Volvo V60 problems, reliability and years to avoid
If you are considering buying a used Volvo V60, these are the common problems worth knowing about first. Our garage database tracks 3 known faults for this model, 2 of them rated high severity. Every one below is a repair bill a seller has good reason not to mention.
Free advert check
Found a Volvo V60 for sale?
Paste the advert and we read it against its known faults, its MOT history and the DVLA record, and tell you what the seller has not. Free, about a minute, no card.
Works with any listing: paste the text from AutoTrader, Gumtree, eBay, Facebook Marketplace or a dealer’s own site.
Is the Volvo V60 reliable?
The Volvo V60 has 3 known faults in our database, 2 of them rated high severity. The most serious are engine (the EGR system on Volvo's 2.0 four-cylinder diesel clogs with soot) and engine (the EGR cooler and valve on Volvo's 2.0 four-cylinder VEA diesel clog with soot). None of them makes the car a bad buy on its own; the risk is a seller who knows and says nothing.
That is a count of the faults we hold, not a reliability score. Popular cars get written about more, and a newer generation has had less time to show its faults.
Which Volvo V60 years should you avoid?
No year is a write-off on its own. What matters is which serious faults a given year and engine can have, and whether the car in front of you has had them fixed.
Years and engines with a serious known fault
2014 to 2019, 2.0 four-cylinder diesel (VEA / Drive-E: D2, D3, D4 and D5, 1969cc), fitted from 2014. Not the 1.6 D2 or the five-cylinder diesels sold in the V40 and XC70 before it: the EGR system on Volvo's 2.0 four-cylinder diesel clogs with soot
2014 to 2018, 2.0 four-cylinder VEA diesel (D4; also sold as D2 and D3 from 2015): the EGR cooler and valve on Volvo's 2.0 four-cylinder VEA diesel clog
Each one is set out in full below, with the symptoms, the typical mileage and a rough repair cost.
Generation 1 of 13 known faults · 17 owner reports · 6 good notes
Volvo V60 Mk1 (2010 to 2018) problems
Engine/EmissionsHigh severity📝 Editorial
The EGR system on Volvo's 2.0 four-cylinder diesel clogs with soot, and a weak EGR cooler is a known part of it. In 2019 Volvo recalled around 70,000 UK cars with this engine built from 2014, the V40, S90 and XC70 among them, because the soot build-up can make the plastic inlet manifold melt and, at worst, catch fire. V40 owners have reported EGR valves gummed up with carbon at about 40,000 miles, EGR valve, cooler and pipework replaced under warranty with a redesigned system, and smoke from the engine at 62,000 miles blamed on a leaking head gasket that was more likely the EGR cooler.
Typical symptoms
engine warning light
a burning or unusual smell while driving
loss of power or limp mode
engine cutting out
Affected vehicles
Engines:
2.0 four-cylinder diesel (VEA / Drive-E: D2, D3, D4 and D5, 1969cc), fitted from 2014. Not the 1.6 D2 or the five-cylinder diesels sold in the V40 and XC70 before it
Typical mileage:
unknown miles
1 more owner report backs this up
July 2019A 2014 Volvo V60 with a 2.0 litre D4 VEA twin-turbo diesel engine at 47,000 miles had issues with its water-cooled EGR cooler clogging.
🔍 We have a specific pre-purchase check for this faultCheck an advert →
Engine/EmissionsHigh severity💬 4 owner reports, 2016 to 2019
The EGR cooler and valve on Volvo's 2.0 four-cylinder VEA diesel clog with soot, and the deposits go on to block the inlet manifold and damage the inlet valves. A 2016 forum report called the EGR problem widespread on the D4 across the V40, S60, V60 and XC60. One 2014 V60 D4 owner faced about 4,000 pounds for EGR work, a blocked manifold and new inlet valves before Volvo met 95% of it; a French 2014 D4 had the EGR pipes, cooler and valve replaced in 2016, 2017 and 2018 and then began using oil; and a 100,000-mile 2015 car went into limp mode with a blocked manifold and a faulty EGR valve, quoted 900 pounds. In October 2019 DVSA recall R/2019/180 covered the plastic inlet manifold, which can melt and deform with a risk of an engine bay fire, on about 70,000 UK cars from 2014 to 2018; the cure is soot-reducing software, sensor cleaning and extra hoses, with a redesigned EGR coolant circuit. The same fault is already recorded for the V40, S90, XC60 and XC70; this row carries it to the V60.
