2012 Volvo S60 Problems, Recalls & Reliability
Verdict
AvoidComplaint Index
100/100
#1 most-complained of 15 S60 years
The 2012 Volvo S60 ranks worst of 15 model years, with a complaint index of 100, 121 complaints, and 8 recalls. Engine problems dominate, making up 55% of complaints, with a median failure mileage of 78,500 miles.
- Complaints
- 121
- Recalls
- 8
- Crashes / fires
- 8 / 0
- Injuries / deaths
- 13 / 0
- NHTSA overall rating
- 5 / 5 ★
- EPA combined MPG
- 22
- 19 city / 28 hwy
Top 2012 Volvo S60 problems
NHTSA owner 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%)
What owners report
- Owners report sudden unintended acceleration, including one case where the car sped up on its own while parking and struck a cement block.
- Some describe the engine stalling or malfunctioning mid-drive, requiring the car to be pushed out of traffic before it restarted.
- Several report loss of steering control or traction control failure at highway speed, leading to a spin and crash into a curb.
- Multiple complaints describe airbags failing to deploy in moderate-speed collisions, including one where the airbag deployed but caused burns.
- One owner reported the vehicle's ignition would not turn off even after removing the key.
- A driver reported brake failure combined with sudden acceleration, reaching speeds over 100 mph before losing control.
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?
- Based on NHTSA owner complaints and recalls, the 2012 S60 ranks worst of 15 model years for this model, with a complaint index of 100 and 121 complaints. Its verdict is 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 miles, according to NHTSA data.
- How many recalls does the 2012 Volvo S60 have?
- NHTSA lists 8 recalls for the 2012 Volvo S60, covering seat belts, structure and body, engine software, electrical wiring, and fuel system components.
- Are there any do-not-drive recalls for the 2012 Volvo S60?
- No. NHTSA data shows 0 do-not-drive recalls among the 8 recalls issued for this model year.
- How does the 2012 S60 compare to other years?
- The 2012 S60 has the highest complaint index (100) of all 15 model years tracked, ranking worse than 2013 (93), 2015 (79), and 2024 (86), which are also marked Avoid.