VehicleVerdict

2004 Volvo S60 problems

Verdict · NHTSA data

One of the years to avoid

With 262 complaints filed to NHTSA — about 8.5 times the median S60 year — the 2004 model ranks #1 of 26 S60 years for complaint volume. It lands on the years-to-avoid list. Complainants reported 15 injuries in total across these filings.

Engine leads the complaint categories with 85 reports (32% of the total).

262

NHTSA complaints

6

Recalls

0

Investigations

22

Crash-involved

15

Fires reported

15

Injuries

0

Deaths

NCAP overall

How does 2004 compare to other S60 years?

See all S60 years to avoid →

What are the most common 2004 Volvo S60 problems?

ComponentComplaintsShare
Engine8532%
Fuel System5521%
Electrical System228%
Seats135%
Transmission125%
Brakes114%
Speed Control114%
Airbags104%
Tires & Wheels93%
Steering93%
Lighting73%
Body & Structure42%
Other31%
Suspension31%
Latches & Locks21%
Visibility & Wipers21%
Seat Belts21%
Climate Control (A/C & Heat)10%
Child Seat10%

Does the 2004 Volvo S60 have recalls?

6 NHTSA recall campaigns on file. Recall repairs are free at franchised dealers.

21V766000AirbagsSeptember 30, 2021 · 259,383 units

Defect

Volvo Car USA, LLC (Volvo Car) is recalling certain 2001-2006 S80 and 2001-2009 S60 vehicles. The driver's air bag inflator may explode during deployment, due to propellant degradation occurring after long-term exposure to high absolute humidity, high temperatures, and high temperature cycling.

Consequence

An inflator explosion may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants, resulting in serious injury or death.

Remedy

Dealers will replace the driver's air bag, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed November 29, 2021. Owners may contact Volvo Car customer service at 1-800-458-1552. Volvo's number for this recall is R10125.

10V566000Electrical SystemNovember 8, 2010 · 416 units

Defect

VOLVO IS RECALLING CERTAIN VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH GARMIN 760 PORTABLE GLOBAL POSITIONING SYSTEM (GPS) UNITS BECAUSE THE BATTERIES ON THOSE UNITS MAY OVERHEAT.

Consequence

AN OVERHEATED BATTERY COULD LEAD TO A FIRE.

Remedy

VOLVO ADVISES OWNERS TO PLEASE STOP USING THE GARMIN PORTABLE GPS DEVICE IMMEDIATELY, AND VISIT THE GARMIN WEBSITE TO DETERMINE IF THEIR UNIT IS AFFECTED. THE UNIT'S BATTERY WILL BE REPLACED WITH A NEW BATTERY AND A SPACER WILL BE INSERTED ON TOP OF THE BATTERY NEXT TO THE PCB. THIS SERVICE WILL BE PERFORMED FREE OF CHARGE. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN ON NOVEMBER 18, 2010. OWNERS MAY CONTACT GARMIN AT 866-957-1981 OR VISIT GARMIN'S WEBSITE AT WWW.GARMIN.COM/NUVIBATTERYPCBRECALL.

09V483000Fuel SystemDecember 18, 2009 · 158,733 units

Defect

VOLVO IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2001-2005 S80, MODEL YEAR 2001-2004 V70, S60, XC70 AND MODEL YEAR 2003-2005 XC90 VEHICLES SOLD IN OR REGISTERED IN THE STATES OF ALABAMA, ARIZONA, ARKANSAS, CALIFORNIA, FLORIDA, GEORGIA, HAWAII, KENTUCKY, LOUISIANA, MISSISSIPPI, NEVADA, NEW MEXICO, NORTH CAROLINA, OKLAHOMA, SOUTH CAROLINA, TENNESSEE, TEXAS, UTAH, VIRGINIA AND THE U.S. TERRITORIES. WHEN EXPOSED TO CERTAIN ENVIRONMENTAL CONDITIONS (HOT CLIMATE AND TEMPERATURE CYCLING) OVER TIME AND IN COMBINATION WITH VARYING FUEL QUALITY, THE FUEL PUMP CAN DEVELOP CRACKS IN THE FUEL PUMP FLANGE.

