2012 Volvo S80 Recalls, Complaints & Specs
3 safety recalls list the 2012 Volvo S80, and owners have filed 8 complaints with NHTSA. Check your own VIN below.
3 safety recalls for the 2012 Volvo S80
Most recent first. Recall repairs are free at any authorised dealer. Click a recall for the full defect, consequence and remedy text.
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Seat belts: front
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…
Remedy: 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…
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Power train: control module (tcm/pcm/tecm)
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.
Remedy: Volvo will notify owners, and dealers will upgrade the software to the transmission control module, free of charge. The safety recall began on august 10, 2012. Owners may contact volvo cars at 1-800-458-1552.
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Electrical system: wiring
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…
Remedy: 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…
8 owner complaints filed with NHTSA
Owners of the 2012 Volvo S80 have filed 8 complaints with NHTSA; 1 describe a crash. Reports cite 1 injury and 0 deaths. The average mileage at failure in those reports is 55,784 miles. Complaints peaked in 2016 with 2 filed that year.
Most-reported components
What owners are reporting
“A batch of metal used for the steering wheel trim prematurely wears down at the base of the steering wheel in 2 locations out of sight with normal use and becomes razor sharp. When turning the wheel,”
Owner complaint to NHTSA, March 25, 2024 · Steering
“My wife karen was on her way to work on february 24, 2020 when the driver side-view mirror detached, hit the pavement and shattered. The incident occurred at about 7:45 am. The vehicle had been parked”
Owner complaint to NHTSA, March 2, 2020 · Unknown or other
Fuel economy and specs
EPA ratings for the 2012 Volvo S80 (S80 AWD, S80 FWD). Ranges cover every tested configuration.
| Combined | 21–23 mpg |
|---|---|
| City / Highway | 18–20 / 26–28 |
| Fuel | Regular |
| EPA class | Midsize Cars |
| Engine | 6 cyl, 3/3.2 L |
| Transmission | Automatic (S6) |
Compare Volvo S80 model years
Recall and complaint counts for every Volvo S80 model year in NHTSA's database.
| Model year | Recalls | Complaints |
|---|---|---|
| 1999 Volvo S80 | 4 | 199 |
| 2000 Volvo S80 | 4 | 318 |
| 2001 Volvo S80 | 7 | 164 |
| 2002 Volvo S80 | 4 | 42 |
| 2003 Volvo S80 | 5 | 26 |
| 2004 Volvo S80 | 4 | 50 |
| 2005 Volvo S80 | 5 | 15 |
| 2006 Volvo S80 | 3 | 12 |
| 2007 Volvo S80 | 5 | 24 |
| 2008 Volvo S80 | 7 | 26 |
| 2009 Volvo S80 | 5 | 16 |
| 2010 Volvo S80 | 5 | 27 |
| 2011 Volvo S80 | 4 | 5 |
| 2012 Volvo S80 | 3 | 8 |
| 2013 Volvo S80 | 3 | 8 |
| 2014 Volvo S80 | 1 | 1 |
| 2015 Volvo S80 | 2 | 7 |
| 2016 Volvo S80 | 2 | 6 |
Checking a specific 2012 Volvo S80
How do I know if my 2012 Volvo S80 has an open recall?
Enter your 17-character VIN above. The VIN is on the driver's side dashboard (visible through the windshield), the driver's door jamb sticker, and your registration or insurance card. The check runs against NHTSA's live database and tells you which campaigns list your vehicle. 3 campaigns currently list the 2012 Volvo S80; your car may already have been repaired under some of them.
Is the recall repair free?
Yes. Under federal law, manufacturers must fix safety recalls at no charge for vehicles up to 15 years old from the date of sale to the first owner. Contact any authorised Volvo dealer with your VIN and the NHTSA campaign number (for example 12V075000).
What is the difference between a recall and a complaint?
A recall is a safety campaign filed by the manufacturer or ordered by NHTSA, with a defined defect and remedy. A complaint is a report an owner sent to NHTSA; it is not verified, but patterns of complaints are what trigger NHTSA investigations and, eventually, recalls.
Other Volvo models
- XC901,528 complaints
- S601,266 complaints
- V70933 complaints
- XC60651 complaints
- S70593 complaints
- 850569 complaints
- S40491 complaints
- XC70417 complaints
Source: NHTSA recall and complaint databases and EPA fuel economy data, October 2026. Complaint counts are owner reports to NHTSA, not verified defects. Recall counts are safety campaigns that list this model year; whether a particular car was already repaired depends on its VIN. How this data is compiled.