YearToAvoid

2012 Volvo C70 Problems, Recalls & Reliability

Verdict

Caution

Complaint Index

67/100

#2 most-complained of 4 C70 years

The 2012 Volvo C70 has a Complaint Index of 67 and ranks 2nd worst of 4 model years, earning a Caution verdict. Structure & Body issues, mainly door latch problems, make up 39% of its 23 complaints.

Complaints
23
Recalls
1
Crashes / fires
0 / 0
Injuries / deaths
0 / 0
NHTSA overall rating
Not rated
EPA combined MPG
21
18 city / 28 hwy

Top 2012 Volvo C70 problems

NHTSA owner complaints by component group. Groups with 15+ complaints have their own page.

  1. Other11 (48%)
  2. Structure & Body9 (39%)
  3. Suspension, Wheels & Tires2 (9%)
  4. Transmission & Powertrain2 (9%)
  5. Brakes1 (4%)
  6. Electrical System1 (4%)
  7. Seat Belts1 (4%)

What owners report

  • Doors, including the driver's door, unlatch or pop open unexpectedly at highway speed, triggering an open-door warning light.
  • Door latch issues occur whether the doors are locked or unlocked, forcing drivers to stop and re-close them.
  • The driver's seat belt sometimes locks up and becomes very difficult to unlatch once it retracts.
  • A clutch master cylinder connecting rod can break, at times without warning, making it impossible to disengage the clutch, reported at 90,500 miles.
  • Electronic communication faults can trigger false ABS, anti-skid, transmission, and brake failure warnings, putting the car into limp mode and preventing it from moving from a stop.
2012 Volvo C70 complaints: complaints filed per month3Nov 2014Jun 2018Mar 2020Sep 2020Jun 2021Oct 2022Jul 2025
27 complaints filed with NHTSA from Nov 2014 to May 2026; peak May 2021 (3).

2012 Volvo C70 recalls

1 NHTSA recall campaign list this model year.

  1. NHTSA 11V508000Oct 18, 2011Other20,611 vehicles

    Equipment:other:labels

    Volvo is recalling certain model year 2006-2012 c70 vehicles manufactured from november 15, 2005, through july 31, 2011, and model year 2011-2012 s60 vehicles manufactured from july 14, 2010, through april 16, 2011, that were equipped with optional accessory spare tire kit. These vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of federal motor vehicle safety standard number. 110, "tire selection and rims." these vehicles do not contain the correct information for vehicles equipped with the optional accessory spare tire and wheel kit.

    Risk: A misprinted label could lead to improper tire inflation which could result in a tire failure, increasing the risk of a crash.

    Remedy: Volvo will notify owners and dealers will inspect the vehicle and install the label as necessary, free of charge. The safety recall began on february 23, 2012. Owners may contact volvo at 1-201-768-7300.

2012 Volvo C70 fuel economy and fuel cost

City
18 MPG
Highway
28 MPG
Combined
21 MPG
Annual fuel cost (EPA)
$3,100
15,000 mi/yr
Fuel
Regular
Current regular gas
$4.32/gal
national avg.

EPA figures; median across configurations of this model year. Estimate your own cost with the fuel cost calculator.

2012 compared with other C70 years

Complaint Index by model year (0 = fewest issues, 100 = most)02550751002010201120122013
Complaint Index: 0 = fewest issues, 100 = most, relative to other years of this model. Avoid Caution Good Best
YearVerdictIndexComplaintsRecallsMPG
2010No verdict04222.5
2011Avoid10012123
2012Caution6723121
2013Good3311022

All Volvo C70 years: best and worst →

Frequently asked questions

Is the 2012 Volvo C70 reliable?
Based on NHTSA owner complaints and recalls, the 2012 C70 has a Complaint Index of 67 and ranks 2nd worst among the 4 model years with data, giving it a Caution verdict relative to other C70 years.
What is the biggest problem with the 2012 Volvo C70?
Structure & Body complaints, mostly about doors unlatching while driving, account for 39% of the 23 complaints logged, with a median failure mileage of 86,000 miles for that category.
Does the 2012 Volvo C70 have any recalls?
NHTSA lists 1 recall for the 2012 C70, campaign 11V508000, related to a component labeled 'Other'; it is not a do-not-drive recall.
How does the 2012 C70 compare to other years?
The 2011 C70 has a Complaint Index of 100 and an Avoid verdict, while the 2013 C70 has an index of 33 and a Good verdict, making 2012 worse than 2013 but better than 2011.
What is the fuel economy of the 2012 Volvo C70?
The 2012 C70 gets 21 mpg combined (18 city / 28 highway) with an estimated annual fuel cost of $3,100.

Sources: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation complaint and recall databases; U.S. EPA fuel economy data; NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings. Complaints are unverified owner reports.

Data updated Sep 24, 2026. Read the methodology and data sources. The Complaint Index is based on NHTSA owner complaints and recalls; it is not a reliability rating.