Is the Volvo S60 more reliable than the Mercedes-Benz A-Class?

Yes, by a large gap. Owners filed 1.9 complaints per 10,000 S60s sold, against 30.2 for the A-Class. The A-Class also has reports of lost drive and engine shutoffs in traffic, which are more serious than the S60's typical complaints.

Which has more recalls, the S60 or the A-Class?

The A-Class has more. Federal recall records show 55 recalls across 7 model years for the A-Class and 23 across 6 model years for the S60. Check any specific car's VIN for open recalls before you buy.

What goes wrong most often on the Volvo S60?

Electrical faults lead, with 14 complaints. In one report the wipers, signals, and every steering wheel button went dead at once. Highway vibration at 65 to 75 mph and early rear brake wear also show up in owner complaints.

Do both cars have rearview camera problems?

Yes. S60 owners report the camera screen going black when shifting into reverse, even after a dealer software update. A-Class owners report it going blank while reversing, and many are waiting on recall parts or an over-the-air fix.

Are there crash-linked complaints on either car?

Both have some. The S60 has 2 crash-linked complaints, both in service brakes. The A-Class has crash-linked reports in electrical, power train, steering, and brakes, so the risk is spread across more systems.

Last updated: 2026-10-10

Mercedes-Benz A-Class vs Volvo S60: Reliability Compared

Mercedes-Benz A-Class

Mixed

More Reliable

Volvo S60

Good

Reliability favors the Volvo S60 over the Mercedes-Benz A-Class by a wide margin. The S60 drew far fewer owner complaints per car sold and fewer recalls. The A-Class has reports of cars losing drive in traffic and recall repairs delayed by missing parts.

How Do the Mercedes-Benz A-Class and Volvo S60 Generations Compare?

Most used examples of the S60 come from the third generation, which covered US model years 2019 to 2024. It replaced a second generation that ran 2011 to 2018, so the complaints above describe the newer design. For the A-Class, the fourth generation (W177) covered US model years 2019 to 2023. Before it, the third generation (W176) ran from 2013 to 2018 and received a facelift in 2016. The 2018 A-Class belongs to that older W176 run and is one of its weakest years, so a W177 car is the safer starting point.

Verdict

The Volvo S60 is more reliable than the Mercedes-Benz A-Class, scoring 72/100 vs 57/100.

Reliability clearly favors the Volvo S60, and the gap is large. Owners filed far fewer complaints per car sold, and federal recall records show fewer recalls. The A-Class draws reports of cars losing drive in traffic and of recall repairs stuck waiting on parts. The S60's main problems, such as highway vibration and early rear brake wear, are mostly a nuisance, though one owner reported false crash detection that slammed the brakes.

Key Differences

1Volvo S60 has 32 fewer total recalls
2Volvo S60 has 28.3 fewer complaints per 10k sold
3Volvo S60 scores 15 points higher in reliability

Category Scoreboard

0Mercedes-Benz A-Class

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3Volvo S60

Reliability ScoreTotal RecallsComplaint Rate

Mercedes-Benz A-Class vs Volvo S60: Which Is More Reliable?

Mercedes-Benz A-Class vs Volvo S60 at-a-glance reliability comparison
Metric	Mercedes-Benz A-Class	Volvo S60
Reliability Score	57/100	72/100
Years Tracked	7	6
Total Recalls	55	23
Complaints per 10k Sold	30.2	1.9
Year Wins	0	4

What Are the Common Problems With the Mercedes-Benz A-Class and Volvo S60?

Failures that strand the car set the A-Class apart. Owners describe the accelerator going dead or the engine shutting off in traffic, and limp mode on a highway. Its rearview camera also goes blank while reversing. Crash-linked reports appear in its electrical, power train, steering, and brake areas. On the S60, the complaints center on steering wheel buttons dying all at once, a shake at 65 to 75 mph that dealers could not fix, and early rear brake wear. Its only crash-linked reports are in service brakes.

