2012 Volvo S80: True Cost, Problems & Verdict
8 NHTSA owner complaints · 3 recalls · data-computed verdict. No opinions — public data only.
Owner complaints: 8 filed with NHTSA
Complaints per year on the road: 0.57
What owners say
Verbatim reports filed with the United States safety regulator (NHTSA) by owners of this exact model year. Public record.
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, the spinning razor edge can cause the driver to lose control due to sudden pain due to slicing into the fingers. The metal slices into the skin drawing blood much like that of a papercut. I have experienced sudden cuts i…
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 in our driveway at 140 statesir place for 60 hours without being used and the mirror showed no sign of damage prior to being driver. the incident occurred about 800 feet from our residence as she was turning from sta…
Tl* the contact owns a 2012 volvo s80. while driving 35 mph, the contact stated that the wheel studs fractured from the tire. as a result, the vehicle slid onto the road shoulder and the fender was ripped off. there was no crash. the vehicle was towed to an independent mechanic and then taken to demondtrond volvo (volvo building, 14101 north fwy, houston, tx 77090, (281) 607-0382). the vehicle was not diagnosed or re…
Recalls: 3 campaigns (2 severe)
| Campaign | Component | Summary |
|---|---|---|
| 12V317000 | Power Train:Automatic Transmission: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. |
| 12V075000 | 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. |
| 20V378000 | 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 over time, causing… |
What it costs to buy — and what owning it really takes
Class-level estimates, priced as a mid-size premium car of its model year, re-priced to your country. Not a quote, not a valuation of one specific car — condition, mileage and options move it. How these are computed.
What it costs to run
EPA combined 21 MPG · estimated annual fuel cost $2,950
Re-priced automatically from your country's retail fuel, electricity and parts indices — change country in the bar at the top. Estimates; see methodology.
What this car's problems cost to fix
Ranked by the components owners of this exact model year actually complain about. Each figure is flat-rate labour hours x the local shop rate plus a parts band — an estimate of what this kind of failure costs, not a quote, and not a prediction that this car will need it. Formula.
- Unknown Or Other2 complaints · typical job: Diagnosis and mixed repair (2.0 h labour + parts)$360–$940
- Air Bags1 complaints · typical job: Airbag module, clockspring or sensor replacement (2.5 h labour + parts)$600–$1,700
- Vehicle Speed Control1 complaints · typical job: Throttle body, pedal sensor or cruise module replacement (2.5 h labour + parts)$520–$1,150
- Seats1 complaints · typical job: Seat frame, track or occupancy-sensor repair (2.5 h labour + parts)$500–$1,200
- Steering1 complaints · typical job: Electric power-steering rack or column motor replacement (5.0 h labour + parts)$1,020–$2,500
- Wheels1 complaints · typical job: Wheel bearing or hub replacement (2.5 h labour + parts)$460–$920
Other Volvo S80 years
FAQ
What is the most common problem with the 2012 Volvo S80?
The most-reported issue in NHTSA complaint data is Unknown Or Other (2 complaints in our indexed sample).
Is the 2012 Volvo S80 a good used car to buy?
Our data verdict is BUY with a reliability score of 85/100, computed from 8 NHTSA complaints and 3 recall campaigns. See the verdict card for the top reasons.
How much does it cost to fix the 2012 Volvo S80's most common problem?
2 of the NHTSA complaints filed against the 2012 Volvo S80 sit in the Unknown Or Other group — more than any other component on this model year. The representative job there is diagnosis and mixed repair: about 2.0 hours of labour plus parts, roughly $360–$940 at a US independent shop and re-priced to your country at the top of the page. It is an estimate of what this class of failure costs, not a quote for this car.
What does a 2012 Volvo S80 cost to run per year?
About $5,380 a year in fuel or energy plus the maintenance band — roughly $26,900 over five years, before purchase price, insurance and depreciation. Figures come from available EPA fuel-economy data and industry maintenance averages, and are re-priced to your country.
Does the 2012 Volvo S80 have recalls?
Yes — NHTSA lists 3 recall campaign(s) for the 2012 Volvo S80, 2 of them touching fire, crash or stall risk, the most recent recorded 06/07/2012. Check this car's VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls before you buy.
Compare with
Other luxury midsizes of about the same age.
What will a 2012 Volvo S80 really cost YOU per year?
Fuel, maintenance band and depreciation — computed from public data in 10 seconds.
Open the true-cost calculatorData sources
Complaints & recalls: NHTSA ·
Fuel economy: EPA fueleconomy.gov ·
Scoring: our published methodology.
Maintenance bands are industry-average estimates (AAA Your Driving Costs, CarMD index) — labeled estimates, not measurements.
Last updated: 2026-10-04.
Thin evidence — 8 complaints, 3 recalls on record
- 8 NHTSA complaints on record (0.6/yr of exposure) — in line with a typical year of this model (0.6/yr)
- 3 recall campaigns, 2 touching safety-critical systems
- Thin complaint record — this score is held close to the model's own average rather than read as evidence of quality