Is the Acura TLX more reliable than the Volvo S60?

Slightly. The TLX costs less to repair, needs fewer unscheduled shop visits, and has a lower chance of a major repair. It also draws many more owner complaints per car sold, led by connecting rod bearing failure. The S60 has far fewer complaints but higher running costs, so the gap is small.

Which has more recalls, the TLX or the S60?

The two are close. Federal recall records show 22 recalls across 8 TLX model years and 23 across 6 S60 model years. The S60 has one more recall in two fewer model years. Check any specific car's VIN for open recalls before you buy.

Which is cheaper to repair, the TLX or the S60?

The TLX is cheaper. Independent repair-cost data estimates about $440 a year for the TLX and $750 for the S60. Over five years that is roughly $1,550 less. The TLX also averages 0.2 unscheduled shop visits a year, compared with 0.5 for the S60.

What is the biggest problem with the Acura TLX?

Connecting rod bearing failure. Owners describe ticking or knocking that grows louder until the engine seizes, loses power, or stalls at highway speed. Dealers often replace the whole engine. Some owners also report waiting on parts for a recall repair while the engine kept failing.

Do Volvo S60 cars have a highway vibration problem?

Some do. Owners report steering wheel vibration from about 65 to 75 mph and above that survived new rotors, tires, balancing, and alignments. Separately, shops traced severe vibration to foam lining separating inside factory Pirelli P Zero 235/40R19 tires. Dealers advised replacing all four tires in those cases.

Last updated: 2026-10-10

Acura TLX vs Volvo S60: Reliability Compared

More Reliable

Acura TLX

Good

Volvo S60

Good

The Acura TLX has a slight reliability edge over the Volvo S60, mainly on lower repair costs: about $440 a year versus $750. The TLX also visits the shop less often. Its connecting rod bearing failures are a serious risk, so the edge is narrow.

How Do the Acura TLX and Volvo S60 Generations Compare?

Two generations cover the TLX years in the data. The first ran from 2015 to 2020 with a facelift in 2018. The second began in 2021 and ran through 2025, with its own facelift in 2024. So a shopper meets late first-generation cars, the first second-generation year, and facelifted 2024 and 2025 cars. The weakest years, 2019 and 2021, fall in a late first-generation year and the first year of the redesign. The S60 is a third-generation car, covering US model years 2019 through 2024, and no facelift is listed for it. Its weakest years, 2022 and 2023, sit late in that run.

Verdict

The Acura TLX is more reliable than the Volvo S60, scoring 75/100 vs 72/100.

On balance, the TLX holds a slight edge. Independent repair-cost data shows it costs less to keep running, with fewer unscheduled shop visits and a smaller chance that any repair is major. The edge is narrow, though. Owners report connecting rod bearing failure that can end in a seized engine, and the TLX draws far more complaints per car sold. The S60 collects fewer complaints but costs more to maintain and repair.

Key Differences

1Acura TLX costs $310 less per year to repair
2Volvo S60 has 10.7 fewer complaints per 10k sold
3Acura TLX scores 3 points higher in reliability

Category Scoreboard

5Acura TLX

—

1Volvo S60

Reliability ScoreTotal RecallsComplaint RateAnnual Repair CostRepair FrequencyMajor Repair RiskSafety Rating

Acura TLX vs Volvo S60: Which Is More Reliable?

Acura TLX vs Volvo S60 at-a-glance reliability comparison
Metric	Acura TLX	Volvo S60
Reliability Score	75/100	72/100
Years Tracked	8	6
Total Recalls	22	23
Complaints per 10k Sold	12.6	1.9
Annual Repair Cost	$440/yr	$750/yr
Repair Frequency	0.2/yr	0.5/yr
Major Repair Risk	6%	8%
Safety RatingNHTSA overall	2025 NHTSA	2025 NHTSA
Frontal
Side
Rollover
Year Wins	4	2

What Are the Common Problems With the Acura TLX and Volvo S60?

Engine failure defines the TLX complaints. Connecting rod bearings fail, with ticking or knocking that grows louder until the engine seizes or stalls at highway speed, and owners describe long waits for parts. The S60 problems are smaller in scope: steering wheel controls dying all at once, highway vibration dealers cannot cure, and foam lining separating inside factory Pirelli tires. Crash-linked reports exist for brakes on both cars. The S60's involve false crash detection that slammed the brakes at highway speed. Only the TLX also has crash-linked reports in the engine and power train.

