2004 Volvo S60 Problems

Severe Issues

Real NHTSA owner complaints for the 2004 Volvo S60.

20032005
Complaints
262
Crashes
22
Fires
15
Injuries
15
Fatalities
Recalls
2

Worst 2004 Volvo S60 Problems

Top 3 most-reported issues with average mileage at failure.

#149 complaints

Engine & Cooling

Avg mileage:93,026 mi
Crash-related:3
#222 complaints

Engine Problems

Avg mileage:101,959 mi
Fires:1
#322 complaints

Gasoline Fuel System

Avg mileage:94,463 mi
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All Problems by Category

Every NHTSA complaint category for the 2004 Volvo S60.

Engine & Cooling
49
complaints
Crashes
3
Fires
Avg Miles
93,026
Engine Problems
22
complaints
Crashes
Fires
1
Avg Miles
101,959
Gasoline Fuel System
22
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
94,463
Electrical Faults
19
complaints
Crashes
Fires
4
Avg Miles
94,030
Fuel System
18
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
114,879
Unintended Acceleration
10
complaints
Crashes
2
Fires
Avg Miles
94,151
Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine
9
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
59,200
Seat-Related Issues
9
complaints
Crashes
Fires
9
Avg Miles
107,083
Steering Defects
9
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
68,472
Airbags
8
complaints
Crashes
5
Fires
Avg Miles
104,800
Fuel System, Other
7
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
202,250
Headlight/Taillight Failures
6
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
82,738
Fuel Pump
6
complaints
Crashes
1
Fires
Avg Miles
50,936
Transmission / Drivetrain
6
complaints
Crashes
1
Fires
Avg Miles
64,800
Automatic Transmission
5
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
25,975
Tire Defects
5
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
36,078
Tires:Sidewall
4
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
Other Equipment
3
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
Brakes
3
complaints
Crashes
1
Fires
Avg Miles
Engine And Engine Cooling:Cooling System
2
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
Engine And Engine Cooling:Exhaust System
2
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
Latches / Locks
2
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
Parking-Brake Issues
2
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
Seats:Front Assembly:Seat Heater/Cooler
2
complaints
Crashes
Fires
1
Avg Miles
Body Structure
2
complaints
Crashes
2
Fires
Avg Miles
Visibility:Power Window Devices And Controls
2
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
Air Bags:Frontal
1
complaints
Crashes
1
Fires
Avg Miles
Air Bags:Side/Window
1
complaints
Crashes
1
Fires
Avg Miles
Child Seat
1
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
Instrument Cluster
1
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles

Search Owner Complaints

Read what owners actually reported to NHTSA for the 2004 Volvo S60. Type a keyword (e.g. “transmission”, “stalling”, “brakes”) to filter.

Recalls for 2004 Volvo S60

2 NHTSA recall campaigns affecting ~259,799 vehicles.

21V766000Air Bags:frontal:driver Side:inflator Module
~259,383 affected

Volvo Car USA, LLC (Volvo Car) is recalling certain 2001-2006 S80 and 2001-2009 S60 vehicles. The driver's air bag inflator may explode during deployment, due to propellant degradation occurring after long-term exposure to high absolute humidity, high temperatures, and high temperature cycling.

10V566000Equipment:electrical:navigational System(global Positioning System)
~416 affected

VOLVO IS RECALLING CERTAIN VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH GARMIN 760 PORTABLE GLOBAL POSITIONING SYSTEM (GPS) UNITS BECAUSE THE BATTERIES ON THOSE UNITS MAY OVERHEAT.

Other Volvo S60 Years

2004 Volvo S60 — FAQ

Answers based on real NHTSA complaint and recall data for this specific model year.

Is the 2004 Volvo S60 reliable?
Verdict: Severe Issues. The 2004 Volvo S60 has 262 NHTSA complaints, 22 crash-related, and 2 recall campaigns. The most common issue is Engine & Cooling with 49 complaints. Source: NHTSA via VinItel.
What are common problems with the 2004 Volvo S60?
Top reported problems: Engine & Cooling (49 complaints, avg 93,026 mi); Engine Problems (22 complaints, avg 101,959 mi); Gasoline Fuel System (22 complaints, avg 94,463 mi). Every complaint is filed by an owner with NHTSA — this is raw reported data, not editorial opinion.
At what mileage do problems start on the 2004 Volvo S60?
The weighted average mileage at time of complaint is about 93,064 miles. Some components fail earlier, some later — check the "All Problems by Category" table above for per-issue averages.
How safe is the 2004 Volvo S60?
NHTSA complaints for the 2004 Volvo S60 include 22 crash-related reports, 15 fire reports, 15 injuries, and 0 fatalities. These are owner-reported incidents, not official crash-test ratings — a complaint being filed doesn't confirm a defect, but clusters around specific components are worth investigating.
Does the 2004 Volvo S60 have any recalls?
Yes — 2 NHTSA recall campaigns affecting an estimated 259,799 vehicles. Recalls are free to fix at the dealer. Always verify by VIN whether the specific car you're looking at has had its recalls addressed.
Should I buy a 2004 Volvo S60?
Proceed with extreme caution. The 2004 Volvo S60 shows significantly more complaints than average for its class. If you're buying one, a pre-purchase inspection and a VIN history check are essential — skip them and you're gambling.

Source: NHTSA (National Highway Traffic Safety Administration) complaint and recall databases, aggregated by VinItel.

Wider context: See the full Volvo S60 reliability report with year-by-year comparison and generation analysis.

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