2012 Volvo XC60 Problems & Owner Complaints

Visibility/Wiper 19

“During rain, water is leaking inside the car from the driver’s side windshield while I’m driving, obstructing my vision.”
NHTSA complaint #11561587, 2023

“The front windshield was not properly sealed during manufacturing and is now leaking when it rains. Water drips down the inside of the windshield in front of the driver resulting in distraction and poor visibility. I also fear that in an accident the windshield would not perform as it should and would be a safety issue. I brought it to the Volvo dealer and they just said I had to have it replaced but they do not provide that service. I brought it to a windshield service center and the technician was able to push on the windshield with only his hand and confirm that it was not sealed and showed…”
NHTSA complaint #11475160, 2022

“Manufacturers original windshield began leaking. On inspection windshield is not properly bonded or adhered to vehicle body and is able to be pushed off the body of the vehicle with little pressure from the inside of the cabin. Windshield repair company advised me to look for a recall notice they were so concerned. Didn't find one, so I wanted to report a safety concern”
NHTSA complaint #11463555, 2022

Unknown Or Other 9 1 crash

“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 DEPLOY ANYWHERE ON THE VOLVO. THANKFULLY, NOBODY WAS SERIOUSLY HURT AS ALL WERE WEARING SEATBELTS. BASED ON THE SEVERITY AND SPEED OF THE IMPACT, I AM VERY SUPRISED AND CONCERNED THE AIRBAG SYSTEM DIDN'T FUNCTION.”
NHTSA complaint #10818456, 2015 · crash

“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?”
NHTSA complaint #11566639, 2024

“A faulty radiator anti-tamper device caused loss of communication to the engine control computer. The check engine light turns on and “charging failure-service urgent” message pops up during driving. Which cause the drivers worry even panic. I talked to local dealer several times. I was told to change battery everytime. But my battery and alternator were both tested fine. The message could pop up right after full charged battery. There are many complains at Volvo forums. Volvo knows the issue, but they decided not to recall it. The check engine light and messages pops up on and off by itself.…”
NHTSA complaint #11488496, 2022

Electrical System 4

“On October 12, 2022 while driving home from the Schar Cancer Center in Fairfax, my 2012 Volvo XC60 experienced an end of life event. My check engine light came on when I entered my neighborhood. The car began sputtering and the gas pedal was delayed and at times, unresponsive. I was able to make it to my house and made an appointment to service my Volvo. My Volvo was towed to GT Peace Automotive on November 6. The three-week delay was due to their backlog of work. They are a trusted repair service and have provided service to all my vehicles over the past four years. The attached document ind…”
NHTSA complaint #11493444, 2022

“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”
NHTSA complaint #11364950, 2020

“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 CONTROL - CAUSED MALFUNCTION. WHEN GOING FROM STOP TO START WATER RAINS DOWN IN EYESIGHT CAUSE ANOTHER MAJOR SAFETY CONCERN. DEALER SAID WINDSHIELD WAS LOOSE. SERVICE SAID THEY HAD NOT SEEN THIS PROBLEM. SALES SAID THIS MODEL HAS THIS PROBLEM ALL THE TIME. INTERESTING CONFLICT... VOLVO FORUMS HAVE THIS…”
NHTSA complaint #11189823, 2018

Structure 4 1 crash

“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 DEPLOY ANYWHERE ON THE VOLVO. THANKFULLY, NOBODY WAS SERIOUSLY HURT AS ALL WERE WEARING SEATBELTS. BASED ON THE SEVERITY AND SPEED OF THE IMPACT, I AM VERY SUPRISED AND CONCERNED THE AIRBAG SYSTEM DIDN'T FUNCTION.”
NHTSA complaint #10818456, 2015 · crash

“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 driver out of the vehicle in case of an accident and b)the door could open while driving because the latch contains a defective part. Other Volvo models have been recalled because of this problem, but my Vin number is currently not included in the recall. I contend that it should be recalled for my…”
NHTSA complaint #11422492, 2021

“The rain water leaking through windshield. It could cause rust in the frame, then cause the failure of whole structure. I checked the Volvo forums, seems there are many Volvo owners have similar issues. I owned other cars, it’s the first time I had leaking water through perimeter of windshield.”
NHTSA complaint #11428956, 2020

Steering 3 1 injury

“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 CAR. ALSO, UPON CALLING THE DEALER THIS MORNING THEY SAID THEY KEEP A NUMBER OF THE REPLACEMENT PARTS IN INVENTORY BECAUSE IT HAPPENS ALL THE TIME. MUCH TO MY SURPRISE THERE HAS NOT BEEN A SAFETY RECALL. THE DEALER SAID THEY WILL WORK WITH ME ON THE PRICE, BUT WOULD NOT COVER IT BECAUSE MY CAR IS…”
NHTSA complaint #10726242, 2015 · 1 injury(ies)

