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2012 Volvo XC70Problems, recalls & complaints

NHTSA has logged 14 owner complaints about the 2012 Volvo XC70, most often about the visibility/wiper. It is covered by 2 safety recalls, and for recall 20V-378 the manufacturer reports only 65% of affected cars repaired.

2012 Volvo XC70
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CarFlaw IndexNot enough dataHigher is better (0–100)
Safety recalls2Lowest repair rate 65%Owner complaints140 with a crash, fire or injuryTypical failure mileage41kVisibility/wiper, median miles

Source: NHTSA complaints, recalls, investigations and manufacturer recall reports, through June 27, 2022. Updated daily. Photo: IFCAR, Public domain.

Complaints by system

Where the 2012 Volvo XC70 has problems

14 complaints grouped by the system owners reported.

Box size = number of complaints naming that system. Darker = larger share. One complaint can name more than one system.
Complaints by system
SystemComplaintsCrash, fire or injury
Visibility/wiper50
Structure30
Steering20
Seat belts10
Wheels10
Service brakes10
Tires10
Visibility10

Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation. Complaints are submitted by the public and are not verified by NHTSA.

2 recalls

2012 Volvo XC70 recalls and how many were fixed

Each ring shows the share of affected cars repaired, from the manufacturer’s latest quarterly report to NHTSA. Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers.

65%repaired · 2022 Q3

Seat belts: front

Recall 20V-378 · Jun 30, 2020 · 308,260 vehicles · 199,654 repaired

Risk. An unsecured occupant has an increased risk of injury in the event of a crash.

Problem, fix and repair progress →

–no report yet

Electrical system: wiring

Recall 12V-075 · Feb 28, 2012 · 32,552 vehicles

Risk. 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.

Problem, fix and repair progress →

Recalls apply to specific cars. To see whether a recall is still open on yours, enter the 17-character VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls or with Volvo.

Best & worst years

2012 vs. every other XC70 year

Bars show complaints per model year. Colors show the CarFlaw verdict: complaints weighted for crashes, fires and injuries, adjusted for years on the road and compared with the XC70 median. How we score

'01'02'03'04'05'06'07'08'09'10'11'12'13'14'15'16
  • Avoid
  • Caution
  • Solid
  • Best
  • Not rated
NHTSA crash tests

2012 Volvo XC70 safety ratings

2012 Volvo XC70 SW AWD in NHTSA's New Car Assessment Program. Photos are from NHTSA's crash tests.

  • Stability control: Standard
  • Forward collision warning: Optional
  • Lane departure warning: Optional
In owners' words

What XC70 owners report

Recent visibility/wiper complaints filed with NHTSA, shortened. Personal details are removed.

Windshield seal leaking at top. This started a few weeks ago, I noticed water drips run down the inside of the windshield in front of the driver. I took a 4-hour trip last week and it rained for 30 minutes, the leak became worst causing me to need to wipe the inside of the windshield. Yesterday, I…
Complaint 11442748 · Dec 5, 2021
THE SEAL FOR THE WINDSHIELD HAS FAILED ALONG THE TOP PASSENGER SIDE. FROM THE INSIDE OF THE VEHICLE, ONE CAN PUSH THE WINDSHIELD ENOUGH TO SEE A GAP. WATER ENTERS WHEN RAINING; I BELIEVE THIS IS ALSO A SAFETY ISSUE IS THE SEAL COMPLETELY FAILS. IT STARTED AT ABOUT 55 MONTHS AFTER DELIVERY AND…
Complaint 11382865 · Dec 10, 2020 · 24,000 miles
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 VOLVO XC70. WHILE THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING IN THE RAIN, WATER WAS ENTERING THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT DISCOVERED THE WINDSCREEN FAILED AND CAUSED THE FRONT WINDSHIELD TO BECOME UNSECURED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO VOLVO OF MONTEREY IN SEASIDE, CA WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT…
Complaint 11291627 · Dec 27, 2019 · 63,000 miles

Own a 2012 XC70?

Decode your VIN to see the recalls for your exact car, then confirm open recalls with NHTSA.