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Volvo S60 misfire problems

14 of the 1,274 owner complaints about the Volvo S60 describe misfire or rough idle, most of them for the 2015 model year.

owner complaints
14
worst model year
2015
typical repair cost reported
$1,300
typical mileage
100,000
Is there a fix? There are 5 recalls for this area of the car. See below

By model year

  • 2016
    3
  • 2015
    3
  • 2014
    1
  • 2013
    1
  • 2008
    1
  • 2006
    1
  • 2003
    2
  • 2002
    1
  • 2001
    1

What owners say

Filed Oct 22, 2026 · Engine · TN

I was sold a car with is not safe for me to drive and didn’t know it. It at one time had a safety recall and whoever at the the time never had it repaired but it has outdated piston rings that leads to progressive oil consumption, it’s misfiring and leads to catastrophic engine failure. It’s just don’t feel safe to drive in I’m disabled & can’t afford for new engine or one to be rebuilt and sure can’t afford to be broke down on the road because of my health. Is there any help you can get me to help get this fixed I’m in desperate need here to get back n forth to my doctors, safely . It’s been almost 2 wks since I got the car and not been able to drive it of fear of breaking down. The recall has been or waeranty is expired now and I really need help to get it fixed

Filed Oct 18, 2026 · Engine, Fuel system · TN

As soon as I bought the car heading home . They put oil in car and by time I got home the car had consumed at least a qrt , it misfired And seemed to lose power and didn’t think I would make it home before breaking down but luckily I did . I did research and Called Volvo of Cool Springs, they checked the data base and told me that previous owner had never had the piston rings updated and would cause high oil consumption leading to catastrophic engine failure & would have to have engine rebuilt or whole new engine with updated pistons , which the dealership never told me about or anything about it because the repairs where never fixed when there was a open recall . The vehicle suffers from a critical, systemic manufacturing defect involving defective piston rings that results in sudden, severe engine oil consumption and subsequent engine misfires. The vehicle consumes oil at an alarming rate without any external leaks, putting it at imminent risk of catastrophic engine failure while in motion. This issue causes sudden power loss and stalling while driving at highway speeds, creating an extreme safety hazard to the driver, passengers, and other vehicles on the road. Volvo is fully aware of this widespread manufacturing defect and previously issued an extended warranty/recall program for these exact defective piston rings, which has since expired. This leaving consumers exposed to sudden, dangerous mechanical breakdowns. A formal safety investigation is urgently requested to address the inherent engine failure hazards posed by these defective components.it wasn’t a wreck or accident but it could of been the way car was acting after leaving dealership and it’s because of faulty piston rings that the engine is a ticking time bomb and no way I can afford new engine or one to be rebuilt . They should be liable for selling a lemon it could permantky break down at anytime with the faulty piston rings and I’m disabled to me that’s not only bad business but a safety hazard

Filed Oct 21, 2024 · Engine · MA

I was driving approximately 65 MPH on the highway and suddenly my car started shuttering, stuttering, and my check engine light started blinking. My car started slowing down as if it was having trouble accelerating. I also received a warning message that said, “Reduce speed or shift up.” I only have 123,263 miles on the vehicle. My mechanic informed me I was having a cylinder 2 misfire and that my exhaust valve burnt up. I also need a new timing belt. This is not the first time I’ve had a cylinder misfire on this car, so I believe there is something faulty in this vehicle. As a result of this incident, I pulled over on the highway and waited for a tow truck.

Filed Jan 10, 2024 · Engine · PA

Was on the highway driving back from my aunts house and there were no signs anything was wrong with my car. No alerts on the dash besides low pressure tire which I filled up. As I was almost home, an alert randomly came up with “no oil pressure” along with a check engine light flashing and the car started shaking (misfiring). The car flashed a message that said something about reduced engine performance. As my car was shaking fervently, it was slowing down and failed to accelerate, causing cars behind me to almost crash. No oil pressure can also cause fires and put my life at risk. I had much time left to get my oil changed and yet I had oil message lights come on. I believe this is a problem with the piston rings that are defective & there was just recently a class action suit of them. I have had to continually fill up oil, and now I suddenly have an engine that does not work and threatened the safety of myself and others on the road. Volvo diagnosed the issue as being valve broken, piston ring damage, along with other engine components. I now need an entire new engine.

