Electrical, suspension and visibility issues among the top complaints received by the NHTSA from vehicle owners
The 2019 Volvo S60 is a luxury sedan that is still highly coveted by enthusiasts. The automaker claims it is “designed for a change,” but customers are looking for a different kind of change. This Volvo isn’t focused on safety, but rather suffers from a glitchy electrical system, faulty suspension and poor visibility.
Click on other model years to view more problems: 2019 2022
A car’s electrical system needs to provide drivers with convenience, safety and comfort, but the S60 provides none of that.
Just read this review from an Edmunds user. “The Sensus system is frankly annoying. Volvo is selling itself as the safety company but there is nothing safe about futzing with screen drama for every little thing. It takes about 12 clicks to switch to your favorite radio station and even changing the AC fan speed requires far too many clicks and focal attention. There is no tactile sense to anything so you really have to be a distracted driver or stop on the side of the road.
I don’t know who these days buys Volvo navigation when Google/Waze are years ahead and are free but if you don’t buy Volvo’s navigation, expect 1/4 of your big screen to become a permanent announcement of your lack of service. Additionally, while excessive features like touchscreen-activated folding rear headrests are standard, simple fog lights are a huge add on. Safety first? I don’t think so. Also the car is glitchy with CarPlay, windows that open on their own in the middle of the night, false airbags alert (recall completed for that), false alerts from the OnCall app that my light bulbs need changing and that my trunk is open. This is a gorgeously designed over-engineered half-baked machine or disappointing quality.”
It turns out that the electrical system issues do turn dangerous. NHTSA Campaign Number 20V144000 states that more than 120,000 vehicles are equipped with a software and hardware incompatibility that is causing the Automatic Emergency Brake system to stop working. This defect increases the chance of a collision and proves that Volvo doesn’t care about safety as it once did. Maybe the company should stop focusing so much on “change” and go back to its roots, when it made reliable vehicles.
| Complaint Category | Number of Complaints |
|---|---|
| Electrical System | |
| Tires | |
| Exterior Lighting | |
| Power Train | |
| Seats | |
| Unknown Or Other | |
| Air Bags | |
| Engine | |
| Forward Collision Avoidance | |
| Forward Collision Avoidance: Automatic Emergency Braking |
In addition, Volvo could once be called a company that made comfortable cars which were enjoyable to drive. In today’s age, no one seems happy about driving a Volvo.
Some suspension issues are outlined in this Edmunds review. “On the T6 AWD at about 75 mph the car vibrates and the ride is unpleasant, my work truck rides better than this car. Volvo has tried addressing the problem by balancing tires and replacing rims but the ride in this 45k automobile is unacceptable. There is also a Technical service bulletin about the Vibrations but from what I hear it does not correct the issue. If you search online there are a lot of complaints on new Volvo SPA platform with vibration issues especially the AWD vehicles.”
Again, there is a recall showcasing even more troubles. NHTSA Campaign Number 19V327000 says that the rear suspension toe link flange lock nuts might not have been tightened properly from the factory. This defect could lead to an abrupt change in handling that could cause an accident. Basically, it’s possible to see out of control Volvo S60 vehicles while driving down the road, simply because the automaker failed to perform a simple step at the factory. Maybe it’s time to “change” the employees working on the line.
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One final look leads to the visibility from this Volvo sedan. When drivers can’t see, everyone is in danger.
That’s exhibited in this Edmunds comment. “Poor visibility is another problem. Rearview mirror, front camera and passenger side A-pillar blocks 75-80% visibility on passenger side. This is very dangerous in urban environment while turning right when pedestrians might enter the intersection without warning.”
While this hasn’t turned into a recall yet, it could in the future. Plus, there are other auto glass concerns. Service Bulletin #TJ35154.1.0-2020 talks about how much trouble owners are having closing the panoramic sunroof and how much noise it makes. It’s only a matter of time before these sunroofs start breaking, leading to further complaints. Anyone looking for a “change” should skip the Volvo brand completely and choose something that’s not a lemon.
Think you have a lemon? Sit back and let the experts work out your lemon case at no cost to you. The law makes Volvo pay legal fees. You may be able to get your lemon out of your life. Every year, auto manufacturers buy back, replace or pay cash settlements to thousands of ‘lemon’ owners like you.
Brian Jones spent more than 30 years working as an ASE Certified Master Tech and Parts Specialist at multiple dealerships. Brian has become an authority in the industry, traveling across the country to consult for car dealerships and contributing his expertise as a writer for several major automotive publications. In his spare time, Brian enjoys working on pickup trucks, muscle cars, Jeeps and anything related to motorsports.
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