2001 Volvo S60 Problems: Fuel system (219 Complaints)
The most-reported problem on the 2001 Volvo S60 is Fuel system (39% of 219 owner reports). There are 9 safety recalls. Check the VIN and inspect Fuel system — this is the NHTSA file, not a score.
NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation Snapshot 2026-09-07 219 complaints · 9 recalls
What problems show up on the 2001 Volvo S60?
85 of 219 filings named Fuel system (39% of the file). That is what owners wrote, not a shop diagnosis of the vehicle in the driveway.
Second is Cruise / speed control (38 reports).
There are 9 official safety recalls on this year. They were filed about Engine, Brakes, Fuel system, and Airbags. Check the VIN at nhtsa.gov — a campaign on this page can still be open on a specific truck.
The previous year is not published here. Use the year list to jump around.
What owners reported
System named most often: Fuel system 85 complaints · 38.8% of the file
Crashes, fires, injuries and deaths in those filings:
- Crashes 5
- Fires 5
- Injuries 1
- Deaths 0
NHTSA Consumer Complaints Snapshot 2026-09-07 Open source record Read our complete data methodology →
Complaint counts reflect self-selected reports and are not normalised for production sales volume. We publish no reliability scores, superlatives, or vehicle rankings.
Which systems owners named
Share of owner complaints filed against each vehicle system. These shares are not adjusted for how many vehicles were sold.
“Unclassified NHTSA leftover” is not a car part. It is a filing bucket and always sits last.
View component data as a table
| System / Component | Complaints | Share of Reports | Safety Reports (Crashes / Fires) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fuel system (FUEL SYSTEM) | 85 | 38.8% | 1 crashes · 2 fires |
| Cruise / speed control (VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL) | 38 | 17.4% | 0 crashes · 0 fires |
| Electrical (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM) | 20 | 9.1% | 0 crashes · 1 fires |
| Transmission / driveline (POWER TRAIN) | 20 | 9.1% | 0 crashes · 0 fires |
| Engine (ENGINE) | 16 | 7.3% | 0 crashes · 1 fires |
| Airbags (AIR BAGS) | 4 | 1.8% | 2 crashes · 0 fires |
| Body / frame (STRUCTURE) | 4 | 1.8% | 0 crashes · 0 fires |
| Suspension (SUSPENSION) | 4 | 1.8% | 0 crashes · 0 fires |
| Glass / wipers / cameras (VISIBILITY) | 4 | 1.8% | 0 crashes · 0 fires |
| Unclassified NHTSA leftover | 122 | 55.7% | 5 crashes · 3 fires |
NHTSA Consumer Complaints, NHTSA Safety Recalls, and NHTSA Defect Investigations Snapshot 2026-09-07 Open source record
Complaint counts reflect self-selected reports and are not normalised for production sales volume. We publish no reliability scores, superlatives, or vehicle rankings.
When reports and recalls showed up
When owners filed reports, and when recall campaigns showed up.
- Campaign 03V284000 was reported 885 days after the first earlier complaint mapped to its component.
- Campaign 04V451000 was reported 1,294 days after the first earlier complaint mapped to its component.
- Campaign 07E023000 was reported 204 days after the first earlier complaint mapped to its component.
- Campaign 07V152000 was reported 877 days after the first earlier complaint mapped to its component.
- Campaign 09V483000 was reported 1,865 days after the first earlier complaint mapped to its component.
- Campaign 10V566000 was reported 3,541 days after the first earlier complaint mapped to its component.
- Campaign 20V681000 was reported 6,490 days after the first earlier complaint mapped to its component.
- Campaign 21V766000 was reported 6,820 days after the first earlier complaint mapped to its component.
