2012 Volvo XC60: complaints, problems and recalls
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
46 owner complaints analyzed
3 distinct recall campaigns
60,587 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 2012 model year. Data snapshot: . 18 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Visibility/Wiper is the most frequently named component, appearing in 19 of 46 complaints (41.3%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Electrical and battery issues | 8 | 17.4% |
| Steering behavior | 6 | 13.0% |
| Braking behavior | 2 | 4.3% |
| Transmission and shifting | 1 | 2.2% |
| Engine operation | 1 | 2.2% |
Topic matches use published keyword rules. They describe mentions, including negations or comparisons, and do not confirm a diagnosis. Read the matching rules.
Component breakdown
Number of unique complaints naming each component. Top eight shown.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Visibility/Wiper | 19 |
| Unknown Or Other | 9 |
| Structure:Body | 4 |
| Electrical System | 3 |
| Steering | 3 |
| Air Bags | 2 |
| Engine | 2 |
| Visibility:Windshield | 2 |
Visibility/Wiper: 19; Unknown Or Other: 9; Structure:Body: 4; Electrical System: 3; Steering: 3; Air Bags: 2; Engine: 2; Visibility:Windshield: 2
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 4 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 3 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 4 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 5 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 2 |
| 150,000 and above | 0 |
Under 25,000: 4; 25,000 to 49,999: 3; 50,000 to 74,999: 4; 75,000 to 99,999: 5; 100,000 to 149,999: 2; 150,000 and above: 0
75,000 to 99,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (5). 28 complaints have missing, zero or invalid mileage.
Complaints over time
Year the complaint was filed, not the vehicle model year or incident year. The snapshot year is partial.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| 2012 | 3 |
| 2014 | 1 |
| 2015 | 2 |
| 2016 | 2 |
| 2017 | 1 |
| 2018 | 2 |
| 2019 | 7 |
| 2020 | 6 |
| 2021 | 7 |
| 2022 | 10 |
| 2023 | 2 |
| 2024 | 2 |
| 2025 | 1 |
2012: 3; 2014: 1; 2015: 2; 2016: 2; 2017: 1; 2018: 2; 2019: 7; 2020: 6; 2021: 7; 2022: 10; 2023: 2; 2024: 2; 2025: 1
Pattern summary
Visibility/Wiper leads the component reports. Electrical and battery issues appears in 8 complaint narratives. Steering behavior appears in 6 complaint narratives. Braking behavior appears in 2 complaint narratives. Use these patterns to inspect individual reports and prepare questions for a mechanic.
Calculated from recorded counts. An AI narrative has not been published for this selection.
Examples from the source records
Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.
Owner report 10452693 · 2012-03-22 (March 22, 2012)
BLIND SPOT INFORMATION SYSTEM DOES NOT FUNCTION DURING INCLEMENT WEATHER. SYSTEM PROVIDES INCORRECT INFORMATION TO THE DRIVER ABOUT THE PRESENCE OF ANOTHER VEHICLE IN THE BLIND SPOT. I BELIEVE THIS INCREASES THE RISK OF ACCIDENT. *TR
Owner-reported narrative. 100 miles reported. Look up ODI 10452693 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10454218 · 2012-04-05 (April 5, 2012)
UNCONTROLLABLE ACCELERATION, OVERRIDING BRAKE: UNEXPLAINED ACCIDENT OCCURRED AS I HAD PULLED INTO ANGLE PARKING SLOT, FOOT ON BRAKE READY TO SHIFT TO "PARK" . SUDDENLY THE CAR UNEXPECTEDLY ACCELERATED FORWARD ABOUT 5 FEET AND LURCHED INTO THE WOODEN PARKING BARRIER THAT DELINEATES THE EDGE OF THE PARKING LOT, CRACKING IT. ENGINE WAS REVVING. I SHIFTED INTO REVERSE TO GET BACK INTO PARKING SPOT (FOOT ON BRAKE NECESSARY TO SHIFT INTO REVERSE) AND CAR ACCELERATED BACKWARD TOTALLY OUT OF MY CONTROL, ONLY STOPPED AFTER BACKING INTO CAR PARKED ON O…
Owner-reported narrative. 800 miles reported. Look up ODI 10454218 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10469821 · 2012-08-04 (August 4, 2012)
SUDDEN FAILURE OF THE POWER STEERING, AMONGST OTHERS, RIGHT IN THE MIDDLE OF A CROSSROADS. VERY DANGEROUS EMERGENCY STOPPING OF THE CAR, ENGINE STOPPED, ALL ALARMS ON, STEERING NEARLY IMPOSSIBLE TO USE WITHOUT POWER. HAD TO TOW THE VEHICLE TO SERVICE CENTER. VOLVO CLAIMS THIS IS NOTHING MORE THAN A COMMON PLACE ALTERNATOR FAILURE (THERE HAS BEEN A RECALL CAMPAIGN FOR SIMILAR PROBLEMS WITH AUXILIARY BELT TENSIONER). POWER STEERING FAILED ALTHOUGH BATTERY WAS FULLY CHARGED. FOUND ON THE INTERNET THIS OCCURRING SEVERAL TIMES TO OTHER XC60 DRIVE…
