The 2017 Volvo S60 is a solid platform with typical Volvo longevity, but the turbocharged 4-cylinder and 5-cylinder engines have known catastrophic failure modes related to oil starvation and coolant intrusion, while transmission oil cooler leaks are a persistent nuisance that can cascade into transmission failure if ignored.
Engine Oil Starvation and Catastrophic Failure (T5/T6 2.0L and 2.5L Turbo)
Occasional · high severity
Typical onset: 60,000-120,000 mi
Symptoms: Engine knock or ticking that worsens under load, Metal shavings in oil during drain, Sudden loss of power with check engine light, Complete engine seizure in worst cases
Fix: PCV system failures and extended oil change intervals cause sludge buildup that starves bearing surfaces. Often discovered too late — needs short block or complete rebuild. 20-30 hours labor depending on swap vs rebuild decision.
Estimated cost: $6,000-12,000
Transmission Oil Cooler Leak
Common · medium severity
Typical onset: 70,000-110,000 mi
Symptoms: Pink fluid pooling under vehicle (ATF in coolant), Milky or strawberry-colored coolant in expansion tank, Transmission slipping or delayed engagement, Overheating transmission or engine
Fix: Internal cooler in radiator fails, allowing coolant and ATF to mix. Requires radiator replacement, full cooling system flush, and often transmission fluid flush or rebuild if contamination went unnoticed. 4-6 hours labor for cooler, add 8-12 if transmission damaged.
Symptoms: Excessive oil consumption (quart every 1,000-2,000 miles), Oil leaking from valve cover or turbo seals, Check engine light with turbo underboost codes, Rough idle or stuttering under acceleration
Fix: PCV system clogs with oil vapor residue, increasing crankcase pressure and forcing oil past seals. Full PCV system service includes oil trap, hoses, and valve cover gasket. 3-4 hours labor. Catch it early or risk turbo and engine damage.
Estimated cost: $800-1,400
Timing Belt and Water Pump Failure (3.0L I6 Turbo)
Occasional · high severity
Typical onset: 90,000-110,000 mi
Symptoms: Squealing or chirping from engine bay, Coolant leaking from front of engine, Engine overheating, No-start with bent valves if belt snaps
Fix: Interference engine requires timing belt service at 105k miles. Water pump typically done simultaneously. If belt fails, expect bent valves and head work. Preventive service is 6-8 hours; post-failure repair adds 12-20 hours for head removal and valve work.
Symptoms: Clunking when shifting from Park to Drive, Vibration through cabin at idle, Excessive engine movement visible under hood during acceleration, Shifter feels loose or imprecise
Fix: Hydraulic transmission mount fails due to age and heat cycles. Straightforward replacement, typically 1.5-2.5 hours labor depending on access. Sometimes engine mount also replaced at same time for another hour.
Estimated cost: $400-750
Fuel Pump Failure (in-tank)
Occasional · medium severity
Typical onset: 80,000-130,000 mi
Symptoms: No-start or extended crank time when hot, Engine stalling at operating temperature, Loss of power under acceleration or at highway speeds, Whining noise from rear seat area
Fix: In-tank pump assembly fails, often intermittently at first. Requires dropping fuel tank or removing rear seat for access depending on model variant. 3-4 hours labor plus module cost.
Estimated cost: $900-1,600
Owner tips
Change oil every 5,000 miles maximum regardless of monitor — turbo engines accumulate sludge fast on Volvo's 10k interval
Replace PCV system components by 60k miles as preventive maintenance to avoid catastrophic engine damage
Monitor coolant color religiously — pink or milky means transmission cooler leak and immediate attention required
On 3.0L I6, do timing belt at 100k miles, not 105k — don't gamble with interference engine
Keep receipts for all transmission service — contamination from cooler failure can be progressive
Buy the T5 or T6 only with immaculate service records showing religious oil changes and PCV work; avoid any unit with coolant discoloration or high oil consumption — the 3.0L I6 is more robust but timing belt history is non-negotiable.
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 right side
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Control Modules — 2017 Volvo S60
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.
AIR BAGS · 17V127000
2017-03-01
Volvo Car USA LLC (Volvo) is recalling certain 2017 S60, S60CC, V60, V60 Cross Country, and XC60 vehicles. The affected vehicles have driver and front passenger seat side mounted side air bags (SAB) with inflator initiators that may fail to ignite during a crash. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 208, "Occupant Crash Protection" and number 214, "Side Impact Protection."
Consequence: If the air bag inflator initiator fails to ignite, the air bag will not deploy, increasing the risk of injury.
Remedy: Volvo will notify owners, and dealers will inspect and, if necessary, replace the front seat side air bags, free of charge. The recall began March 31, 2017. Owners may contact Volvo customer service at 1-800-458-1552. Volvo's number for this recall is R89712. Note: This recall is an expansion of recall 16V-918.
AIR BAGS · 16V918000
2016-12-21
Volvo Car USA LLC (Volvo) is recalling certain model year 2017 S60 and S60 Cross Country, V60 and V60 Cross Country, and XC60 vehicles manufactured August 16, 2016, through October 21, 2016. The affected vehicles have driver and front passenger seat side mounted side air bags (SAB) with inflator initiators that may fail to ignite during a crash. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 208, "Occupant Crash Protection" and number 214, "Side Impact Protection."
Consequence: If the air bag inflator initiator fails to ignite, the air bag will not deploy, increasing the risk of injury.
Remedy: Volvo will notify owners, and dealers will inspect and, if necessary, replace the front seat side air bags, free of charge. The recall is expected to begin on February 13, 2017. Owners may contact Volvo customer service at 1-800-458-1552. Volvo's number for this recall is R89712.
SEAT BELTS:FRONT:BUCKLE ASSEMBLY · 16V798000
2016-11-02
Volvo Car USA LLC (Volvo) is recalling certain model year 2016-2017 XC90, S90, XC60, V60 Cross Country, V60, S60 Cross Country, S60, and S60 Inscription vehicles manufactured February 16, 2015, to August 22, 2016. On the affected vehicles, the front passenger seat belt buckle attaching stud may loosen, allowing the buckle to separate from the seat belt bracket. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 210, "Seat Belt Assembly Anchorages" and number 209, "Seat Belt Assemblies."
Consequence: If the seat belt buckle separates from the bracket, the front seat passenger may not be adequately restrained in the event of a crash, increasing their risk of injury in the event of a crash.
Remedy: Volvo will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the front passenger seat belt buckle stud, replacing the seat belt buckle as needed, free of charge. The recall began January 2017. Owners may contact Volvo customer service at 1-800-458-1552. Volvo's number for this recall is R89708.
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 2017 Volvo S60 2.0L Turbo I4 and can vary by trim.
🔧 Built by master technician Chris Hackleman · Master Technician · 20+ years.