2012 Volvo XC60 Problems, Complaints & Recalls
- Compared with other XC60 years
- More complaints than other years 7th of 17 for complaints
- Safety recalls
- 3 recalls: check your VIN
- NHTSA crash rating
- 5 out of 5 stars
Owners have filed 46 complaints with NHTSA about the 2012 Volvo XC60. That ranks 7th out of 17 XC60 model years for complaints. The most reported problem area is visibility/wiper (19 complaints, 41%), typically at around 79,500 miles. Complaints mention 2 crashes, 1 injury. There are 3 safety recalls covering this model year.
- 46owner complaints
- 3safety recalls
- 0NHTSA investigations
- 2complaints mentioning a crash
Complaints are unverified owner reports and are not adjusted for sales volume.
Most common 2012 Volvo XC60 problems
Complaints grouped by the part of the car owners reported, with the median mileage when the problem happened.
| Problem area | Complaints | Share | Median miles | Owners mention most | Typical repair cost |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Visibility/wiper | 19 | 41% | 79,500 | — | — |
| Unknown or Other | 9 | 20% | 57,500 | — | — |
| Electrical System | 4 | 9% | 39,400 | — | — |
| Structure | 4 | 9% | 60,000 | — | — |
| Steering | 3 | 7% | 57,500 | — | — |
| Visibility | 3 | 7% | 79,587 | — | — |
| Air Bags | 2 | 4% | 49,000 | — | — |
| Engine | 2 | 4% | 35,000 | — | — |
| Tires | 2 | 4% | 41,000 | — | — |
| Wheels | 2 | 4% | 13,000 | — | — |
| Electronic Stability Control (esc) | 1 | 2% | 57,500 | — | — |
| Fuel/propulsion System | 1 | 2% | 114,000 | — | — |
| Power Train | 1 | 2% | 800 | — | — |
| Seat Belts | 1 | 2% | — | — | — |
| Seats | 1 | 2% | — | — | — |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 1 | 2% | 800 | — | — |
One complaint can list several problem areas, so shares can add up to more than 100%.
Complaints by year received
2012 Volvo XC60 recalls (3)
Tap a recall to see the problem, the risk and the fix.
Seat belts:front
Problem: 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.
Fix: 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.
Structure:body
Problem: 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 vehicleâs undercarriage.
Risk: If this condition exists, the underbody coating may penetrate the fuels lines and cause fuel leakage, increasing the risk of a fire.
Fix: 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.
Electrical system:wiring
Problem: 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.
Fix: 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.
To see whether a specific car still has an open recall, enter its VIN on NHTSA's official recall lookup. You can also decode a VIN here.
Recent owner reports
Short excerpts of the latest complaints filed with NHTSA, with personal details removed. Full reports can be searched on NHTSA.gov.
Four tires purchased June 2022. As of July 2025 with 17,500 miles on the tires there is ozone/weather cracking on the entire tire and the sidewall near the rim is failing with the cord visible on one tire.
The contact owns a 2012 Volvo XC60. The contact stated that while it was raining, water seeped through the driver's side front windshield and onto the steering wheel. The contact placed a towel on top of the steering wheel to prevent water from damaging the electrical system. The vehicle was not…
The windshield leaks constantly. I'm worried about the windshield blowing out or electrical components being damaged. This seems to be a constant complaint according to internet search. Why hasn't this been addressed as a safety issue and a recall ordered?
During rain, water is leaking inside the car from the driverâs side windshield while Iâm driving, obstructing my vision.
It was explained to me that since the Back rear seat in the Volvo XC60 seatbelt had a fault that it alerted the SRS airbag system. In event of a crash the airbags in my car would not deploy and that the only remedy was to replace the entire seatbelt in the Volvo. To prove this point I took my car…
Other Volvo XC60 years
| Year | Complaints | Recalls |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 XC60 | 36 | 3 |
| 2024 XC60 | 24 | 2 |
| 2023 XC60 | 54 | 5 |
| 2022 XC60 | 74 | 6 |
| 2021 XC60 | 49 | 5 |
| 2020 XC60 | 22 | 6 |
| 2019 XC60 | 36 | 8 |
| 2018 XC60 | 36 | 5 |
| 2017 XC60 | 16 | 4 |
| 2016 XC60 | 38 | 3 |
| 2015 XC60 | 47 | 1 |
| 2014 XC60 | 16 | 2 |
| 2013 XC60 | 66 | 3 |
| 2012 | 46 | 3 |
| 2011 XC60 | 36 | 4 |
| 2010 XC60 | 56 | 7 |
| 2009 XC60 | 0 | 1 |
See all Volvo XC60 problems by year, every Volvo model, or the Volvo VIN decoder.
Similar Volvo models
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Frequently asked questions
What are the most common problems with the 2012 Volvo XC60?
Owners most often report visibility/wiper, unknown or other, electrical system problems. The top one, visibility/wiper, accounts for 19 complaints.
Was there a recall on the 2012 Volvo XC60?
Yes, 3 safety recalls. Enter your VIN at NHTSA.gov to check whether the repairs were done on your car.
Was the 2012 Volvo XC60 a good year?
Complaint data can't fully answer that, because counts aren't adjusted for sales. Compared with other XC60 model years, the 2012 has more complaints than most years, and NHTSA rates it 5 out of 5 stars overall in crash tests. Always get a pre-purchase inspection and check the VIN for open recalls.