Owner-reported narrative. 3,800 miles reported. Look up ODI 10469821 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10595403 · 2014-06-01 (June 1, 2014)
JUST BOUGHT THE CAR AND DROVE APPROXIMATELY 30 MILES AND THE TIRE PRESSURE MONITORING SYSTEM LIGHT CAME ON. DROVE ANOTHER 10 MILES HOME AND ARRANGED FOR AN APPOINTMENT WITH THE DEALER FOR CORRECTION/REPAIR. NOTICED THAT THE ERROR WARNING DID NOT COME ON INITIALLY AFTER VEHICLE WAS PARKED BUT, SEEMED IF I DROVE ABOUT 25 MILES OR MORE THE LIGHT WOULD COME ON AND STAY ON, AND THIS IS WHAT OCCURRED UNTIL I WENT TO HAVE IT SERVICED. DEALER GET ME FOR 4 HOURS AND TOLD ME THEY COULD NOT GET THE TIRES TO READ. THE DEALER THEN MADE AN APPOINTMENT W…
Owner-reported narrative. 41,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10595403 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10726242 · 2015-06-19 (June 19, 2015)
LAST EVENING WHEN TURNING A CORNER MY FINGER WAS CUT BY THE METAL PORTION OF THE STEERING WHEEL. WHEN I GOT HOME, I NOTICED THAT AT THE "6 O'CLOCK" POSITION THERE WAS SHARP METAL THAT HAS COME LOOSE AND THAT IS WHAT CUT MY FINGER. I DID SOME RESEARCH AND THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH THIS CAR. ALSO, UPON CALLING THE DEALER THIS MORNING THEY SAID THEY KEEP A NUMBER OF THE REPLACEMENT PARTS IN INVENTORY BECAUSE IT HAPPENS ALL THE TIME. MUCH TO MY SURPRISE THERE HAS NOT BEEN A SAFETY RECALL. THE DEALER SAID THEY WILL WORK WITH ME ON TH…
Owner-reported narrative. 82,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10726242 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10809799 · 2015-12-12 (December 12, 2015)
THE CAR USES AN EXCESSIVE AMOUNT OF ENGINE OIL. CHECK OIL LIGHT COMES ON WILL DRIVING CAUSING A POTENTIAL SAFETY HAZARD WHILE I FIND A SAFE LOCATION TO STOP AND ADD ENGINE OIL.
Owner-reported narrative. 35,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10809799 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10818456 · 2016-01-06 (January 6, 2016)
I WAS IN AN ACCIDENT DRIVING ON A HIGHWAY DRIVING MY VOLVO XC60. I WAS TRAVELING AT APPROX 100KM/H AND RAN INTO THE BACK OF A SEMI THAT WAS TRAVELING AT AN APPROX SPEED OF 80KM/H. THE IMPACT WAS IN THE RIGHT FRONT (PASSENGER) SIDE OF MY XC-60 AND THE LEFT REAR OF THE SEMI. THE AIRBAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY ANYWHERE ON THE VOLVO. THANKFULLY, NOBODY WAS SERIOUSLY HURT AS ALL WERE WEARING SEATBELTS. BASED ON THE SEVERITY AND SPEED OF THE IMPACT, I AM VERY SUPRISED AND CONCERNED THE AIRBAG SYSTEM DIDN'T FUNCTION.
Owner-reported narrative. 49,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10818456 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10917586 · 2016-10-20 (October 20, 2016)
THE AXLES ARE ALREADY NEEDING TO BE REPLACED ON THE FRONT WHEELS. THERE IS ONLY 68,000 MILES ON THEM. THE AUTO SHOP SAYS IT'S TOO EARLY FOR THAT TO BE HAPPENING. NOT TO MENTION THERE IS A WHOPPING PRICE TAG FOR THE PARTS!!
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10917586 at NHTSA ↗
Recall history
3 distinct campaigns affect this selection. Announcement dates below are different from vehicle model years. A campaign may cover multiple years.
12V075000 · Electrical System:Wiring
Reported: 2012-02-28 (February 28, 2012)
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.
Consequence: 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.
NHTSA campaign record ↗12V101000 · Structure:Body
Reported: 2012-03-14 (March 14, 2012)
VOLVO IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2012 S60 AND XC60 PASSENGER VEHICLES. AN INCORRECT MIXTURE OF UNDERBODY COATING AND OVER-APPLICATION CAN RESULT IN RIGID, ICICLE-LIKE AREAS HANGING FROM VEHICLES UNDERCARRIAGE.
Consequence: IF THIS CONDITION EXISTS, THE UNDERBODY COATING MAY PENETRATE THE FUELS LINES AND CAUSE FUEL LEAKAGE, INCREASING THE RISK OF A FIRE.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSPECT THE VEHICLE UNDERCARRIAGE, AND IF EXCESSIVE UNDERBODY COATING IS FOUND IN THE FUEL LINE AREA, IT WILL BE REMOVED. IF THE INSPECTION REVEALS THAT THE FUEL LINES ARE DAMAGED, THEY WILL BE REPLACED. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN ON APRIL 25, 2012. OWNERS MAY CONTACT VOLVO CUSTOMER CARE CENTER AT 1-800-458-1552.
NHTSA campaign record ↗20V378000 · Seat Belts:Front
Reported: 2020-06-30 (June 30, 2020)
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.
Consequence: 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 campaign record ↗