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Are Volvo car engines reliable?

Author

Daniel Moore

Published Jan 20, 2026

How Reliable Are Volvo Engines? RepairPal gives Volvo a respectable reliability rating of three out of five stars. Rating with a 5 and an above average rating of 5. In comparison with the cost for all Volvo models, you can expect to pay around $769 annually for repair and maintenance.

How reliable is a Volvo engine?

The answer is that, when it comes to reliability, Volvo is average. In its 2019 study, ReliabilityIndex gave Volvo a score of 127, which placed the manufacturer in 23rd place on a list of 40 brands.

Which Volvo engine is the most reliable?

"The S60's T6 engine is simply the best engine Volvo's ever produced," noted Doug Speck, President and CEO, Volvo Cars of North America, LLC. "It's powerful, smooth, and gets great fuel economy. We're honored that Ward's is recognizing the T6 engine as one of its 10 Best for 2011."

How long do Volvo engines last?

Volvo engines should last about 200,000 miles or more with responsible maintenance. That means if you drive the usual 15,000 miles a year, your engine can last you 13 years or longer!

Why are Volvos so unreliable?

The 2021 Volvo XC90 ranked as the least reliable model

According to Consumer Reports, the most troubled spots are the drive system, suspension, brakes, body integrity, and power equipment. The result is that XC90 problems have been reported across a variety of crucial components.

27 related questions found

Do Volvos break down a lot?

Volvo Reliability Rating Breakdown. The Volvo Reliability Rating is 3.5 out of 5.0, which ranks it 17th out of 32 for all car brands. This rating is based on an average across 345 unique models. The average annual repair cost for a Volvo is $769, which means it has above average ownership costs.

What are common problems with Volvos?

The worst problems are excessive oil consumption, sudden engine failure, and transmission failure. These each occur with 74,000 to 93,000 on the odometer. The worst issues for the Volvo S60 sedan cost between 4,000 and 7,000.

Should I buy a Volvo with 100000 miles?

Experts used to tell drivers that one should never buy a used vehicle with more than 100,000 miles on the odometer. However, if the vehicle has been properly maintained, the cutoff point for good mileage on a used car may actually be much higher!

Are Volvo expensive to fix?

While the Volvo brand is listed higher in cost on a list created by Your Mechanic Inc., Volvos are more affordable to maintain than other luxury brands. Over a ten-year period of ownership, Volvo models cost an average of $100 more to maintain than Audi models.

Are Volvos good high mileage cars?

Volvo cars have long had the reputation of being able to endure high mileage with little difficulty, and with great reliability. The cars remain looking great despite their epic mileages.

Who makes the engines for Volvo?

Volvo makes their own Volvo engines.

The engines will be built at Volvo's Skovde engine plant, which has a capacity of 2,000 units per week.

Are Volvos reliable used cars?

Volvos might not be the most reliable cars in the market, but they are not the least reliable either. Overall, Volvos score average in terms of reliability when they are 3-8 years old. However, newer Volvos (0-3 years) score very well in customer surveys.

Are Volvo 5 cylinder engines reliable?

It has been almost two decades since I became familiar with the Volvo five cylinder engine. Five-cyl engines have pretty much indestructible qualities once they are properly cared for (Timing Belt,WP at the proper intervals). It is said that some members in this forum have driven over 300K miles.

Do Volvos hold their value?

Volvo – 47.2 Percent Retained Value (after five years)

There's a stark difference in retained values between Volvo cars and SUVs. No 2021 Volvo sedan or wagon is projected to hold onto more than 42.5 percent of its original value after five years, and most are under 40 percent.

Are old Volvos reliable?

Volvo models are generally a good choice if you're after a solidly built and dependable secondhand car. The V40 (2012-2019) is the second highest achieving older family car, with a rating of 95.6%, while the XC90 (2002-2015) is the third best luxury SUV, with a 75.0% score.

How much is an oil change on a Volvo?

Your Volvo oil change price will vary depending on multiple factors, such as the model, the type of oil needed, etc. The starting price should be somewhere around $70 for an oil and filter change using synthetic oil. However, the price can go up to about $125 for a full-synthetic oil and filter change.

Can Volvos be serviced anywhere?

You can get your Volvo oil change anywhere. Of course, the manufacturers would prefer that you get this service at their authorized retailers, but this is a relatively simple task. Your trusted mechanic can do this just as efficiently and effectively.

How often should a Volvo be serviced?

*Volvo recommends that you bring your vehicle in for service at least once a year regardless of mileage. In such cases Volvo will cover the recommended services at 1 per year for the first 3 years.

What is the average life of a Volvo?

That being said, with the proper care the average lifespan of a Volvo is typically 20 years with over 200,000 miles.

How many miles is alot for a Volvo?

That being said, Volvo Cars is among the top brands when it comes to longevity. Among the factors mentioned above, regular maintenance and driving style can make a huge difference. Overall, expect to see your Volvo vehicle last for over 200,000 miles if you give it proper care each year.

Are Volvo still good cars?

Reliability Ratings

In 2020, the Volvo brand was number 16 in the rankings and a high score of 93.8%. For comparison: Ford scored 93.7% and was ranked 18.

Which Volvos have transmission problems?

Here's the full list of affected cars:

  • 2000–2004 Volvo C70.
  • 2006–2013 Volvo C70.
  • 2000–2013 Volvo S40.
  • 2000–2007 Volvo S60.
  • 2000–2006 Volvo S80.
  • 2000–2004 Volvo V40.
  • 2004–2013 Volvo V50.
  • 2000–2007 Volvo S/V70.

Are parts for Volvo expensive?

Because they are luxury vehicles, however, the cost of maintenance, fixing, and repairing can run a little higher than your average U.S. or Japanese brand. This is because Volvo parts are special and have high fees associated with them.