VOLVO XC60 · model year

2013 VOLVO XC60

79 NHTSA complaints, 1 crash report, and 3 active recalls for this specific cohort.

NHTSA overall rating

5 / 5 ★

New Car Assessment Program

The 2013VOLVOXC60 carries 79 consumer safety complaints in NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation database for this specific model-year cohort. Within that volume, owners reported 1 crash, 4 fires, 1 injury, and 0 fatalities. For crash performance, NHTSA's New Car Assessment Program gave this cohort an overall 5/5 rating, with 5/5 front crash, 5/5 side crash, and 4/5 rollover scores derived from standardized barrier and dynamic tests.

Component-level analysis is where model-year complaints become actionable: the top complaint category for the 2013 XC60 is visibility/wiper with 26 filings, followed by unknown or other (15) and electrical system (9). Concentration in one or two component groups is the classic signature of a systemic defect; a flat distribution usually reflects normal aging, warranty complaints, or isolated build-plant variability. This model year has 3 active recall campaigns, which means the manufacturer is obligated to remedy the covered defect at no charge for the life of the vehicle — the full NHTSA campaign numbers are listed below.

NHTSA currently has 28 investigation files overlapping the 2013 XC60. Owners comparing this cohort against neighboring years should pair the counters above with the complaint-by-year trend on the parent model page — a spike in a single year often tracks to a platform refresh, a new transmission supplier, or an updated ECU calibration. Use the related-complaint feed below to read raw owner narratives before deciding whether any pattern here affects your specific use case.

79
Complaints
1
Crashes
4
Fires
1
Injuries
0
Deaths
2013 VOLVO XC60 — NHTSA crash-test profile NHTSA NCAP crash-test star ratings for the 2013 VOLVO XC60. Overall composite: 5.0 of 5 stars across 3 safety dimensions. Front CrashSide CrashRollover 5.0 NHTSA NCAP of 5 stars
  • Front Crash 5.0 ★
  • Side Crash 5.0 ★
  • Rollover 4.0 ★
NHTSA overall 5.0/5 stars, with front-crash, side-crash and rollover ratings from standardized NCAP barrier and dynamic tests.

Total Complaints

79 filings

Crashes Reported

1 reports

Source

NHTSA ODI

Federal complaints database

Complaints vs. fleet median (215)

At or below the fleet median complaint volume.

NHTSA NCAP overall: 5/5 — Top NCAP rating · Front: 5/5 · Side: 5/5 · Rollover: 4/5

Complaints by Component

ComponentCount
VISIBILITY/WIPER26
UNKNOWN OR OTHER15
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM9
AIR BAGS7
STRUCTURE:BODY5
ENGINE3
STEERING2
SERVICE BRAKES2
FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE: AUTOMATIC EMERGENCY BRAKING2
EQUIPMENT ADAPTIVE/MOBILITY1
EXTERIOR LIGHTING1
ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL (ESC)1
POWER TRAIN1
SEATS1
FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM1

Recalls (3)

20V37800030/06/2020

SEAT BELTS:FRONT

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

12V43900010/09/2012

AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:SENSOR/CONTROL MODULE-INACTIVE

Volvo is recalling certain model year 2013 S60 and XC60 vehicles. A manufacturing defect within the Supplemental Restraint System (SRS) control unit may lead to an inadvertent deployment of the seat belt pretensioner and/or inflatable curtain.

13V08400005/03/2013

EQUIPMENT:OTHER:LABELS

Volvo is recalling certain model year 2013 S60 and XC60 vehicles, manufactured on January 7, 2013. The product identification labels were printed with the incorrect manufacture year. Thus, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of 49 CFR Part 567, "Certification Regulation."

Recent Complaints

20251130FireELECTRICAL SYSTEM

The accelerator got stuck and and the engine went full power. It would not shut off and the overheated.

20251130FireVEHICLE SPEED CONTROL

The accelerator got stuck and and the engine went full power. It would not shut off and the overheated.

20250617STRUCTURE:BODY

Factory installed windshield is leaking profusely due to faulty adhesive/primer. This is a well known issue that causes havoc on vital electronic systems and should be a national recall. The loose windshield bond can cause the windshield to detach during a crash. The failed windshield bond compromises the structural integrity of the roof.

20250506CrashAIR BAGS

"During airbag deployment, the driver’s hand was burned with blistering. I believe hot gas or chemicals vented abnormally. This caused a painful injury requiring treatment."

