2012 Volvo S60 Reliability
The 2012 Volvo S60 has 121 owner complaints and 8 recall campaigns on file with NHTSA, most often about engine and electrical system. Compared with other S60 model years, it rates as a year to avoid: its complaint rate runs well above the S60's typical year, while the 2014 has a cleaner record.
By CarWhere Research · Updated 2026-11-04 · Source: NHTSA
121
NHTSA owner complaints
8
Recall campaigns
8
Complaints citing a crash
0
Complaints citing a fire
2012 Volvo S60 complaints by component
Owner complaints filed with NHTSA for the 2012 model year, filed between 2011 and 2026. A complaint can name more than one component.
| Component | Complaints | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Engine | 61 | 50% |
| Electrical system | 17 | 14% |
| Unknown or other | 15 | 12% |
| Seat belts | 9 | 7% |
| Steering | 8 | 7% |
| Fuel / propulsion system | 7 | 6% |
| Body structure | 7 | 6% |
| Speed control / throttle | 6 | 5% |
2012 Volvo S60 recalls
8 recall campaigns on NHTSA record for the 2012 model year, by the date NHTSA received the manufacturer's report. Recall repairs are free at a dealer.
| NHTSA campaign | Date | Component | Summary |
|---|---|---|---|
| 11V303000 | Jun 1, 2011 | Fuel system — delivery / fuel pump | Volvo is recalling certain model year 2012 S60 passenger cars manufactured from November 18, 2010, through May 5, 2011. The software for the fuel pump units may not be compatible with all fuel pumps and components resulting in insufficient fuel transfer in… |
| 11V311000 | Jun 6, 2011 | Fuel system — delivery / hoses, lines/piping, and fittings | Volvo is recalling certain model year 2012 S60 passenger cars manufactured from January 18, 2011, through January 28, 2011. The male part of the fuel line quick connector end shape was produced with dimensions out of specification, leading to excessive… |
| 11V508000 | Oct 18, 2011 | Equipment — other / labels | Volvo is recalling certain model year 2006-2012 c70 vehicles manufactured from November 15, 2005, through July 31, 2011, and model year 2011-2012 S60 vehicles manufactured from July 14, 2010, through April 16, 2011, that were equipped with optional accessory… |
| 12V075000 | Feb 28, 2012 | Electrical system — wiring | 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,… |
| 12V101000 | Mar 14, 2012 | Body structure — body | 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. |
| 13V592000 | Nov 22, 2013 | Engine & cooling — engine | Volvo Cars of North America, LLC (Volvo) is recalling certain model year 2011-2012 S60 vehicles manufactured June 22, 2010, through May 14, 2012, and equipped with 5-cylinder B5254T5 (VIN code 62) engines. In the affected vehicles, the vehicle may not alert… |
| 19V849000 | Nov 26, 2019 | Latches, locks & linkages — doors / latch | Volvo Car of USA LLC (Volvo) is recalling certain 2011-2017 S60, S60I, V60, S60CC and V60CC vehicles. A component within the door latches may break, making the doors difficult to latch and/or leading the driver or a passenger to believe a door is securely… |
| 20V378000 | Jun 30, 2020 | Seat belts — front | 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… |
How the 2012 compares with nearby S60 years
Verdicts come from CarWhere's year-by-year S60 analysis where it covers the year, otherwise from the years shown here.
| Model year | Complaints | Recalls | Most-reported area | Verdict |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2011 | 5 | 6 | Tires | Too few reports |
| 2012 (this page) | 121 | 8 | Engine | Avoid |
| 2013 | 86 | 4 | Engine | Avoid |
| 2014 | 25 | 3 | Engine | Solid |
Complaints are unverified owner reports filed with NHTSA and are not adjusted for how many of each year were sold, so they compare years of the same model rather than different models.
What to check on a used 2012 Volvo S60
- Engine: cold-start it yourself, listen for ticking or knocking, check for oil leaks and oil consumption, and ask for oil-change records.
- Electrical: test every light, window, lock, the infotainment screen and the charging system; scan for stored fault codes.
- Seat belts: pull each belt fully, make sure it retracts and latches, and check the belt warning light.
- Steering: check for a steering warning light, heavy or notchy steering and clunks over bumps; power-steering faults show up at low speed.
- Recalls: confirm each of the 8 campaigns above was completed on this VIN; open recalls are repaired free at a dealer.
- History: run the VIN for salvage, theft and odometer records, and have an independent mechanic inspect the car before you pay.
Check this exact car
Any 2012 Volvo S60 can be better or worse than its model year. The CarWhere Used Car Report checks one VIN for salvage records, salvage-auction records (with damage photos when the auction published them), stolen-vehicle records, the odometer trail and its listing and price history since 2015. Free preview first; the full report is $12.99, one time.
2012 Volvo S60 reliability FAQ
Is the 2012 Volvo S60 reliable?
The 2012 Volvo S60 has 121 owner complaints and 8 recall campaigns on file with NHTSA, most often about engine and electrical system. Compared with other S60 model years, it rates as a year to avoid: its complaint rate runs well above the S60's typical year, while the 2014 has a cleaner record.
What are the most common 2012 Volvo S60 problems?
The most-reported problem areas in NHTSA owner complaints for the 2012 Volvo S60 are engine (61), electrical system (17), unknown or other (15), seat belts (9). One complaint can name more than one component.
Does the 2012 Volvo S60 have recalls?
NHTSA lists 8 recall campaigns for the 2012 Volvo S60, including 11V303000 (fuel system — delivery / fuel pump) and 11V311000 (fuel system — delivery / hoses, lines/piping, and fittings). Recall repairs are free at a dealer, and whether one was done is tracked by VIN.
How does the 2012 Volvo S60 compare with the 2011 and 2013 models?
By NHTSA records, the 2011 has 5 complaints and 6 recalls (too few reports); the 2013 has 86 complaints and 4 recalls (avoid). The 2012 has 121 complaints and 8 recalls.
How do I check a specific used 2012 Volvo S60?
Run its VIN. The CarWhere Used Car Report checks one VIN for salvage records, salvage-auction records (with damage photos when the auction published them), stolen-vehicle records, the odometer trail and its listing and price history since 2015, with a free preview first and the full report at $12.99, one time. Pair it with an independent pre-purchase inspection.
More Volvo S60 research
Sources: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation owner complaints (all body-style listings for the 2012 S60, de-duplicated by complaint number) and NHTSA recall campaigns, retrieved 2026-11-04.