2020 Volvo V60 T8 with a battery recall check that failed

This 2020 Volvo V60 T8 Twin Engine Inscription was a well kept, low-mileage plug-in hybrid estate that drove very well. Its battery still held about 91% of its original capacity. The finding that mattered most was on paper: Volvo's own paperwork from early 2026 said a safety recall check on the battery had failed and two battery sections needed replacing, and nothing showed that the work had been done.

The car

The V60 T8 combines a 1,969 cc turbo petrol engine with a rear electric motor, an 8-speed automatic gearbox and all-wheel drive. This one was an Irish car from new, first registered in January 2020, with two private owners and a short garage stay in between. Both history checks were clean: no finance, no write-off and no recorded damage. The odometer read 45,190 km, and the national mileage register readings rise steadily to that figure. A full Volvo main dealer service in March 2026 covered oil, filters, spark plugs and a software update.

What we found

The battery recall

The recall concerns a fire risk in some battery sections on 2020 to 2022 Volvo plug-in hybrids. Volvo inspects the sections, replaces them free of charge if needed and fits monitoring software. Published recall notices advise owners of affected cars not to charge until the fix is done. The Volvo note for this car read that the recall was carried out, failed, and would require two new battery sections, with parts ordered.

Our certified battery test measured 90.86% state of health, 10.54 kWh usable from 11.6 kWh new. The cell spread was 28 mV, and it had a clear pattern: the 96 cells sit in six groups of 16, and two groups read 14 to 24 mV higher than the other four. If Volvo letters the groups in order, those are the two sections named on the note. We could not confirm Volvo's lettering, so this is consistent with the recall finding, not proof of it. Only Volvo can confirm whether those sections have been replaced.

Wheel speed sensor

The scan found fault codes for the left front wheel speed sensor, which feeds the ABS and stability control. Volvo's earlier quote was for the right front sensor. ABS and stability control worked on the road test with no warning, but only Volvo can say which side they diagnosed.

Other points

• The first scan found 26 codes across 14 modules. After clearing, 23 did not return, and no fault came back on the road test.
• A very slight pull to the left, with the front right tyre at 4.93 mm against 6.32 to 6.75 mm on the others.
• The left rear door had been repaired and repainted, reading over 1,700 microns, with no structural damage found.
• The engine was warm on arrival, so a cold start could not be observed.
• The car had been untaxed for about nine months in 2023.

What it would cost

The recall work itself is carried out by Volvo free of charge. The report put the other items at €470 to €1,373 in total. That includes a wheel speed sensor check and repair at €100 to €533, the upper figure being Volvo's own quote, a four-wheel alignment at €80 to €120, a front right tyre at €140 to €220 only if uneven wear is confirmed, and cosmetic polishing.

Our verdict

Conditional pass, for one reason only: written confirmation from Volvo, using the VIN, that the battery recall work is fully completed, and no charging until then. The rest of the car was strong. The engine data was clean with no misfires, the gearbox and engine were extremely smooth, every driving mode and the four-wheel drive worked on a long road test, brake wear was low, the interior was in very good condition, and the original timing belt was in excellent visual condition.

Buying a used V60 T8 in Ireland: what to check

• Ask a Volvo dealer to confirm by VIN that every recall is completed, especially the battery fire risk recall on 2020 to 2022 plug-in hybrids.
• Get an independent battery health test. A capacity figure alone does not show whether recall work is outstanding.
• This engine uses a timing belt. Many specialists replace it between 6 and 10 years or around 150,000 km, well before Volvo's own interval.
• Ask what warranty cover remains. Volvo Ireland states the hybrid battery pack is covered for 8 years or 160,000 km from first registration, while cover on the rear electric motor is a question for Volvo.
• 12-volt battery drain is a listed known issue on this model, so check for low voltage codes on a scan.

A good battery reading and a smooth drive do not show an open recall, which is why the manufacturer's paperwork deserves a careful read before any money changes hands.