Mercedes-Benz A-Class vs Volvo S60 common problem areas comparison
Component	Mercedes-Benz A-Class	Volvo S60
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM	7.2Above Avg	0.4Very Low
UNKNOWN OR OTHER	4.8Average	0.1Very Low
POWER TRAIN	3.5Average	0.1Very Low
STEERING	1.9Low	0.2Very Low
SERVICE BRAKES	1.4Low	0.1Very Low
ENGINE	1.4Low	—None
AIR BAGS	1.2Low	—None
FUEL SYSTEM	1Very Low	—None
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL	0.8Very Low	—None
FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM	0.6Very Low	0.1Very Low
TIRES	0.6Very Low	0.1Very Low
EXTERIOR LIGHTING	0.6Very Low	0.1Very Low
SEATS	0.4Very Low	0.1Very Low
SUSPENSION	0.4Very Low	—None
WHEELS	0.4Very Low	—None
VISIBILITY	0.4Very Low	—None
BACK OVER PREVENTION	—None	0.1Very Low
FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE	—None	0.1Very Low

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

How Does Mercedes-Benz A-Class vs Volvo S60 Reliability Compare by Year?

Mercedes-Benz A-Class vs Volvo S60 year-by-year reliability scores
Year	Mercedes-Benz A-Class	Volvo S60	Edge
2024	50/1007R / 21C	72/1003R / 16C	Volvo S60
2022	65/1001R / 2C	70/1004R / 14C	Volvo S60
2020	59/1009R / 18C	72/1003R / 9C	Volvo S60
2019	55/10013R / 42C	72/1004R / 23C	Volvo S60

Best years to cross-shop: The 2022 Mercedes-Benz A-Class scored 65/100 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 Mercedes-Benz A-Class vs the Volvo S60?

Pick the S60 if you want the lower-risk used car. Owner complaints per car sold are a small fraction of the A-Class rate. Target 2020, one of its strongest years, and be careful with 2022 and 2023, its weakest. Before you buy, test drive at 65 to 75 mph to check for wheel shake. Look at the tires too, since the factory Pirelli P Zero 235/40R19 set has been reported to separate inside. Ask how the rear brakes have worn. Pick the A-Class only if you want its compact size and accept more risk. Aim for 2022, one of its strongest years, and avoid 2018 and 2024, its weakest. Check federal recall records for the exact car and confirm every recall repair is done. Several owners report waiting on parts for the rearview camera fix. Ask whether the car has ever lost power or gone into limp mode. If a seller cannot show completed recall work, walk away.

Mercedes-Benz A-Class vs Volvo S60: Common Questions

Is the Volvo S60 more reliable than the Mercedes-Benz A-Class?: Yes, by a large gap. Owners filed 1.9 complaints per 10,000 S60s sold, against 30.2 for the A-Class. The A-Class also has reports of lost drive and engine shutoffs in traffic, which are more serious than the S60's typical complaints.
Which has more recalls, the S60 or the A-Class?: The A-Class has more. Federal recall records show 55 recalls across 7 model years for the A-Class and 23 across 6 model years for the S60. Check any specific car's VIN for open recalls before you buy.
What goes wrong most often on the Volvo S60?: Electrical faults lead, with 14 complaints. In one report the wipers, signals, and every steering wheel button went dead at once. Highway vibration at 65 to 75 mph and early rear brake wear also show up in owner complaints.
Do both cars have rearview camera problems?: Yes. S60 owners report the camera screen going black when shifting into reverse, even after a dealer software update. A-Class owners report it going blank while reversing, and many are waiting on recall parts or an over-the-air fix.
Are there crash-linked complaints on either car?: Both have some. The S60 has 2 crash-linked complaints, both in service brakes. The A-Class has crash-linked reports in electrical, power train, steering, and brakes, so the risk is spread across more systems.

More Mercedes-Benz A-Class 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 Acura TLX reliability Volvo S60 reliability by year Volvo S60 years to avoid

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How we score the Mercedes-Benz A-Class 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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