20241214VISIBILITY/WIPER

Faulty seal in OEM windshield sealant/silicone causing water to leak on the inside of car, headliner, and inner windshield. Can cause visibility issues and mildew.

20241128VISIBILITY/WIPER

The windshield has come loose at the top allowing water to get into the vehicle when it rains. Water pools on the floor of driver’s side, the headliner gets wet, and the interior smells moldy.

20240808ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

The component or system that failed is the driver side door controls for all four windows and both side mirrors. My safety is at risk as I am unable to adjust my mirrors manually or electronically in order to see. I am also unable to roll down any of the windows in the vehicle from the driver door in the event of an emergency. Yes, the problem has been confirmed by the Volvo service center. According to my local Volvo service center, this is a common problem in Volvos and they are very familiar with the repair needed to correct. The problem is that the driver door wiring is zip-tied together and over time, as the driver door opens and closes, the zip tie chafes the insulation off of the wiring causing the copper part of the wires to be exposed and twisted together. There are no warning lights reporting this issue, only that the window and mirror controls stop working. The following video link between 9:38-12:16 explains this issue in Volvos. I am writing to advocate for a vehicle r

20240621FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE: AUTOMATIC EMERGENCY BRAKING

The vehicle came to a stop in two different occasions (6 months apart) without a reason. The first occasion was while exiting the freeway, there was no car or object in front of me. The second time I had gone over a manhole and the car screeched to a halt on a city street. I was very fortunate that in both occasions I did not have a car behind me or this malfunction would have caused a collision. After the car stopped I was able to continue driving. After the car stopped the message "Auto braking by City Safety" appeared on the dashboard.

20240621FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE: AUTOMATIC EMERGENCY BRAKING

The car came to a complete stop without a reason. This happened while exiting the freeway and no cars or objects were in front of me. I was very lucky that I did not have a car behind me or this would have caused a collision. After the car stopped the message "auto braking by City Safety" appeared on my dashboard

20240123UNKNOWN OR OTHER

The windshield leaks. The seal is no good. I get wet every time it rains. No repair messages or warning lights were issued by the car. The repair service inspected the car, and they stated the factory glue was non-existent on the seal. Very poor.

20231201VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD

The windshield leaks when I am driving from the passenger side and the driver side. Last rain a lot of water got into the car which makes it very dangerous to drive and obviously to break since it gets slippery. I live in the mountains, and we get a lot of rain and now I have to pay out of pocket to get it diagnosed when even the service advisor said that that particular year and models leaks a lot.

20231130VISIBILITY/WIPER

Water enters from the front of the windshield while driving.

20230830ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

I recently was forced to use the pry-off cap and manual key entry to get into my 2013 Volvo XC60. This was due to the vehicle’s lack of response to the fob, there was no communication between the fob and the electrical system. Once inside, inserting the fob, the engine started but the entire instrument cluster was flashing intermittently the various warning lights, and the windows could not be lowered. The cluster showed failure of speedometer, tachometer, brake system, seat belts and all other gauges on the cluster. Not knowing whether it was safe to drive, I turned it off. I returned later and turned it on, same problem. I went around the block, contacted the Volvo dealer for consultation, and secured an emergency appointment to bring it in. On the next day/the appointment, I drove the car in, during which the systems seemed to have reset themselves, but halfway there the problem started again. At this point the vehicle has been there (Howard Orloff Volvo, 1924 N. Paulina St, C

20230830UNKNOWN OR OTHER

I recently was forced to use the pry-off cap and manual key entry to get into my 2013 Volvo XC60. This was due to the vehicle’s lack of response to the fob, there was no communication between the fob and the electrical system. Once inside, inserting the fob, the engine started but the entire instrument cluster was flashing intermittently the various warning lights, and the windows could not be lowered. The cluster showed failure of speedometer, tachometer, brake system, seat belts and all other gauges on the cluster. Not knowing whether it was safe to drive, I turned it off. I returned later and turned it on, same problem. I went around the block, contacted the Volvo dealer for consultation, and secured an emergency appointment to bring it in. On the next day/the appointment, I drove the car in, during which the systems seemed to have reset themselves, but halfway there the problem started again. At this point the vehicle has been there (Howard Orloff Volvo, 1924 N. Paulina St, C

20230611AIR BAGS

Water leakage from top of windsheild due to common failure of sealant (known to Volvo) falls directly into steering wheel airbag and, from there, flows into the seam between airbag module and the steering wheel and collecting behind the airbag subjecting the electrical connections of the airbag to moisture trapped behind the airbag. See photos. No warning lights yet. Vehicle is available for inspection by nhtsa.