View timeline records as a table
| Date | Record type | Count | Record identifier |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2001-Q1 | Owner reports | 1 | |
| 2001-Q3 | Owner reports | 1 | |
| 2002-Q1 | Owner reports | 1 | |
| 2002-Q3 | Owner reports | 2 | |
| 2002-Q4 | Owner reports | 1 | |
| 2003-Q1 | Owner reports | 7 | |
| 2003-Q2 | Owner reports | 4 | |
| 2003-Q3 | Owner reports | 1 | |
| 2003-Q4 | Owner reports | 1 | |
| 2004-Q1 | Owner reports | 2 | |
| 2004-Q3 | Owner reports | 1 | |
| 2004-Q4 | Owner reports | 2 | |
| 2005-Q3 | Owner reports | 26 | |
| 2005-Q4 | Owner reports | 12 | |
| 2006-Q1 | Owner reports | 9 | |
| 2006-Q2 | Owner reports | 4 | |
| 2006-Q3 | Owner reports | 6 | |
| 2006-Q4 | Owner reports | 14 | |
| 2007-Q1 | Owner reports | 1 | |
| 2007-Q2 | Owner reports | 4 | |
| 2007-Q3 | Owner reports | 11 | |
| 2007-Q4 | Owner reports | 11 | |
| 2008-Q1 | Owner reports | 6 | |
| 2008-Q2 | Owner reports | 5 | |
| 2008-Q3 | Owner reports | 8 | |
| 2008-Q4 | Owner reports | 5 | |
| 2009-Q1 | Owner reports | 3 | |
| 2009-Q2 | Owner reports | 1 | |
| 2009-Q3 | Owner reports | 4 | |
| 2009-Q4 | Owner reports | 3 | |
| 2010-Q1 | Owner reports | 5 | |
| 2010-Q3 | Owner reports | 2 | |
| 2010-Q4 | Owner reports | 4 | |
| 2011-Q1 | Owner reports | 2 | |
| 2011-Q3 | Owner reports | 2 | |
| 2011-Q4 | Owner reports | 6 | |
| 2012-Q1 | Owner reports | 2 | |
| 2012-Q3 | Owner reports | 5 | |
| 2012-Q4 | Owner reports | 2 | |
| 2013-Q3 | Owner reports | 4 | |
| 2013-Q4 | Owner reports | 2 | |
| 2014-Q1 | Owner reports | 4 | |
| 2014-Q3 | Owner reports | 2 | |
| 2014-Q4 | Owner reports | 2 | |
| 2015-Q3 | Owner reports | 3 | |
| 2015-Q4 | Owner reports | 2 | |
| 2016-Q1 | Owner reports | 1 | |
| 2016-Q2 | Owner reports | 2 | |
| 2016-Q3 | Owner reports | 1 | |
| 2016-Q4 | Owner reports | 1 | |
| 2017-Q1 | Owner reports | 1 | |
| 2017-Q3 | Owner reports | 1 | |
| 2018-Q2 | Owner reports | 1 | |
| 2019-Q2 | Owner reports | 2 | |
| 2020-Q1 | Owner reports | 1 | |
| 2021-Q2 | Owner reports | 1 | |
| 2023-Q2 | Owner reports | 1 | |
| Recall campaign | 1 | 03V284000 | |
| Recall campaign | 1 | 04V451000 | |
| Recall campaign | 1 | 06V441000 | |
| Recall campaign | 1 | 07E023000 | |
| Recall campaign | 1 | 07V152000 | |
| Recall campaign | 1 | 09V483000 | |
| Recall campaign | 1 | 10V566000 | |
| Recall campaign | 1 | 20V681000 | |
| Recall campaign | 1 | 21V766000 | |
| Defect investigation | 1 | PE05041 | |
| Defect investigation | 1 | EA05021 | |
| Defect investigation | 1 | PE06053 |
Safety Recalls (9)
Official campaigns. Each one says what could go wrong and what the dealer was told to fix.
In short, these campaigns were filed about Engine, Brakes, Fuel system, and Airbags.
-
Recall campaign 03V284000
Safety recall 03V284000
- Report date
- Component:
- Unclassified NHTSA leftover
- Consequence:
- THIS DOES NOT MEET THE REQUIREMENTS OF THE STANDARD.
