2012 Volvo XC60

Problems, Recalls & Reliability Report

Average

Quick Summary

The 2012 Volvo XC60 has 56 owner complaints filed with NHTSA — that's 0.7x the segment average of 80. The most common issue is visibility problems (39% of all complaints), specifically: adhesive failure to the winshield glass surface.

3 crash reports 1 injury

Total Complaints

Recalls Issued

—/5

Safety Stars

0.7x

vs Segment Avg

Known Problems

VISIBILITY

22 complaints

39%

• ADHESIVE FAILURE TO THE WINSHIELD GLASS SURFACE
• WATER LEAKING INTO INTERIOR FROM WINDSHIELD. I'VE TAKEN IT TO THE VOLVO DEALERSHIP AND THEY WON'T FIX IT DUE TO BEING OUT OF WARRANTY. SAFELITE WANTS $350-$800 TO RESEAL OR REPLACE THE WINDSHIELD. THE LEAK IS MAKING IT DANGEROUS TO DRIVE IN WET WEATHER AS IT DRIPS ONTO THE STEERING WHEEL AND ONTO TH
• THE FRONT WINDSCREEN / WINDSHIELD BONDING HAD FAILED WITHIN THE FIRST COUPLE OF YEARS OF OWNERSHIP OF THE VEHICLE. THIS WAS NOT KNOWN AT THE TIME, MISDIAGNOSED BY THE MANUFACTURER, AND ONLY RECENTLY IDENTIFIED BY A 3RD PARTY. THIS IS APPARENTLY A COMMON ISSUE ENCOUNTERED AND HAS LED TO, ACCORDING TO

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

“ADHESIVE FAILURE TO THE WINSHIELD GLASS SURFACE”

— NHTSA complaint filing

OTHER

9 complaints

16%

• 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
• 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 DE
• 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 UNCONTR

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

“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”

— NHTSA complaint filing

ELECTRICAL

4 complaints

• 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
• WATER DRIPS FROM TOP OF WINDSHIELD INTO CAR AS FAST AS IT COMES DOWN. DRAINS INTO LIGHTS FIXTURES AS WELL AS GEARS AND WHEEL. FOGGED UP GLASS ON HIGHWAY CAUSING SERIOUS SAFETY CONCERN. IN WINTER CAUSED GEARS TO FREEZE IN PARK. WATER POOLED IN BOTTOM OF CAR AND IN LIGHT FIXTURES. WATER IN SUNROOF CON
• 2012 VOLVO XC60. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO SOFTWARE PATCH. *LD THE CONSUMER STATED THE XM RADIO DRAINED THE VEHICLE'S BATTERY. THE COSUMER REQUESTED TO HAVE THE SOFTWARED UPDATE PERFORMED FOR FREE. THE DEALER DECLINED. *JS

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

“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”

— NHTSA complaint filing

BODY/STRUCTURE

4 complaints

• 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 DE
• MY WINDSHIELD STARTED LEAKING ON THE DRIVER SIDE DURING A HEAVY RAIN STORM. WATER WAS DRIPPING IN STREAMS AND IMPEDED VISIBILITY. I HAD IT EVALUATED AND THERE IS A BREAK IN THE FACTORY SEAL. THE WINDSHIELD IS ORIGINAL EQUIPMENT. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN IN ANY ACCIDENTS OR HAD ANY INJURIES. I SEE T
• My left front door failed to open using the outside handle. I have tried unsuccessfully to fix the problem by removing the inside door panel, the door window, and the surrounding hardware and electrical components. I contend that this is a safety hazard because a)a rescuer would fail to get the dr

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

“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 DE”

— NHTSA complaint filing

STEERING

3 complaints

• 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
• 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 CA
• 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 UNCONTR

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

— NHTSA complaint filing

Estimated Repair Costs

VISIBILITY(~50K mi)

$500

OTHER(~50K mi)

$500

ELECTRICAL(~50K mi)

$500

BODY/STRUCTURE(~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 56 owner complaints for this specific year, here's what to check or ask about:

☐
VISIBILITY: ADHESIVE FAILURE TO THE WINSHIELD GLASS SURFACE
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
OTHER: 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
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
ELECTRICAL: 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
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
BODY/STRUCTURE: 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 DE
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
General: Get a pre-purchase inspection from an independent mechanic ($100-$200)