20230607VISIBILITY/WIPER

Several ounces of water leaking onto drivers hands on steering wheel from top of windshield when braking in adverse weather conditions is a severe and dangerous distraction to driving and braking. Condition first noticed in first heavy rain storm soon after using drive-through car wash, and persisted and worsened steadily thereafter. This condition is particularly dangerous as it occurs only when driver attempts to slow the vehicle at an intersection, and water in the roof flows forward into, and fills, the cavity that contains the top edge of the windshield with a large quantity of water which then flows onto the driver's hands and lap with no warning. Dealer is aware of defective windshield seals common to this year and model but will not assume repair beyond warranty period.

20230409VISIBILITY/WIPER

Water leaking every time it rains. Running down the windshield on the inside and making it difficult to see and dangerous as I’m having to wipe while I’m driving.

20220518VISIBILITY/WIPER

While driving in the rain, water leaked in the through the top of the windshield, dripping on me and running down the inside of the windshield. This is a distraction for the driver to deal with the shock of getting wet while driving, as well as, and most importantly, a major visibility issue to have to deal with water on the inside of the windshield that impacts the driver's line of sight. I have read online that this model vehicle (and similar) has a known issue with the adhesive securing the windshield in place breaking down over time. If this is not corrected on my vehicle, the windshield could come loose and detach from the vehicle. It is *shocking* that there is not a recall in place for this model and similar vehicles impacted.

20220325ENGINE

The contact owns a 2013 Volvo XC60. The contact stated while driving approximately 35 MPH, the vehicle lost motive power and stalled in the middle of the road. The contact stated no warning light was illuminated. The contact was able to restart the vehicle and proceeded to his destination. The failure recurred several times. The contact had not taken the vehicle to a local dealer. The vehicle had not been diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer had not been informed of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 100,574.

Mileage: 100,574

20220312UNKNOWN OR OTHER

The issue is with the windshields separating from the bonding agent ( not sealing ) it is cause for a safety issue not only because it is loose and can move when pushed up , but water is entering the vehicle through the top part of the windshield and entering the electrical controls for the lights and sun roof causing a potential short or shock hazard, not to mention ruining the interior of the vehicle ,( headliner, mold..etc..). I and many other's ( see link below) feel it is necessary to have Volvo make the replacement of windshields in their vehicles . https://beranek.agrrmag.com/2015/04/volvo-glass-bonding-issue/

Compare 2013VOLVOXC60 to Similar Vehicles

NHTSA Investigations

View all investigations

Frequently Asked Questions

How many complaints does the 2013 VOLVO XC60 have?
The 2013 VOLVO XC60 has 79 NHTSA complaints, 1 crashes, 4 fires, 1 injuries, and 0 deaths reported.
What is the safety rating for the 2013 VOLVO XC60?
The 2013 VOLVO XC60 received an overall NHTSA safety rating of 5/5, front crash rating of 5/5, side crash rating of 5/5, and rollover rating of 4/5.
Are there any recalls for the 2013 VOLVO XC60?
Yes, the 2013 VOLVO XC60 has 3 recall(s). The most common affected component is SEAT BELTS:FRONT. Recalls are issued by NHTSA and manufacturers must provide a free remedy.
What are the most common problems with the 2013 VOLVO XC60?
The most-complained component for the 2013 VOLVO XC60 is VISIBILITY/WIPER with 26 complaints. Other frequently reported areas include UNKNOWN OR OTHER and ELECTRICAL SYSTEM.
Is the 2013 VOLVO XC60 safe to buy?
Review the complaint history, crash and fire reports, safety ratings, and recall status on this page to make an informed decision. The 2013 VOLVO XC60 has an NHTSA safety rating of 5/5. Compare with other model years using the links above.
Where does this data come from?
All complaint, recall, and safety rating data is sourced from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). Complaints are filed by vehicle owners through NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation.

Vehicle Safety Guides

Data as of 2025. Sources: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) complaints database, NHTSA recall campaign API, NHTSA NCAP crash-test ratings, and NHTSA FARS for fatality cross-reference.