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2005 Volvo S60 problems

The most common problem on the 2005 Volvo S60 is engine and cooling, typically around 94,000 miles. It has 1.8 times the complaints of a typical S60 model year.

Typical year1.8x the typical complaints
Year score
54/100
Owner complaints
44
Recalls
3
Service bulletins
174
Worst area
Engine
Fuel economy
18-22mpg

The worst 2005 Volvo S60 problems

Ranked by number of owner complaints. Mileage and cost come from what owners wrote.

Problems by type

Tap a problem to see which part fails, at what mileage and in which other years.

  • Engine
    10
  • Fuel system
    10
  • Electrical
    6
  • Tires
    6
  • Body
    4
  • Acceleration
    2
  • Brakes
    2
  • Driver assistance
    2
  • Steering
    2
  • Suspension
    2
  • Transmission
    2
  • Airbags
    1
  • Lights
    1
  • Seat belts
    1
  • Seats
    1
  • Visibility
    1
  • Wheels
    1

Specific symptoms reported on the 2005 Volvo S60

Stalling 8Loss of power 6

Recalls 3

Air bags: frontal: driver side: inflator moduleReported September 30, 2021 · 259,383 vehicles affected
What is wrong
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.
Risk
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.

Recall number 21V766000 · Recall details

Equipment: electrical: navigational system(global positioning system)Reported November 8, 2010 · 416 vehicles affected
What is wrong
Volvo is recalling certain vehicles equipped with garmin 760 portable global positioning system (GPS) units because the batteries on those units may overheat.
Risk
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.

Recall number 10V566000 · Recall details

Equipment: other: labelsReported October 3, 2006 · 19,700 vehicles affected
What is wrong
Certain vehicles fail to conform to the requirements of federal motor vehicle safety standard no. 110, "tire selection and rims." the label denoting the tire and loading pressure information is incorrect.
Risk
A misprinted label would lead to improper vehicle loading specifications or tire inflation which could result in a tire failure, increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy
Dealers will mail the correct labels free of charge. The recall began on december 18, 2006. Owners may contact volvo at 1‑800‑458‑1552.

Recall number 06V375000 · Recall details

See all 3 recalls for the 2005 Volvo S60

Technical service bulletins for the 2005 Volvo S60 174

Bulletins tell dealers how to fix known problems. A warranty extension means the manufacturer pays for that repair for longer.

See all 174 bulletins for the 2005 Volvo S60

2005 Volvo S60 fuel economy

Official EPA estimates in miles per gallon (MPGe for electric). Ranges cover trims that share the same engine.

EngineDriveCityHighwayCombined
2.4L 5‑cylFWD18-1926-2721-22
2.5L 5‑cylFWD192722
2.5L 5‑cyl4WD16-1722-2418-20

What 2005 Volvo S60 owners say

Most recent owner complaints, unedited.

Filed Nov 9, 2021 · Seats · CA

While I was driving I felt very hot under my buttock than I heard it pop and burst, I pulled over to check, oh my got (OMG) thanks God I'm safe! There was a burn on my car seat!

Filed Aug 17, 2019 · Driver assistance, Transmission · 130,000 miles · CO

Angle/collar gear/sleeve, haldex awd. Hundreds of thousands of awd volvos have this issue yet volvo has never taken action or recalled part. This is just one of many issues thousands of volvo's have. But the awd system non functioning due to stripped teeth caused by rust because of inadequate grease/lube etc. On thousands of vehicles ranging from their small sedans to SUV's should be something. They have even updated the angle gear/collar sleeve with one that has "hardened" teeth, but no recall on a part of the vehicle that is suppose to always function. A lot were lucky enough it happened while still under warranty. But getting stuck/stranded in snow because your vehicle is only 2 wheel drive when its suppose to be awd. I did not find out my awd did not work until I had gotten stuck in the snow. Turns out hundreds if not thousands of people had to find out this same way. I believe volvo has just been lucky no one has died yet due to failed awd system. I am not certain about what conditions need to be met before a recall is done. This is just one of the issues with volvo's. I am not sure on the exact date my awd system stopped working because driving on anything other than snow, or ice you cannot tell. But a simple search on the internet and hundreds if not thousands of people starting early as 2000's to most recent as 2019 having same issues, some more than once, and a few coming up with their own way of fixing volvos issue. But photos can be found all over the web. Also volvo sells these advertised as awd when in fact it is fwd all time, until front tires lose traction which only then do the rear wheels engage. Yet can break or malfunction even though they only ever come on 20-30% of the vehicles total miles driven. Not sure of awd definition but I always thought it stood for all wheel drive, not front wheel drive; all wheel drive when front wheels lose traction.

