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Volvo S60 vs. BMW 3-Series Reliability by Model Generation
Results are for year ending June 30, 2018. Only successfully completed repairs are currently included in the analysis. Routine maintenance, most wear items, recalls, and problems fixed with just a reflash or warning light reset are not included.
| Year and Model | % of Average Repair Frequency | |
 2015 - 2018 Volvo S60 |
Best
114%
Worst
|
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 2012 - 2018 BMW 3-Series |
Best
116%
Worst
|
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| 2011 - 2014 Volvo S60 |
Best
83%
Worst
|
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|
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| ||
 2006 - 2011 BMW 3-Series |
Best
130%
Worst
|
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 2001 - 2009 Volvo S60 |
Best
124%
Worst
|
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 2000 - 2005 BMW 3-Series |
Best
147%
Worst
|
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What Our Members Are Saying about the Reliability And Durability of the Volvo S60
| Volvo S60 Reliability And Durability: Pros | ||
| Year | Body/Powertrain | Comment |
| 2008 | 4dr Sedan turbocharged 208hp 2.5L I5 5-speed shiftable automatic AWD |
reported to be superior, back with an excellent warranty full 2008 Volvo S60 review |
| 2007 | 4dr Sedan turbocharged 300hp 2.5L I5 6-speed shiftable automatic AWD |
still practical full 2007 Volvo S60 review |
| 2005 | 4dr Sedan turbocharged 208hp 2.5L I5 5-speed shiftable automatic AWD |
Have owned for 4.5 years. Wife and I purchased based on experiences of 2 family members who had good experiences. We have been stranded once (in driveway) due to faulty shift lock mechanism, otherwise have put 151,000 essentially pain-free KM on this. full 2005 Volvo S60 review |
| 2004 | 4dr Sedan turbocharged 247hp 2.3L I5 5-speed shiftable automatic FWD |
So far no unscheduled mantianance required. full 2004 Volvo S60 review |
| 2002 | 4dr Sedan 168-horsepower 2.4L I5 5-speed automatic FWD |
The non-turbocharged engine in this car will last forever, with the right maintenance and upkeep. The car only needs to see the dealership once every 7,500 miles, which is nice, and services are not overly expensive. full 2002 Volvo S60 review |
| Volvo S60 Reliability And Durability: Cons | ||
| Year | Body/Powertrain | Comment |
| 2004 | 4dr Sedan turbocharged 300hp 2.5L I5 5-speed shiftable automatic AWD |
RELIABILITY, car has intermittent electrical problem that cripples the vehicle with no notice. Dealer has had the car for a combined total of over 6 weeks and still has not fixed the problem. For this reason I will never buy a Volvo again. Google "Volvo electrical problems" and you will see it quite common full 2004 Volvo S60 review |
| 2004 | 4dr Sedan turbocharged 300hp 2.5L I5 6-speed manual AWD |
Volvo is not willing to take responsibility for the AWD system braking on the R. Many reported issues costing the customer over $2000 to repair. full 2004 Volvo S60 review |
| 2003 | 4dr Sedan turbocharged 197hp 2.4L I5 5-speed shiftable automatic FWD |
Lots of little problems such as the front tires rubbing the inner fender wall when having the steering wheel cranked all the way left or right. Also, began to hear a noticeable valve ticking at 60k miles. full 2003 Volvo S60 review |
| 2002 | 4dr Sedan 168-horsepower 2.4L I5 5-speed automatic FWD |
