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)

8 of 36 complaints match · Visibility & wipers · clear filters

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

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

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

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

Sep 3, 2010Visibility & wipers

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 VOLVO XC60. SHE NOTICED THAT THE REAR VIEW MIRROR WAS TINTED SO MUCH THAT SHE COULD NOT SEE OUT OF THE REAR WINDOW. AN AUTHORIZED DEALER WAS NOTIFIED AND STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS OPERATING NORMAL. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 5 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 2,500

NHTSA ODI 10353749

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 →