2012 Volvo XC60 problems and owner complaints
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.
Complaint evidence
Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.
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 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 11289227 · 2019-12-16 (December 16, 2019)
OVER A PERIOD OF THE LAST 45 DAYS ON TWO SEPARATE OCCASIONS,IN RAIN, AT HIGHWAY SPEED OF 55MPH+, THE OVERALL PERFORMANCE OF THE DRIVER INPUTS FAILED TO FUNCTION. WHEN DRIVING, TURNING THE WHEEL TO LEFT/RIGHT TO CHANGE LANES OR PULL TO THE SLOW LANE; MADE THE CAR FEEL AS IT WANTED TO SPIN OUT UNCONTROLLABLY.TO MOVE THE STEERING WHEEL LEFT, THE CAR WANTED TO GO RIGHT. WHEN GOING STRAIGHT THERE WAS A WOBBLY UNSTABLE FEELING, AND WAS NOTICEABLE TO PASSENGERS IN THE CAR. THE ISSUE DID NOT OCCUR AT LOWER SPEEDS AND CAR PERFORM NORMALLY. THE SENSATION…
Owner-reported narrative. 57,500 miles reported. Look up ODI 11289227 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11479461 · 2022-08-15 (August 15, 2022)
"Failure Charging" warning advisory light came on the dashboard. This problem has been going on for the whole ten years I have owned this vehicle. I am the original owner of this Volvo and had some engine warning on the dashboard since the first month. I took vehicle in to the Culver City Volvo for 1000 miles check-up and annual oil change and check-up for 5 years under warranty and requested software update and reported the engine stalling during the first month. The "failure charging" or "engine check" or "dangerous" "immediate" repair needed…
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 11479461 at NHTSA ↗