DecodedCars2008 Volvo S60
Trims, performance, features, fuel economy, safety and known problems — with the pros and cons against similar 2008 models.
- Class
- Compact Cars
- Body styles
- 4dr Sedan FWD 2.5t/T5
- Engines
- 2.5L 5-cyl turbo, 2.4L 5-cyl turbo
- Drivetrain
- Front-Wheel Drive, 4-Wheel or All-Wheel Drive
- Fuel
- Premium Gasoline
- MPG (best)
- 22 combined · 19 city / 27 hwy
- Length
- 181.1 in
- Curb weight
- 3,208 lb
- NHTSA rating
- Not rated
- Recalls
- 2 campaigns
Pros & cons
What's good
- AWD / 4WD available
Watch out for
- Premium fuel requiredEvery gasoline version is rated for premium, which raises running costs.
Calculated from EPA, NHTSA and vPIC data against 20 similar 2008 models — not a review. How we calculate this →
Overview
The 2008 Volvo S60 is a compact car offered with 2 engines (2.5L 5-cyl turbo and 2.4L 5-cyl turbo) and front-wheel drive and 4-wheel or all-wheel drive.
It measures about 181 inches long and 71 inches wide on a 107-inch wheelbase, with a curb weight of roughly 3,208 lb.
EPA rates its most efficient version at 22 MPG combined (19 city / 27 highway), 0% better than the 2008 compact car average of 21.9 MPG, for an estimated $3,750 a year in fuel.
It has 2 recall campaigns on file and owners have filed 5 complaints with NHTSA since 2015, most often about the air bags.
What changed for 2008
No changes to engines, powertrains, drivetrains, size, EPA ratings or NHTSA crash rating compared with the 2007 S60 — a carry-over year in the data.
Compared with 2007; trim, feature and price changes aren't covered. See the 2007 S60 →
Dimensions & weight
| Body | Length | Width | Height | Wheelbase | Track F / R | Curb weight | Weight F/R |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4dr Sedan FWD 2.5t/T5 | 181.1 in | 70.9 in | 56.3 in | 107.1 in | 61 / 61 in | 3,208 lb | 59/41 |
Transport Canada CVS (Open Government Licence – Canada), Canadian-market figures.
Will it fit your garage? Check with your measurements →Engines, MPG & running costs
| Version | Engine | Transmission | Drive | City / Hwy / Comb | vs. class | Fuel / yr | CO₂ g/mi |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| S60 FWD | 2.5L 5-cyl turbo | Automatic 5-spd | Front-Wheel Drive | 19 / 27 / 22 | 0% | $3,750 | 404 |
| S60 FWD | 2.5L 5-cyl turbo | Automatic (S5) | Front-Wheel Drive | 19 / 27 / 22 | 0% | $3,750 | 404 |
| S60 AWD | 2.5L 5-cyl turbo | Automatic 5-spd | 4-Wheel or All-Wheel Drive | 17 / 26 / 21 | -4% | $3,900 | 423 |
| S60 AWD | 2.5L 5-cyl turbo | Automatic (S5) | 4-Wheel or All-Wheel Drive | 18 / 26 / 21 | -4% | $3,900 | 423 |
| S60 FWD | 2.4L 5-cyl turbo | Manual 6-spd | Front-Wheel Drive | 18 / 26 / 21 | -4% | $3,900 | 423 |
| S60 FWD | 2.4L 5-cyl turbo | Automatic (S5) | Front-Wheel Drive | 18 / 26 / 21 | -4% | $3,900 | 423 |
EPA estimates; "vs. class" is combined MPG against the 2008 EPA class average. How we calculate this →
Safety ratings & technology
NHTSA has not published 5-Star ratings for the 2008 Volvo S60 under the current (2011+) test program.
Similar 2008 compact cars
| Model | Best MPG / range | NHTSA overall | Recalls |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2008 Volvo S60 (this car) | 22 MPG | Not rated | 2 |
| 2008 BMW 3 Series | 22 MPG | Not rated | 1 |
| 2008 BMW 5 Series | 21 MPG | Not rated | 3 |
| 2008 Lexus IS | 24 MPG | Not rated | 9 |
| 2008 Audi A4 | 24 MPG | Not rated | 6 |
| 2008 Mercedes-Benz C-Class | 21 MPG | Not rated | 0 |
| 2008 Lexus GS | 23 MPG | Not rated | 4 |
Recalls (2)
Air Bags › Frontal › Driver Side › Inflator Module · Sep 30, 2021
NHTSA campaign 21V766000 · 259,383 vehicles
- Problem
- 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.
- Risk
- An inflator explosion may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants, resulting in serious injury or death.
- Fix
- 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.
Equipment › Electrical › Navigational System(Global Positioning System) · Nov 8, 2010
NHTSA campaign 10V566000 · 416 vehicles
- Problem
- VOLVO IS RECALLING CERTAIN VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH GARMIN 760 PORTABLE GLOBAL POSITIONING SYSTEM (GPS) UNITS BECAUSE THE BATTERIES ON THOSE UNITS MAY OVERHEAT.
- Risk
- AN OVERHEATED BATTERY COULD LEAD TO A FIRE.
- Fix
- 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.
Not every 2008 Volvo S60 is affected — only a VIN check confirms your car.
Owner-reported problems
Unverified owner reports; best-sellers collect more.
Used 2008 Volvo S60 buyer's checklist
- Run the VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls. 2 recalls this year — ask for proof of repairs.
- Air Bags — 2 owner reports. Confirm the airbag warning light turns off after start-up and any airbag recall was completed.
- Fuel/Propulsion System — 1 owner reports. Smell for fuel around the car and in the cabin, check that it starts easily when warm, and look at the oil dipstick for a fuel smell or rising level.
- Engine — 1 owner reports. Cold-start the engine, listen for knocking, and watch for warning lights or hesitation on acceleration.
- Mileage to watch. Owners typically reported problems around 60,100 miles; ask what was repaired near that point.
- Before you pay: service records, a history report and an independent inspection.
Generated by DecodedCars from NHTSA recalls and owner complaints for the 2008 Volvo S60. Not a substitute for a professional inspection.
Other S60 years
Compare all years →| Year | MPG (best) | Length | Overall | Recalls | Complaints |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 S60 | 31 | 188.2 in | Not rated | 3 | 0 |
| 2024 S60 | 31 | 188.2 in | Not rated | 4 | 22 |
| 2023 S60 | 31 | 188.2 in | Not rated | 7 | 3 |
| 2022 S60 | 31 | 187.4 in | Not rated | 4 | 15 |
| 2021 S60 | 30 | 187.4 in | Not rated | 3 | 8 |
| 2020 S60 | 30 | 187.4 in | Not rated | 6 | 12 |
| 2019 S60 | 31 | 187.4 in | Not rated | 5 | 25 |
| 2018 S60 | 29 | 182.7 in | ★★★★★ | 1 | 4 |
| 2017 S60 | 29 | 182.7 in | ★★★★★ | 6 | 18 |
| 2016 S60 | 30 | 182.7 in | Not rated | 4 | 29 |
| 2015 S60 | 29 | 182.3 in | Not rated | 2 | 60 |
| 2014 S60 | 24 | 182.3 in | Not rated | 3 | 21 |
Sources: EPA, NHTSA, Transport Canada, Wikimedia Commons. Not affiliated with NHTSA, the EPA or Volvo. How we calculate this →