Is the BMW 5-Series more reliable than the Volvo S60?

No. The Volvo S60 has a clear edge. It drew 1.9 complaints per 10,000 sold against 3.9 for the BMW 5-Series. The BMW also has crash-linked reports in four problem areas, while the Volvo has them only in service brakes. Both still rate as good overall.

Which has more recalls, the 5-Series or the S60?

The 5-Series has more. Federal recall records show 54 recalls across 8 model years for the BMW and 23 across 6 model years for the Volvo. The BMW has been on the road in more model years here, but its count is still more than double.

What is the most common problem with the BMW 5-Series?

Air bag complaints lead, at 45, with 5 linked to crashes. Electrical and engine problems follow. Engine owners report coolant loss, often from a cracked plastic oil filter housing around 50-60k miles, with dealer quotes near 3,500. False passenger seat warnings are another repeat issue.

What goes wrong with the Volvo S60?

Electrical faults lead, with 14 complaints. In one case the wipers, signals and every steering wheel button went dead, and the car was towed. Owners also report highway vibration at 65 to 75 mph that dealers struggle to fix, early rear brake wear, and a rearview camera that cuts out.

Which S60 and 5-Series years should I avoid?

For the Volvo, avoid 2022 and 2023, its weakest years. For the BMW, avoid 2018 and 2019. The newest BMW years rank strongest, but they have had little time to collect complaints, so that standing is not proof they are the best buy.

Last updated: 2026-10-10

BMW 5 Series vs Volvo S60: Reliability Compared

BMW 5 Series

Good

More Reliable

Volvo S60

Good

The Volvo S60 comes out ahead of the BMW 5-Series on reliability by a clear margin. Owners filed about half as many complaints per car sold, and the BMW's problems include more crash-linked failures, fires and sudden power loss. Both cars still hold a good standing.

How Do the BMW 5 Series and Volvo S60 Generations Compare?

Most used BMWs you will see come from the G30 generation, sold in the US for model years 2017 to 2023 with a facelift in 2020. The 2018 and 2019 cars, its weakest years, came before that facelift. The eighth generation, the G60, began with the 2024 model year. The Volvo S60 is a third-generation car, sold in the US from 2019 to 2024, and no facelift is listed. It replaced a second generation that ran from 2011 to 2018. Most used S60s belong to the same generation, so year-to-year differences come from build quality, not a redesign.

Verdict

The Volvo S60 is more reliable than the BMW 5 Series, scoring 72/100 vs 67/100.

Owner complaints and federal records give the S60 a clear edge. BMW owners filed about twice as many complaints per car sold, 3.9 per 10,000 against 1.9. The 5-Series also has the more dangerous failures on record: crash-linked air bag, electrical, power train and seat belt reports, plus fires. Both cars hold a good standing, so the BMW is not a poor choice. The Volvo simply has fewer problems, and fewer of them put you at risk.

Key Differences

1Volvo S60 has 31 fewer total recalls
2Volvo S60 scores 5 points higher in reliability
3Volvo S60 has 2.0 fewer complaints per 10k sold

Category Scoreboard

0BMW 5 Series

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3Volvo S60

Reliability ScoreTotal RecallsComplaint Rate

BMW 5 Series vs Volvo S60: Which Is More Reliable?

BMW 5 Series vs Volvo S60 at-a-glance reliability comparison
Metric	BMW 5 Series	Volvo S60
Reliability Score	67/100	72/100
Years Tracked	8	6
Total Recalls	54	23
Complaints per 10k Sold	3.9	1.9
Year Wins	0 (1 tied)	4 (1 tied)

What Are the Common Problems With the BMW 5 Series and Volvo S60?

The BMW's worst reports involve safety systems, fire and sudden power loss. Side air bags failed to deploy in one side-impact crash, rear defroster wiring was behind two fire reports, and a plastic oil filter housing cracks and dumps coolant. Some cars lose power at 50-60 mph. Four problem areas carry crash-linked reports. The Volvo's complaints are mostly irritations: highway vibration at 65 to 75 mph, steering wheel controls dying together, early rear brake wear, and a rearview camera that cuts out. Its only crash-linked area is service brakes, with 2 reports, including false crash detection that slammed on the brakes.

