2012 Volvo S60

Problems, Recalls & Reliability Report

Below Average

Quick Summary

The 2012 Volvo S60 has 164 owner complaints filed with NHTSA — that's 2.0x the segment average of 80. The most common issue is engine problems (38% of all complaints), specifically: on the april 23, 2014, my husband was driving and the car shot out at high speed he didn't realize what happened. on april 24, 2014, i was in my driveway in park as i put the car in drive to slowly enter my garage the car took off at high speed tires spun left tire marks on my pavement and i hit th.

11 crash reports 16 injuries

164

Total Complaints

Recalls Issued

—/5

Safety Stars

2.0x

vs Segment Avg

Known Problems

ENGINE

62 complaints

38%

• ON THE APRIL 23, 2014, MY HUSBAND WAS DRIVING AND THE CAR SHOT OUT AT HIGH SPEED HE DIDN'T REALIZE WHAT HAPPENED. ON APRIL 24, 2014, I WAS IN MY DRIVEWAY IN PARK AS I PUT THE CAR IN DRIVE TO SLOWLY ENTER MY GARAGE THE CAR TOOK OFF AT HIGH SPEED TIRES SPUN LEFT TIRE MARKS ON MY PAVEMENT AND I HIT TH
• TL-THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 VOLVO S60. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT AN UNKNOWN SPEED, THE LOW OIL WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC, WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE FOUR QUARTS OF OIL WERE EMPTIED BUT THE FAILURE WAS UNDETERMINED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAI
• MY 2012 VOLVO S60 HAD SERIOUS ENGINE NOISE BROUGHT TO THE SHOP THEY THOUGHT IT MIGHT OF BEEN THE FACT THAT I HAD LOW OIL, BUT I HAD JUST GOTTEN MY OIL CHANGED 12/17/14 AND IT WAS 5/27/15 NOW AND I HAD NOT DRIVEN ANYWHERE CLOSE TO 6 THOUSAND MILES TO DEPLETE ALL THE OIL. THE SHOP TOLD ME TO REALLY F

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500💥 1 crashes

“ON THE APRIL 23, 2014, MY HUSBAND WAS DRIVING AND THE CAR SHOT OUT AT HIGH SPEED HE DIDN'T REALIZE WHAT HAPPENED. ON APRIL 24, 2014, I WAS IN MY DRIVEWAY IN PARK AS I PUT THE CAR IN DRIVE TO SLOWLY ENTER MY GARAGE THE CAR TOOK OFF AT HIGH SPEED TIRES SPUN LEFT TIRE MARKS ON MY PAVEMENT AND I HIT TH”

— NHTSA complaint filing

ELECTRICAL

17 complaints

10%

• TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 VOLVO S60 T5. THE CONTACT STATED THAT IN THE ATTEMPT TO TURN THE VEHICLE OFF AND TAKE THE KEY OUT OF THE IGNITION, THE VEHICLE REMAIN ON. THE DEALER NOR MANUFACTURER WERE CONTACTED IN REFERENCE TO THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAG
• THE ADAPTIVE CRUISE CONTROL IN MY VEHICLE HAS BEEN OCCASIONALLY MALFUNCTIONING (ABOUT 10-15 TIMES SINCE PURCHASING MY VEHICLE IN MAY) CAUSING IT TO APPLY THE PARKING BRAKE AT SPEEDS OF ABOUT 5 MPH. THIS CAUSES MY VEHICLE TO ABRUPTLY STOP WITHOUT THE BRAKE LIGHTS BEING ACTIVATED. I THEN HAVE TO DEPRE
• TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 VOLVO S60. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 60 MPH, THERE WAS A LOSS OF STEERING CONTROL AND THE REAR END SPUN UNCONTROLLABLY. THE DYNAMIC TRACTION CONTROL FAILED TO ACTIVATE AND THE VEHICLE CRASHED INTO THE CURBSIDE, CAUSING DAMAGE TO THE FRONT DRIVER AND PASSENGER'

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500💥 1 crashes

“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 VOLVO S60 T5. THE CONTACT STATED THAT IN THE ATTEMPT TO TURN THE VEHICLE OFF AND TAKE THE KEY OUT OF THE IGNITION, THE VEHICLE REMAIN ON. THE DEALER NOR MANUFACTURER WERE CONTACTED IN REFERENCE TO THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAG”

