAGNOSTICS - I HAVE ALSO READ ON VOLVO FORUMS AND ON NHTSA, OTHER OWNERS HAVE REPORTED THE SAME ISSUE I'M HAVING. IF ANYTHING, I WANTED TO REPORT THE ISSUE TOO IN HOPE OF GAINING INFO ABOUT WHAT THE PROBLEM MAYBE SO I CAN HAVE IT FIXED IN THE MOST EFFICIENT AND LESS COSTLY METHOD OR MAY IT LEAD TO FURTHER INVESTIGATION TO DETERMINE RECALL PROCEDURES.

NHTSA ODI 11258379

Jun 20, 2019Seat belts

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 VOLVO XC60. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE DRIVER'S SEAT BELT WAS RESTRAINING THE DRIVER EXTREMELY TIGHTLY. THE CONTACT STATED THAT IT WAS DIFFICULT TO ADJUST THE SEAT BELT AND THE SEAT BELT BUCKLE WAS DIFFICULT TO LOCK AND UNLOCK. VOLVO CARS GLEN COVE (79 CEDAR SWAMP RD, GLEN COVE, NY 11542, (516) 231-2400) WAS CONTACTED AND INDICATED THAT THERE WAS NO FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 49,000.

NHTSA ODI 11221422

Apr 9, 2019Visibility & wipers

DRIVER'S SIDE WINDSHIELD IS LEAKING AND BLOCKING VISIBILITY.

NHTSA ODI 11194905

Mar 18, 2019Visibility & wipers

LEAKING WINDSHIELD COMMON ON THESE MODELS. WINDSHIELD SEAL COMING LOOSE.

NHTSA ODI 11189709

Jan 15, 2019Body & structureVisibility & wipers

THE FRONT WINDSHIELD (ORIGINAL, FACTORY) ADHESIVE HAS FAILED AND THE WINDSHIELD IS LOOSE. BESIDES THE ANNOYANCE OF WATER LEAKING IN, THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE SINCE THE WINDSHIELD IS A STRUCTURAL COMPONENT WHICH RETAINS THE AIRBAGS AND OCCUPANTS. THIS IS APPARENTLY A FAIRLY COMMON KNOWN ISSUE WITH THE FACTORY WINDSHIELDS.

NHTSA ODI 11170117

Dec 11, 2018

WINDSHIELD THE FRONT SEAT ON THE DRIVER AND PASSENGER SIDE GETS ABOUT 2+ INCHES OF WATER ON THE FLOOR WHEN IT RAINS. THERE IS A CONSTANT DRIPPING OF WATER ON THE DRIVER'S SIDE OF THE WINDSHIELD. IT DRIPS DOWN ON THE STEERING WHEEL. IT HAS TO BE DRIPPING ELSEWHERE BECAUSE OF THE AMOUNT OF WATER THAT ACCUMULATES ON THE FLOOR OF THE DRIVER'S AND PASSENGER SIDE. THIS LEAVES A WET DAMP UNPLEASANT SMELL IN THE CAR. TOOK THE CAR TO A GLASS COMPANY TO GET THE WINDSHIELD CHECK AND THE WINDSHIELD IS LOOSE AND SHAKY TO THE TOUCH.

NHTSA ODI 11160829

Jan 29, 2018Electronic Stability Control (esc)Brakes

ABS GOES OFF UNEXPECTEDLY WHEN BRAKING AND TURNING AND HAS GOTTEN WORST. FEAR FOR MY LIFE AS SOMEONE CAN REAR END ME AND MY CHILDREN.

NHTSA ODI 11065642

May 31, 2017AirbagsCrash

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 VOLVO XC60. WHILE DRIVING AT AN UNKNOWN SPEED, THE CONTACT LOST CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE AND CRASHED. THE FRONT END OF THE VEHICLE WAS SEVERELY DAMAGED, BUT THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED AND THERE WERE NO INJURIES. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 50,000.

NHTSA ODI 10992487

Apr 19, 2016

LOW BATTERY ICON COMES ON.