Filed Jan 4, 2024 · Engine · NY

1. The engine has been compromised due to excessive oil consumption for at least half the life of the vehicle. The oil level was detected y a Volvo mechanics being 4 quarts low despite the vehicle not being due for an oil change for another 2,200 miles. At that time, the vehicle was still under extended warranty 2. Had the low oil level not been detected , I would have run out of oil on the freeway and the engine would have caught fire 3. I monitored oil consumption over 5 months and documented significant consumption on the order of 1 quart over 500 miles 4. I opened a case with Volvo in Feb. 2021, and I was sent to one of their dealers for an oil consumption test. The service dealer stated the test was normal, despite the fact that the dipstick level drop corresponded to 1.5 quarts of oil consumed over 1000 miles (documented by photos). Volvo then closed the case 5. I continued to monitor oil consumption myself and topped up the oil as needed at a rate of 1 quart per 600 miles. Since Feb. 2021, over 30,000 driven miles, I have added ~ 60 quarts of oil, in addition to continuing to perform oil changes as recommended by Volvo dealers 6. For the record, Volvo has been concealing their excessive oil consumption by administering 7 quarts and even 8 quarts of oil at each oil change instead of the owner's manual recommended 5.8 quarts. I have 15 oil service record documents from Volvo service facilities for all my oil services documenting the above 7. In Nov 2023 my catalytic converter issues error codes due to low performance caused by excessive oil consumption 8. On [XXX] while driving to Cleveland I had several misfires, the engine started shaking on the freeway and barely made it to Cleveland 9. On [XXX] I took the car to a Volvo dealership where it was diagnosed with severe engine damage from prolonged oil consumption. I re-opened a case with Volvo to cover repairs (~$7000) and loaner car. So far Volvo has been silent and slow. 10. Doc upload not working below. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFO

Filed Mar 19, 2023 · Electrical, Engine · CA

Excessive Oil Consumption resulting in piston damage/failure! This vehicle has burned oil since I bought it used at about 80,000 miles. I checked the carfax prior to purchasing it and it had been maintained routinely. I have to add a liter of oil every couple of weeks. This is with regular in town driving. I have reported the issue numerous times to the Volvo dealer when I bring it in for regular maintenance and repairs. I have been told by the Volvo service advisor to just add oil. It was a known issue. Sometimes I have warning lights telling me it has low oil. I also check the oil level to know to add oil. I always check my oil level before any trip. I always keep oil in my car because of this issue. Otherwise, I have had to stop and buy oil once on a trip. Since it told me to add oil on my way back. However, one serious safety issue was having to pull off on a desert highway to add oil. The car was giving me a red warning triangle that I had never seen before. My child had to shine a light for me to see so I could add oil. She was VERY AFRAID. Although Volvo sent a letter acknowledging this vehicle problem, I have been told that I do not qualify for any warranty. I was told by Volvo service that I have a misfire/loss in power and over $5000 in repairs in Feb 2023. I have already paid for some related repairs when my check engine light came on last year. My check engine light is currently on. In the last year alone (prior to Feb 2023), I have spent over $5000 in repairs. I would have traded it in, but I kept being told how great of a car it was by the service advisor. I am sick! I do not want to continue wasting money on a car that I no longer feel safe in. I am afraid to drive it out of town.

Filed May 11, 2021 · Electrical, Engine · 123,000 miles · MI

Tl* the contact owns a 2015 volvo s60. The contact stated that the vehicle failed to start-up. The vehicle was towed to lafontaine volvo cars of farmington hills (24730 haggerty rd, farmington hills, mi 48335, (248)579-1300) to be diagnosed. The contact was informed that the alternator and battery needed to be replaced. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic to be repaired. Several days later after the vehicle was repaired, while driving 80 MPH, the vehicle decelerated to 30 MPH without warning. The vehicle was taken back to the independent mechanic to be diagnosed. The contact was informed of misfires on two cylinders due to oil consumption. The vehicle was repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was 123,000.

