What are the most common problems with the 2012 Volvo XC60?

The biggest complaint group names visibility and wipers, with 19 complaints. Owners describe water leaking in around the front glass.

Does the 2012 Volvo XC60 have recalls?

Yes. The by-year fact lists 3 recalls for 2012. See the Recalls section on this page for the details.

What is the gas mileage of the 2012 Volvo XC60?

See the fuel economy section on this page for the EPA figures.

Is the 2012 Volvo XC60 reliable?

Complaints are spread over several groups and the largest is visibility and wipers. Compare with other years in the by-year section.

2012 Volvo XC60 Problems, Recalls and MPG

Q: How many complaints does the 2012 Volvo XC60 have?

NHTSA has 46 owner complaints on file.

NHTSA has 46 owner complaints on file for the 2012 Volvo XC60^[1]. The biggest group points to visibility and wipers^[2].

46owner complaints^[1]

3recalls^[3]

20–21MPG combined (EPA)^[4]

5★NHTSA overall rating^[5]

Problems
Recalls
Fuel economy
Safety
Engine and size
By year
Verdict
FAQ

Most reported problems

Here are the complaint groups, biggest first.

Visibility and wipers. 19 complaints^[2]. Owners describe rain water coming in around the front glass, dripping onto the dash and the driver. Some say the dealer would not cover the repair once the warranty ended.
Unknown or other. 9 complaints^[6]. These reports do not fit a single part group.
Electrical system. 4 complaints^[7]. Owners describe a sudden loss of power assist while driving, a drained battery, and moisture reaching electrical parts.
Structure. 4 complaints^[8]. In the stories we read, owners tell of leaks at the glass seal, a door handle that stopped working, and a crash where the airbags stayed shut.
Steering. 3 complaints^[9]. Owners describe the wheel going heavy without warning, a loose sharp edge on the wheel, and the car feeling unsteady in the rain.
Visibility. 3 complaints^[10]. This is a separate visibility group from the one above.
Tires. 2 complaints^[11].
Engine. 2 complaints^[12].

Recalls

Newest first. Each recall covers only certain vehicles, so not every 2012 XC60 is necessarily included.

Seat Belts › Front (20V378), June 2020. About 308,260 vehicles are potentially affected across every model and year the recall names. The recall names these risks: a crash, injury.^[13]
Structure › Body (12V101), March 2012. About 2,742 vehicles are potentially affected across every model and year the recall names. The recall names these risks: fire.^[14]
Electrical System › Wiring (12V075), February 2012. About 32,552 vehicles are potentially affected across every model and year the recall names. The recall names these risks: a crash, injury, an air bag that may not work as intended. Dealers do the repair free of charge.^[15]

Fuel economy

EPA ratings depend on the engine and drive. Annual fuel cost uses EPA's current fuel price assumptions, not prices when the car was new.

Version	City / highway / combined MPG	Annual fuel cost
XC60 FWD, 3.2L 6-cyl, Automatic (S6), Regular, Front-Wheel Drive^[4]	19 / 25 / 21	$3,200
XC60 AWD, 3.0L 6-cyl turbo, Automatic (S6), Regular, All-Wheel Drive^[16]	17 / 23 / 20	$3,350
XC60 AWD, 3.2L 6-cyl, Automatic (S6), Regular, All-Wheel Drive^[17]	18 / 24 / 20	$3,350

Safety ratings

Version	Overall	Frontal	Side	Rollover	Rollover risk
SUV AWD^[5]	5	5	5	4	17.6%
SUV FWD^[18]	5	5	5	4	17.6%

Engine and size

These are Canadian-market specifications from Transport Canada, so US models can differ slightly.

Version	Length	Width	Height	Wheelbase	Curb weight
XC60 4DR 3.2 FWD/PREMIER/PLATINUM FWD SUV^[19]	182 in	74 in	67 in	109 in	4,127 lb
XC60 4DR T6 AWD/PREMIER/PLATINUM/R-DESIGN AWD^[20]	182 in	74 in	67 in	109 in	4,251 lb

How 2012 compares with other years

Owner complaints filed with NHTSA for each XC60 model year. The 2012 is highlighted^[3].

Show the numbers

Model year	Complaints	Recalls
2009	0	1
2010	56	7
2011	36	4
2012	46	3
2013	66	3
2014	16	2
2015	47	1
2016	38	3
2017	16	4
2018	36	5
2019	37	8
2020	23	7
2021	50	5
2022	75	7
2023	55	6
2024	24	3
2025	37	4
2026	16	3

NHTSA's counts for the XC60 show 46 complaints and 3 recalls for 2012^[3]. Among the 19 model years listed, 12 have fewer complaints than 2012 and 6 have more^[3]. The fewest complaints are for 2009 (0) and the most are for 2022 (75)^[3]. These counts are not adjusted for sales, so treat them as a rough guide. The chart above shows every year.

Should you buy a used 2012 XC60?

The 2012 XC60 has 46 complaints on file^[1]. The largest group is about visibility and wipers, and owners keep coming back to leaks around the front glass^[2]. The other groups are small, so no single one stands out. These are unverified owner reports and are not adjusted for sales. Check the recalls and the by-year section on this page before you buy^[3].

