Problems · NHTSA complaints
2019 Volvo XC60 problems
Owners filed 38 complaints about the 2019 Volvo XC60 with NHTSA between Jun 2019 and Nov 2026. The most-cited component is electrical system (12).
Complaints
38
Filed with NHTSA
Crashes
5
Reported by owners
Fires
0
Reported by owners
Injuries
5
People reported injured
Deaths
0
Reported to NHTSA
Complaints by component
One complaint can cite several components
- Electrical system12
- Service brakes8
- Steering5
- Suspension4
- Air bags4
- Vehicle speed control4
- Structure4
- Fuel/propulsion system3
- Engine3
- Forward collision avoidance3
- Power train2
- Seat belts2
- Tires2
- Exterior lighting2
Complaints are unverified owner reports to NHTSA and are not normalized for sales volume. One complaint can cite several components.
Data from NHTSA Complaints API · synced Nov 9, 2026NHTSA vehicle page
When complaints were filed
Does it get worse with age? Complaints per calendar year filed
2
3
4
3
7
7
6
6
View as table
| Model year | Complaints filed per calendar year |
|---|---|
| 2019 | 2 |
| 2020 | 3 |
| 2021 | 4 |
| 2022 | 3 |
| 2023 | 7 |
| 2024 | 7 |
| 2025 | 6 |
| 2026 | 6 |
Mileage at failure isn’t a structured field in NHTSA complaint data, so we don’t chart it. Some owners mention it in their reports below.
Top problems in owners’ words
Verbatim from NHTSA complaints, newest first
Electrical system
12 reports1 crash2 related recalls
“Our Nest Protect woke us at 06:30 am saying it was detecting smoke in the garage. Upon entering the garage it was obvious that the cabin of the car was filled with white smoke. Disconnected car from charger port. Attended to drive car out of garage to protect the house, but opening the door just let smoke billow out. Closed the door and called 911. Fire truck arrived - the winched the car out of the garage to protect the house. Using their thermal imaging camera determined the hybrid battery was the hotspot, not any of the charging connections. They ran water into back seat where that battery is located for over two hours to keep it from pop further thermal runaway. Clearly an internal EV battery short. Fire fighters had a sensor and detected residual HCN (hydrogen cyanide gas) and I had to be treated at the ER as a precaution as I inhaled a large amount of smoke when I opened the car door initially.”
Service brakes
8 reports2 crashes
“While driving at 10 mph on a residential street, I experienced a sudden and dangerous loss of power braking assistance, making the pedal nearly impossible to depress. An expert Volvo technician has confirmed that the brake vacuum pump failed because the exhaust camshaft, which drives the pump, sheared or failed internally. I want to emphasize that this catastrophic mechanical failure occurred at only 45,000 miles. A camshaft is a non-wear item that should last the lifetime of the vehicle; for it to fail at such low mileage and take out the braking system is an unreasonable safety risk. This is a known issue (Internal Ref: TJ 29131) that directly links an engine defect to a primary safety system failure. The vehicle has been properly maintained, and the failed parts are available for inspection."”
Steering
5 reports1 related recall
“My 2019 Volvo XC60 with approximately 65,000 miles, experienced a sudden failure of the electric power steering rack. The vehicle became unable to steer and unsafe to drive. The dealership confirmed that the entire steering rack must be replaced at a cost of nearly $7,000. I was told by an independent second opinion that this kind of steering rack failure is highly unusual at this mileage and may indicate a premature component failure. This is a serious safety risk for drivers. I filed a claim with Volvo’s Goodwill program on October 15, 2025, and after five weeks of no communication from Volvo Corporate (despite endless attempts to reach them on my behalf), the only information I have received is a secondary text from my service rep that Volvo is offering a small portion of coverage — with no explanation or written decision. The lack of transparency, combined with the unusual nature of the failure, raises concern that this could be part of a wider pattern of steering failures on similar Volvo vehicles.”
Suspension
4 reports
“Suspension compressor, solenoids and relay are all part of a NHTSA bulletin and it has been eleven months of trying to get the Volvo dealership to replace the correct part. Error codes have been reported on their VIDA system dating back as far as 2019. The dealership not only DID NOT FIX THE ISSUE WHILE COVERED UNDER FACTORY WARRANTY, they sold me the car without supplying this very well-documented safety issue. The car is stuck at a height of 46-48” off the ground, it is entirely un-drivable. They have flat out refused to acknowledge the P10964 bulletin published by NHTSA. They are part swapping, charging for unnecessary repairs and holding my car for weeks at a time as if they have no idea what is wrong. I asked them to replace the compressor back in 1/2026, just after the car nearly went off road in a storm. They took the car into their shop and returned it to me stating: “nothing is wrong with your car”. It’s been six visits, all invoicing show codes related to replacing compressor, as well as historic codes dating back to 2019. Currently processing an “INTENT TO SUE” formal letter and complaint sent to Volvo USA president, service manager Vincent D’Auria…”
Air bags
4 reports2 crashes
“I was involved in a serious motor vehicle collision involving my Volvo. The collision was essentially a head-on impact that occurred following a medical emergency. The vehicle sustained significant damage in the collision and is essentially totaled. During the crash, all of the vehicle's airbags DID NOT deploy with the exception of the right curtain airbag. I am concerned that the airbags did not deploy during this severe collision and may have failed to function as designed. As a result of the collision, I sustained significant injuries, including a broken tibia (which required surgery) and four fractured vertebrae in my back. I am reporting this incident to Volvo because I am concerned about the performance and deployment of the vehicle's supplemental restraint system, specifically the failure of all of the airbags, including the steering wheel air bag, to deploy during what was essentially a head-on collision. I would like Volvo to investigate the vehicle, including the airbag system, sensors, control module, crash data, and the reason the airbags did not deploy. I would also like the findings of the investigation documented and provided to me.”
Vehicle speed control
4 reports1 crash
“Three incidents have occurred in three months. Unintended Acceleration Incident #1. While turning right after a full stop on an uphill incline, the vehicle accelerated so quickly that the steering wheel couldn't be return to the neutral position before hitting a roadside signpost approximately 25 ft away. The impact was severe enough to cause the right front headlight to be broken, the right front wheel well liner to be ripped out, the right A-pillar to be dented, and the right mirror to be ripped off. No physical injuries occurred. Unintended Acceleration Incident #2, six weeks later. While on the same incline as incident #1, after removing my foot from the accelerator, the vehicle continued to accelerate, even during braking. Total time was approximately 2 sec. There was no damage to the vehicle, and no physical injury. I checked, and the floor mat was locked in place. Both incidents were reported to Volvo, and permission was given to extract data from the vehicle. The data was extracted at a Volvo service center. Unexpected Acceleration Incident #3 (after data extraction, before Volvo report). While turning right and into a parking space in front of a…”
Data from NHTSA Complaints API (owner reports, unverified) · synced Nov 9, 2026
Complaints are unverified owner reports to NHTSA and are not normalized for sales volume. One complaint can cite several components.