Filed Apr 24, 2019 · Engine · 92,000 miles · VA

Volvo failed to notify consumer of a manufacturer's defect with the volvo spark plugs being unstable in its original housing, which resulted in 'recalled spark plugs'. As a result the spark plug ends broke off and caused permanent damaged to the engine (cylinder #4 has little to no compression, misfire). The car smokes and extremely dangerous to drive; it is subject to catch on fire. The car was in motion when the engine light and oil light came on.

Filed May 26, 2017 · Airbags, Engine · 175,000 miles · GA

Posible taskata recall air bag light on/engine missing bad/tranmission shift fast and hard-sun roof don't works had tune-up done change turbo charger replaced/replaced trollder body-replace the radiator between and A/C evaporator that connect from turbo and troller body rough idleing whild starting and driving on the city streets. I would ask the power train and the speed control to include the electrical system be reviewed for service and any unknown or other.

Filed Nov 28, 2016 · Airbags, Electrical · 100,000 miles · PA

Dash cluster lights and gauges and turn signal indicator shut down and back on intermittently, motor seems to lose power when driving, and rough idle. The dash cluster problem happens while driving and in the park position.

Related recalls

Engine and engine cooling: engine: engine control module (ecu/ECM)Reported October 20, 2022 · 15,674 vehicles affected
What is wrong
Volvo Car USA, LLC (Volvo Car) is recalling certain 2022-2023 S60, V60, S90L, XC60, and XC90 vehicles. An electronic control module (ECM) software error may prevent the combustion engine from starting, causing a loss of drive power.
Risk
The vehicle may lose drive power as the high voltage battery is depleted, increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy
Dealers will update the ECM software, free of charge. Owner notification letters are expected to be mailed December 8, 2022. Owners may contact Volvo Car's customer service at 1‑800‑458‑1552. Volvo Car's number for this recall is R10198.

Recall number 22V793000 · Recall details

Engine and engine cooling: engineReported November 22, 2013 · 30,929 vehicles affected
What is wrong
Volvo Cars of North America, LLC (Volvo) is recalling certain model year 2011-2012 S60 vehicles manufactured June 22, 2010, through May 14, 2012, and equipped with 5-cylinder B5254T5 (VIN code 62) engines. In the affected vehicles, the vehicle may not alert the driver of a low oil pressure situation.
Risk
Without being warned of a low oil pressure situation, the driver may continue to drive the vehicle until it stalls, which increases the risk of a crash.
Remedy
Volvo will notify owners, and dealers will update the vehicle's software so that the driver is alerted should there be a low oil pressure situation, free of charge. The recall began on January 10, 2014. Owners may contact Volvo at 1‑800‑458‑1552. Volvo's number for this campaign is R29436.

Recall number 13V592000 · Recall details

Engine and engine coolingReported November 17, 2010 · 6,046 vehicles affected
What is wrong
Volvo is recalling certain model year 2011, s80, s60, xc70 and xc60 vehicles. The software calibration for the fuel cut-off functionality in the engine control module (ECM) is too sensitive.
Risk
Sudden engine stall could occur increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy
Dealers will update the ECM and TCM with new software free of charge. The safety recall is expected to begin on or before december 10, 2010. Owners may contact volvo at 1‑800‑458‑1552 or at [email protected].

Recall number 10V579000 · Recall details

Engine and engine coolingReported June 5, 2007 · 32,189 vehicles affected
What is wrong
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.
Risk
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.

Recall number 07V226000 · Recall details

Engine and engine cooling: cooling system: fanReported September 13, 2004 · 149,799 vehicles affected
What is wrong
On certain passenger and sport utility vehicles, under certain operating conditions, some electric cooling fans may overheat potentially causing heat damage and, in rare instances, a fire in the engine compartment.
Risk
A fire in the engine compartment could occur.
Remedy
Dealers will replace the cooling fan. The recall began on november 29, 2004. Customers should contact volvo cars at 1‑800‑458‑1552.

Recall number 04V451000 · Recall details

Questions about the Volvo S60 misfire

Which Volvo S60 years have misfire or rough idle problems?

The model years with the most reports are 2015 (3 complaints), 2016 (3 complaints) and 2003 (2 complaints).

How much does it cost to fix misfire or rough idle on the Volvo S60?

Owners who mentioned a price put the repair at about $1,300 (median of 6 complaints that include a dollar amount). Costs vary with mileage, warranty and where the work is done.

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