Last updated: 2026-10-10
2023 Volvo XC60 Reliability Report
The 2023 Volvo XC60 has good reliability, but owners report center screen freezes and drained batteries. Check recall work before buying.
Recalls
5
Complaints
40
Complaint Rate
10.1per 10,000 sold
Est. Repair Cost
$746
Annual Fuel Cost
$2,450–$3,000
Detailed Score Breakdown
Component-weighted complaints normalized by sales volume
Independent repair cost ratings
Recall count weighted by severity
Breadth of reported problem categories
The Verdict
Final year of the second generation, with fewer complaints than 2022 but screen and battery faults, and reverse braking problems, still reported.
Top Issues to Watch
- ELECTRICAL SYSTEM (16)
- SERVICE BRAKES (4)
- VISIBILITY/WIPER (3)
Generation & Refresh (US)
2023 is the last model year of the Second generation (2017–present).
- Final-year models are typically the most refined version of a generation.
- 2 years after the last refresh (2021).
- 2nd generation XC60 (US).
What this means for buyers
Final-year models are usually the most polished version of a generation, but resale value may dip as buyers anticipate the next redesign.
2018: Second generation (2017–present) Launch
Generation start — new platform.
2021: Mid-Cycle Refresh
Updated features and styling tweaks.
2023: This Model Year
2023 is the last model year of the Second generation (2017–present).
2025: Mid-Cycle Refresh
Updated features and styling tweaks.
Should You Buy the 2023 Volvo XC60?
Good reliability puts this year above average among 2023 SUVs. Among the eight scored XC60 years it lands in the middle, and the 2022 rates about the same. Owners filed 40 complaints, fewer than the 60 for 2022. Independent repair-cost data puts yearly repairs at $746, against $859 for the class.
Electrical trouble leads the complaints. The center screen freezes, reboots, or goes dark, and climate control, cameras, and safety alerts go with it. Some owners found a drained 12-volt battery after a few days parked, then limp mode or a no-start. Several cases came within 300 to 1,250 miles, and dealers often could not reproduce them. Brake pedal complaints matter more: the pedal goes hard after shifting into reverse and the car keeps rolling back. Federal recall records list five recalls, two of them for back over prevention.
Ask for proof that every recall was completed, including the brake one, and for records of any screen or battery repairs. Test the car in reverse before buying.
Compared to the 2025 Volvo XC60, which scored 2 points higher. See also the 2022 Volvo XC60 for an earlier comparison.
Pros
- +Acceptable reliability score
- +$113 cheaper to maintain than avg luxury compact SUVs
- +Low major repair risk (7%)
- +Below-average complaint rate for SUV
Cons
- −Moderate recall count
- −ELECTRICAL SYSTEM: Center screen freezes, reboots, or goes dark (16 complaints)
- −UNKNOWN OR OTHER: Problems here are scattered (5 complaints)
Compare 2023 Volvo XC60 With
Common Problem Categories
Safety
LOW RISK- 5 manufacturer recalls issued
Other
HIGH RISK- ELECTRICAL SYSTEM (16)
- UNKNOWN OR OTHER (5)
Recall Overview
5
recalls on record
A moderate 5 recalls are on file for the 2023 Volvo XC60. Each one points to a specific safety or compliance issue identified by the manufacturer or NHTSA — check the list below before buying.
NHTSA.gov →Complaint Breakdown
10.1
per 10,000 soldSegment avg: 11.3
Safety Incidents
1
Crashes
0
Fires
1
Injuries
0
Deaths
NHTSA 5/5 Stars
Data sourced from NHTSA complaint filings and manufacturer recall notices. Complaint narratives are owner-reported.
2023 Volvo XC60 Recall Details
5 recalls have been issued for the 2023 Volvo XC60. All recall repairs are performed free of charge at authorized dealerships.
BACK OVER PREVENTION
Volvo Car USA, LLC (Volvo Car) is recalling certain 2021-2025 XC40, 2022 V90, 2022-2024 C40BEV, 2022-2025 S90, V90CC, XC60, 2023-2025 S60, V60, V60CC, XC90, and 2025 EC40, and EX40 vehicles. The rearview camera image may not display when the vehicle is placed in reverse. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 111, "Rear Visibility."
Consequence
A rearview camera image that does not display reduces the driver's view behind the vehicle, increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy
The software will be updated by a dealer or through an over-the-air (OTA) update, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed February 24, 2026. Owners may contact Volvo Car’s customer service at 1-800-458-1552. Volvo Car's number for this recall is R10333. Vehicle Identification Numbers (VINs) involved in this recall will be searchable on NHTSA.gov beginning February 16, 2026. This recall replaces previous NHTSA recall number 25V282. Vehicles previously repaired under recall 25V282 will need to have the new remedy performed.
