The estate that makes safety look beautiful
The Volvo V60 is a premium estate car that competes with the BMW 3 Series Touring, Audi A4 Avant and Mercedes C-Class Estate. It attracts buyers who value Scandinavian design, class-leading safety and a relaxed driving experience over outright sportiness. The second generation (2018 onwards) brought a dramatic leap in interior quality and technology.
We track 5 known issues across the Volvo V60 range, including 1 rated as safety-critical. Knowing which variants and configurations to approach with caution can save you from expensive surprises after purchase.
Found a Volvo V60? Enter the reg to see which of our 5 known issues apply to that exact car, plus full MOT history and mileage checks.
G1 (2010–2018) — Petrol options included the 1.6T, 1.6 T4, 2.0T, T6, with 1.6D DRIVe, 2.0D, 2.0D, D5 on the diesel side. Our database flags 5 known issues on this generation, 1 of which are rated as safety-critical. The most significant concern is Front coil spring fracture (£200–£400 to address).
G2 (2018–2024) — Petrol options included the 2.0T, T6, with 2.0D, D5 on the diesel side.
V60 diesel variants suffer from premature front coil spring fractures, with failure rates 7.1 times higher than the fleet average. The issue affects all diesel engines and typically manifests as complete spring breakage rather than gradual weakening. This is a dangerous defect as spring failure can cause sudden loss of vehicle control and damage to surrounding components including brake lines and suspension arms.
A broken front coil spring is an immediate MOT failure and makes the vehicle dangerous to drive. Complete spring failure can cause loss of control, particularly during braking or cornering. The broken spring can also damage brake lines, suspension arms, and the vehicle body, significantly increasing repair costs.
Listen for knocking, clunking or rattling over bumps during the test drive. Inspect the underside for corroded or cracked suspension components. Check the MOT history for suspension-related advisories, which often predict future failures.
The 1.6-litre diesel engine suffers from severe DPF (diesel particulate filter) blockage issues, causing excessive smoke opacity levels that fail MOT tests at rates up to 135 times higher than the fleet average. The DPF system struggles with frequent short journeys and low-speed urban driving, leading to incomplete regeneration cycles. This is compounded by the engine's relatively small displacement struggling to generate sufficient exhaust temperatures for effective DPF cleaning.
MOT failure is certain if opacity levels exceed limits. A blocked DPF requires professional cleaning (£200-400) or complete replacement (£1500-2500). Continued driving with a blocked DPF can damage the turbocharger and engine internals through excessive back-pressure.
Ask about the car's typical usage — short urban journeys prevent DPF regeneration. Check for DPF warning lights and ask about any previous regeneration issues. A forced regeneration at a garage costs far less than a DPF replacement.
V60 models show abnormally high rates of brake pad wear below the legal 1.5mm limit, failing MOT tests at 0-litre variants. The issue appears across low-mileage examples and is attributed to aggressive brake pad compound and potential caliper binding issues. This affects both diesel and petrol 2.0-litre engines, with failures occurring even on very low mileage vehicles.
Worn brake pads below 1.5mm will cause MOT failure and present a significant safety risk. Continued use can damage brake discs, requiring costly replacement. Complete brake system overhaul including discs can cost £600-1200 per axle.
Check brake disc condition for lipping or scoring. Test braking at moderate speed for pulling to one side or vibration through the steering wheel. Review MOT advisories for brake-related items.
V60 diesel models experience power steering system failures at 119.8 times the fleet average rate, typically manifesting as fluid leaks from the pump or high-pressure lines. The issue primarily affects higher mileage vehicles above 60,000 miles and can lead to complete steering assistance loss. The hydraulic power steering system is particularly vulnerable to seal failure in the pump and pressure lines.
Power steering failure significantly increases steering effort, particularly at low speeds and during parking. Complete fluid loss can make the vehicle very difficult to control in emergency situations. Continued operation with low fluid will damage the pump, requiring complete system replacement costing £800-1500.
During the test drive, check the steering for excessive play, vibration or pulling to one side. Listen for groaning or whining when turning the wheel at low speed. Power steering fluid level and condition should be checked on hydraulic systems.
The 2.0-litre turbocharged petrol engine suffers from excessive oil consumption, with owners reporting consumption rates of one quart (approximately 1 litre) every few hundred miles without visible external leaks. This appears to be related to piston ring wear or cylinder bore scoring, requiring major internal engine work to resolve. The issue typically develops after 40,000 miles and progressively worsens.
High oil consumption requires frequent and expensive top-ups, typically costing £200-400 annually in oil alone. The underlying cause usually requires engine rebuild or replacement, costing £3000-6000. Continued operation with low oil levels risks complete engine seizure.
Check the oil level before the engine is started. Ask the seller how often they top up the oil between services. After a test drive, check the level again and look behind the car for blue or grey exhaust smoke under acceleration.
For the full breakdown of all 5 tracked issues with repair costs, see the Volvo V60 common problems page.
Based on 166k real DVSA MOT tests, the Volvo V60 fails more often than average on several items. The biggest outlier is emissions failure at 136x the fleet average, followed by abs fault (54x).
When viewing a specific car, check its MOT history for recurring advisories in these categories. See the full Volvo V60 MOT failure breakdown for data at every mileage point.
Routine servicing (oil and filter change every 18k miles) typically costs £120–£180 at an independent garage.
See the full Volvo V60 service schedule for every interval and cost breakdown.
The Volvo V60 has some well-documented weak points, including 1 safety-critical issue that demand careful checking. The right example, properly maintained, can still be a sound purchase — but cutting corners on the pre-purchase inspection is not advisable. 2020-2021 second-generation models are the sweet spot — early SPA platform bugs resolved, modern infotainment, and full safety suite. Avoid 2015-2016 first-gen cars (oil consumption, electrical faults) and early 2019 second-gen cars.
Before committing, check the car's full MOT history, verify the service record is complete, and if possible arrange a specialist inspection. Enter any registration into our free report to see the complete picture.
Get Car Wise maintains a database of known mechanical issues for every popular car on UK roads, tracking the faults that owners, specialists and DVSA data reveal.
When you run a report on a specific Volvo V60, we cross-reference the exact variant, engine and age against our database of 5 known issues. Combined with full MOT history analysis, mileage verification and DVLA data, you get a complete picture before viewing.
Enter the registration for MOT history, mileage verification, known faults for that exact variant, and a Get Car Wise Score.
This guide was compiled from independent expert reviews, DVSA MOT data, specialist workshops and our own database of 5 known Volvo V60 issues. We are not affiliated with any source listed.