Filed Sep 13, 2017 · Seat belts · 63,611 miles · CA

My seat belt got stuck in the front passenger side . Now I'm getting a service message about the SRS service urgent I don't know why it got stuck but it did I can't get it out of seat belt clip .

Filed Jul 23, 2016 · 27,800 miles · GA

Applied brake, engine continued to accelerate. I had to pump the brake several times rapidly before the engine decelerated. This has occurred on several occasions.

Filed May 27, 2016 · Airbags · 215,077 miles · DE

Tl* the contact owns a 2005 volvo s60. The contact stated that the SRS air bag light remained illuminated ever since the vehicle was purchased ten months ago. The dealer was unable to diagnose the cause of the failure. The failure recurred and was not remedied. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was 215,077. Updated 08/10/16*lj

Filed Mar 9, 2016 · Engine · 165,000 miles · MO

Tl* the contact owns a 2005 volvo s60. While driving at approximately 40 MPH, the check engine warning indicator illuminated and the engine stalled. The vehicle restarted, but the engine stalled again. The vehicle was towed to an independent mechanic where it was diagnosed that the mass air flow sensor failed and needed to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired, but the failure recurred. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 165,000.

Filed Feb 1, 2016 · 128,000 miles · WA

Transmission has hard eratic shifting from first to second. Then second to third gear with over reving before engaging into gear. Driving around corners transmission completely slips out of gear, over revs and then lunges forward very hard. Very unsafe for the safest brand of car on the market. Recall?

Filed Apr 27, 2015 · Engine, Fuel system · 74,171 miles · CA

Twice now over a ten day period first when reducing speed to a stop or then again at a speed of less than 5 MPH, the car died...first the engine died then all else died. The car went dead. I still had my steering and slowly rolled to the curbed then as I gently put on the brakes the car jerked to a halt. During the second incident the car still jerked after I had stopped. A loud sound of a fan from the engine could be heard. The fan stopped after 10 to 15 seconds. After a minute I restarted the car and made it home both times.

Filed Dec 7, 2014 · Brakes, Engine · 98,000 miles · NY

The car had difficulty in starting all of a sudden. It appeared to be an electronic ignition problem. After a few starts, warning signals started coming on. First was "engine under performance" and then it was "break failure". The car was stopped and towed to volvo dealer. The dealer indicated that the car's fuel pump / lines were designed and installed outside the weather shielded housing. The salt used for snow melting corrodes these lines and several cars show up with this issue.so they replaced them and moved them to within the weather protected area. Searching the internet, I found several volvo cars of this era have this problem and several occurred while driving - both loss of speed and break failure. My car was well maintained, regular oil changes with the synthetic oil and maintained by volvo dealer or specialist. I also use the recommended 91 or 93 octane gas, so it cannot be attributed to lax maintenance or lesser quality fuel. The online forums seem to have all kinds of diagnostics for this problem. If it was a design fault at manufacturer, as advised by the volvo dealer, I would think it would should be investigated for recall.

Filed Oct 7, 2014 · Engine · 130,000 miles · TN

Tl* the contact owns a 2005 volvo s60. The contact stated that the vehicle was slow to start. Once started, the vehicle would rive sluggish and was slow to accelerate. The contact had an independent mechanic replace the mass air flow sensor more than three times but the failure recurred. The mass air flow sensor was cleaned and the sensor was reset by the independent mechanic but that did not remedy the failure. The contact indicated that an interim solution was to disconnect the mass air flow sensor and upon doing so the vehicle did not have the hesitation. The vehicle was not repaired and the failure was recurring intermittently. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 130,000.

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Questions about the 2005 Volvo S60

Is the 2005 Volvo S60 reliable?

Owners have filed 44 complaints about the 2005 Volvo S60, 1.8 times a typical S60 model year.

What is the 2005 Volvo S60 year score?

The 2005 Volvo S60 scores 54 out of 100 (below average). The score compares it with the other model years of the Volvo S60: 75 is a typical year, 50 means twice the usual complaints, and serious complaints and recalls lower it.

What is the most common problem with the 2005 Volvo S60?

Engine and cooling, with 10 complaints, typically around 94,000 miles. Next is fuel system (10).

How many recalls does the 2005 Volvo S60 have?

3 recalls, covering air bags and equipment.

What year does the Volvo S60 have bad engine?

The Volvo S60 model years with the most engine complaints are 2004 (85 complaints), 2012 (62 complaints) and 2013 (37 complaints).

Is there a class action lawsuit over the Volvo S60?

Yes. New class action says Volvo's Google-based infotainment screens freeze and take climate and rearview camera with them (November 9, 2026).

What gas mileage does the 2005 Volvo S60 get?

Official estimates for the 2005 Volvo S60 range from 18 to 22 mpg combined. The most efficient version (2.4L 5-cyl, FWD) gets 18-19 city and 26-27 highway.

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