— NHTSA complaint filing

OTHER

16 complaints

10%

• THE ACTIVE CRUISE CONTROL STOPS FOR NO REASON. THIS PROBLEM IS INTERMITTENT. ON A NUMBER OF OCCASIONS (~20 TIMES SINCE I PICKED UP THE CAR), THE CAR SLOWS DOWN AS THE TRAFFICS SLOWS DOWN. THE CAR IS ALMOST AT A STOP (5-10 MPH) AND THE EMERGENCY BRAKES COMES ON, THE CARS BRAKES HARD & STOPS AND TH
• TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 VOLVO S60. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE AIR CONDITIONER UNIT EMITTED AN ABNORMAL CHEMICAL SMELL THAT CAME THROUGH THE VENTS. THE CONTACT MENTIONED THAT THE FAILURE OCCURRED DAILY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER WHERE IT WAS STATED THAT MOLD WAS BUILT UP ON THE EVAPORA
• I WAS DRIVING DOWN THE INTERSTATE, SUDDENLY I HEARD A LOUD BOOM. I COULD HEAR SOMETHING SLIDING DOWN MY ROOF AND OFF THE BACK OF THE CAR. I DIDN'T KNOW WHAT WAS GOING ON, THEN I HEARD A WIND NOISE ABOVE. I REALIZED THAT MY SUNROOF WAS BROKEN AND GLASS WAS CASCADING DOWN AND FLYING OFF OF MY CAR. IT

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500

“THE ACTIVE CRUISE CONTROL STOPS FOR NO REASON. THIS PROBLEM IS INTERMITTENT. ON A NUMBER OF OCCASIONS (~20 TIMES SINCE I PICKED UP THE CAR), THE CAR SLOWS DOWN AS THE TRAFFICS SLOWS DOWN. THE CAR IS ALMOST AT A STOP (5-10 MPH) AND THE EMERGENCY BRAKES COMES ON, THE CARS BRAKES HARD & STOPS AND TH”

— NHTSA complaint filing

SEATS/RESTRAINTS

10 complaints

• PLEASE, PLEASE BACK OFF ON YOUR HEAD REST REQUIREMENTS FOR SAFETY. PLEASE ALLOW THE CONSUMER TO CHOOSE THE POSITION OF THE HEAD REST. NOT ONLY HONDA, BUT FORD, GM, CHRYSLER, ALL MANUFACTURERS ARE CREATING VERY PAINFUL CAR SEATS SINCE 2009 DUE TO THIS AWFUL HEADREST REQUIREMENT. SEATBELTS ARE A LA
• ON AUGUST 24, 2013, I WAS INVOLVED IN A CAR ACCIDENT. A CAR STOPPED SHORT ON THE HIGHWAY. THE CAR IN FRONT OF ME HIT THAT CAR. I THEN HIT THE CAR IN FRONT OF ME. I HAD ONLY A FEW SECONDS TO REACT. ANOTHER CAR THEN RE-ENDED ME. MY AIRBAG NOR SEATBELT PRETENTIONERS DEPLOYED. I HAD DIFFICULTY TURNING T
• TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 VOLVO S60. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 20V378000 (SEAT BELTS) HOWEVER, THE PART TO DO THE RECALL REPAIR WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE CONTACT CALLED TOM WOOD VOLVO (4620 E 96TH ST, INDIANAPOLIS, IN 46240; (317) 848-7447) WHERE IT WAS CONFIRMED THAT

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500💥 2 crashes

“PLEASE, PLEASE BACK OFF ON YOUR HEAD REST REQUIREMENTS FOR SAFETY. PLEASE ALLOW THE CONSUMER TO CHOOSE THE POSITION OF THE HEAD REST. NOT ONLY HONDA, BUT FORD, GM, CHRYSLER, ALL MANUFACTURERS ARE CREATING VERY PAINFUL CAR SEATS SINCE 2009 DUE TO THIS AWFUL HEADREST REQUIREMENT. SEATBELTS ARE A LA”

