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2015 Volvo XC60 problems: engine and transmission complaints and recalls

ELEVATED COMPLAINT SIGNAL
33%
14 of 42 relevant owner complaints are about the engine, transmission or fuel system

33% of relevant owner complaints on the 2015 Volvo XC60 are about the engine, transmission or fuel system. That is elevated. Worth an independent inspection before you commit to one.

Better than 65% of the 1,790 model years we track (2010–2023).

Excludes 5 airbag, lighting and seat-belt recall complaints that would otherwise mask the signal (unadjusted: 30%).

NHTSA data checked October 3, 2026

The VIN is on the listing, the driver’s door jamb, and the bottom of the windshield on the driver’s side.

Does the 2015 Volvo XC60 have engine problems?

More than most. The pattern is elevated rather than severe. 14 of 42 relevant complaints filed with NHTSA about the 2015 Volvo XC60 concern the engine, transmission or fuel system (33%), and the largest group is filed under engine (12). For comparison, the 2016 scores 64%. On a test drive, check for stalling, loss of power, rough idle, oil consumption or a check-engine light. This describes the model year, not any one car: a well-maintained or already-repaired example can be fine, and a clean model year can still have a bad car in it.

Drivetrain complaints
14
engine, transmission, fuel
Total complaints
47
this model year
Fires reported
2
owner-reported
Recall campaigns
1
3 crashes · 4 injuries

Complaints by component

ENGINE12 · 26%
UNKNOWN OR OTHER12 · 26%
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM11 · 23%
FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM4 · 9%
AIR BAGS3 · 6%
ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL (ESC)3 · 6%

The years either side

Manufacturers fix things mid-generation. A bad year next to a clean one is common; the fix usually arrived in between.

How the 2015 compares with other Volvo XC60 years

Of the 11 Volvo XC60 years with enough complaints to score, the 2015 is the 2nd-worst on engine and transmission share (33%). The worst is the 2016 (64%), the best the 2013 (9%). By volume, the 2015 drew 47 complaints (14 drivetrain), against 16 for the 2014 and 38 for the 2016.

Volvo XC60 years to avoid and best years →

In the full report

The rest of the picture on the 2015 Volvo XC60

  • What the repair costs. Typical engine repair ranges, to price into your offer.
  • Cleaner alternatives. Similar cars and nearby years with a better record.
  • Up to 15 owner reports, with the ones about your car's own engine first.
  • What to ask the seller and what to check on the test drive, for this car.
  • Two cars side by side, if you are deciding between them.

What one owner reported

ENGINE07/17/2026
Engine blew up while my daughter was driving due to excessive oil consumption. Issue known by Volvo but we bought the car in 2023 and the 8year warranty recall was just about to expire and we knew nothing about it. Very dangerous

One of 14 drivetrain complaints. The full report shows up to 15, with quotes about the engine in the car you are looking at first.

2015 Volvo XC60 engine and transmission recalls

No engine or transmission recalls. NHTSA lists 1 recall campaign on the 2015 Volvo XC60, none of them for the engine, transmission or fuel system. A recall is the manufacturer admitting a defect and paying to fix it; whether a specific car still has one open depends on its VIN, which the full report checks. The owner complaints above are a separate record and often point at problems that never became a recall.

1 other recall on this model year (airbags, lighting, brakes and the rest)
seat belts: front20V378000 · Jun 2020
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…

Source: NHTSA recall campaigns filed against this year, make and model. Checked October 3, 2026.

Checking one particular 2015 Volvo XC60? This page is about the model year. Accidents, title brands and odometer records belong to the individual car, and that is what a vehicle history report covers.

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Questions people ask about the 2015 Volvo XC60

Does the 2015 Volvo XC60 have engine problems?

More than most; the pattern is elevated rather than severe. 14 of 42 relevant complaints filed with NHTSA about the 2015 Volvo XC60 concern the engine, transmission or fuel system (33%). Before buying one, have an independent mechanic check the engine and ask the seller whether it has been repaired or replaced.

What is the most common problem with the 2015 Volvo XC60?

Going by NHTSA owner complaints, the most common problem filed against the 2015 Volvo XC60 is engine: 12 of 47 complaints (26%) name it, followed by electrical system (11) and fuel/propulsion system (4). A complaint can name more than one component, so these overlap.

Is the 2015 Volvo XC60 reliable?

On the engine and transmission, owner complaints point to a weak spot: 33% of relevant complaints filed with NHTSA concern the drivetrain (elevated signal). That is better than 65% of the 1,790 model years we track. Among the 11 Volvo XC60 years we score, it ranks 2nd-worst. Complaint data describes the model year, not one car, and it says nothing about trim, paint or electronics outside the drivetrain; an independent inspection still decides it.

Are there engine or transmission recalls on the 2015 Volvo XC60?

No. NHTSA lists 1 recall campaign on the 2015 Volvo XC60, none of them for the engine, transmission or fuel system.

Which Volvo XC60 years are better?

Among the Volvo XC60 years we track, the 2012 (9%), the 2013 (9%) and the 2018 (13%) have a lower engine and transmission complaint share than the 2015 (33%). Manufacturers fix things mid-generation, so the year before or after can be a different car. Every year side by side: https://thelanecheck.com/cars/volvo-xc60

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Experimental model-level information. This is not a vehicle inspection, vehicle-history report, financial advice or purchase recommendation. It describes patterns across a model year, not the condition of any individual vehicle.