Consequence

IF THE CONDITION OCCURS VEHICLE OWNERS MAY NOTICE FUEL SMELL AND/OR FUEL LEAK WHICH, IN THE PRESENCE OF AN IGNITION SOURCE, COULD RESULT IN A FIRE.

Remedy

DEALERS WILL INSPECT THE FUEL PUMP INSTALLED IN THE VEHICLE, AND IF NECESSARY REPLACE THE FUEL PUMP WITH A PART OF A MODIFIED DESIGN. THIS SERVICE WILL BE PERFORMED FREE OF CHARGE. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN ON JANUARY 15, 2010. OWNERS MAY CONTACT VOLVO AT 1-800-458-1552.

07V226000EngineJune 5, 2007 · 32,189 units

Defect

ON CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES, THE FUEL PRESSURE SENSOR LOCATED ON THE LEFT END OF THE FUEL RAIL MAY, AT TIMES, TRANSMIT INCORRECT SIGNAL REGARDING THE FUEL PRESSURE TO THE ENGINE CONTROL MODULE. IF THE SIGNAL IS OUTSIDE OF THE PRE-PROGRAMMED ALLOWABLE LIMITS, A DIAGNOSTIC TROUBLE CODE MAY BE SET AND THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT WILL COME ON. THE SOLDERED JOINTS ON THE CIRCUIT BOARD OF THE FUEL PRESSURE SENSOR MAY CRACK DUE TO TEMPERATURE CHANGES AND EXCESSIVE VIBRATIONS.

Consequence

MISFIRE MAY OCCUR DURING DRIVING THAT, IN TURN, WILL REDUCE THE ENGINE TORQUE AND IN THE WORST CASE SCENARIO, THE ENGINE MAY STALL WITHOUT WARNING. IN CERTAIN TRAFFIC SITUATIONS THIS COULD CAUSE AN UNSAFE SITUATION AND POSSIBLY A CRASH.

Remedy

DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE FUEL PRESSURE SENSOR FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON JUNE 29, 2007. OWNERS MAY CONTACT VOLVO AT 1-800-458-1552.

07E023000BrakesMarch 29, 2007 · 13,128 units

Defect

CERTAIN CARDONE MASTER CYLINDERS WITH PART NUMBERS 10-2925, 10-2987, 10-2987MZA, 10-3083, 11-3015, 11-3042, 11-3044, 11-3045, 11-3047, 11-3064, AND 11-3156, AND WITH DATE CODES LOWER THAN DCA7078 SOLD AS REPLACEMENT EQUIPMENT FOR USE ON THE VEHICLES LISTED ABOVE. THE SEAL ON MASTER CYLINDER CAN FAIL AND LEAK BRAKE FLUID.

Consequence

LOSS OF BRAKE FLUID CAN RESULT IN POOR BRAKING PERFORMANCE, POSSIBLY RESULTING IN A VEHICLE CRASH.

Remedy

CARDONE WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND OFFER TO REPURCHASE ANY DEFECTIVE MASTER CYLINDERS. THE RECALL BEGAN DURING APRIL 2007. OWNERS CAN CONTACT CARDONE AT 1-800-777-4780.

04V029000SteeringJanuary 16, 2004 · 29,986 units

Defect

ON CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES, THE FRONT CONTROL ARMS MAY NOT HAVE BEEN MANUFACTURED CORRECTLY AND, AS A RESULT, THE STUD AND NUT THAT SECURE THE ARM TO THE SPINDLE MAY LOSE THEIR INITIAL AXIAL TENSION. UNDER CERTAIN DRIVING CONDITIONS, THE STEERING MAY BECOME LESS RESPONSIVE AND THE DRIVER MAY EXPERIENCE STEERING WHEEL PLAY.

