Problems · by component

2004 Volvo S-Class engine problems

27 owner complaints to NHTSA about the 2004 Volvo S-Class cite engine, 9% of all 298 complaints for this model year.

Complaints
27
9% of all complaints
Crashes
0
Reported by owners
Fires
1
Reported by owners
Injuries
0
Reported by owners
01 —Owner reports

What owners say about the engine

Verbatim from NHTSA complaints, newest first
“2004 VOLVO S60 PURCHASED THE CAR USED IN SEPT 04. On 7/8/24 STRANDED AT 7-11 CAR WOULDN'T START. ACTING AS IF THERE WAS POWER LOSS, AC WENT OFF, BRAKE FAILURE LIGHT ON PANEL, POWER WINDOWS AND LOCKS DID NOT WORK, TEMP 105 OUTSIDE , THEN DRIVER PANEL WENT BLACK., I WAS SCARED. ENGINE WOULDN'T START. FINALLY, AFTER WAITING 10 MINUTES...IT STARTED RUNNING BUT WAS SLUGGISH. RADIO WAS ON, POWER DOOR, LOCKS, AND WINDOWS, DID NOT WORK. CUT THE CAR OFF AND BACK ON, ALL POWER RETURNED, NOW CHECK ENGINE AND AIR BAG TROUBLE ON PANEL. CALLED VOLVO DEALER NEXT DAY NEAR MY HOME, THEY CAN NOT SEE MY CAR TIL NEXT WEEK TUESDAY. CAN NOT ACCESS ENGINE BOX, MUST GO TO DEALER.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Jul 8, 2024Electrical system, Air bags, EngineODI 11600289
“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 VOLVO S60. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE STATIONARY, THE ENGINE CAUGHT FIRE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT SMOKE ENTERED INTO THE CABIN OF THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT EXITED THE VEHICLE AND OPENED THE HOOD, AND THE ENGINE WAS SURROUNDED BY FLAMES. A POLICE OR FIRE DEPARTMENT REPORT WAS NOT FILED. AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC EXTINGUISHED THE FIRE. THERE WERE NO INJURIES SUSTAINED. A DEALER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FIRE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FIRE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 30,000.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Nov 1, 2018EngineFire reportedODI 11144780
“CAR IS VOLVO S60 2004 TRIM 2.4 4 DOOR SEDAN FWD HAS 90317 MILES ON IT. FROM LAST FEW WEEKS WHEN I AM DRIVING VEHICLE IT STARTS LOSING POWER AND A WARNING COME TRY SLOW DOWN OR SHIFT UP AND MY CHECK ENGINE LIGHT STARTED BLINKING. THIS HAPPENED 4 TIMES IN LAST 1 WEEK AS THE RESULT I NEED TO PULL MY CAR TO SAFE PLACE AND RESTART THAT AND THEN IT RUNS BETTER. THIS HAS REALLY PUT ME IN DANGER TO MYSELF AND OTHER PEOPLE ON ROAD. I AM SCARE OF DRIVING THE CAR IN MULTIPLE LANE ROADS IN OTHER LANES. I AM NOW DRIVING IT ON RIGHT LANE ONLY SO THAT KEEP MYSELF AND OTHER PEOPLE SAFE FOR QUICK PULL OVER IF NEEDED. CHECK ENGINE GIVES ME CODE P0171 AND P0300. I WENT ON LINE AND FOLLOWED ADVICE AND CHANGED SPARK PLUGS, IGNITION COILS AND ALSO OXYGEN SENSOR BUT NO DIFFERENCE. STILL CAR DID SAME THING WHEN I WAS DRIVING WITH MY FAMILY. I WENT ON LINE AND SAW THAT MANY PEOPLE HAVE THAT ISSUE WITH VOLVO S60 OF THIS YEAR AND MODEL AND STRUGGLING. I THINK THIS IS SOME VOLVO S 60 2004 MODEL RECALL ISSUE AS IT IS CREATING ACCIDENTAL HAZARD TO THE OWNER OF THE CAR AND THE OTHER TRAFFIC. DR TAKYAR”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Nov 3, 2017EngineODI 11042866
“IN STOP AND GO TRAFFIC, MY FOOT WAS ON THE BRAKE TO SLOW DOWN. I TOOK MY FOOT OFF THE BRAKE AND STEPPED ON THE ACCELERATOR AS TRAFFIC MOVED AGAIN, THERE WAS NO RESPONSE TO MY FOOT ON THE GAS PEDAL. THE FUEL TANK, WHICH I HAD JUST FILLED 10 MILES BEFORE, SHOWED AS EMPTY ON THE FUEL GAGE. I WAS VERY, VERY SLOWLY ROLLING FORWARD WITH RESIDUAL MOMENTUM AND MY STEERING WASN'T WORKING. THERE WAS JUST ENOUGH PLAY IN THE WHEEL AND FORWARD MOMENTUM TO AIM AND ARRIVE AT THE SHOULDER OF THE HIGHWAY. THIS WAS ON RTE 156 IN MONTEREY COUNTY, CALIFORNIA, WHERE VERY DANGEROUS ACCIDENTS HAPPEN ALL THE TIME. CAR HAD TO BE TOWED AND THE DEALERSHIP HAS BEEN UNABLE TO REPLICATE FAILURE. IT WAS OUTRAGEOUSLY DANGEROUS AND I WAS ALONE WITH MY 11-YEAR-OLD CHILD. SO FRIGHTENING!!!”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Oct 17, 2017Steering, Engine, Fuel/propulsion systemODI 11034151
“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 VOLVO S60. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 40 MPH, THE CHECK ENGINE WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. THE ENGINE STARTED TO HESITATE AND STALLED. THE CONTACT COASTED TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AND WAITED FOR APPROXIMATELY THREE MINUTES AND RESTARTED THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT DROVE THE VEHICLE TO M.P.L. AUTOMOTIVE LACONIA NEW HAMPSHIRE (INDEPENDENT MECHANIC). THE VEHICLE WAS DIAGNOSED WITH A FUEL RAIL PRESSURE SENSOR NEEDING REPLACEMENT AND ALSO ADVISED THE CONTACT OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 07V226000 (ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLANT). THE CONTACT CALLED LOVERING VOLVO MEREDITH NEW HAMPSHIRE WAS ADVISED THAT THE VIN WAS PART OF THE RECALL. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED AS OF YET. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 158,000.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Jun 28, 2017EngineODI 11001876
“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 VOLVO S60. WHILE DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE VEHICLE STALLED AND THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT COASTED THE VEHICLE TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD, RESTARTED THE VEHICLE, AND RESUMED DRIVING. THE FAILURE RECURRED NUMEROUS TIMES. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 155,000.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Jul 5, 2016Electrical system, EngineODI 10882802

Showing 6 of 27 reports. Read every report on NHTSA.gov.

Data from NHTSA Complaints API (owner reports, unverified) · synced Oct 28, 2026NHTSA vehicle page

Complaints are unverified owner reports to NHTSA and are not normalized for sales volume. One complaint can cite several components.