2012 Volvo S60 Reliability Data: Problems & Recalls
Avoid The 2012 Volvo S60 ranks worst among all 20 model years tracked, with a complaint index of 100, 121 complaints, and 8 recall campaigns. Engine problems dominate, making up 55% of complaints, with a median failure mileage of 78,500.
Based on NHTSA complaints per model-year, not a reliability rating. Methodology
YearToAvoid Scorecard
- Complaint Index
- 100/100
- #1 of 20 S60 years
- Verdict
- Avoid
- vs. other years of this model
- Complaints
- 121
- unique NHTSA reports
- Recalls
- 8
- distinct NHTSA campaigns
- Crashes
- 8
- reported in complaints
- Fires
- 0
- Injuries
- 13
- Top issue
- Engine
- NHTSA overall rating
- 5 / 5 ★
- EPA combined MPG
- 22
- 19 city / 28 hwy
- Injuries / deaths
- 13 / 0
Top 2012 Volvo S60 problems
Share of this year’s NHTSA complaints by component group. Groups with 15+ complaints have their own page.
- Engine67 (55%)
- Electrical System19 (16%)
- Other17 (14%)
- Structure & Body11 (9%)
- Seat Belts9 (7%)
- Fuel System8 (7%)
- Steering8 (7%)
- Brakes7 (6%)
- Airbags6 (5%)
- Transmission & Powertrain4 (3%)
A complaint can list more than one component, so shares add up to more than 100%. Shares are % of complaints.
What owners report
- Owners report sudden, unintended acceleration while parking or slowing to a stop, sometimes ending in a collision.
- Engine reportedly stalls or malfunctions unexpectedly while driving, requiring the car to be pushed off the road.
- Some drivers describe loss of steering control at highway speed with the dynamic traction control failing to activate, leading to a crash.
- Airbags reportedly did not deploy in low-to-moderate speed frontal collisions despite visible vehicle damage.
- Active cruise control is described as disengaging on its own, with the car braking hard and the parking brake activating without driver input.
- Electrical failures are reported that leave the ignition unable to turn the car off after removing the key.
2012 Volvo S60 recalls
8 NHTSA recall campaigns list this model year.
- NHTSA 20V378000Jun 30, 2020Seat Belts308,260 vehicles
Seat belts:front
Volvo Cars of N.A., LLC (Volvo) is recalling certain 2008-2016 V70 and XC70, 2007-2016 S80, 2011-2018 S60 and V60, 2016-2018 S60 Cross Country, 2014-2020 S60L, 2009-2015 S80L, 2009-2016 XC60 and 2015-2018 V60 Cross Country vehicles. The flexible steel cable that connects the seat belt to the front outboard seating positions may fatigue over time, causing the seat belt to not secure the occupant in the event of a crash.
Risk: An unsecured occupant has an increased risk of injury in the event of a crash.
Remedy: Volvo will notify owners, and dealers will replace the seat belt anchor cable for both front seats. The recall began December 10, 2020. Owners may contact Volvo customer service at 1-800-458-1552. Volvo's number for this recall is R10029.
- NHTSA 19V849000Nov 26, 2019Structure & Body144,937 vehicles
Latches/locks/linkages:doors:latch
Volvo Car of USA LLC (Volvo) is recalling certain 2011-2017 S60, S60I, V60, S60CC and V60CC vehicles. A component within the door latches may break, making the doors difficult to latch and/or leading the driver or a passenger to believe a door is securely closed when, in fact, it is not.
Risk: A door that is not securely latched could open while the vehicle is in motion, increasing the risk of injury to a vehicle occupant.
Remedy: Volvo will notify owners, and dealers will replace all four door latches, free of charge. The recall began April 9, 2020. Owners may contact Volvo customer service at 1-800-458-1552. Volvo's number for this recall is R89978.
- NHTSA 13V592000Nov 22, 2013Engine30,929 vehicles
Engine and engine cooling:engine
Volvo Cars of North America, LLC (Volvo) is recalling certain model year 2011-2012 S60 vehicles manufactured June 22, 2010, through May 14, 2012, and equipped with 5-cylinder B5254T5 (VIN code 62) engines. In the affected vehicles, the vehicle may not alert the driver of a low oil pressure situation.
Risk: Without being warned of a low oil pressure situation, the driver may continue to drive the vehicle until it stalls, which increases the risk of a crash.
Remedy: Volvo will notify owners, and dealers will update the vehicle's software so that the driver is alerted should there be a low oil pressure situation, free of charge. The recall began on January 10, 2014. Owners may contact Volvo at 1-800-458-1552. Volvo's number for this campaign is R29436.
2012 Volvo S60 fuel economy and fuel cost
- City
- 19 MPG
- Highway
- 28 MPG
- Combined
- 22 MPG
- Annual fuel cost (EPA)
- $2,950
- 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 S60 years
Frequently asked questions
- Is the 2012 Volvo S60 reliable?
- NHTSA data shows the 2012 S60 has a complaint index of 100, the highest of all 20 S60 model years, and carries a rank of 1 (worst). It is rated Avoid relative to other S60 years.
- What is the biggest problem with the 2012 Volvo S60?
- Engine issues account for 55% of complaints (67 of 121), with a median failure mileage of 78,500. Electrical system problems are the second most common at 16%.
- Does the 2012 Volvo S60 have recalls?
- NHTSA lists 8 recall campaigns for the 2012 S60, covering seat belts, structure and body, engine software, electrical wiring, and fuel system components. None are marked do-not-drive.
- How does the 2012 S60 compare to other S60 years?
- The 2012 model has the highest complaint index (100) among all tracked years; by comparison 2021 has an index of 21 and is rated Best, and 2009 has an index of 16 and is rated Good.