“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 UNCONTROLLABLY.TO MOVE THE STEERING WHEEL LEFT, THE CAR WANTED TO GO RIGHT. WHEN GOING STRAIGHT THERE WAS A WOBBLY UNSTABLE FEELING, AND WAS NOTICEABLE TO PASSENGERS IN THE CAR. THE ISSUE DID NOT OCCUR AT LOWER SPEEDS AND CAR PERFORM NORMALLY. THE SENSATION WAS SIMILAR TO THE INPUT ON A BOAT. THE ONLY CORR…”
NHTSA complaint #11289227, 2019

“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 COMMON PLACE ALTERNATOR FAILURE (THERE HAS BEEN A RECALL CAMPAIGN FOR SIMILAR PROBLEMS WITH AUXILIARY BELT TENSIONER). POWER STEERING FAILED ALTHOUGH BATTERY WAS FULLY CHARGED. FOUND ON THE INTERNET THIS OCCURRING SEVERAL TIMES TO OTHER XC60 DRIVERS. AS ALTERNATOR FAILURES WITHOUT ANY WARNING AR…”
NHTSA complaint #10469821, 2012

Visibility 3

“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 diagnosed or repaired by an independent mechanic or dealer. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 61,174.”
NHTSA complaint #11591814, 2024

“The windshield was not sealed properly during manufacturing because of a problem with the sealant used. This has caused a leak from the windshield on both the driver and passenger side from the top of the windshield when it rains. This creates lowered visibility when driving with water on the inside of the car, and also causes driving distractions while operating the vehicle. This improperly installed windshield also has caused malfunctions in electrical components in the windshield. There are no warning lights for this issue, but the windshield must be resealed by an auto glass technician.”
NHTSA complaint #11467173, 2022

“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 VOLVO XC60. WHILE OPERATING THE VEHICLE IN THE RAIN, WATER LEAKED FROM THE DRIVER'S SIDE WINDSHIELD AND MADE CONTACT WITH THE DRIVER. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER AND LOCAL DEALER WERE NOT NOTIFIED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 98,000. THE VIN WAS INVALID.”
NHTSA complaint #11203168, 2019

Air Bags 2 1 crash

“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 DEPLOY ANYWHERE ON THE VOLVO. THANKFULLY, NOBODY WAS SERIOUSLY HURT AS ALL WERE WEARING SEATBELTS. BASED ON THE SEVERITY AND SPEED OF THE IMPACT, I AM VERY SUPRISED AND CONCERNED THE AIRBAG SYSTEM DIDN'T FUNCTION.”
NHTSA complaint #10818456, 2015 · crash

“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 in to a Volvo dealership and the technicians offered the fix as the only way my cars airbags would work if i got it fixed.”
NHTSA complaint #11522879, 2023

Engine 2

“"Failure Charging" warning advisory light came on the dashboard. This problem has been going on for the whole ten years I have owned this vehicle. I am the original owner of this Volvo and had some engine warning on the dashboard since the first month. I took vehicle in to the Culver City Volvo for 1000 miles check-up and annual oil change and check-up for 5 years under warranty and requested software update and reported the engine stalling during the first month. The "failure charging" or "engine check" or "dangerous" "immediate" repair needed signs came on sometimes and did not come on other…”
NHTSA complaint #11479461, 2022

“THE CAR USES AN EXCESSIVE AMOUNT OF ENGINE OIL. CHECK OIL LIGHT COMES ON WILL DRIVING CAUSING A POTENTIAL SAFETY HAZARD WHILE I FIND A SAFE LOCATION TO STOP AND ADD ENGINE OIL.”
NHTSA complaint #10809799, 2015

Tires 2

“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.”
NHTSA complaint #11672211, 2025

“JUST BOUGHT THE CAR AND DROVE APPROXIMATELY 30 MILES AND THE TIRE PRESSURE MONITORING SYSTEM LIGHT CAME ON. DROVE ANOTHER 10 MILES HOME AND ARRANGED FOR AN APPOINTMENT WITH THE DEALER FOR CORRECTION/REPAIR. NOTICED THAT THE ERROR WARNING DID NOT COME ON INITIALLY AFTER VEHICLE WAS PARKED BUT, SEEMED IF I DROVE ABOUT 25 MILES OR MORE THE LIGHT WOULD COME ON AND STAY ON, AND THIS IS WHAT OCCURRED UNTIL I WENT TO HAVE IT SERVICED. DEALER GET ME FOR 4 HOURS AND TOLD ME THEY COULD NOT GET THE TIRES TO READ. THE DEALER THEN MADE AN APPOINTMENT WITH VOLVO FOR CORRECTION/SERVICE, AND THEY KEPT ME…”
NHTSA complaint #10595403, 2014

