2012 Volvo S80 Problems

Below Average Complaints

Real NHTSA owner complaints for the 2012 Volvo S80.

20112013
Complaints
11
Crashes
3
Fires
0
Injuries
2
Fatalities
—
Recalls
3

Worst 2012 Volvo S80 Problems

Top 3 most-reported issues with average mileage at failure.

#11 complaints

Airbags

Crash-related:1
#21 complaints

Transmission / Drivetrain

#31 complaints

Seat-Related Issues

Crash-related:1
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All Problems by Category

Every NHTSA complaint category for the 2012 Volvo S80.

Airbags
1
complaints
Crashes
1
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Transmission / Drivetrain
1
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Seat-Related Issues
1
complaints
Crashes
1
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Steering Defects
1
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Body Structure
1
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Suspension Failures
1
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Tires:Pressure Monitoring And Regulating Systems
1
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Unintended Acceleration
1
complaints
Crashes
1
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Wheel Issues
1
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—

Search Owner Complaints

Read what owners actually reported to NHTSA for the 2012 Volvo S80. Type a keyword (e.g. “transmission”, “stalling”, “brakes”) to filter.

Recalls for 2012 Volvo S80

3 NHTSA recall campaigns affecting ~342,281 vehicles.

20V378000Seat Belts:front
~308,260 affected

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 crash.

12V317000Power Train:automatic Transmission:control Module (tcm/pcm/tecm)
~1,469 affected

VOLVO IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2011-2013 S80 VEHICLES. A SOFTWARE ERROR MAY PREVENT THE TRANSMISSION FROM DOWNSHIFTING SUCH AS SHIFTING FROM FIFTH TO FOURTH GEAR WHEN COASTING.

12V075000Electrical System:wiring
~32,552 affected

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.

Other Volvo S80 Years

199920002001200220032004200520062007200820092010201120122013201420152016

2012 Volvo S80 — FAQ

Answers based on real NHTSA complaint and recall data for this specific model year.

Is the 2012 Volvo S80 reliable?
Verdict: Below Average Complaints. The 2012 Volvo S80 has 11 NHTSA complaints, 3 crash-related, and 3 recall campaigns. The most common issue is Airbags with 1 complaints. Source: NHTSA via VinItel.
What are common problems with the 2012 Volvo S80?
Top reported problems: Airbags (1 complaints); Transmission / Drivetrain (1 complaints); Seat-Related Issues (1 complaints). Every complaint is filed by an owner with NHTSA — this is raw reported data, not editorial opinion.
How safe is the 2012 Volvo S80?
NHTSA complaints for the 2012 Volvo S80 include 3 crash-related reports, 0 fire reports, 2 injuries, and 0 fatalities. These are owner-reported incidents, not official crash-test ratings — a complaint being filed doesn't confirm a defect, but clusters around specific components are worth investigating.
Does the 2012 Volvo S80 have any recalls?
Yes — 3 NHTSA recall campaigns affecting an estimated 342,281 vehicles. Recalls are free to fix at the dealer. Always verify by VIN whether the specific car you're looking at has had its recalls addressed.
Should I buy a 2012 Volvo S80?
Fewer complaints than typical for this model. That's a good sign, but every individual car is different — the VIN still tells you what happened to this specific one.

Source: NHTSA (National Highway Traffic Safety Administration) complaint and recall databases, aggregated by VinItel.

Wider context: See the full Volvo S80 reliability report with year-by-year comparison and generation analysis.

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