Table 1 shows one common electrical system related problems of the 2020 Volvo S60.
| Problem Category | Number of Problems |
|---|---|
| Electrical System problems |
On two separate occasions in the past two months June 6 and Aug. 15, this vehicle experienced a severe unintended engine surge / unintended acceleration event while at a complete stop with my foot firmly on the brake. On both occasions, the engine rpms spiked above 1,000 rpm, forcing the vehicle to pull heavily against the brakes as if trying to race forward into the intersection. On the most recent event (Aug. 15) when stopping at a red light it appeared that the supercharger kicked in, pulling against the brakes. Six or eight pedestrians were crossing directly in front of the vehicle. If I had taken my foot of the brake I would have hit them. 1. June 12, 2026 service visit (ro #192480, attached): following the June 6 incident, the vehicle was brought to beyer Volvo cars falls church, va. The repair order explicitly notes:"tech found the front sunroof drains to have clogged with dirt/debris and the floorboard to be full of water. ""interior was removed to dry out carpets and the sunroof drains were cleared. " clogged sunroof drains cause water ingress down the a pillar. 2. Diagnostic code & part replacement: during this visit, fault code 161615 was retrieved. The technician noted "unable to duplicate the problem at this time" regarding the engine flare, and no physical inspection or remediation of the flooded wiring harnesses or module connectors beneath the carpet was performed. This same a6 electrical code 161615 was noted on a previous service on 25 Sep. 2025, (ro#184284, attached). There is clear precedent with NHTSA recall 22v-288 (of a different Volvo model, the xc40), where water intrusion into Volvo wiring harnesses caused corrosion and unintended acceleration. Given that my passenger footwell flooded prior to the engine surge, the can bus harness and floor connectors beneath that carpet must undergo a full electrical continuity and corrosion inspection, not just a surface drying. I am requesting further service by the dealer.
I turned the car on and got an error message that said the turn indicator system failed. After trying to clear the message from the dash using the button on the steering wheel, I discovered that nothing on the steering wheel was working, including the windshield wipers or any buttons on the steering wheel. I called the manufacturer and they told me not to drive it and they towed it to the dealer. The dealer said they had see this before as either a software issue or electrical issue and would need to replace the stalks and buttons.
My 2020 S60 t5 r-design had 3 broken sensors, a safety recall, malfunctioning brakes which caused the car to veer, and most recently a leaking a/c hose. All problems from the factory (out of thin air) within the first 12 months of my lease. After numerous complaints to Volvo car USA, I was offered a generic and dismissive answer that Volvo �is not in the position� to offer a trade assist or any help. No explanation to a loyal Volvo customer. They're simply �sorry� that I had to take off work to service their car and was told to uber home (no courtesy loaner). After the most recent service visit, I demanded Volvo either replace the car or terminate the lease, but the agent thought servicing the vehicle 5 times (because parts were breaking) was absolutely normal. She was stunned I do not have a positive attitude now that my car was fixed. I demanded contact to the regional manager, but my agent (who turned out to be supervisor) refused to forward any information. My car would go through a review process with �special parameters�, but the supervisor of the headquarters of Volvo cars USA was incapable of answering what the parameters were, when this review would take place, or who is reviewing my case� nothing was transparent, and for all I know, this review could have been arbitrary. As expected, �Volvo is not in the position�� Volvo sent an automated customer satisfaction survey, to which I provided feedback of my awful experience. Sadly, the same agent handling my case responded �thank you� and that was it. I guess my feedback and problems caused by Volvo do not really interest Volvo? so by Volvo �parameters,� a car breaking 5 times is normal, there is no quality control of their cars, and customer service is inexistent (3 or 4 �professionals� in headquarters serving north America is inexistent).