Consequence

THIS DRIVING CONDITION COULD EVENTUALLY LEAD TO SEPARATION BETWEEN THE FRONT CONTROL ARM AND THE SPINDLE, WHICH COULD RESULT IN A CRASH.

Remedy

DEALERS WILL INSTALL A NEW TYPE OF NUT. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN ON FEBRUARY 16, 2004. OWNERS SHOULD CONTACT VOLVO CARS AT 1-800-458-1552.

Consumer complaints filed with NHTSA

Representative excerpts, cleaned of personal information. These are consumer statements, not verified defects.

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…

Complaint filed with NHTSA · Engine · November 1, 2018 · fire

ON SEPTEMBER 18 I WAS TRAVELING DOWN INTERSTATE 10 WHEN MY 2004 VOLVO S60 COMPLETELY STOPPED RUNNING WHILE GOING 70 MPH. I WAS UNABLE TO GET THE CAR OUT OF THE TRAFFIC (NO POWER TO DRIVE TO THE SHOULDER). MY CAR WAS COMPLETELY USELESS. I CALLED 911 AND ROADSIDE ASSISTANCE TO GET HELP BEFORE I WAS…

Complaint filed with NHTSA · Fuel System · September 18, 2006 · crash

VOLVO S60R SEAT ISSUE. TURNED SEAT HEATER ON, FELT VERY WARM SENSATION ON MY LEFT HIP/LEG AFTER A FEW MINUTES. TURNED SEAT HEATER OFF AND GOT OUT OF CAR TO CHECK WHAT WAS HAPPENING. SEAT HEATER BURNED THROUGH THE LEATHER AND ALSO MY JEANS. IS THERE A RECALL/FIX? SEEMS EXTREMELY DANGEROUS. *TR

Complaint filed with NHTSA · Electrical System · January 11, 2010 · fire

THE DRIVER SEAT OVERHEATED, APPARENTLY FROM A MALFUNCTIONING SEAT WARMER, CAUSING COMBUSTION. THE FIRE BURNED THROUGH THE SEAT PADDING, OUTER LEATHER COVERING, AND THE DRIVER'S CLOTHING. IT BURNED INTO A WALLET IN THE DRIVER'S BACK POCKET, WHICH PROTECTED THE DRIVER FROM A BURN. THE BURN HOLE IN…

Complaint filed with NHTSA · Seats · February 26, 2013 · fire

WHEN PULLING INTO A PARKING SPACE AT MY DAUGHTER'S SCHOOL, VEHICLE SUDDENLY ACCELERATED OVER THE SIDEWALK AND STRUCK THE BUILDING. TRANSMISSION POPPED IN REVERSE AND VEHICLE ACCELERATED BACKWARDS. EVEN WITH THE BRAKE PEDAL ALL THE WAY TO THE FLOOR, VEHICLE WOULD NOT STOP. I FORCED THE TRANSMISSION…

Complaint filed with NHTSA · Transmission · August 10, 2010 · crash

2004 Volvo S60 — common questions

Is the 2004 Volvo S60 reliable?

NHTSA data argues against it: 262 complaints put the 2004 model at #1 of 26 S60 years. It is one of the S60 years to avoid.

What are the most common 2004 S60 problems?

According to NHTSA complaint data, the leading problem areas are engine (85 complaints), fuel system (55 complaints), electrical system (22 complaints).

Does the 2004 Volvo S60 have recalls?

Yes — NHTSA lists 6 recall campaigns affecting the 2004 Volvo S60. Recall repairs are free at franchised dealers; check the VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to confirm the work was done.

Which Volvo S60 years should you avoid?

Based on complaint rates and open investigations, the S60 years to avoid are 2004, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2012, 2013, 2015, 2005. The cleanest record among S60 years belongs to 2025.

Related

Based on NHTSA ODI data through June 2026. Complaints are consumer-reported and unverified. Updated July 5, 2026.

Compiled by Sharon Ben-Moshe, Founder.