2012 Volvo XC60 Reliability
The 2012 Volvo XC60 has 46 owner complaints and 3 recall campaigns on file with NHTSA, most often about visibility / wipers and unknown or other. Compared with other XC60 model years, it rates as a solid year: complaints are in line with the XC60's typical year.
By CarWhere Research · Updated 2026-11-04 · Source: NHTSA
46
NHTSA owner complaints
3
Recall campaigns
2
Complaints citing a crash
0
Complaints citing a fire
2012 Volvo XC60 complaints by component
Owner complaints filed with NHTSA for the 2012 model year, filed between 2012 and 2025. A complaint can name more than one component.
| Component | Complaints | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Visibility / wipers | 22 | 48% |
| Unknown or other | 9 | 20% |
| Electrical system | 4 | 9% |
| Body structure | 4 | 9% |
| Steering | 3 | 7% |
| Tires | 2 | 4% |
| Air bags | 2 | 4% |
| Engine | 2 | 4% |
2012 Volvo XC60 recalls
3 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 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. |
| 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 XC60 years
Verdicts come from CarWhere's year-by-year XC60 analysis where it covers the year, otherwise from the years shown here.
| Model year | Complaints | Recalls | Most-reported area | Verdict |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2010 | 56 | 7 | Unknown or other | Caution |
| 2011 | 36 | 4 | Visibility / wipers | Solid |
| 2012 (this page) | 46 | 3 | Visibility / wipers | Solid |
| 2013 | 66 | 3 | Visibility / wipers | Solid |
| 2014 | 16 | 2 | Electrical system | Better year |
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 XC60
- Visibility: test the wipers at every speed, washers, defrosters and the climate system (fogging is a common complaint).
- Electrical: test every light, window, lock, the infotainment screen and the charging system; scan for stored fault codes.
- Body: look under the car for rust or damaged subframe and rocker areas, and check panel gaps for signs of repair.
- 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 3 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 XC60 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 XC60 reliability FAQ
Is the 2012 Volvo XC60 reliable?
The 2012 Volvo XC60 has 46 owner complaints and 3 recall campaigns on file with NHTSA, most often about visibility / wipers and unknown or other. Compared with other XC60 model years, it rates as a solid year: complaints are in line with the XC60's typical year.
What are the most common 2012 Volvo XC60 problems?
The most-reported problem areas in NHTSA owner complaints for the 2012 Volvo XC60 are visibility / wipers (22), unknown or other (9), electrical system (4), body structure (4). One complaint can name more than one component.
Does the 2012 Volvo XC60 have recalls?
NHTSA lists 3 recall campaigns for the 2012 Volvo XC60, including 12V075000 (electrical system — wiring) and 12V101000 (body structure — body). Recall repairs are free at a dealer, and whether one was done is tracked by VIN.
How does the 2012 Volvo XC60 compare with the 2011 and 2013 models?
By NHTSA records, the 2011 has 36 complaints and 4 recalls (solid); the 2013 has 66 complaints and 3 recalls (solid). The 2012 has 46 complaints and 3 recalls.
How do I check a specific used 2012 Volvo XC60?
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 XC60 research
Other Volvo XC60 model years:
Sources: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation owner complaints (all body-style listings for the 2012 XC60, de-duplicated by complaint number) and NHTSA recall campaigns, retrieved 2026-11-04.