Volvo S60 sudden acceleration problems

Filed Aug 22, 2026 · Acceleration, Electrical · DC

On two separate occasions in the past two months June 6 and Aug. 15, this vehicle experienced a severe unintended engine surge / unintended acceleration event while at a complete stop with my foot firmly on the brake. On both occasions, the engine RPMs spiked above 1,000 RPM, forcing the vehicle to pull heavily against the brakes as if trying to race forward into the intersection. On the most recent event (Aug. 15) when stopping at a red light it appeared that the supercharger kicked in, pulling against the brakes. Six or eight pedestrians were crossing directly in front of the vehicle. If I had taken my foot of the brake I would have hit them. 1.June 12, 2026 Service Visit (RO #192480, attached): Following the June 6 incident, the vehicle was brought to Beyer Volvo Cars Falls Church, Va. The repair order explicitly notes:"Tech found the front sunroof drains to have clogged with dirt/debris and the floorboard to be full of water.""Interior was removed to dry out carpets and the sunroof drains were cleared." Clogged sunroof drains cause water ingress down the A pillar. 2.Diagnostic Code & Part Replacement: During this visit, fault code 161615 was retrieved. The technician noted "unable to duplicate the problem at this time" regarding the engine flare, and no physical inspection or remediation of the flooded wiring harnesses or module connectors beneath the carpet was performed. This same A6 electrical code 161615 was noted on a previous service on 25 Sep. 2025, (RO#184284, attached). There is clear precedent with the federal safety agency Recall 22V‑288 (of a different Volvo model, the XC40), where water intrusion into Volvo wiring harnesses caused corrosion and unintended acceleration. Given that my passenger footwell flooded prior to the engine surge, the CAN bus harness and floor connectors beneath that carpet must undergo a full electrical continuity and corrosion inspection, not just a surface drying. I am requesting further service by the dealer.

Filed Jun 23, 2026 · Acceleration, Brakes · VA · crash · 1 injury

Brakes , and vacuum booster, speed control I experienced a sudden acceleration phenomenon and reached speeds of 100+ mph I manipulated the brakes and the gas in order to safe my life I eventually got my speeds down but it was too late I was ejected from the vehicle and nearly died my brakes scrubbed and I pressed my brakes as hard as I could and my car continued to acceleration. The police has the vehicle and there were no warnings signs . I had just bought the vehicle and was on my way home from the dealership never made it home

Filed Jun 30, 2021 · Acceleration, Driver assistance · CA · crash

Volvo arrived at the hiking trailhead parking lot at approximately 10 miles an hour, slowed down more to select parking space then turn right into space in front of a cement outhouse. Space had a cement parking block. As the car was about to come to a complete stop in the space, it suddenly accelerated on its own as if the accelerator was press all the way overcoming the cement block and crashing into the outhouse. Both driver and passenger airbags were deployed. The driver never took the foot off the brake when the car accelerated. The automated braking system never deployed. Prior to the accident, the low battery warning light was on but the battery was checked out by a professional to be fully charged. We walk away from the accident bruised with back and chest pains from the seat belt but considered ourselves lucky. Had we not parked with a cement outhouse five feet in front of us two spaces over, we would have accelerated into an open field and into a forest of trees.

Filed Feb 6, 2017 · Acceleration, Electrical · 17,000 miles · CA · crash

Tl* the contact owns a 2014 volvo s60. While entering a commercial garage and slightly depressing the accelerator pedal, the vehicle accelerated without warning. As a result, the contact crashed into two parked vehicles. The air bags failed to deploy. There were no injuries and a police report was filed. The vehicle was towed and then taken to a dealer. The dealer diagnosed that the electronic ignition system and battery sensor failed and needed to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 17,000.

Filed Oct 29, 2014 · Acceleration · 170,000 miles · MS

Tl* the contact owns a 2002 volvo s60. While driving at an unknown speed, the vehicle went into limp mode and failed to accelerate over 30 MPH. The contact also stated that the acceleration pedal was depressed and traveled to the floorboard. The vehicle failed to accelerate and suddenly surged forward. The contact stated that the brake pedal was depressed when the failure occurred. The vehicle was not included in the federal safety agency campaign number: 06v441000 (vehicle speed control). The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 170,000.

Filed Mar 24, 2014 · Acceleration · 500 miles · NY

Tl* the contact owns a 2014 volvo s60 t6. The contact stated that while driving approximately 60 MPH with the cruise control activated, the vehicle suddenly accelerated without warning as the contact released the cruise control function. The vehicle was taken to a dealer where it was diagnosed that a new program needed to be downloaded into the central computer. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The vehicle was not repaired. The approximate failure mileage was 500 and the current mileage was 2,200.

Filed Sep 17, 2012 · Transmission · 128,700 miles · GA

I had stopped at the traffic light. As I started again on green light, the car jerkily jumped forward. I had to push hard on the brakes. As the car stopped, the check engine light came on together with service transmission light.

Filed Nov 14, 2011 · Acceleration · 20,000 miles · NY

Tl* the contact owns a 2003 volvo s60. The contact stated with his foot on the brake pedal, the vehicle would intermittently surge forward. The contact also stated that the vehicle would intermittently hesitate to accelerate from a stopped position. The vehicle was not taken to a dealer to have the failure diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure, but offered no assistance. The failure mileage was 20,000. Updated 01/04/12 *bf updated 01/09/12

Filed Nov 8, 2010 · Engine · 72,000 miles · CA

Tl* the contact owns a 2004 volvo s60. The contact was driving 35 MPH when the vehicle abnormally surged forward and then stalled. The contact was able to restart the vehicle as it resumed normal operation. The failure persisted and the vehicle was taken to the dealer for diagnostic testing. The contact inquired with the manufacturer of the federal safety agency campaign id number: 07v226000 (engine and engine cooling) but was advised that the vehicle was not included. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer offered no further assistance. The failure mileage was 72,000.

Filed Oct 26, 2010 · Acceleration · 22,000 miles · NC · crash

Tl*the contact owns a 2008 volvo s60. When the vehicle stopped with the contacts foot on the brake pedal, the vehicle surged forward, resulting in a crash. A police report was not filed and there were no injuries. The vehicle was taken to an authorized dealer where they were unable to diagnose the failure. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure occurred three times, resulting in a minor crash on one occasion, which a police report was filed. No injuries were reported. The failure and current mileages were 22,000.