- Remedy:
- OWNERS WILL RECEIVE A LETTER/PACKAGE CONSISTING OF THE SECOND ISOFIX GUIDE WITH INSTALLATION INSTRUCTIONS, AND IN CERTAIN CASES, THE CORRECTED OWNER'S MANUAL MAY BE PROVIDED. IF THE OWNER WANTS TO TAKE THEIR VEHICLE TO A VOLVO DEALER FOR INSTALLATION OF THE GUIDE, IT WILL BE PERFORMED AT NO CHARGE TO THE OWNER. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN ON DECEMBER 19, 2003. OWNERS SHOULD CONTACT VOLVO AT 1-800-458-1552.
-
Recall campaign 04V451000
Engine
- Report date
- Component:
- Engine (ENGINE)
- Consequence:
- A FIRE IN THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT COULD OCCUR.
- Remedy:
- DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE COOLING FAN. THE RECALL BEGAN ON NOVEMBER 29, 2004. CUSTOMERS SHOULD CONTACT VOLVO CARS AT 1-800-458-1552.
-
Recall campaign 06V441000
Safety recall 06V441000
- Report date
- Component:
- Not available in the source record
- Consequence:
- THIS RESULTED IN A HIGH NUMBER OF VEHICLES GOING INTO THE LIMP HOME MODE WITHOUT NEED.
- Remedy:
- DEALERS WILL INSTALL THE CURRENT SOFTWARE UPGRADE ONTO THE INVOLVED VEHICLES. THE RECALL BEGAN ON DECEMBER 29, 2006. OWNERS MAY CONTACT VOLVO AT 1-800-458-1552.
-
Recall campaign 07E023000
Brakes
- Report date
- Component:
- Brakes (SERVICE BRAKES)
- Consequence:
- LOSS OF BRAKE FLUID CAN RESULT IN POOR BRAKING PERFORMANCE, POSSIBLY RESULTING IN A VEHICLE CRASH.
- Remedy:
- CARDONE WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND OFFER TO REPURCHASE ANY DEFECTIVE MASTER CYLINDERS. THE RECALL BEGAN DURING APRIL 2007. OWNERS CAN CONTACT CARDONE AT 1-800-777-4780.
-
Recall campaign 07V152000
Fuel system
- Report date
- Component:
- Fuel system (FUEL SYSTEM)
- Consequence:
- FUEL LEAKAGE IN THE PRESENCE OF AN IGNITION SOURCE COULD RESULT IN A FIRE.
- Remedy:
- DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE FUEL PUMP FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON JULY 10, 2007. OWNERS MAY CONTACT VOLVO AT 1-800-458-1552.
-
Recall campaign 09V483000
Fuel system
- Report date
- Component:
- Fuel system (FUEL SYSTEM)
- Consequence:
- IF THE CONDITION OCCURS VEHICLE OWNERS MAY NOTICE FUEL SMELL AND/OR FUEL LEAK WHICH, IN THE PRESENCE OF AN IGNITION SOURCE, COULD RESULT IN A FIRE.
- Remedy:
- DEALERS WILL INSPECT THE FUEL PUMP INSTALLED IN THE VEHICLE, AND IF NECESSARY REPLACE THE FUEL PUMP WITH A PART OF A MODIFIED DESIGN. THIS SERVICE WILL BE PERFORMED FREE OF CHARGE. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN ON JANUARY 15, 2010. OWNERS MAY CONTACT VOLVO AT 1-800-458-1552.
-
Recall campaign 10V566000
Safety recall 10V566000
- Report date
- Component:
- Unclassified NHTSA leftover
- Consequence:
- AN OVERHEATED BATTERY COULD LEAD TO A FIRE.
