2012 Volvo S60: Recalls, Problems & MPG
Here are the deets on the 2012 Volvo S60: 8 recalls, 121 owner complaints and up to 23 mpg combined.
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Recalls
8 vehicle recalls from the manufacturer. Repairs are free. Check your VIN to see if one is still open on your car.
Fuel system Vehicle recall #11V303000 · 2011 · 8,179 vehicles
What's wrong: 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.
Why it matters: Under certain driving conditions, there May be engine hesitation and possible engine stall even though the fuel gauge indicates up to 1/4 of the fuel is left in the tank. This condition increases the risk of a vehicle crash.
The 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.
Fuel system Vehicle recall #11V311000 · 2011 · 448 vehicles
What's wrong: 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.
Why it matters: If a vehicle exhibits this condition, the fuel line quick connector May detach and the engine May stall, increasing the risk of a crash. The customer May also notice a fuel smell and leakage. A fuel leak in the presence of an ignition source could result in a fire.
The fix: Volvo dealers will replace the fuel lines free of charge. The safety recall began on June 24, 2011.
Equipment Vehicle recall #11V508000 · 2011 · 20,611 vehicles
What's wrong: These vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number. 110, "tire selection and rims." these vehicles do not contain the correct information for vehicles equipped with the optional accessory spare tire and wheel kit.
Why it matters: A misprinted label could lead to improper tire inflation which could result in a tire failure, increasing the risk of a crash.
The 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.
Electrical Vehicle recall #12V075000 · 2012 · 32,552 vehicles
What's wrong: 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.
Why it matters: In the event of crash, the front and/or side impact air bags May deploy improperly or not at all, increasing the risk of injury. Also, the lap belt pretensioner May not deploy.
The 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.
Body & structure Vehicle recall #12V101000 · 2012 · 2,742 vehicles
What's wrong: An incorrect mixture of underbody coating and over-application can result in rigid, icicle-like areas hanging from vehicleâs undercarriage.
Why it matters: If this condition exists, the underbody coating May penetrate the fuels lines and cause fuel leakage, increasing the risk of a fire.
The 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.
Engine & cooling Vehicle recall #13V592000 · 2013 · 30,929 vehicles
What's wrong: In the affected vehicles, the vehicle May not alert the driver of a low oil pressure situation.
Why it matters: Without being warned of a low oil pressure situation, the driver May continue to drive the vehicle until it stalls, which increases the risk of a crash.
The 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.
Latches & locks Vehicle recall #19V849000 · 2019 · 144,937 vehicles
What's wrong: 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.
Why it matters: A door that is not securely latched could open while the vehicle is in motion, increasing the risk of injury to a vehicle occupant.
The fix: Volvo will notify owners, and dealers will replace all four door latches, free of charge. The recall began April 9, 2020.
Seat belts Vehicle recall #20V378000 · 2020 · 308,260 vehicles
What's wrong: 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…
Why it matters: An unsecured occupant has an increased risk of injury in the event of a crash.
The fix: Volvo will notify owners, and dealers will replace the seat belt anchor cable for both front seats. The recall began December 10, 2020.
Most-reported problems
Owner complaints filed with NHTSA, by component. One complaint can list several components. 0 mention a fire, 13 injuries and 0 deaths were reported.
What owners describe
- Engine (61): the most common themes are warning light on (24), stalls / loses power (17), noise or vibration (13).
- Electrical (17): the most common themes are stalls / loses power (4), electrical failure (3), noise or vibration (2).
- Other / unknown (15): the most common themes are noise or vibration (3), warning light on (3).
- Seat belts (9): no single recurring theme in the descriptions.
The 2012 Volvo S60 has 121 owner complaints, ranking #4 of 25 S60 model years for complaints (2.4× the average S60 year). Complaints peaked in 2021 (16 filed that year). The typical problem showed up when the car was about 7 years old, at a median of 78,500 miles. Neighboring years: 2011 (5 complaints, 6 recalls), 2013 (87 complaints, 4 recalls).
Engines & fuel economy (EPA)
| Engine | Transmission | Drive | City | Hwy | Comb. | Fuel |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2.5 L 5-cyl turbo | Automatic (S6) | Front-Wheel Drive | 20 | 30 | 23 | Regular |
| 3.0 L 6-cyl turbo | Automatic (S6) | All-Wheel Drive | 18 | 26 | 21 | Regular |
Want the full repair deets? Get the factory manual.
Recall and complaint data tells you what goes wrong. A service manual tells you how to fix it: torque specs, wiring diagrams, fluid capacities and step-by-step procedures for the 2012 Volvo S60.
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FAQ
Does the 2012 Volvo S60 have any recalls?
Yes. NHTSA lists 8 vehicle recalls for the 2012 Volvo S60. Recall repairs are free at any dealer, no matter how old the car is. Check your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
What are the most common 2012 Volvo S60 problems?
Owners have filed 121 complaints with NHTSA. The most-reported areas are engine (61), electrical (17), other / unknown (15).
What gas mileage does the 2012 Volvo S60 get?
EPA ratings run up to 23 mpg combined (2.5 L, Automatic (S6)), across 2 engine and transmission combos.
Where can I get a 2012 Volvo S60 repair manual?
eManualOnline sells downloadable manuals, Mitchell 1 DIY and ALLDATAdiy sell online access to factory repair data, and Haynes sells printed guides and online access. Pick a download if you want to keep it, or a subscription for wiring diagrams and TSBs.