Acura TLX vs Volvo S60 common problem areas comparison
Component	Acura TLX	Volvo S60
POWER TRAIN	2.7Low	0.1Very Low
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM	1.6Low	0.4Very Low
ENGINE	1.7Low	—None
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING	1Very Low	—None
UNKNOWN OR OTHER	0.9Very Low	0.1Very Low
SERVICE BRAKES	0.6Very Low	0.1Very Low
STEERING	0.5Very Low	0.2Very Low
FUEL SYSTEM	0.6Very Low	—None
FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE	0.5Very Low	0.1Very Low
FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM	0.5Very Low	0.1Very Low
SUSPENSION	0.3Very Low	—None
AIR BAGS	0.3Very Low	—None
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL	0.1Very Low	—None
STRUCTURE	0.1Very Low	—None
SEAT BELTS	0.1Very Low	—None
TIRES	—None	0.1Very Low
BACK OVER PREVENTION	—None	0.1Very Low
SEATS	—None	0.1Very Low
EXTERIOR LIGHTING	—None	0.1Very Low

Complaints per 10,000 units sold, aggregated across all tracked model years from NHTSA owner reports.

Which Is Cheaper to Maintain: Acura TLX or Volvo S60?

Repair bills favor the TLX. Independent repair-cost data puts it near $440 a year against $750 for the S60. That gap is $310 a year, or $1,550 over five years. The TLX also needs fewer unscheduled shop visits, 0.2 a year against 0.5. A repair turns out major 6% of the time on the TLX and 8% on the S60. Averages can hide rare large bills, and one TLX owner was quoted $20k for an out-of-warranty engine repair.

How Does Acura TLX vs Volvo S60 Reliability Compare by Year?

Acura TLX vs Volvo S60 year-by-year reliability scores
Year	Acura TLX	Volvo S60	Edge
2025	80/1001R / 3C	76/1003R / 0C	Acura TLX
2024	80/1001R / 4C	72/1003R / 16C	Acura TLX
2023	79/1002R / 13C	70/1006R / 3C	Acura TLX
2022	75/1003R / 26C	70/1004R / 14C	Acura TLX
2020	71/1004R / 59C	72/1003R / 9C	Volvo S60
2019	69/1005R / 87C	72/1004R / 23C	Volvo S60

Best years to cross-shop: The 2024 Acura TLX scored 80/100 and the 2024 Volvo S60 scored 72/100 — the strongest shared model years that have been on the road for at least two years, where available.

Who Should Buy the Acura TLX vs the Volvo S60?

Pick the TLX if low running costs matter most. Repairs average about $440 a year against $750 for the S60, and the TLX visits the shop less often. Target 2024 or 2025, the strongest years, and avoid 2019 and 2021, the weakest. Ask for proof of engine work on any car, because rod bearing failure is the pattern that hurts. One out-of-warranty repair was quoted at $20k. Check the title too, since one buyer found a mileage tampering brand. Pick the S60 if you want a car with far fewer owner complaints and can accept bigger repair bills. Target 2020 or 2025 and avoid 2022 and 2023. On the test drive, hold 65 to 75 mph and feel for wheel shake, which dealers struggled to fix. Look at the tires as well. Shops traced severe vibration to foam lining separating inside the factory Pirelli P Zero 235/40R19.

Acura TLX vs Volvo S60: Common Questions

Is the Acura TLX more reliable than the Volvo S60?: Slightly. The TLX costs less to repair, needs fewer unscheduled shop visits, and has a lower chance of a major repair. It also draws many more owner complaints per car sold, led by connecting rod bearing failure. The S60 has far fewer complaints but higher running costs, so the gap is small.
Which has more recalls, the TLX or the S60?: The two are close. Federal recall records show 22 recalls across 8 TLX model years and 23 across 6 S60 model years. The S60 has one more recall in two fewer model years. Check any specific car's VIN for open recalls before you buy.
Which is cheaper to repair, the TLX or the S60?: The TLX is cheaper. Independent repair-cost data estimates about $440 a year for the TLX and $750 for the S60. Over five years that is roughly $1,550 less. The TLX also averages 0.2 unscheduled shop visits a year, compared with 0.5 for the S60.
What is the biggest problem with the Acura TLX?: Connecting rod bearing failure. Owners describe ticking or knocking that grows louder until the engine seizes, loses power, or stalls at highway speed. Dealers often replace the whole engine. Some owners also report waiting on parts for a recall repair while the engine kept failing.
Do Volvo S60 cars have a highway vibration problem?: Some do. Owners report steering wheel vibration from about 65 to 75 mph and above that survived new rotors, tires, balancing, and alignments. Separately, shops traced severe vibration to foam lining separating inside factory Pirelli P Zero 235/40R19 tires. Dealers advised replacing all four tires in those cases.

More Acura TLX comparisons

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More Volvo S60 comparisons

Volvo S60 vs Audi A4 reliability Volvo S60 vs BMW 3 Series reliability Volvo S60 vs Mercedes-Benz C-Class reliability Volvo S60 vs Lexus IS reliability Volvo S60 reliability by year Volvo S60 years to avoid

Decided between Acura TLX and Volvo S60? Run a VIN check before you buy — uncover hidden accidents, title issues, and open recalls.

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How we score the Acura TLX and Volvo S60

Scores weight complaint severity at 35%, repair costs at 30%, recall impact at 20%, and the spread of complaints across systems at 15%, with complaint counts adjusted for US sales. Read the full methodology.

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