- Remedy:
- VOLVO ADVISES OWNERS TO PLEASE STOP USING THE GARMIN PORTABLE GPS DEVICE IMMEDIATELY, AND VISIT THE GARMIN WEBSITE TO DETERMINE IF THEIR UNIT IS AFFECTED. THE UNIT'S BATTERY WILL BE REPLACED WITH A NEW BATTERY AND A SPACER WILL BE INSERTED ON TOP OF THE BATTERY NEXT TO THE PCB. THIS SERVICE WILL BE PERFORMED FREE OF CHARGE. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN ON NOVEMBER 18, 2010. OWNERS MAY CONTACT GARMIN AT 866-957-1981 OR VISIT GARMIN'S WEBSITE AT WWW.GARMIN.COM/NUVIBATTERYPCBRECALL.
-
Recall campaign 20V681000
Airbags
- Report date
- Component:
- Airbags (AIR BAGS)
- Consequence:
- Metal fragments can strike vehicle occupants increasing the risk of serious injury or death.
- Remedy:
- Volvo Car will notify owners, and dealers will replace the driver side air bag module, free of charge. The recall began April 20, 2021. Owners may contact Volvo Car customer service at 1-800-458-1552. Volvo Car's number for this recall is R10058.
-
Recall campaign 21V766000
Airbags
- Report date
- Component:
- Airbags (AIR BAGS)
- Consequence:
- An inflator explosion may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants, resulting in serious injury or death.
- Remedy:
- Dealers will replace the driver's air bag, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed November 29, 2021. Owners may contact Volvo Car customer service at 1-800-458-1552. Volvo's number for this recall is R10125.
Complaint counts reflect self-selected reports and are not normalised for production sales volume. We publish no reliability scores, superlatives, or vehicle rankings.
What owners actually wrote
Short excerpts from the public NHTSA file. Look for the same symptom repeating.
Data: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation · snapshot 2026-09-07
Showing 10 of 219 complaints · page 1 of 9
CrashFireInjuryDeath
1. The vehicle caught fire while driving. The radiator cooling fan stayed on after parking, The vehicle the night before. The vehicle had to be jump started the next morning. yes the vehicle is available for inspection. 2. bodily injury and property damage could have been caused by the fire. 3. Yes. independent service center. Automotive Body and Tire Center. (Skokie IL) 4. Yes. Fire was put out by prospect heights fire department. Police report #PHP23-004049 5. No warning lamps prior to the fire. Symptom of problem was the radiator cooling fan staying on after vehicle was turned off, which caused the battery to discharge.
CrashFireInjuryDeath
TERRIBLE GAS SMELL EVERY TIME I DRIVE IT. I GOT SOMEONE TO CHECK IT OUT, THERE IS GAS LEAKING FROM THE FUEL PUMP. THIS PERSON PUT SOME PUTTY OVER THE LEAK WHICH STOPPED THE SMELL BUT THIS IS NOT SAFE. I SEE A RECALL FOR THE FUEL PUMP BUT IT SAYS MY CAR DOESN'T HAVE A CURRENT RECALL.
CrashFireInjuryDeath
I HAVE AN SRS AIRBAG WARNING LIGHT STAYS ON AND WILL NOT GO AWAY. THE ELECTRICAL WIRING FOR THE HEADLIGHTS ARE FAULTY, I TRIED EVERYTHING TO FIX THEM NOTHING WORKS. I USED AN INLINE FUSE WITH THE HEADLIGHT WIRING BECAUSE THE BULBS THE CONTINUE TO BLOWOUT. THE VOLVO FORUM SUGGESTED THE INLINE FUSE TO FIX THE ISSUE, BUT IT DID NOT. ONE HEADLIGHT REMAINS ON THE DRIVER SIDE AND THE PASSENGER SIDE COMES ON AND OFF WHEN IT WANTS TO AND IT ALSO DISPLAYS DIPPED BULB FAILURE OR BEAM FAILURE.