Frequently asked questions

What are the most common problems with the 2012 Volvo XC60?: The biggest complaint group names visibility and wipers, with 19 complaints^[2]. Owners describe water leaking in around the front glass.
Does the 2012 Volvo XC60 have recalls?: Yes. The by-year fact lists 3 recalls for 2012^[3]. See the Recalls section on this page for the details.
How many complaints does the 2012 Volvo XC60 have?: NHTSA has 46 owner complaints on file^[1].
What is the gas mileage of the 2012 Volvo XC60?: See the fuel economy section on this page for the EPA figures.
Is the 2012 Volvo XC60 reliable?: Complaints are spread over several groups and the largest is visibility and wipers^[2]. Compare with other years in the by-year section.

Keep exploring

Other model years of the Volvo XC60

2012 this page
2013 66 complaints, 3 recalls
2015 47 complaints, 1 recall
2016 38 complaints, 3 recalls
2017 16 complaints, 4 recalls
2023 55 complaints, 6 recalls

Compare all model years of the Volvo XC60

Other Volvo models from 2012

2012 Volvo S60 121 complaints, 8 recalls

All Volvo models

Similar cars from 2012: suvs

2012 Buick Enclave 132 complaints, 6 recalls
2012 Cadillac SRX 417 complaints, 3 recalls
2012 Chevrolet Equinox 685 complaints, 3 recalls
2012 Chevrolet Traverse 354 complaints, 5 recalls
2012 Dodge Journey 376 complaints, 6 recalls
2012 Ford Edge 1,134 complaints, 3 recalls

All suvs we cover

Facts and sources

NHTSA has 46 owner complaints on file for the 2012 Volvo XC60 (2 mention a crash, 0 a fire, 1 injuries, 0 deaths reported). NHTSA vehicle records
19 complaints name the visibility/wiper component group (0 crashes, 0 fires, 0 injuries). NHTSA vehicle records
Owner complaints and recalls for every Volvo XC60 model year (chart above). NHTSA recall database
EPA rating for XC60 FWD, 3.2L 6-cyl, Automatic (S6), Regular, Front-Wheel Drive: 19 city / 25 highway / 21 combined MPG; EPA estimated annual fuel cost $3,200. EPA / DOE fueleconomy.gov
NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings, SUV AWD: overall 5 stars, frontal 5 stars, side 5 stars, rollover 4 stars; rollover risk 17.6%. NHTSA vehicle records
9 complaints name the unknown or other component group (1 crashes, 0 fires, 0 injuries, median mileage at failure 57,500). NHTSA vehicle records
4 complaints name the electrical system component group (0 crashes, 0 fires, 0 injuries). NHTSA vehicle records
4 complaints name the structure component group (1 crashes, 0 fires, 0 injuries). NHTSA vehicle records
3 complaints name the steering component group (0 crashes, 0 fires, 1 injuries). NHTSA vehicle records
3 complaints name the visibility component group (0 crashes, 0 fires, 0 injuries). NHTSA vehicle records
2 complaints name the tires component group (0 crashes, 0 fires, 0 injuries). NHTSA vehicle records
2 complaints name the engine component group (0 crashes, 0 fires, 0 injuries). NHTSA vehicle records
Recall 20V378, filed June 30, 2020: Seat Belts › Front. NHTSA recall database
Recall 12V101, filed March 14, 2012: Structure › Body. NHTSA recall database
Recall 12V075, filed February 28, 2012: Electrical System › Wiring. NHTSA recall database
EPA rating for XC60 AWD, 3.0L 6-cyl turbo, Automatic (S6), Regular, All-Wheel Drive: 17 city / 23 highway / 20 combined MPG; EPA estimated annual fuel cost $3,350. EPA / DOE fueleconomy.gov
EPA rating for XC60 AWD, 3.2L 6-cyl, Automatic (S6), Regular, All-Wheel Drive: 18 city / 24 highway / 20 combined MPG; EPA estimated annual fuel cost $3,350. EPA / DOE fueleconomy.gov
NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings, SUV FWD: overall 5 stars, frontal 5 stars, side 5 stars, rollover 4 stars; rollover risk 17.6%. NHTSA vehicle records
Transport Canada specifications via NHTSA vPIC, XC60 4DR 3.2 FWD/PREMIER/PLATINUM FWD SUV: length 182 in, width 74 in, height 67 in, wheelbase 109 in, curb weight 4,127 lb (converted from centimeters and kilograms). vpic.nhtsa.dot.gov
Transport Canada specifications via NHTSA vPIC, XC60 4DR T6 AWD/PREMIER/PLATINUM/R-DESIGN AWD: length 182 in, width 74 in, height 67 in, wheelbase 109 in, curb weight 4,251 lb (converted from centimeters and kilograms). vpic.nhtsa.dot.gov

Complaints submitted to NHTSA by owners; unverified reports, one complaint can name several components. Complaint counts are not normalized by sales; compare years of the same model, not different models. EPA annual fuel cost uses EPA's current fuel price assumptions, not the price when the car was new. Horsepower is the rating listed for EPA test vehicles. Dimensions are Canadian-market specifications and can differ slightly from US models.

2012 Volvo XC60: problems, recalls and fuel economy