MajorCommonSuspension

Volvo V60: Front Subframe Rear Mounting Bush Failure — Steering Shimmy

Front Subframe Rear Mounting Bush Failure — Steering Shimmy is a common suspension fault on the Volvo V60 on the 2010–2018 cars, and we rate it major. Putting it right costs $650 to $1,400 at New Zealand independent workshop rates. Below is what goes wrong, the symptoms to notice on a test drive, where to look, and what to ask the seller before you hand over any money. It is one of 11 documented faults on the Volvo V60.

Vehicle: Volvo V60
Years: 2010–2018
Fuel: petrol
System: Suspension

This page covers the Volvo V60 as a model. Some faults only affect particular engines or build years — enter a plate below to narrow the list to one car.

All Volvo V60 faults11 documented faults on this model

What you are looking at

No photograph available

We do not hold a verified photograph for this fault yet. We would rather show none than show a picture of something else.

What goes wrong

On the P3-platform V60 the front subframe is secured to the body at four points. The two rear mounting bushes are pressed into the subframe and isolate road inputs from the body. These hydraulic bushes degrade from around 100,000 km, collapsing under the combined load of braking and cornering. As the bush voids soften the subframe shifts rearward under braking, changing front toe and caster geometry dynamically. Drivers experience a steering shimmy or wheel tramp between 80 and 110 km/h that worsens under light braking. The fault is frequently misdiagnosed as wheel balance or tyre wear.

What you would notice

Steering shimmy or vibration through the steering wheel at 80–110 km/h
Shimmy worsens or is triggered under light braking from highway speed
Symptom persists after new tyres and confirmed wheel balance
Clunking or thumping from the front subframe area over speed bumps
Uneven or rapid front tyre wear indicating geometry shift

How to check it

Where to look. Underside of vehicle; front subframe rear mounting points immediately behind the engine sump, one on each side of the subframe

Any movement beyond 1–2 mm in the bush indicates failure. Inspect the bush visually for cracking, extrusion of the rubber beyond the sleeve, or collapse of the hydraulic chamber. Request a four-wheel alignment printout — excessive front toe variation side to side with no other suspension damage points to subframe shift. If a workshop inspection is possible: Place the vehicle on a hoist and, with a long pry bar, attempt to lever the rear of the front subframe vertically and fore-aft at each rear mounting point.

What it costs to put right

$650 to $1,400 at New Zealand independent workshop rates. That is for this job on its own, not for the car.

An estimate, in NZD, for the repair as normally carried out. What a specific car costs depends on which part has failed and what it damaged on the way — treat this as the floor for a negotiation, not a quote.

Ask the seller

“Have the front subframe bushes ever been inspected or replaced?”
“Has the car ever had a steering shimmy or vibration at highway speeds?”
“Has a wheel balance or alignment ever failed to resolve a vibration complaint?”
“Are there any suspension or geometry notes on the most recent WOF inspection?”

Now check the Volvo V60 you are actually looking at

Everything above is true of the model, and it is free. What it does not tell you is whether THIS car has been looked after: its odometer history and whether the reading has ever gone backwards, whether there is still money owing on it, whether it has been reported stolen, how many owners it has had and what it is really worth today. That comes from the official records for that plate. Enter the plate for the free details, or get the full history and a market valuation from $13.49.

Not sure what you would be paying for? See what a full KickTyres check includes.

Where this comes from

The failure described above is documented in published sources — owner forums, technical service bulletins, recall notices and workshop write-ups — held in our fault database. The inspection instructions and the cost estimate are KickTyres’ own interpretation of them, and it is a starting point for an inspection rather than a manufacturer statement.

Volvo V60 buyer questions

Is front subframe rear mounting bush failure — steering shimmy serious on a Volvo V60?

We rate it major and common on the Volvo V60. On the P3-platform V60 the front subframe is secured to the body at four points. The two rear mounting bushes are pressed into the subframe and isolate road inputs from the body. These hydraulic bushes degrade from around 100,000 km, collapsing under the combined load of braking and cornering. As the bush voids soften the subframe shifts rearward under braking, changing front toe and caster geometry dynamically. Drivers experience a steering shimmy or wheel tramp between 80 and 110 km/h that worsens under light braking. The fault is frequently misdiagnosed as wheel balance or tyre wear.

How much does it cost to fix on a Volvo V60?

$650 to $1,400 at New Zealand independent workshop rates. That figure is for this job on its own. A car showing the symptoms on this page is usually worth either walking away from or negotiating down by at least the repair figure.

Which Volvo V60 years are affected?

Our research records this fault on the 2010–2018 Volvo V60. Build dates move around, especially on imported cars, so treat the range as the years to look hardest at rather than a guarantee either way. The official records tell you the exact build and first registration date for the car in front of you.