Used Volvo XC60 (Mk1, 2008-2017) - What should you look out for?

The Volvo XC60 Mk1 has had a respectable reliability record, with the car performing decently in the Driver Power customer satisfaction survey, although there are some issues listed below that you should keep on your radar. The first-gen XC60 has also had a number of recalls over the years, so it’s definitely worth checking to see if the car you’re looking at has had all the necessary repair work done before committing to a purchase.

Common used Volvo XC60 Mk1 problems

Gearbox

While there’s nothing ostensibly wrong with the Volvo XC60’s Geartronic automatic gearbox, it’s worth bearing in mind automatic models are less fuel efficient and emit more CO2 than their manual counterparts. Do also note the front-wheel-drive facelifted Volvo XC60s came with an eight-speed automatic gearbox, which changes gears more smoothly than the six-speed gearbox fitted to all the other automatic versions.

Brakes

The electronic parking brake may not release, due to a sensor that mistakenly detects one of the doors to be open.

Tyres

Having all of the car’s tyres rebalanced, even if only one wheel is replace, can help put an end to hard-to-pin-down vibrations.

Door locks

Early Volvo XC60 Mk1 models can suffer from locking and latching problems if the temperature falls below zero degrees Celsius.

Recalls

The Volvo XC60 has been recalled no less than 33 times – sometimes for defects affecting specific versions, and others across a broader spread of spec and trim levels. Covered issues range from minor problems like faulty fuel gauges, to fixes for more serious issues such as fuel leaks, gearboxes jamming and airbags not deploying.