— NHTSA complaint filing

STEERING

8 complaints

• THE STEERING WHEEL BEZEL DELAMINATES ON THE BOTTOM OF THE STEERING WHEEL AND BECOMES VERY SHARP CAUSING CUTS ON HANDS. DEALER REPLACED THE BEZEL AND WE HAVE THE SAME PROBLEM AGAIN. IT APPEARS TO BE A DEFECT IN THE DESIGN OR MANUFACTURE OF THE BEZEL. THERE SHOULD BE NO SHARP CUTTING EDGES ON THE S
• TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 VOLVO S60. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE ALUMINUM ON THE STEERING WHEEL BECAME DETACHED. THE CONTACT SUSTAINED LACERATIONS TO THE HANDS AS A RESULT. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED ABOUT THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 21,700.
• TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 VOLVO S60. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 60 MPH, THERE WAS A LOSS OF STEERING CONTROL AND THE REAR END SPUN UNCONTROLLABLY. THE DYNAMIC TRACTION CONTROL FAILED TO ACTIVATE AND THE VEHICLE CRASHED INTO THE CURBSIDE, CAUSING DAMAGE TO THE FRONT DRIVER AND PASSENGER'

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500💥 1 crashes

“THE STEERING WHEEL BEZEL DELAMINATES ON THE BOTTOM OF THE STEERING WHEEL AND BECOMES VERY SHARP CAUSING CUTS ON HANDS. DEALER REPLACED THE BEZEL AND WE HAVE THE SAME PROBLEM AGAIN. IT APPEARS TO BE A DEFECT IN THE DESIGN OR MANUFACTURE OF THE BEZEL. THERE SHOULD BE NO SHARP CUTTING EDGES ON THE S”

— NHTSA complaint filing

Estimated Repair Costs

ENGINE(~50K mi)

$500

ELECTRICAL(~50K mi)

$500

OTHER(~50K mi)

$500

SEATS/RESTRAINTS(~50K mi)

$500

STEERING(~50K mi)

$500

Estimates based on average reported repair costs. Actual costs vary by location, shop, and severity.

🔍 Pre-Purchase Inspection Checklist

Based on 164 owner complaints for this specific year, here's what to check or ask about:

☐
ENGINE: ON THE APRIL 23, 2014, MY HUSBAND WAS DRIVING AND THE CAR SHOT OUT AT HIGH SPEED HE DIDN'T REALIZE WHAT HAPPENED. ON APRIL 24, 2014, I WAS IN MY DRIVEWAY IN PARK AS I PUT THE CAR IN DRIVE TO SLOWLY ENTER MY GARAGE THE CAR TOOK OFF AT HIGH SPEED TIRES SPUN LEFT TIRE MARKS ON MY PAVEMENT AND I HIT TH
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
ELECTRICAL: TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 VOLVO S60 T5. THE CONTACT STATED THAT IN THE ATTEMPT TO TURN THE VEHICLE OFF AND TAKE THE KEY OUT OF THE IGNITION, THE VEHICLE REMAIN ON. THE DEALER NOR MANUFACTURER WERE CONTACTED IN REFERENCE TO THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAG
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
OTHER: THE ACTIVE CRUISE CONTROL STOPS FOR NO REASON. THIS PROBLEM IS INTERMITTENT. ON A NUMBER OF OCCASIONS (~20 TIMES SINCE I PICKED UP THE CAR), THE CAR SLOWS DOWN AS THE TRAFFICS SLOWS DOWN. THE CAR IS ALMOST AT A STOP (5-10 MPH) AND THE EMERGENCY BRAKES COMES ON, THE CARS BRAKES HARD & STOPS AND TH
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
SEATS/RESTRAINTS: PLEASE, PLEASE BACK OFF ON YOUR HEAD REST REQUIREMENTS FOR SAFETY. PLEASE ALLOW THE CONSUMER TO CHOOSE THE POSITION OF THE HEAD REST. NOT ONLY HONDA, BUT FORD, GM, CHRYSLER, ALL MANUFACTURERS ARE CREATING VERY PAINFUL CAR SEATS SINCE 2009 DUE TO THIS AWFUL HEADREST REQUIREMENT. SEATBELTS ARE A LA
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
General: Get a pre-purchase inspection from an independent mechanic ($100-$200)