The 2014 Volvo S60 is a solid platform marred by catastrophic turbo engine failures on the T5 (2.5L I5) and T6 (3.0L I6) variants, plus transmission cooler issues that can destroy the gearbox if ignored. When they're good, they're great — when they're bad, you're looking at a complete engine rebuild.
Catastrophic Turbo Engine Failure (T5 & T6)
Occasional · high severity
Typical onset: 80,000-140,000 mi
Symptoms: sudden loss of power and blue smoke on startup, metal shavings in oil, knocking or rattling from lower engine, check engine light with multiple misfires, oil consumption jumps dramatically
Fix: Turbocharger failure dumps metal debris into the oil system, destroying bearings and scoring cylinder walls. Requires complete engine rebuild or replacement: pistons, rings, main bearings, rod bearings, head work, often crankshaft machining. 30-50 labor hours depending on in-chassis rebuild vs. engine-out full replacement. Some shops swap in used engines to save cost but risk repeating the cycle.
Symptoms: transmission fluid in coolant or vice versa (strawberry milkshake appearance), harsh shifting or slipping, overheating warnings, coolant loss with no visible leaks
Fix: Internal cooler in the radiator fails, allowing cross-contamination between coolant and ATF. If caught early (just the cooler), it's a radiator replacement plus multiple fluid flushes — 4-6 hours. If contamination circulates, the transmission is toast and needs replacement or rebuild. Add another 12-18 hours for trans R&R.
Symptoms: clunking when shifting from park to drive or reverse, excessive vibration at idle, visible sagging or torn rubber on mount inspection
Fix: Hydraulic transmission mount fails, allowing drivetrain movement. Replacement requires lifting the engine slightly for access. 2-3 hours labor with OEM or upgraded polyurethane mount.
Estimated cost: $400-700
PCV System / Oil Trap Clogging (All Turbo Engines)
Common · medium severity
Typical onset: 50,000-90,000 mi
Symptoms: rough idle and hesitation, oil leaks from valve cover or turbo seals, white smoke from exhaust, turbo whistle or excessive boost pressure, oil in intake piping
Fix: Volvo's PCV oil trap clogs with sludge, causing crankcase pressure to blow seals and force oil past turbo seals. Requires oil trap replacement, new PCV hoses, often valve cover gasket. Neglecting this accelerates turbo failure. 3-4 hours labor. Critical preventive maintenance item.
Estimated cost: $600-1,000
Electronic Throttle Body Failure
Occasional · medium severity
Typical onset: 90,000-130,000 mi
Symptoms: limp mode with reduced power, surging or hunting idle, check engine light with throttle position codes, car won't start or dies immediately
Fix: Throttle body actuator motor or position sensors fail. Not rebuildable on this platform — replacement only. Adaptive learning reset required after install. 1.5-2 hours labor.
Estimated cost: $500-900
Fuel Filter Clogging (Affected by Short Trips)
Occasional · medium severity
Typical onset: 60,000-80,000 mi
Symptoms: hesitation under acceleration, rough running or stalling, difficulty starting when hot, loss of power on highway
Fix: In-tank fuel filter clogs prematurely if the car sees mostly short trips or sits for extended periods. Requires fuel pump module removal. 2-3 hours labor. Volvo doesn't specify replacement interval, but field data suggests 60-70k on city-driven cars.
Estimated cost: $400-700
Angle Gear Leaks (AWD Models Only)
Common · low severity
Typical onset: 70,000-110,000 mi
Symptoms: fluid drips near rear of transmission, whining from rear differential area, AWD warning light
Fix: Angle gear (front-to-rear power transfer unit) seals leak, eventually starving the unit of fluid. Seal replacement is straightforward if caught early — 2 hours. If run low on fluid, internal damage requires angle gear replacement, adding another $800-1,500 in parts.