Rough guide
£900-4000
Typical symptoms
engine warning light with EGR or inlet manifold codes
loss of power or limp mode
coolant level dropping with no visible leak
oil consumption rising after repeated EGR work
Affected vehicles
Engines:
2.0 four-cylinder VEA diesel (D4; also sold as D2 and D3 from 2015)
Typical mileage:
40000-100000 miles
🔍 We have a specific pre-purchase check for this faultCheck an advert →
Engine/EmissionsMedium severity💬 4 owner reports, 2012 to 2019
The five-cylinder 2.0 D3 hesitates and falters: a 2011 car at 41,000 miles faltered leaving a queue of traffic, most alarmingly on a busy roundabout about eight miles after a cold start; another D3 had intermittent hesitation on acceleration over three years; a D3 automatic was missing and stalling within 8,500 miles of purchase; and a 2012 car at 69,000 miles twice went into limp mode with the emissions warning and the speed cut to about 10 mph.
Rough guide
£200-1200
Typical symptoms
hesitation or faltering when accelerating from low speed
intermittent stalling
emissions warning with reduced power and limp mode
Affected vehicles
Engines:
2.0 D3 five-cylinder diesel (before the 2015 switch to the VEA engine)
Typical mileage:
8000-70000 miles
🔍 We have a specific pre-purchase check for this faultCheck an advert →
What owners report on the Mk1
17 single reports, unconfirmed
One owner each, in their own words rewritten as a line, and not counted in our risk scoring. A fault joins the list above once a second report or an editorial source backs it.
Engine · October 2019A 2012 Volvo V60 D3 at 69,000 miles experienced an emissions warning light and reduced engine power, limiting speed to 10mph.
Engine · October 2019A December 2015 Volvo V60 R Design at 38,000 miles showed a rising oil level, likely due to diesel entering the sump during DPF regeneration.
Engine · September 2019A 2013 Volvo V60 R Design T2 suffered catastrophic engine failure at 75,000 miles, believed to stem from a fuel injection issue and cylinder misfire.
Engine · August 2019A 2016 Volvo V60 D4 suddenly lost power on a motorway after sustained high-speed driving.
Engine · August 2019A 2014 Volvo V60 D4 181HP VEA engine experienced multiple EGR fixes, coolant loss, and excessive oil consumption, with cylinder leakage detected.
Suspension and steering · March 2019A 2014 Volvo V60 D4 experienced sudden power steering failure, causing the wheel to shake violently and become very heavy.
Engine · January 2019A Volvo V60 D2 engine intermittently stopped when slowing down or approaching roundabouts, requiring a restart.
Electrics · October 2017An interior light failed in a 2016 V60 after 18 months, requiring replacement of the entire central light cluster at a cost of £500.
Engine · August 2017A V60 D3 with a 2.0 litre 5-cylinder engine developed intermittent hesitation on acceleration, worsening over six months.
Engine · August 2016A 2011 Volvo V60 D3 at 41,000 miles faltered on acceleration after idling in traffic, with no faults found after a software upgrade.
Electrics · March 2016An electronic control module located beneath the front passenger floor in a V60 can cause multiple electrical faults when the headlamp flash is activated.
Gearbox and clutch · January 2016The transmission of a 2012 Volvo V60 experienced a failure when the car had covered 42,000 miles.
Electrics · June 2015A March 2014 Volvo V60 Plug-in hybrid had its automatic gear change module fail twice and the central display monitor went blank twice.
