2020 Volvo S60 Safety Report

The 2020 Volvo S60 presents a mixed safety picture, with a low number of overall complaints but several significant recalls addressing critical safety systems. NHTSA has recorded only 9 total complaints for this model year, including 1 crash, 0 fires, 0 injuries, and 0 deaths, which is a very low complaint volume. However, the vehicle has been subject to 4 recalls, indicating potential widespread issues identified by the manufacturer or NHTSA. These recalls cover serious concerns such as a short circuit risk in the high-voltage battery for plug-in hybrids, improperly secured passenger airbags, low-pressure fuel pump failure leading to stalls, and a software/hardware incompatibility affecting the automatic emergency braking system. The automatic emergency braking recall is particularly concerning given that one complaint explicitly mentions the collision avoidance feature not activating during a crash, and another describes erroneous automatic braking on the highway. Common complaint patterns, despite the low volume, point towards issues with the service brakes and forward collision avoidance systems, each accounting for 2 complaints. One complaint details the vehicle erroneously driving forward and crashing without collision avoidance activation, while another describes the car 'detecting' crashes and stopping automatically on the highway. Other complaints mention steering/suspension vibrations at highway speeds (2 complaints), electrical system malfunctions affecting steering wheel controls and turn indicators, and premature wear of rear brakes. The lack of specific NHTSA crash test ratings (Overall, Frontal, Side, Rollover are all N/A) means we cannot assess its performance in controlled crash scenarios, making the recall and complaint data even more critical for understanding its safety profile. In summary, while the 2020 Volvo S60 has a low number of reported incidents to NHTSA, the nature of the 4 recalls, particularly those related to airbags, fuel pump, and automatic emergency braking, suggests potential for serious safety risks. The complaints, though few, corroborate some of these recall concerns, especially regarding the forward collision avoidance system. Prospective buyers should ensure all recall remedies have been performed.

Our recommendation: Given the low complaint volume but critical safety recalls, ensure all 4 recalls have been addressed by a Volvo dealership before purchasing, and be aware of potential issues with the automatic emergency braking system and highway vibrations.