NHTSA ODI 10860327

Nov 6, 2015Electrical system

THE CAR HAS NEEDED 4 BATTERY CHANGES AND THE LAST TWO WERE IN JULY AND OCTOBER. ON ONE OCCASION THE CAR DIED AND WOULD NOT START AT ALL. ON OCTOBER 3, LIKE THE MULTIPLE TIMES BEFORE, THE LOW BATTERY SIGN CAME UP. WHEN THE CAR WAS TAKEN IN THE DEALER FINALLY FOUND THAT THERE SOFTWARE GLITCH IN THEIR WORDS THAT WAS KEEPING CERTAIN MODULES OF THE CAR ON DESPITE THE CAR BEING TURNED OFF. WE WERE TOLD A SOFTWARE PATCH WAS APPLIED AND THAT WOULD TAKE CARE OF THE ISSUE. TODAY, 11/6/2015, THE LOW BATTERY SIGN HAS COME ON AGAIN AND THE CAR HAS AUTOMATICALLY DECIDED TO SWITCH THE RADIO OFF TO CONSERVE POWER TWICE ALREADY. THIS SEEMS TO HAPPEN EVERY TIME WE ARE TRYING TO START THE CAR. THE FIRST TIME THIS HAPPENED WE WERE PARKED AND HAD TO GET THE VEHICLE TOWED. THE SECOND TIME THE LOW BATTERY SIGN CAME ON AND WE WERE ABLE TO DRIVE THE CAR TO THE DEALER WHERE THE BATTERY WAS REPLACED. THE 3RD TIME THE BATTERY DIED PARKED IN A PARKING LOT AND THE CAR HAD TO BE TOWED TO THE DEALERSHIP. THE 4TH TIME THE LOW BATTER SIGN CAME ON AGAIN AND I HAD TO DRIVE THE CAR BACK TO THE DEALERSHIP. THIS IS THE 5TH TIME THE LOW BATTERY SIGN HAS COME ON AND WE ARE ABOUT TO TAKE THE CAR TO THE DEALERSHIP. THE SIGN CAME ON AGAIN WHEN WE WERE PARKED AND ABOUT TO START THE CAR. ADDITIONALLY, THE BLIND SPOT ASSISTANCE SYSTEM HAS A CAMERA THAT KEEPS MALFUNCTIONING. THIS HAPPENS RANDOMLY DURING DRIVES WHERE THE CAMERA MALFUNCTIONS. THE ONLY WAY TO GET THE ERROR TO GO AWAY IS TO RESTART THE CAR.

NHTSA ODI 10788935

Aug 12, 2015

THE SEAL IN THE WINDSHIELD FAILED ALLOWING WATER TO ENTER THE CABIN OF THE VEHICLE. VEHICLE WAS RETURNED TO THE DEALER AND REPAIRED UNDER AN EXTENDED WARRANTY PLAN.

NHTSA ODI 10748051

Jun 21, 2015Body & structure

WINDSHIELD SEAL FAILED, RESULTING IN WATER LEAK. I ALSO UNDERSTAND THAT THE WINDSHIELD BONDING FAILURE MAY RESULT IN THE AIRBAGS FAILING TO FUNCTION AS THEY SHOULD.

NHTSA ODI 10726452

Apr 1, 2015Electrical system

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 VOLVO XC60. WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED, THE KEY FAILED TO RELEASE FROM THE IGNITION SWITCH WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER, BUT WAS NOT DIAGNOSED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 60,000. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE.

NHTSA ODI 10703042

Feb 3, 2015Airbags

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 VOLVO XC60. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE SUPPLEMENTAL RESTRAINT SYSTEM WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE FAILURE RECURRED ON NUMEROUS OCCASIONS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER, WHERE THE WARNING LIGHT WAS RESET BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE CONTACT REFERENCED NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER:10V489000 (AIR BAGS). THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 63,156.

NHTSA ODI 10680994

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Working with the data? Download all 36 complaints as CSV · fetched from NHTSA July 14, 2026

How to use these: a complaint is one owner’s report, filed voluntarily and published unverified. Patterns matter more than any single story. If several owners describe the same failure at similar mileage, put that system at the top of your pre-purchase inspection list. Back to the full 2011 Volvo XC60 B5 verdict →