If you are considering buying a used Volvo XC60, there are several major reliability issues worth knowing about first. Our garage database tracks 2 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.
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Generation 1 of 12 known faults · 19 owner reports · 5 good notes
Volvo XC60 1st Gen (2008 to 2017) problems
Engine/EmissionsHigh severity📝 Editorial
EGR cooler internal leak mixing coolant and soot, causing EGR valve to stick and potential engine damage
Rough guide
£800-1500
Typical symptoms
check engine light
unexplained coolant loss
limp mode
white exhaust smoke
Affected vehicles
Engines:
2.0 D4 (VEA Engine)
Typical mileage:
50000-90000 miles
7 more owner reports back this up
January 2020A 2014 Volvo XC60 D4 VEA had its engine management light illuminate, leading to a major top-end rebuild due to sooted-up cylinders, valves, and injectors, covered by Volvo goodwill.
October 2019A 2014 Volvo XC60 D4 2.0 litre had its EGR valve replaced, then the EGR cooler cleaned, but still splutters on cold start-up.
June 2019A 2014 Volvo XC60 D4 at 70,000 miles needed new intake swirl flaps, an EGR cooler, and an EGR valve, and was using excessive oil.
February 2019The EGR failed on a 2016 Volvo XC60 D4 at 70,000 miles, with the dealer replacing the EGR and cooler free of charge.
August 2018A 54,000-mile Volvo XC60 D4 Drive-E had a new EGR valve, then needed a replacement EGR cooler and associated pipework at significant expense.
May 2018A 60,000-mile 2014 Volvo XC60 D4 displayed a 'reduced engine performance' message, diagnosed as a possible EGR valve issue.
November 2017A 2014 Volvo XC60 2.0 diesel had its EGR cooler and hose replaced under warranty, then needed an O2 sensor cleaned and a new exhaust manifold due to sooting.
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Engine/EmissionsHigh severity📝 Editorial
Auxiliary belt snaps or derails, wrapping around the crankshaft pulley and destroying the main timing belt, ruining the engine
Rough guide
£2000-4000
Typical symptoms
loud squealing from the auxiliary belt tensioner
battery light coming on (alternator stops turning)
sudden and catastrophic engine failure
Affected vehicles
Engines:
2.4 D5 (5-Cylinder Diesel)
Typical mileage:
50000-80000 miles
🔍 We have a specific pre-purchase check for this faultCheck an advert →
What owners report on the 1st Gen
19 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.
Electrics · October 2020The central information screen in a 2016 Volvo XC60 flashed intermittently, with the dealer charging £154.80 for a necessary software update.
Electrics · December 2019The alternator failed on a 2014 Volvo XC60 D4 Automatic SE when the car had covered 64,000 miles.
Electrics · December 2019A 2011 Volvo XC60 experienced intermittent electrical issues, including power steering, handbrake, DSTC, and Park Assist faults, which returned after a software fix.
Brakes · October 2019A 2015 Volvo XC60 required new rear brake discs after travelling 40,000 miles.
Gearbox and clutch · October 2019The Aisin Geartronic automatic transmission of a 67,000-mile 2014 Volvo XC60 D4 AWD went into limp home mode, needing a new TCM module.
Engine · May 2019A 2014 Volvo XC60 at 135,000 miles showed a 'coolant low' light, diagnosed as a failed head gasket requiring a new engine costing £11,200.
Bodywork · March 2019A 2011 Volvo XC60 suffered significant water ingress, soaking the driver's floor mat and dripping from the ceiling light cluster, affecting electrics.
Bodywork · April 2018The tailgate struts on a Volvo XC60 failed every four years, with replacements costing £800 each time.
Gearbox and clutch · March 2018A 2013 Volvo XC60 2.4 D4 R Design needed a new automatic gear selector at 35,000 miles, costing £518.