CrashFireInjuryDeath
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 VOLVO S60. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS LEAKING FUEL FROM THE TOP OF THE FUEL TANK AND FUEL PUMP. THE CONTACT CALLED THE MANUFACTURER AFTER RESEARCHING THE FAILURE AND WAS INFORMED THAT THERE WAS NO RECALL. THE MANUFACTURER FURTHER STATED THAT THE FAILURE OCCURRED IN STATES IN WARMER ZONES THAN THE CONTACT'S STATE, AND DISCONNECTED THE CALL. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO A DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING OR REPAIRS. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 220,000.
CrashFireInjuryDeath
EXTREME GAS SMELL INSIDE CAR. NOTICED GAS LEAKING FROM TOP OF TANK BY THE SCREWS THAT HOLD IT. VEHICLE WAS PARKED IN MY DRIVE WAY AND AS SOON AS MY KIDS GOT IN THEY NOTICED THE STRONG SMELL. NOT DRIVING IT DEFENETLY CAN CAUSE A FIRE.
CrashFireInjuryDeath
CAR STALLED WHILE DRIVING THEN WOULD NOT GO ANY FASTER THAN 15MPH.
CrashFireInjuryDeath
I HAVE NOTICED A STRONG FUEL ODOR INSIDE AND OUTSIDE OF CAR. IT IS ALSO LEAKING FUEL. THE FUEL LEAKING IS UNDERNEATH THE CAR. I DO NOT KNOW EXACTLY WHERE FUEL IS LEAKING. IT IS NOT COMING FROM FUEL FILTER.
CrashFireInjuryDeath
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 VOLVO S60. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THERE WAS A FAILURE IN WHICH THE THROTTLE BODY FAILED TO FUNCTION PROPERLY. THE CONTACT EXPERIENCED THE FAILURE WHEN MAKING A TURN OR WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE AND INDICATED THAT THE TIME FRAME HAD EXPIRED FOR THE VEHICLE TO BE REPAIRED PER NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 06V441000 (VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL). THE CONTACT WAS ADVISED TO TAKE THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS NOT AVAILABLE.
CrashFireInjuryDeath
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 VOLVO S60. WITHOUT WARNING, THE VEHICLE FAILED TO ACCELERATE OVER 20 MPH. THE VEHICLE DRASTICALLY REDUCED SPEED AND STALLED SEVERAL TIMES WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS EXCLUDED FROM NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 06V441000 (VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL). THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS NOT AVAILABLE.
CrashFireInjuryDeath
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 VOLVO S60. WHILE DRIVING AT UNKNOWN SPEEDS, THE VEHICLE STALLED AND THE BRAKES AND POWER STEERING MALFUNCTIONED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED NOR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 173,000.
Frequently asked questions
What are the most common problems on the 2001 Volvo S60?
Owners named Fuel system most often — 85 of 219 reports (39%). That is the NHTSA file, not a diagnosis of every vehicle.
Are there recalls for the 2001 Volvo S60?
NHTSA lists 9 safety recall campaigns. They were filed about Engine, Brakes, Fuel system, and Airbags. Check the VIN at nhtsa.gov; a campaign on this page can still be open on a specific vehicle.
What should I inspect before buying a 2001 Volvo S60?
Look up the VIN for open recalls. Check for fuel smell, leaks and whether it starts and idles cleanly. Then skim owner filings for the same symptom and take that list to a mechanic.
Does a high complaint count mean I should skip this year?
No. Counts are reports people chose to file and they are not adjusted for sales volume. YearTell does not publish scores or a list of years to skip. Inspect the vehicle.
Estimated Ownership Cost
EPA fuel economy ratings and annual operating cost estimates
Data: US EPA Fuel Economy Guide · snapshot 2026-08-21
Adjacent Model Years
Immediate preceding and succeeding model year records
Complaint counts reflect self-selected reports and are not normalised for production sales volume. We publish no reliability scores, superlatives, or vehicle rankings.
Methodology & Data Integrity
Source: NHTSA ODI / recalls, snapshot 2026-09-07. YearTell is not a government agency.