Replace PCV oil trap and hoses every 60k miles religiously — this is the single best way to prevent turbo and engine failure on these cars
Check coolant and ATF condition every oil change for signs of cross-contamination; catch the cooler failure early
Use Volvo-spec synthetic oil and change every 5,000 miles despite the 10k interval — turbos run hot and sludge quickly with extended drains
Avoid T5 and T6 engines after 100k miles unless full service history proves PCV maintenance was done; the 2.0L turbo I4 (T5 Drive-E, late 2014+) is more reliable
Budget $1,000/year for "Volvo surprises" beyond normal maintenance — these are not cheap to keep running
Buy only with comprehensive service records proving PCV maintenance, or plan for a $10k engine rebuild lottery ticket — the S60 drives beautifully until it doesn't, and when it fails, it fails expensively.
AI-assisted summary drawn from NHTSA recall data, our labor-times database, and platform knowledge. Not a substitute for a pre-purchase inspection on a specific vehicle.
Fitment notes: AGM battery required; located in trunk on driver side; equipped with Start/Stop technology
As an Amazon Associate, OLP earns from qualifying purchases — how we link. This never changes the specs we publish.
Every control module on the 2011-2018 Volvo S60 — where it lives, replacement time, and what it takes to program a replacement. Modules marked dealer / factory tool won't work after a part swap alone — budget for programming.
⚠️ Not separate module; key programming through CEM; all keys must be present
Aftermarket tool coverage varies by software version and vehicle build — treat "aftermarket tool" rows as "usually possible" and verify against your tool maker's coverage list before promising a customer. Spot a wrong location or hour? Tell us — corrections ship fast here.
Volvo Cars of N.A., LLC (Volvo) is recalling certain 2008-2016 V70 and XC70, 2007-2016 S80, 2011-2018 S60 and V60, 2016-2018 S60 Cross Country, 2014-2020 S60L, 2009-2015 S80L, 2009-2016 XC60 and 2015-2018 V60 Cross Country vehicles. The flexible steel cable that connects the seat belt to the front outboard seating positions may fatigue over time, causing the seat belt to not secure the occupant in the event of a crash.
Consequence: An unsecured occupant has an increased risk of injury in the event of a crash.
Remedy: Volvo will notify owners, and dealers will replace the seat belt anchor cable for both front seats. The recall began December 10, 2020. Owners may contact Volvo customer service at 1-800-458-1552. Volvo's number for this recall is R10029.
LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES:DOORS:LATCH · 19V849000
2019-11-26
Volvo Car of USA LLC (Volvo) is recalling certain 2011-2017 S60, S60I, V60, S60CC and V60CC vehicles. A component within the door latches may break, making the doors difficult to latch and/or leading the driver or a passenger to believe a door is securely closed when, in fact, it is not.
Consequence: A door that is not securely latched could open while the vehicle is in motion, increasing the risk of injury to a vehicle occupant.
Remedy: Volvo will notify owners, and dealers will replace all four door latches, free of charge. The recall began April 9, 2020. Owners may contact Volvo customer service at 1-800-458-1552. Volvo's number for this recall is R89978.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM · 13V377000
2013-08-21
Volvo is recalling certain model year 2014 S60, S80, XC60 and XC70 vehicles equipped with keyless ignition. In the affected vehicles, the Central Electronic Module (CEM) will not perform as intended. As a result, the front windshield wipers might run continuously when the ignition is on. Also, the turn signals, high beams, and headlight switch might not work.
Consequence: Malfunctioning head lamps and/or turn signals increase the risk of a crash.
Remedy: Volvo will notify owners, and dealers will upgrade the CEM software, free of charge. The recall began on October 3, 2013. Owners may contact Volvo at 1-800-458-1552.
Size-standard part numbers — verify your connector type before buying. Rear blades are model-specific; check the package's vehicle list.
Fuel economy figures are EPA data via fueleconomy.gov (median across matching trims). Performance figures are compiled estimates for the 2014 Volvo S60 2.5L I5 Turbo and can vary by trim.
🔧 Database maintained under the daily editorial review of Chris Hackleman · Master Technician · 20+ years and Jeff Moore · Master Lexus & Toyota Mechanic · 20+ years.