Independent · Not affiliated with NHTSA or any automaker MethodologyData sourcesData refreshed Oct 6, 2026

2008 Volvo S60: Problems, Recalls and MPG

What this means

NHTSA lists 2 recall campaigns for the 2008 Volvo S60, most recently filed September 2021. Owners have filed 10 complaints with NHTSA, most often about the vehicle speed control.

Data summary generated from official records. Methodology Data: NHTSA, DOT, EPA · Refreshed Oct 6, 2026
Caution Fewer than 50 complaints filed. With this few reports, patterns may not be meaningful.
Compare

Recalls (2)

NHTSA lists 2 recall campaigns for the 2008 Volvo S60. Check whether yours was repaired with NHTSA's free VIN lookup ↗

Only NHTSA and your automaker know whether your specific car was repaired. PlainVIN shows every recall campaign listed for a model year, with the official text and how many cars have been fixed so far.

Check on NHTSA ↗
Listed for 2008 Volvo S60. Not checked against your VIN.
Recall 21V766000 Filed Sep 30, 2021

Driver's Air Bag Inflator May Explode

Air bags · frontal · driver side · inflator module
Official NHTSA text
Summary
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.
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.
21.6% repairedof 259,383 vehicles
Manufacturer report to NHTSA · Source: US DOT recall completion data, retrieved Oct 6, 2026
Check your VIN on NHTSA or ask a dealer to check campaign 21V766000
Listed for 2008 Volvo S60. Not checked against your VIN.
Recall 10V566000 Filed Nov 8, 2010

760 PORTABLE AUTOMOTIVE GPS UNITS/GARMIN

Equipment · electrical · navigational system(global positioning system)
Official NHTSA text
Summary
VOLVO IS RECALLING CERTAIN VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH GARMIN 760 PORTABLE GLOBAL POSITIONING SYSTEM (GPS) UNITS BECAUSE THE BATTERIES ON THOSE UNITS MAY OVERHEAT.
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.
Repair progress not yet reported416 vehicles potentially affected
Manufacturer report to NHTSA · Source: US DOT recall completion data, retrieved Oct 6, 2026
Check your VIN on NHTSA or ask a dealer to check campaign 10V566000

PlainVIN shows public government records for education. It isn't a vehicle inspection or legal advice. Check your own VIN with NHTSA or your dealer.

Owner complaints (10)

10 complaints filed with NHTSA (owner reports, not verified findings). The vehicle speed control is mentioned most often.

4involved a crash
0involved a fire
2injuries reported
0deaths reported

As reported by owners in their complaints. These are reports, not NHTSA findings.

Most-reported components

Complaints filed with NHTSA for the 2008 Volvo S60, by component (top 8). One complaint can list several components, so these add up to more than 10.Source: NHTSA ODI owner complaints · Retrieved Oct 6, 2026 · Report a data error

How 2008 compares with other S60 years

Best and worst S60 years →
2004200520062007200820092011201220132014
This year (2008)Other yearsStill collecting reports

Counts are owner reports, not failure rates. Higher sales years tend to draw more reports. Owners are still filing reports for recent model years, so these counts will grow. Source: NHTSA ODI, retrieved Oct 6, 2026.

Fuel economy: up to 22 mpg combined

22
mpg combined
19
city
27
highway
EPA annual fuel cost
$3,750
CO₂ tailpipe
404 g/mi
EPA class
Compact Cars

What it costs you to run

$2,969per year
$247per month
682gallons a year

Miles ÷ 22 mpg × $4.354 (EIA US average regular, week of Oct 5, 2026, all taxes included). Source: EPA · EIA.

EPA label estimates from lab tests; your mileage will vary.

Specs by configuration

2008 Volvo S60 configurations with EPA data
Engine · transmissionDriveCity / Hwy / CombEPA $/yrCO₂ g/mi
2.5 L 5-cyl · 5-speed automaticFront-Wheel Drive19 / 27 / 22$3,750404
2.5 L 5-cyl · 5-speed automaticFront-Wheel Drive19 / 27 / 22$3,750404
2.5 L 5-cyl · 5-speed automatic4-Wheel or All-Wheel Drive17 / 26 / 21$3,900423
2.5 L 5-cyl · 5-speed automatic4-Wheel or All-Wheel Drive18 / 26 / 21$3,900423
2.4 L 5-cyl · 6-speed manualFront-Wheel Drive18 / 26 / 21$3,900423
2.4 L 5-cyl · 5-speed automaticFront-Wheel Drive18 / 26 / 21$3,900423

Source: EPA fuel economy data, retrieved Oct 6, 2026. Configurations are listed when EPA and NHTSA records match.

Used blue SUV on a sunny dealer lot with its hood open and a clipboard on the fender

Looking at a 2008 S60 for sale?

Print a one-page buyer's checklist: each recall campaign with a box to tick when the seller shows proof of repair, the top complaint areas to inspect, crash stars, MPG, and a link back to this page.

All S60 years

Where to next

2008 Volvo S60 FAQ

How many recalls does the 2008 Volvo S60 have?

NHTSA lists 2 recall campaigns: 21V766000 (air bag), 10V566000 (electrical). Use NHTSA's VIN lookup to see whether a specific car was repaired.

What are the most common 2008 Volvo S60 problems?

Owners filed 10 complaints with NHTSA. Vehicle speed control (4), Air bags (2), Engine (2) are mentioned most. These are owner reports, not verified findings.

What mpg does the 2008 Volvo S60 get?

EPA rates the 2.5 L 5-cyl · 5-speed automatic version at 19 city, 27 highway and 22 combined mpg. Other configurations are listed in the fuel economy section.

How does the 2008 S60 compare with other years?

Among the 2004–2014 Volvo S60 model years at least five years old, the 2011 drew the fewest complaints (5) and the 2004 the most (198). The 2008 drew 10. Counts are owner reports, not failure rates.

How this page was madeSources, processing, limits, review and changes

Processing

  • Complaints are counted per component. One complaint can list several, so component totals add up to more than the total.
  • Fuel cost = miles per year ÷ EPA combined mpg × EIA weekly price for your region.

Limitations

  • Complaint counts are owner reports, not verified findings or failure rates. There is no sales denominator.
  • Recall campaigns are listed for the model year. Only NHTSA and the automaker know whether a specific car was repaired.
  • Recent model years are still collecting reports.

Review

Data compiled automatically from the official files listed here.

Changelog

  • 2026-10-06 Data refreshed from the official files.
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