Wheels 2

“MY ISSUE IS RELATED TO THE CONSTANT CORROSION PROBLEMS ON TPS THAT LEAD TO MULTIPLE REPLACEMENTS ON MY VEHICLE. IT WAS DISCOVERED DURING SEMI ANNUAL CHANGEOVER OF WINTER AND SUMMER TIRES, WHERE ONE OF THE WHEELS AND TIRES DEFLATED DUE TO CORROSION OF THE TPS. COSTLY PART THAT IS LIKELY DEFECTIVE IN DESIGN AND IF FAILED ON ROADWAY COULD HAVE RESULTED IN A FLAT TIRE AND VEHICLE ROADWAY INCIDENT. THIS IS A REPEATED PROBLEM...”
NHTSA complaint #11140064, 2018

“THE AXLES ARE ALREADY NEEDING TO BE REPLACED ON THE FRONT WHEELS. THERE IS ONLY 68,000 MILES ON THEM. THE AUTO SHOP SAYS IT'S TOO EARLY FOR THAT TO BE HAPPENING. NOT TO MENTION THERE IS A WHOPPING PRICE TAG FOR THE PARTS!!”
NHTSA complaint #10917586, 2016

Electronic Stability Control (Esc) 1

“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 UNCONTROLLABLY.TO MOVE THE STEERING WHEEL LEFT, THE CAR WANTED TO GO RIGHT. WHEN GOING STRAIGHT THERE WAS A WOBBLY UNSTABLE FEELING, AND WAS NOTICEABLE TO PASSENGERS IN THE CAR. THE ISSUE DID NOT OCCUR AT LOWER SPEEDS AND CAR PERFORM NORMALLY. THE SENSATION WAS SIMILAR TO THE INPUT ON A BOAT. THE ONLY CORR…”
NHTSA complaint #11289227, 2019

Fuel/Propulsion System 1

“THE FUEL GAUGE SHOWS NO FUEL EVEN WHEN FULL OR AT TIMES SHOWS ABOUT 1/3 FULL EVEN WHEN FULL. AND DOES NOT DECREASE - ALLOWING FOR POSSIBLE RUNNING OUT OF GAS- CAUSING A ROAD HAZARD”
NHTSA complaint #11382961, 2020

Power Train 1 1 crash

“UNCONTROLLABLE ACCELERATION, OVERRIDING BRAKE: UNEXPLAINED ACCIDENT OCCURRED AS I HAD PULLED INTO ANGLE PARKING SLOT, FOOT ON BRAKE READY TO SHIFT TO "PARK" . SUDDENLY THE CAR UNEXPECTEDLY ACCELERATED FORWARD ABOUT 5 FEET AND LURCHED INTO THE WOODEN PARKING BARRIER THAT DELINEATES THE EDGE OF THE PARKING LOT, CRACKING IT. ENGINE WAS REVVING. I SHIFTED INTO REVERSE TO GET BACK INTO PARKING SPOT (FOOT ON BRAKE NECESSARY TO SHIFT INTO REVERSE) AND CAR ACCELERATED BACKWARD TOTALLY OUT OF MY CONTROL, ONLY STOPPED AFTER BACKING INTO CAR PARKED ON OPPOSITE SIDE. PASSERBY SAID HE HEARD THE ENGINE R…”
NHTSA complaint #10454218, 2012 · crash

Seat Belts 1

“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 in to a Volvo dealership and the technicians offered the fix as the only way my cars airbags would work if i got it fixed.”
NHTSA complaint #11522879, 2023

Seats 1

“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 in to a Volvo dealership and the technicians offered the fix as the only way my cars airbags would work if i got it fixed.”
NHTSA complaint #11522879, 2023

Vehicle Speed Control 1 1 crash

“UNCONTROLLABLE ACCELERATION, OVERRIDING BRAKE: UNEXPLAINED ACCIDENT OCCURRED AS I HAD PULLED INTO ANGLE PARKING SLOT, FOOT ON BRAKE READY TO SHIFT TO "PARK" . SUDDENLY THE CAR UNEXPECTEDLY ACCELERATED FORWARD ABOUT 5 FEET AND LURCHED INTO THE WOODEN PARKING BARRIER THAT DELINEATES THE EDGE OF THE PARKING LOT, CRACKING IT. ENGINE WAS REVVING. I SHIFTED INTO REVERSE TO GET BACK INTO PARKING SPOT (FOOT ON BRAKE NECESSARY TO SHIFT INTO REVERSE) AND CAR ACCELERATED BACKWARD TOTALLY OUT OF MY CONTROL, ONLY STOPPED AFTER BACKING INTO CAR PARKED ON OPPOSITE SIDE. PASSERBY SAID HE HEARD THE ENGINE R…”
NHTSA complaint #10454218, 2012 · crash