Gearbox and clutch · December 2014A 2011 Volvo V60 D5 with 48,000 miles experienced Geartronic automatic gearbox failure just six days after its warranty expired, despite a prior check for snatching in Drive.
Electrics · October 2014The heater fan in a 41-month-old Volvo V60 stopped working and partially discharged the vehicle's battery.
Engine · March 2012A V60 D3 auto experienced 'missing' and lacking power performance, intermittent stalling, and issues with satnav and radio controls within 8,500 miles.
Gearbox and clutch · January 2012A DRIVEe 1.6 D2 exhibited 'clunks' from the drivetrain, likely due to the dual mass flywheel coping with high gear ratios.
What owners like about the Mk1
6 notes
The Volvo V60 achieved a 5-star NCAP safety rating, with high scores for adult and child protection, and safety assist.
An underfloor spare wheel conversion is available for £475, including the wheel, jack, wrench, and a level load deck.
The 2018 Volvo V60 features a large 529-litre boot with easy access for loading and unloading.
The 2018 Volvo V60 offers generous interior space, providing plenty of room for occupants.
The 2018 Volvo V60 is equipped with comfortable seats, enhancing occupant comfort during journeys.
The 2018 Volvo V60 earned a five-star Euro NCAP safety rating, with strong scores across all protection categories.
Sellers rarely admit these faults outright
We track 10 specific phrases sellers use in adverts to soft-pedal these exact issues. Paste any Volvo V60 advert and we check it in seconds.
An overdue cambelt is the most expensive thing a seller can fail to mention on a used V60. These are the figures UK specialists work to.
Timing belt (cambelt)Belt
2.0 D4, D4204T
90,000 miles or 10 years, whichever comes first
Volvo VEA 4-cylinder engines have a timing belt interval of 90,000 miles or 10 years (whichever comes first). The auxiliary belt and tensioner must also be checked or replaced simultaneously.
Always confirm against the vehicle handbook. Intervals vary by engine, and several manufacturers revised theirs after failures in service.
Repair costs are typical UK ranges, not quotes. Actual cost depends on condition and garage.Data last verified: November 2026
Volvo V60 buying questions
What are the most common Volvo V60 problems?
Three stand out. Engine: the EGR system on Volvo's 2.0 four-cylinder diesel clogs with soot. Engine: the EGR cooler and valve on Volvo's 2.0 four-cylinder VEA diesel clog with soot (typically 40000 to 100000 miles). Engine: the five-cylinder 2.0 D3 hesitates and falters (typically 8000 to 70000 miles). The full list above is grouped by generation, with typical mileage and a rough repair cost for each.
Which Volvo V60 years should I avoid?
No Volvo V60 year is a write-off, but the Mk1 (2010 to 2018) carries the most serious faults: engine. Year matters less than whether the specific car has had the known fixes, so check the history for them.
What should I check when viewing a used Volvo V60?
Ask the seller about the engine faults on this page and whether they have been fixed, with invoices. On the test drive watch for engine warning light, engine warning light with EGR or inlet manifold codes and hesitation or faltering when accelerating from low speed. Read the MOT history for repeat advisories, then paste the advert into the free check, which reads it against all 3 known faults before you travel. Check a Volvo V60 advert →
What is the real MPG of a Volvo V60?
Owners report 46.6 mpg on average across the Volvo V60 engines with data, about 76% of the official combined figure. The gap between official and real-world economy varies a lot by engine, so the Real MPG page lists every engine and generation separately, from 1,048 owner submissions. Volvo V60 Real MPG by engine →
If you used to check the Honest John “Good & Bad” section before the site closed in 2026, this page is where that information now lives. We rebuilt the Volvo V60 owner-report history from the archived Honest John dataset, added our own research, specialist and owner-club sources and DVSA recall data, and we keep it free. Each fault above is badged with its source. The same data feeds our free advert check, which reads a listing against every known fault for the exact engine and year.