Is the Lexus IS more reliable than the Volvo S60?

Yes, by a large margin. The Lexus IS has an excellent standing and the Volvo S60 a good one. Owners filed 0.7 complaints per 10,000 Lexus sold against 1.9 for the Volvo, and the Volvo has many more recalls on record.

Which has more recalls, the Lexus IS or the Volvo S60?

The Volvo S60 has more. Federal recall records show 23 recalls across six S60 model years. The Lexus IS has 6 recalls across nine model years. Run any car's VIN to confirm its recall work was completed.

What are the most common Volvo S60 problems?

Electrical faults lead with 14 complaints, including steering wheel controls going dead together. Steering vibration at highway speeds comes next with 6, then rear brake wear and brake warnings with 5. Tire vibration and rear camera dropouts also show up in owner complaints.

Is the Lexus IS sunroof a safety problem?

Two owners reported the glass sunroof panel shattering while driving on the highway, with a loud bang. One said glass struck the driver's eye. Two reports is a small number, but the injury risk is real, so inspect the roof glass on any used IS.

Which Volvo S60 and Lexus IS model years should I avoid?

Skip the 2018 and 2019 Lexus IS, its weakest years. For the Volvo S60, avoid 2022 and 2023. Both models list 2020 among their strongest years, which makes it a sensible target for either car.

Last updated: 2026-10-10

Lexus IS vs Volvo S60: Reliability Compared

More Reliable

Lexus IS

Excellent

Volvo S60

Good

Reliability favors the Lexus IS over the Volvo S60 by a wide margin. Owners file fewer complaints about the Lexus, and federal recall records show far fewer recalls. The Volvo's repeated electrical, brake, and highway vibration reports are what pull it down.

How Do the Lexus IS and Volvo S60 Generations Compare?

Most of the Lexus IS years a shopper will see, 2018 through 2023, fall in the third generation (XE30), which the data lists for US model years 2014 through 2023. A facelift in 2020 was labeled the 2021 Facelift, so 2020 and later cars came after that update. The weakest years, 2018 and 2019, came before it. Model years 2024 through 2026 sit outside the listed span, so check what changed on any car you look at. The Volvo S60 is also third generation, listed for US model years 2019 through 2024, with no facelift in the data. The 2025 model year falls outside that span. Its weakest years, 2022 and 2023, came late in the run.

Verdict

The Lexus IS is more reliable than the Volvo S60, scoring 83/100 vs 72/100.

Reliability clearly favors the Lexus IS. It holds an excellent standing against good for the Volvo S60, and owners file fewer complaints per car sold: 0.7 per 10,000 against 1.9. Federal recall records widen the gap, with 6 recalls across nine Lexus model years and 23 across six Volvo years. The Volvo's trouble is everyday trouble, such as dead steering wheel controls and highway vibration. The Lexus shows far less of that, though its two rarest reports are frightening ones.

Key Differences

1Lexus IS has 17 fewer total recalls
2Lexus IS scores 11 points higher in reliability
3Lexus IS has 1.2 fewer complaints per 10k sold

Category Scoreboard

3Lexus IS

—

0Volvo S60

Reliability ScoreTotal RecallsComplaint Rate

Lexus IS vs Volvo S60: Which Is More Reliable?

Lexus IS vs Volvo S60 at-a-glance reliability comparison
Metric	Lexus IS	Volvo S60
Reliability Score	83/100	72/100
Years Tracked	9	6
Total Recalls	6	23
Complaints per 10k Sold	0.7	1.9
Year Wins	6	0

What Are the Common Problems With the Lexus IS and Volvo S60?

Volvo owners report a spread of annoying and sometimes risky faults. Steering wheel buttons, wipers, and signals can die at once, and one car was towed. A shake at 65 to 75 mph survived new rotors, tires, and alignments. Rear cameras black out in reverse. Crash-linked reports appear under service brakes, where one car slammed on the brakes at highway speed with no hazard ahead. Lexus complaints are few. Two describe a sunroof glass panel shattering at highway speed, and two describe a tire coming off its rim, one linked to a crash with 2 injuries.

Lexus IS vs Volvo S60 common problem areas comparison
Component	Lexus IS	Volvo S60
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM	—None	0.4Very Low
STEERING	—None	0.2Very Low
TIRES	—None	0.1Very Low
UNKNOWN OR OTHER	—None	0.1Very Low
SERVICE BRAKES	—None	0.1Very Low
BACK OVER PREVENTION	—None	0.1Very Low
FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM	—None	0.1Very Low
POWER TRAIN	—None	0.1Very Low
SEATS	—None	0.1Very Low
EXTERIOR LIGHTING	—None	0.1Very Low
FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE	—None	0.1Very Low
STRUCTURE	—None	—None

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

How Does Lexus IS vs Volvo S60 Reliability Compare by Year?

Lexus IS vs Volvo S60 year-by-year reliability scores
Year	Lexus IS	Volvo S60	Edge
2025	83/1000R / 1C	76/1003R / 0C	Lexus IS
2024	83/1000R / 3C	72/1003R / 16C	Lexus IS
2023	83/1000R / 9C	70/1006R / 3C	Lexus IS
2022	83/1000R / 13C	70/1004R / 14C	Lexus IS
2020	83/1000R / 3C	72/1003R / 9C	Lexus IS
2019	79/1004R / 8C	72/1004R / 23C	Lexus IS

Best years to cross-shop: The 2024 Lexus IS scored 83/100 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 Lexus IS vs the Volvo S60?

Pick the Lexus IS if you want the lowest chance of repeat shop visits. Aim for 2020 or the years after it, and be wary of 2018 and 2019, the weakest years. The 2026 model year looks strong, but it has had little time to collect complaints, so do not treat that as proof. Check the tires and ask whether the sunroof glass has ever been replaced. Pick the Volvo S60 only if its design appeals to you more and you accept some nuisance faults. Target 2020, its strongest year, and avoid 2022 and 2023. The 2025 model has had less time on the road, so its record is thin. On a test drive, hold 65 to 75 mph and feel for wheel vibration. Test the rear camera in reverse several times, and look at whether the Pirelli P Zero 235/40R19 tires are original. Check recall completion by VIN, since this model has many recalls.

Lexus IS vs Volvo S60: Common Questions

Is the Lexus IS more reliable than the Volvo S60?: Yes, by a large margin. The Lexus IS has an excellent standing and the Volvo S60 a good one. Owners filed 0.7 complaints per 10,000 Lexus sold against 1.9 for the Volvo, and the Volvo has many more recalls on record.
Which has more recalls, the Lexus IS or the Volvo S60?: The Volvo S60 has more. Federal recall records show 23 recalls across six S60 model years. The Lexus IS has 6 recalls across nine model years. Run any car's VIN to confirm its recall work was completed.
What are the most common Volvo S60 problems?: Electrical faults lead with 14 complaints, including steering wheel controls going dead together. Steering vibration at highway speeds comes next with 6, then rear brake wear and brake warnings with 5. Tire vibration and rear camera dropouts also show up in owner complaints.
Is the Lexus IS sunroof a safety problem?: Two owners reported the glass sunroof panel shattering while driving on the highway, with a loud bang. One said glass struck the driver's eye. Two reports is a small number, but the injury risk is real, so inspect the roof glass on any used IS.
Which Volvo S60 and Lexus IS model years should I avoid?: Skip the 2018 and 2019 Lexus IS, its weakest years. For the Volvo S60, avoid 2022 and 2023. Both models list 2020 among their strongest years, which makes it a sensible target for either car.

More Lexus IS comparisons

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More Volvo S60 comparisons

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Decided between Lexus IS 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 Lexus IS 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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