Is the 2011 Volvo S60 a good car?
An honest AI verdict — reliability, common problems, and real cost to own.
B7/10
The 2011 Volvo S60 is a solid choice if safety and comfort are your priorities, but be aware of the potential transmission and electrical issues.
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Pros
- Comfortable and well-designed interior
- Strong safety features
- Smooth ride quality
Cons
- Expensive to maintain compared to some competitors
- Limited rear seat space
- Mediocre fuel efficiency
Ownership at a glance
Fuel economy
20 mpg
Maintenance cost
$1,200/yr
Expected lifespan
200,000 miles
Common problems to watch for
- Transmission issues such as hard shifting
- Electrical problems, especially with the infotainment system
- Premature brake wear
CarsJudge exclusive data
Active recalls (6)
The 2011 Volvo S60 has 6 NHTSA recalls on record. Most recent: Seats (campaign 10V591000). All recall repairs are free at any authorized dealer.
- Equipment — Other — Labels — VOLVO IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2006-2012 C70 VEHICLES MANUFACTURED FROM NOVEMBER 15, 2005, THROUGH JULY 31, 2011, AND MODEL YEAR 2011-2012 S60 VEHICLES MANUFACTURED FROM JULY 14, 2010, THROUGH APRIL 16, 2011, THAT…
- Engine And Engine Cooling — Engine — Volvo Cars of North America, LLC (Volvo) is recalling certain model year 2011-2012 S60 vehicles manufactured June 22, 2010, through May 14, 2012, and equipped with 5-cylinder B5254T5 (VIN code 62) engines. In the affect…
- Engine And Engine Cooling — VOLVO IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2011, S80, S60, XC70 AND XC60 VEHICLES. THE SOFTWARE CALIBRATION FOR THE FUEL CUT-OFF FUNCTIONALITY IN THE ENGINE CONTROL MODULE (ECM) IS TOO SENSITIVE.…
- Seats — VOLVO IS RECALLING CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH POWER FRONT PASSENGER SEATS. THE FRONT SEAT RAIL'S DETECTION SYSTEM WAS MANUFACTURED INCORRECTLY AND MAY PERMIT THE PASSENGER TO FORWARD THE SEAT BEYOND THE IN…
Real owner data from the CarsJudge fleet
1 2011 Volvo S60 owner tracks this exact car in CarsJudge.
Recall data: NHTSA. Owner costs & MPG: anonymized aggregates from CarsJudge users who track this vehicle. Updated 2026-07-05.
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This AI-generated assessment is general guidance only, not a substitute for a professional inspection. Always inspect a used vehicle before purchase.