BMW 5 Series vs Volvo S60 common problem areas comparison
Component	BMW 5 Series	Volvo S60
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM	0.4Very Low	0.4Very Low
AIR BAGS	0.5Very Low	—None
UNKNOWN OR OTHER	0.4Very Low	0.1Very Low
POWER TRAIN	0.2Very Low	0.1Very Low
ENGINE	0.3Very Low	—None
SERVICE BRAKES	0.1Very Low	0.1Very Low
FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM	0.1Very Low	0.1Very Low
EXTERIOR LIGHTING	0.1Very Low	0.1Very Low
STEERING	—None	0.2Very Low
SEAT BELTS	0.1Very Low	—None
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL	0.1Very Low	—None
FUEL SYSTEM	0.1Very Low	—None
BACK OVER PREVENTION	—None	0.1Very Low
FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE	—None	0.1Very Low
TIRES	—None	0.1Very Low
SEATS	—None	0.1Very Low
STRUCTURE	—None	—None
WHEELS	—None	—None

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

How Does BMW 5 Series vs Volvo S60 Reliability Compare by Year?

BMW 5 Series vs Volvo S60 year-by-year reliability scores
Year	BMW 5 Series	Volvo S60	Edge
2025	71/1005R / 0C	76/1003R / 0C	Volvo S60
2023	70/1002R / 7C	70/1006R / 3C	Tie
2022	68/1003R / 13C	70/1004R / 14C	Volvo S60
2020	67/1007R / 10C	72/1003R / 9C	Volvo S60
2019	62/10011R / 67C	72/1004R / 23C	Volvo S60

Best years to cross-shop: The 2023 BMW 5 Series scored 70/100 and the 2020 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 BMW 5 Series vs the Volvo S60?

Pick the Volvo S60 if you want the lower-risk car. It has fewer complaints, a modest repair bill, and no crash-linked reports outside the brakes. Target 2020, one of its stronger years, and be wary of 2022 and 2023, its weakest. If you test drive one, hold it at 65 to 75 mph to check for wheel vibration, and look at whether it wears the 235/40R19 Pirelli P Zero tires that owners say fail. Also test the rearview camera in reverse. Pick the BMW 5-Series if you want a larger, more powerful sedan and accept more risk. Avoid 2018 and 2019, its weakest years. The 2025 and 2026 models rank strongest, but they have had little time to collect complaints, so treat that as unproven. Before buying, ask for records on the coolant system and oil filter housing, scan for passenger restraint warnings, and be cautious with 530e plug-in hybrids, where owners report drivetrain warnings and disputed battery claims.

BMW 5 Series vs Volvo S60: Common Questions

Is the BMW 5-Series more reliable than the Volvo S60?: No. The Volvo S60 has a clear edge. It drew 1.9 complaints per 10,000 sold against 3.9 for the BMW 5-Series. The BMW also has crash-linked reports in four problem areas, while the Volvo has them only in service brakes. Both still rate as good overall.
Which has more recalls, the 5-Series or the S60?: The 5-Series has more. Federal recall records show 54 recalls across 8 model years for the BMW and 23 across 6 model years for the Volvo. The BMW has been on the road in more model years here, but its count is still more than double.
What is the most common problem with the BMW 5-Series?: Air bag complaints lead, at 45, with 5 linked to crashes. Electrical and engine problems follow. Engine owners report coolant loss, often from a cracked plastic oil filter housing around 50-60k miles, with dealer quotes near 3,500. False passenger seat warnings are another repeat issue.
What goes wrong with the Volvo S60?: Electrical faults lead, with 14 complaints. In one case the wipers, signals and every steering wheel button went dead, and the car was towed. Owners also report highway vibration at 65 to 75 mph that dealers struggle to fix, early rear brake wear, and a rearview camera that cuts out.
Which S60 and 5-Series years should I avoid?: For the Volvo, avoid 2022 and 2023, its weakest years. For the BMW, avoid 2018 and 2019. The newest BMW years rank strongest, but they have had little time to collect complaints, so that standing is not proof they are the best buy.

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How we score the BMW 5 Series 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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