Issues related to the electrical system are among the top complaints received by vehicle owners
The Volvo XC60 was originally unveiled at the Motor Show in Geneva in 2008. It’s been available in the U.S. since 2009, as a 2010 model. And reportedly, it’s been Volvo’s best-selling car ever since.
But even the best-selling cars aren’t perfect, as Lemberg Law illustrates in a series of articles about the Volvo XC60 from 2018. We highlighted visibility, electrical system, and service brake problems from complaints we picked up about the 2020 model.
Issues that consumers are complaining about in 2021 aren’t exactly the same. But the electrical system is still a problem. Let’s take a closer look at issues that are identified in the records of the United States Department of Transportation’s National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA).
Click on other model years to view more problems: 2019 2020 2022 2023
People complain about vehicles on many different platforms. But we are limiting this article to NHTSA complaints.
There are 8 complaints so far, covering a total of 12 problems. Forward-collision avoidance, the electrical system, and steering head the list of problems.
Interestingly, while the 51 manufacturer communications that alert dealers to problems and malfunctions, these are quite different to the consumer complaints. This is relevant because manufacturers are, by law, required to share the communications they have with dealers with NHTSA.
There are lots of electrical system notifications alerting dealers to failures and faults. None highlight the problem described in complaints. There are 3 that relate to steering, but a gain, they don’t relate to the steering complaints. Forward-collision avoidance, the most common complaint, doesn’t feature
There have been 3 recalls, but these relate to airbags, seat belts, and brakes. There are no complaints about brakes or seat belts, and only one about brakes. The latter involved a crash with injuries after the car accelerated and the brakes didn’t work.
| Complaint Category | Number of Complaints |
|---|---|
| Electrical System | |
| Unknown Or Other | |
| Service Brakes | |
| Lane Departure: Blind Spot Detection | |
| Steering | |
| Engine | |
| Forward Collision Avoidance: Adaptive Cruise Control | |
| Forward Collision Avoidance: Automatic Emergency Braking | |
| Forward Collision Avoidance: Warnings | |
| Fuel/propulsion System |
There are 4 complaints that cite forward-collision avoidance as a problem. One complains that there have been several incidents while using Pilot Assist.
“The car has directed us to different lanes, steered us to guardrails and other cars, and has failed to brake when cars have stopped in front of us. We have taken the car into our local Volvo dealership multiple times and they have still not corrected the issues.”
Remarkably, the complaint states that they were told by a mechanic that this system isn’t a good one and “it will never operate correctly.”
Another describes two incidents in detail. In both cases, the dealership tested the car and, “No codes were shown during testing. I am afraid to drive this vehicle.” The owner of the Volvo XC60 goes on to say, “ I don’t want this vehicle. I want a vehicle that I have control over. This safety system has failed!! This system puts my life and others in danger!! The only explanation I received from (the) dealer was that this system works on a camera and radar. I was nonchalantly told a glare from a vehicle or road sign could cause this. This all is alarming to me. What is my recourse?!?! I am aware there were problems with the automatic braking in Volvos in 2019 & 2020. This was said to have been resolved through recalls.”
This is why we recommend working with a lawyer like Lemberg Law, which specializes in lemon law. If an issue keeps recurring, you probably have a lemon.
We've fixed thousands of lemon problems. Message or call 877-795-3666 today.
The 2 complaints on file about electrical system problems focus on the instrument panel shutting off and going black. As one complaint says: “This is unsafe and very dangerous. They just did a software update while it was in the dealership recently fixing an unrelated issue for a month. Now I have to try and get a video as they always try to claim they can’t duplicate issues… I always have to take videos and recordings now…”
There are also 2 complaints with NHTSA that relate to steering. Both found their experiences highly traumatic. They also both describe how the steering wheel went “stiff”. The other similarity is that they got the same notification on the dash.
“Power Steering Service Urgent, Drive to Workshop.”
When the steering doesn’t work, this is something many people are unable to deal with.
The most recent complaint states that their dealership replaced the sub-battery attached to the power-steering pump after they received an advisory notice. This seems to have solved the problem.
If your Volvo CX60 has any of these issues or any others that make you think you’ve bought a lemon, call our Helpline so that we can assess your problems.
If you’ve got a lemon, the law says Volvo must pay. So don’t delay. We helped lots of clients with settlements that range from money back to new or trade-in vehicles.
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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