BACK OVER PREVENTION
Volvo Car USA, LLC (Volvo Car) is recalling certain 2021-2025 XC40, 2022 V90, 2022-2025 S90, V90CC, C40, XC60, 2023-2025 S60, V60, V60CC, XC90, and 2025 EC40 and EX40 vehicles. The rearview camera image may not display when the vehicle is placed in reverse. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 111, "Rear Visibility."
Consequence
A rearview camera image that does not display reduces the driver's view of what is behind the vehicle, increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy
The software will be updated by a dealer or through an over-the-air (OTA) update, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed June 27, 2025. Owners may contact Volvo Car customer service at 1-800-458-1552. Volvo Car's number for this recall is R10320.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
Volvo Car USA, LLC (Volvo Car) is recalling certain 2023 S60, V60CC, XC60, XC90, XC40, and C40 vehicles. A diagnostic trouble code (DTC) may be falsely detected for the emergency call system (e-call) and display "e-Call Service Required" in the driver information module (DIM).
Consequence
The false warning message could prevent the detection of an actual e-call system failure, which could delay an emergency response during a crash, increasing the risk of injury.
Remedy
Dealers will update the telematics and connectivity antenna module (TCAM) software, free of charge. Owner notification letters are expected to be mailed May 16, 2023. Owners may contact Volvo Car's customer service 1-800-458-1552. Volvo Car's number for this recall is R10225.
Buying a used 2023 Volvo XC60? Check its history first
Electrical system problems lead owner complaints about the 2023 Volvo XC60, and 5 recalls were issued for it. A VIN check shows whether this car's recall work was done, plus accident, title, and odometer history.
- Accidents
- Open Recalls
- Title History
- Odometer Rollback
2023 Volvo XC60 NHTSA Safety Ratings
Overall Safety Rating
Crash Test Results by Configuration (expand)
Gas / PHEV Powertrain
Rollover risk: 15.5%
Safety Technologies
Volvo XC60Repair Costs & Maintenance
Maintenance Rating
4Maintenance rating: 4 out of 5Based on NHTSA complaint patterns, recall severity, and publicly available cost benchmarks.
Est. Annual Maintenance
$746
vs $859 avg for luxury compact SUVs
vs $652 avg for all vehicles
Repair Frequency
0.5
unscheduled repair visits per year
Severe Repair Probability
7%
chance of a major repair
Annual Cost Comparison
Category-level averages derived from publicly available industry reports (AAA, CarMD). Model-level estimates produced by Auto Reliability Index.
MPG & Annual Running Costs
Plug-in Hybrid
23–28 MPG
Running cost: $3,200–$3,750/yr
Fuel + repair
21–28 city / 27–30 hwy MPG
Running cost includes EPA fuel-cost estimate and independent repair-cost data (repair cost estimated at model level). Excludes routine maintenance, depreciation, and insurance. Data as of 2023 EPA label cycle.
Plug-in Hybrid trims
| Trim | Drive | Trans. | City | Hwy | Comb | Fuel Cost |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| XC60 T8 AWD Recharge 2.0L 4-cyl | All-Wheel Drive | Automatic (S8) | 28 | 28 | 28 | $2,450 |
Used Buying Checklist
Key things to inspect or verify before purchasing a 2023 Volvo XC60.
Start the car after it has sat overnight and watch for 12-volt battery, propulsion, or limp-mode warnings.
Use climate, navigation, camera, and audio on the center screen during a long drive and watch for freezes or reboots.
Walk away and return with the key several times, and confirm the car detects it and starts every time.
Shift into reverse repeatedly in a parking lot and confirm the brake pedal stays pressable with no phantom braking.
Press park on a slight incline and confirm the car holds without rolling.
Brake gently to several stops and watch the tachometer for unexplained engine surging.
Check every tire for sidewall bulges and missing chunks of tread.
Ask for service records covering infotainment software updates, battery replacements, and wiper problems in snow.
2023 Volvo XC60 Common Problems by Component
40 owner complaints grouped by vehicle system.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
16 complaintsThe center screen freezes, reboots, or goes dark. When it does, climate control, audio, navigation, cameras, turn-signal sounds, and safety alerts go with it. A second pattern is a drained 12-volt battery after the car sits a few days, sometimes while plugged in. That leads to limp mode with reduced power, propulsion warnings, or a no-start. Key-not-detected warnings also block starting. Several cases appear within the first 300 to 1,250 miles. Dealers often cannot reproduce the faults and rely on software updates and battery replacements that do not always last.
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
5 complaintsProblems here are scattered. The park button sometimes fails to engage, and the car rolls after it is pressed. In one case it rolled into a parking meter. Other reports describe climate control and defrost shutting off until a restart, memory side mirrors not returning to their set position, and original Pirelli tires bulging at 3,000 miles. One owner also reports long roadside assistance waits after tire blowouts. The rolling-in-park and lost-defrost reports carry the clearest safety risk.
