IsItAGoodCar
Reliability Guide

Common Problems with the
2000 Volvo S60 (P2)

The P2 S60 launched in 2000 as Volvo’s sports-saloon answer to the E46 3-Series, with 2.3/2.4/2.5T and later 3.0/3.2 and D5 power, running through two facelifts and nine production years.

What changed for 2000

  • •2000: first-generation S60 (P2 platform) debuts
  • •2002: all-wheel-drive and D5 diesel additions
  • •2005 and 2008 facelifts updated the interior and front end

Common MOT watch-outs

  • !AW55 automatic valve body flare
  • !PCV system blockage and oil leaks on the five-cylinder engines
  • !DIM instrument cluster backlight failure
3
Known Issues
1
Serious
2
Moderate
0
Minor

All Known Issues

AW55 automatic gearbox flare and valve-body wear

SeriousGearbox & Transmission

Five-speed automatics can flare between gears, thump into drive or slip once warm if fluid changes have been ignored.

Est. Repair Cost: £600–£2,000
Warning Signs:

RPM flare on upshift, Harsh engagement into drive, Gearbox gets worse once hot

What to Inspect:
  • Full hot road test
  • Fluid-change history
  • Any valve-body or gearbox rebuild invoices
Verified by IsItAGoodCar Research TeamUpdated

PCV system blockage and oil leaks

ModerateEngine

Five-cylinder petrol engines build crankcase pressure when the breather system blocks, pushing oil out of seals and making the engine smoky or sweaty.

Est. Repair Cost: £250–£650
Warning Signs:

Whistling from dipstick area, Oil leaks around cam seals, Idle disturbance or smoke

What to Inspect:
  • Glove test over the oil filler
  • Inspect for heavy oil sweat
  • Ask if the PCV system has been renewed
Verified by IsItAGoodCar Research TeamUpdated

DIM cluster failure

ModerateElectrics & Electronics

The driver information module can lose gauges, warning messages or backlighting, making the S60 feel more broken than it really is.

Est. Repair Cost: £150–£400
Warning Signs:

Dead gauges, Warning messages flicker or disappear, Intermittent instrument illumination

What to Inspect:
  • Watch the cluster over the full drive
  • Tap-test or warm-cabin test for intermittent faults
  • Look for specialist repair labels
Verified by IsItAGoodCar Research TeamUpdated

Buying Tips for 2000 Volvo S60 (P2)

  • The 2.4 and 2.5T cars are the balanced buys.
  • A tuned or tuned-repair ECU hides hard miles - insist on unmodified software checks.
2001–2004
Check a 2000 Volvo S60 (P2) by Registration