YearToAvoid

2012 Volvo XC70 Problems, Recalls & Reliability

Verdict

Caution

Complaint Index

50/100

#4 most-complained of 7 XC70 years

The 2012 Volvo XC70 has a complaint index of 50 and ranks 4th worst out of 7 model years, earning a Caution verdict. Owners most often report windshield and wiper issues, with 14 total complaints and 2 recalls.

Complaints
14
Recalls
2
Crashes / fires
0 / 0
Injuries / deaths
0 / 0
NHTSA overall rating
Not rated
EPA combined MPG
20
18 city / 24 hwy

Top 2012 Volvo XC70 problems

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

  1. Visibility & Wipers6 (43%)
  2. Structure & Body3 (21%)
  3. Other2 (14%)
  4. Steering2 (14%)
  5. Suspension, Wheels & Tires2 (14%)
  6. Brakes1 (7%)
  7. Seat Belts1 (7%)

What owners report

  • Windshield wiper on the highest setting fails to keep up with moderate to heavy rain.
  • Windshield seals fail along the top edge, allowing water to leak inside during rain, in some cases with the windshield separating from the frame.
  • Continental tire sidewalls have shredded and blown out at low mileage.
  • The seat belt release button feels mushy and does not consistently release, raising concern about exiting the car quickly.
  • The steering wheel sticks and hesitates before turning, particularly when cold.
  • The front passenger door has unlatched and opened slightly while driving, with the automatic locking system repeatedly signaling the door is open.
2012 Volvo XC70 complaints: complaints filed per month2Jan 2013Jul 2016Mar 2017May 2019Mar 2020Dec 2020Jun 2022
17 complaints filed with NHTSA from Jan 2013 to Jun 2022; peak Jul 2016 (2).

2012 Volvo XC70 recalls

2 NHTSA recall campaigns list this model year.

  1. 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.

  2. NHTSA 12V075000Feb 28, 2012Electrical System32,552 vehicles

    Electrical system:wiring

    Volvo is recalling certain model year 2012 s60, xc60, s80 and xc70 vehicles manufactured from may 16, 2011, through october 6, 2011. In these vehicles, the wire harness under the front seats may have not been attached properly to the seat frame. As a result, when the seats are moved to adjust the seating position, the wire harness may get pulled, causing it to disconnect.

    Risk: In the event of crash, the front and/or side impact air bags may deploy improperly or not at all, increasing the risk of injury. Also, the lap belt pretensioner may not deploy.

    Remedy: Volvo will notify owners, and dealers will inspect and, if necessary, secure the seat wire harness. This service will be performed free of charge. The safety recall began on april 12, 2012. Owners may contact volvo cars at 1-800-458-1552.

2012 Volvo XC70 fuel economy and fuel cost

City
18 MPG
Highway
24 MPG
Combined
20 MPG
Annual fuel cost (EPA)
$3,250
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 XC70 years

Complaint Index by model year (0 = fewest issues, 100 = most)02550751002010201120122013201420152016
Complaint Index: 0 = fewest issues, 100 = most, relative to other years of this model. Avoid Caution Good Best
YearVerdictIndexComplaintsRecallsMPG
2010Avoid8315418
2011Avoid10015320
2012Caution5014220
2013Caution678220
2014No verdict02221

All Volvo XC70 years: best and worst →

Frequently asked questions

Is the 2012 Volvo XC70 reliable?
Based on NHTSA owner complaints and recalls, the 2012 XC70 has a complaint index of 50, ranking 4th worst among the 7 model years with data. It carries a Caution verdict, meaning it's neither the best nor the worst year for this model.
What is the biggest problem with the 2012 Volvo XC70?
Visibility & Wipers is the top problem area, accounting for 6 of the 14 complaints (43%), largely windshield seal and wiper performance issues, with a median mileage at failure of 41,000 miles.
Does the 2012 Volvo XC70 have any recalls?
NHTSA lists 2 recalls for the 2012 XC70: one for a seat belt anchor cable issue and one for a seat wire harness that may not have been attached properly under the front seats. Neither is a do-not-drive recall.
How does the 2012 XC70 compare to other years?
The 2012 XC70 (complaint index 50) is better than 2010 and 2011 (index 83 and 100, both rated Avoid) but worse than 2013, 2015, and 2016 (index 67, 17, and 33, rated Caution, Best, and Good respectively).

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.