Model year guide

2012 Volvo S60

Recalls, most-reported problems, crash-test ratings, fuel economy and what a 2012 Volvo S60 is worth — from official NHTSA and EPA data. 279 on record.

2012 Volvo S60 — representative photo
Representative photo · via Wikimedia Commons

2012 Volvo S60 at a glance

Safety recalls8
Owner complaints121
Overall safety5 / 5 ★
Typical price$14,834

Free: specs, open recalls for that exact car, build sheet and fair price.

2012 Volvo S60 recalls 8

Equipment:other:labels NHTSA Campaign #11V508000 · 18/10/2011

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 SPARE TIRE KIT. THESE VEHICLES FAIL TO COMPLY WITH THE REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NUMBER. 110, "TIRE SELECTION AND RIMS." THESE VEH…

Fix: VOLVO WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND DEALERS WILL INSPECT THE VEHICLE AND INSTALL THE LABEL AS NECESSARY, FREE OF CHARGE. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN ON FEBRUARY 23, 2012. OWNERS MAY CONTACT VOLVO AT 1-201-768-7300.

Fuel System, Gasoline:delivery:fuel Pump NHTSA Campaign #11V303000 · 01/06/2011

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 THE PUMP UNIT.

Fix: VOLVO WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND DEALERS WILL UPGRADE THE ENGINE CONTROL MODULE SOFTWARE, FREE OF CHARGE. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN ON JULY 1, 2011. OWNERS MAY CONTACT VOLVO AT 1-201-768-7300.

Electrical System:wiring NHTSA Campaign #12V075000 · 28/02/2012

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.

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.

Fuel System, Gasoline:delivery:hoses, Lines/piping, And Fittings NHTSA Campaign #11V311000 · 06/06/2011

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 ASSEMBLY FORCE ON THE FEMALE CONNECTOR ASSEMBLY AND THE POSSIBILITY THAT THE LOCKING FUNCTION MAY NOT BE ENGAGED.

Fix: VOLVO DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE FUEL LINES FREE OF CHARGE. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN ON JUNE 24, 2011. OWNERS MAY CONTACT VOLVO AT 1-201-768-7300.

Structure:body NHTSA Campaign #12V101000 · 14/03/2012

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 VEHICLE’S UNDERCARRIAGE.

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 CA…

Engine And Engine Cooling:engine NHTSA Campaign #13V592000 · 22/11/2013

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 the driver of a low oil pressure situation.

Fix: Volvo will notify owners, and dealers will update the vehicle's software so that the driver is alerted should there be a low oil pressure situation, free of charge. The recall began on January 10, 2014. Owners may contact Volvo at 1-800-458-1552. Volvo's number for this campaign is R29436.

Seat Belts:front NHTSA Campaign #20V378000 · 30/06/2020

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 cr…

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.

Latches/locks/linkages:doors:latch NHTSA Campaign #19V849000 · 26/11/2019

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 closed when, in fact, it is not.

Fix: Volvo will notify owners, and dealers will replace all four door latches, free of charge. The recall began April 9, 2020. Owners may contact Volvo customer service at 1-800-458-1552. Volvo's number for this recall is R89978.

Source: U.S. NHTSA. A recall applies to a model year, but only a VIN check shows whether a specific car has had the repair done.

2012 Volvo S60 common problems

The most-reported problem areas from 121 owner complaints filed with NHTSA — and what to check before you buy.

Engine
Listen for knocks or ticking, check for leaks and blue/white exhaust smoke, and make sure it doesn't overheat. No check-engine light should be on.
Visibility
Test wipers, washers, defrosters and all mirrors. Check the windshield for cracks and any camera/sensor for fogging or faults.
Vehicle Speed Control
Test cruise control and throttle response, and watch for any hesitation or unintended acceleration.
Service Brakes
Brakes should feel firm and quiet — no grinding, pulsing or pulling. Check for an ABS light and uneven pad/rotor wear.
Air Bags
Confirm the airbag light turns on then off at startup — if it stays lit there's a fault (costly, and a safety risk). Check for signs of prior deployment.
Back Over Prevention
Have a trusted mechanic inspect this system as part of a pre-purchase inspection.

2012 Volvo S60 safety ratings

Overall★★★★★
Frontal crash★★★★★
Side crash★★★★★
Rollover★★★★★

Source: NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings (NCAP), tested as the 2012 Volvo S60 4 DR AWD. Ratings can differ by body style and drivetrain.

What's a 2012 Volvo S60 worth?

Low
$11,900
Typical price
$14,834
High
$17,200

From 279 comparable 2012 Volvo S60 listings.

2012 Volvo S60 trims & engines on record

Trims
T5 · T6 · T6 R-Design
Engines
2.5L 5-cyl 250 hp · 3.0L 6-cyl 300 hp

2012 Volvo S60 vehicles on record

Other Volvo S60 model years

2012 Volvo S60 — frequently asked questions

Does the 2012 Volvo S60 have any safety recalls?

Yes — NHTSA lists 8 safety recalls for the 2012 Volvo S60. Recall repairs are free at any franchised dealer. Whether a specific car still has one open depends on its VIN.

What are the most common problems with the 2012 Volvo S60?

Based on 121 owner complaints filed with NHTSA, the most-reported problem areas are engine, visibility, vehicle speed control.

What is the 2012 Volvo S60 safety rating?

NHTSA gives the 2012 Volvo S60 an overall crash-test rating of 5 out of 5 stars (frontal 5★, side 5★, rollover 5★).

How much is a 2012 Volvo S60 worth?

Comparable 2012 Volvo S60 listings run roughly $11,900–$17,200, typically around $14,834 (from 279 vehicles).

Sources: NHTSA (recalls, complaints, crash tests), U.S. EPA (fuel economy). Vehicle data only — CarLogs never shows owner information.