Reliablilty is probably on the lower end of mediocre. This can only be said of my car and I am the second owner. I think most of the components are dependable and well made with a few exceptions. one being the bosch coil packs, they die; a different brand is cheap on ebay to replace (12.00 usd new) and work awesome but about 60.00usd + for one bosch, which suck. period. instrument cluster is finicky in some of these, including mine: (made in phillipines??, not japan etc) I say this b/c most of the car was made in belgium, germany, france and on...Mechanically the car is quite good, I don't expect anything non electrical to go anytime soon. But again, expect some minor to moderate electrical issues, esspecially if like any car it has been in an accident. all the forum horror stories about ETM and limp home mode and all that have been completely a non-issue over a year later for my s60. Volvo followed the recall for my particular car and remedied it before, I assume, it ever became an issue back in 2002. full 2002 Volvo S60 review |
What Our Members Are Saying about the Reliability And Durability of the Volvo S60
| Volvo S60 Reliability And Durability: Pros | ||
| Year | Body/Powertrain | Comment |
| 2008 | 4dr Sedan turbocharged 208hp 2.5L I5 5-speed shiftable automatic AWD |
reported to be superior, back with an excellent warranty full 2008 Volvo S60 review |
| 2007 | 4dr Sedan turbocharged 300hp 2.5L I5 6-speed shiftable automatic AWD |
still practical full 2007 Volvo S60 review |
| 2005 | 4dr Sedan turbocharged 208hp 2.5L I5 5-speed shiftable automatic AWD |
Have owned for 4.5 years. Wife and I purchased based on experiences of 2 family members who had good experiences. We have been stranded once (in driveway) due to faulty shift lock mechanism, otherwise have put 151,000 essentially pain-free KM on this. full 2005 Volvo S60 review |
| 2004 | 4dr Sedan turbocharged 247hp 2.3L I5 5-speed shiftable automatic FWD |
So far no unscheduled mantianance required. full 2004 Volvo S60 review |
| 2002 | 4dr Sedan 168-horsepower 2.4L I5 5-speed automatic FWD |
The non-turbocharged engine in this car will last forever, with the right maintenance and upkeep. The car only needs to see the dealership once every 7,500 miles, which is nice, and services are not overly expensive. full 2002 Volvo S60 review |
| Volvo S60 Reliability And Durability: Cons | ||
| Year | Body/Powertrain | Comment |
| 2004 | 4dr Sedan turbocharged 300hp 2.5L I5 5-speed shiftable automatic AWD |
RELIABILITY, car has intermittent electrical problem that cripples the vehicle with no notice. Dealer has had the car for a combined total of over 6 weeks and still has not fixed the problem. For this reason I will never buy a Volvo again. Google "Volvo electrical problems" and you will see it quite common full 2004 Volvo S60 review |
| 2004 | 4dr Sedan turbocharged 300hp 2.5L I5 6-speed manual AWD |
Volvo is not willing to take responsibility for the AWD system braking on the R. Many reported issues costing the customer over $2000 to repair. full 2004 Volvo S60 review |
| 2003 | 4dr Sedan turbocharged 197hp 2.4L I5 5-speed shiftable automatic FWD |
Lots of little problems such as the front tires rubbing the inner fender wall when having the steering wheel cranked all the way left or right. Also, began to hear a noticeable valve ticking at 60k miles. full 2003 Volvo S60 review |
| 2002 | 4dr Sedan 168-horsepower 2.4L I5 5-speed automatic FWD |
Reliablilty is probably on the lower end of mediocre. This can only be said of my car and I am the second owner. I think most of the components are dependable and well made with a few exceptions. one being the bosch coil packs, they die; a different brand is cheap on ebay to replace (12.00 usd new) and work awesome but about 60.00usd + for one bosch, which suck. period. instrument cluster is finicky in some of these, including mine: (made in phillipines??, not japan etc) I say this b/c most of the car was made in belgium, germany, france and on...Mechanically the car is quite good, I don't expect anything non electrical to go anytime soon. But again, expect some minor to moderate electrical issues, esspecially if like any car it has been in an accident. all the forum horror stories about ETM and limp home mode and all that have been completely a non-issue over a year later for my s60. Volvo followed the recall for my particular car and remedied it before, I assume, it ever became an issue back in 2002. full 2002 Volvo S60 review |