SERVICE BRAKES
4 complaintsThe brake pedal turns hard and will not press down, usually right after shifting into reverse, and the car keeps rolling backward. Some drivers got the pedal back only by shifting into drive or pumping it repeatedly. Others describe a stiff, odd pedal feel in reverse and automatic braking that fires with nothing behind the car. Dealers have not clearly explained a cause or fix. The main risk is a low-speed collision while backing up in parking lots or driveways.
VISIBILITY/WIPER (3 complaints)
VISIBILITY/WIPER
3 complaintsFront wipers stop moving in heavy snow when snow packs into the well where the arms rest under the hood, and no warning light comes on. The washer and rear wiper may keep working. Reports span several winters, and one dealer cited an internal service bulletin and a slow back-and-forth diagnosis with Volvo. Separately, the rear windows turn blurry in hot weather. Losing the front wipers during a storm is a direct visibility hazard.
FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE (2 complaints)
FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE
2 complaintsThe car brakes hard and without warning while backing up or parking, with nothing in its path. The parking sensors may beep intensely just before it happens. One report involves an injury: the driver was thrown forward and was left with neck and shoulder pain. In that case the fault appeared within days of purchase. The only workaround described is turning off automatic rear braking every time before reversing. No permanent fix has been offered.
POWER TRAIN (2 complaints)
POWER TRAIN
2 complaintsThe engine surges to 3000 to 4000 RPM while the driver brakes for a stop. That forces hard braking, a shift to neutral, or a shutdown. At about 300 miles the dealer found no codes. The car also rolls after the park button is pressed, even though the display shows park. One report adds that the steering pulled hard to the right with adaptive cruise control on. Each of these faults carries crash risk.
TIRES (2 complaints)
TIRES
2 complaintsTread separates and falls off in chunks on Pirelli Scorpion Zero All Season tires in size 255/40R21, on both the front and rear wheels. Only two short reports exist, so no mileage pattern shows. A related report under other components describes original Pirelli tires bulging at 3,000 miles. Tires with missing tread chunks need replacement before the car is driven further.
WHEELS (1 complaints)
WHEELS
1 complaintYesterday, while driving on highway, I received a tire pressure warning for all four tires. I filled all tires to the recommended 35psi. The warning went away. Today, after I parked my vehicle, I saw a “parking brake service required” message on my dash. The “park” indicator on my dash started flashing. Now, I’m worried about a brake failure. I only mentioned the tire pressure warning bc I’ve never had multiple error messages like this before.
STRUCTURE (1 complaints)
STRUCTURE
1 complaintAfter having my car for three weeks, the paint was permanently damaged by an inordinate amount of leaf prints and water stains. Even multiple rounds of polishing didn't fix the issue. Volvo claims this is not covered under warranty, as the damage occurred because of outside influences. I have a hard time believing they think this is an acceptable level of damage from a quite benign, normal level of outside exposure, especially because the dealership GM, the salesman, the detailer, and several car paint experts have never seen this before.
FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM (1 complaints)
FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM
1 complaintWhile switching lanes the vehicle became unresponsive to throttle input, momentarily leaving me floundering in the new lane unable to accelerate, with cars quickly approaching. This was then followed by a jolt of power after pumping the gas pedal and then normal acceleration behavior. There were no dashboard warnings or sounds to indicate any driver assistance systems were activated. This has occurred once before (at ~1000 miles) but has not been inspected by the dealer. In both cases the incidents were preceded by slowing down for traffic before switching lanes.
When Do 2023 Volvo XC60 Problems Start?
Based on owner complaint patterns, here's when common issues tend to appear.
Best & Worst Volvo XC60 Years
Best Volvo XC60 Years to Buy
Based on reliability index score2021
2020
2023
(Current Model)
Volvo XC60 Years to Avoid
No Volvo XC60 years are statistical outliers in our data.
Scores stay between 72 and 76 across 8 scored model years.
Volvo XC60 Reliability Score Trend
Scores 0–100. Higher is better. Current year highlighted.
| Year | Score | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| 2018 | 74/100 | Good |
| 2019 | 72/100 | Good |
| 2020 | 75/100 | Good |
| 2021 | 75/100 | Good |
| 2022 | 72/100 | Good |
| 2023 | 74/100 | Good |
| 2025 | 76/100 | Good |
| 2026 | 74/100 | Good |
Volvo XC60 Reliability Compared to Other Years
Frequently Asked Questions
Is the 2023 Volvo XC60 reliable?
What are the most common problems with the 2023 Volvo XC60?
Does the 2023 Volvo XC60 have brake problems?
How many recalls does the 2023 Volvo XC60 have?
Is the 2023 Volvo XC60 cheaper to repair than other SUVs in its class?
Don’t buy a 2023 Volvo XC60 without checking its VIN first — hidden accidents, title issues, and open recalls could cost you thousands.
How we score the 2023 Volvo XC60
Of the four inputs behind this score, the 2023 Volvo XC60 does best on how many systems draw complaints (84/100) and worst on recall impact (68/100). 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.
Get notified when new recalls or reliability data is added for the Volvo XC60.
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