Gearbox and clutch · March 2018A 35,000-mile 2013 Volvo XC60 displayed a 'gear selector service required' message, leading to a £518.70 bill for a new gear selector module.
Gearbox and clutch · February 2018A 2011 Volvo XC60 2.4 AWD with 55,000 miles developed an unpleasant drivetrain jerk when shifting from reverse to drive.
Electrics · September 2017The driver's door lock of a 2013 Volvo XC60 failed under warranty, followed by the passenger and a rear door lock, with charges for subsequent repairs.
Bodywork · July 2017The gas struts on the hatchback of a 2012 Volvo XC60 started failing, making a groaning noise, with the dealer quoting £500 for replacement.
Brakes · June 2017A 41,000-mile Volvo XC60 D5 Geartronic displayed 'ABS/DSTC service required' and 'engine service required' messages, with the ABS light almost constantly illuminated.
Gearbox and clutch · March 2016The Geartronic transmission of a 58,000-mile 2011 XC60 2.4 D5 AWD jerked and did not change down smoothly when decelerating, with diagnostics finding no fault.
Bodywork · November 2015The windscreen of a 45,000-mile 2010 Volvo XC60 de-bonded, causing a loss of structural integrity and water to leak into the cabin onto electrical components.
Bodywork · June 2015The tailgate lock failed on a 50,000-mile 2011 Volvo XC60 that had been serviced independently.
Brakes · April 2015The rear brake discs and pads of a 2012 Volvo XC60 D5 automatic needed replacing at 34,260 miles.
Gearbox and clutch · December 2013The Geartronic transmission bands were slipping on a 2010 XC60 D5, which had covered 19,000 miles.
What owners like about the 1st Gen
5 notes
The Volvo XC60 was recognised as the overall winner at the Towcar Awards in 2009.
This comfortable and classy SUV is equipped with a comprehensive suite of autonomous safety features.
This model offers impressive levels of standard equipment, enhancing the overall ownership experience for drivers.
The T8 petrol plug-in hybrid variant can accelerate from 0 to 62mph in just 5.3 seconds.
The car achieved a 5-star Euro NCAP rating, with high scores for adult occupant, child occupant, pedestrian, and safety assist.
Sellers rarely admit these faults outright
We track 4 specific phrases sellers use in adverts to soft-pedal these exact issues. Paste any Volvo XC60 advert and we check it in seconds.
Volvo XC60 service intervals: cambelt, chain and gearbox oil
An overdue cambelt is the most expensive thing a seller can fail to mention on a used XC60. 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.
Timing belt (cambelt)Belt
2.4 D5, D5
60,000 miles or 5 years, whichever comes first
Official interval is often 10 years / 100k miles, but the auxiliary belt is notorious for snapping, wrapping around the main timing belt, and destroying the engine. Specialists strongly advise changing both belts and tensioners every 5 years or 60,000 miles.
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: June 2026
Volvo XC60 buying questions
Is a used Volvo XC60 reliable?
The Volvo XC60 has 2 known faults in our database, 2 of them rated high severity. The most serious are engine (EGR cooler internal leak mixing coolant and soot, causing EGR valve to stick) and engine (auxiliary belt snaps or derails, wrapping around the crankshaft pulley). None of them makes the car a bad buy on its own; the risk is a seller who knows and says nothing.
Which Volvo XC60 years should I avoid?
No Volvo XC60 year is a write-off, but the 1st Gen (2008 to 2017) 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 XC60?
Ask the seller about the engine faults on this page and whether they have been fixed, with invoices. On the test drive watch for check engine light and loud squealing from the auxiliary belt tensioner. Read the MOT history for repeat advisories, then paste the advert into the free check, which reads it against its known faults before you travel. Check a Volvo XC60 advert →
What is the real MPG of a Volvo XC60?
Owners report 38.0 mpg on average across the Volvo XC60 engines with data, about 79% 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 1,581 owner submissions. Volvo XC60 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 XC60 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.