Home · 2012 Volvo S60 Recharge · Complaints

What 121 owners told NHTSA about the 2012 Volvo S60 Recharge

These are the actual owner complaints behind this car’s reliability verdict, filed with the federal government, unedited. They’re unverified reports, not confirmed defects: read them as leads for your pre-purchase inspection, not a diagnosis.

All (121)Crash / fire / injury (15)Engine (61)Electrical system (17)Seat belts (9)Fuel system (8)Steering (8)Body & structure (7)Airbags (6)Brakes (6)Speed control (6)Transmission & drivetrain (4)

15 of 121 complaints match · crash/fire/injury only · clear filters

Jun 23, 2026Speed controlBrakesCrash1 injury

Brakes , and vacuum booster, speed control I experienced a sudden acceleration phenomenon and reached speeds of 100+ mph I manipulated the brakes and the gas in order to safe my life I eventually got my speeds down but it was too late I was ejected from the vehicle and nearly died my brakes scrubbed and I pressed my brakes as hard as I could and my car continued to acceleration. The police has the vehicle and there were no warnings signs . I had just bought the vehicle and was on my way home from the dealership never made it home

NHTSA ODI 11746049

Sep 7, 2022Steering1 injury

The steering wheel trim peeled and created a razor sharp surface at the bottom which sliced through my finger and caused pain and bleeding. It is difficult to avoid touching the sharp part of the steering wheel especially at highway speeds. This startled me while driving and distracted me while I attempted to stop the bleeding. Volvo has agreed to replace the trim but will charge for labor if I choose to go into a dealer.

NHTSA ODI 11483292

Jun 30, 2021Speed controlDriver assistanceCrash

Volvo arrived at the hiking trailhead parking lot at approximately 10 miles an hour, slowed down more to select parking space then turn right into space in front of a cement outhouse. Space had a cement parking block. As the car was about to come to a complete stop in the space, it suddenly accelerated on its own as if the accelerator was press all the way overcoming the cement block and crashing into the outhouse. Both driver and passenger airbags were deployed. The driver never took the foot off the brake when the car accelerated. The automated braking system never deployed. Prior to the accident, the low battery warning light was on but the battery was checked out by a professional to be fully charged. We walk away from the accident bruised with back and chest pains from the seat belt but considered ourselves lucky. Had we not parked with a cement outhouse five feet in front of us two spaces over, we would have accelerated into an open field and into a forest of trees.

NHTSA ODI 11423030

Jun 4, 2021Seat beltsEngineCrash

I was on my was home from work and I Engine Started to malfunction In the middle of the street I got help to push out of the street waited a few minutes and it started back up thank God it got me home but now I’m still having problems

NHTSA ODI 11419711

Apr 17, 2020Body & structure1 injury

INTERIOR ADHESIVE CHROME TRIM DELAMINATING AND VERY SHARP CAUSING A CUT HAND ON THE STEERING WHEEL AND CENTER CONSOLE

NHTSA ODI 11321399

Nov 6, 2018Airbags1 injury

CPSC: ON SEPTEMBER 8, 2018 AROUND 4:30PM ON A SATURDAY, I WAS RUNNING ERRANDS AND SUDDENLY MY CURTAIN AIRBAGS ON MY 2012 VOLVO DEPLOYED. THERE WAS A HIGH PITCH, LOUD SCREECHING NOISE, A LOUD POP AND ALL THIS DEBRIS SPRAYED ALL OVER ME AND THE INSIDE OF MY CAR AND THESE WHITE PLASTIC AIRBAGS (CURTAINS) BUSTED THROUGH THE ROOF OF MY CAR. *DT *JS

NHTSA ODI 11150508

Dec 30, 2017Steering1 injury

A METAL SILVER PIECE ON STEERING HAS A SHARP EDGE THAT RESULTED IN A CUT ON FINGER WHILE DRIVING. THE VEHICLE WAS IN MOTION AND TURNING.

NHTSA ODI 11057659

Feb 3, 2017Transmission & drivetrainBody & structureFuel systemCrash

MY VEHICLE WAS PARKED IN A GROCERY STORE LOT. I ENTERED THE VEHICLE TO BACK IT OUT OF ITS PARKING SPOT. IT WAS NEXT TO A FULL SIZED VAN WHICH HAD CARPET CLEANING EQUIPMENT MOUNTED INSIDE. I STARTED THE CAR AND PLACED IT IN REVERSE AS IT BEGAN TO ACCELERATE ON ITS OWN. I TRIED TO SLOW THE VEHICLE WITH THE BRAKE WHICH FAILED. I COLLIDED WITH A BLOCK WALL IN THE REAR OF THE CAR AND ATTEMPTED TO GET IT OUT OF GEAR, WITH THE SOLID JARRING FROM THE REAR THE CAR WENT INTO DRIVE AND CONTINUED TO ACCELERATE TO FULL SPEED, WHILE I WAS ATTEMPTING TO BRAKE. THE VOLVO HIT THE VAN WHICH IT HAD BEEN PARKED NEXT TO IN THE REAR LEFT BUMPER AND DROVE IT APPROXIMATELY 20 FEET THROUGH A PLANTER AND INTO A PARKING SPOT ON THE OTHER SIDE OF THE PLANTER. THIS CAR (VOLVO) IS EQUIPPED WITH A COLLISION WARNING SYSTEM THAT WAS SUPPOSED TO HAVE AUTO BRAKED AND DID NOT. ADDITIONALLY THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. I TOOK THE CAR TO VOLVO AND HAD THEM ATTEMPT TO PULL CODES FROM THE VEHICLES INFORMATION SYSTEM. THEY REPORTED THAT NO CODES WERE PRESENT AND ATTEMPTED TO EXPLAIN AWAY THE INCIDENT AS DRIVER ERROR. THE CAR WAS TOTALED IN THE PROCESS. I AM CERTAIN THAT THERE WAS NO DRIVER ERROR AND THAT WHAT HAPPENED WAS A SUDDEN UNEXPLAINED ACCELERATION. OTHER SOMEWHAT SIMILAR INCIDENTS ARE REPORTED ON THE INTERNET. THE CAR HAS BEEN RETAINED IN MY POSSESSION UNTIL MAR 9TH 2017. IN THE EVENT IT SHOULD BE EVALUATED I HAVE IT AVAILABLE.

NHTSA ODI 10949233

Dec 3, 20161 injury

REAR DRIVER SIDE DOOR FLEW OPEN WHILE DAUGHTER WAS IN THE BACK SEAT. SHE FELL OUT THE CAR. PERSON WAS DRIVING THE VEHICLE AND THE DOOR JUST FLEW OPEN. PLEASE GET TO THE BOTTOM OF THIS IMMEDIATELY.

NHTSA ODI 10929744

Nov 6, 2015AirbagsCrash1 injury

TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2012 VOLVO S60. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 40 MPH, ANOTHER VEHICLE CUT IN FRONT OF THE CONTACT. AS A RESULT, THE CONTACT CRASHED INTO A POLE ON THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. THE LOCAL POLICE AND THE FIRE DEPARTMENT WERE AT THE SCENE. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE CONTACT SUSTAINED INJURIES THAT REQUIRED MEDICAL ATTENTION. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED. PRIOR TO THE CRASH, THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 12V075000 (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM) AND THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE AND STATED THAT THE AIR BAG SENSOR MAY NOT HAVE BEEN IMPACTED, HENCE NO DEPLOYMENT. THE VIN WAS NOT PROVIDED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 29,000.

NHTSA ODI 10788882

Jun 20, 2014AirbagsCrash2 injuries

ON JUNE 1ST ANOTHER CAR FAILED TO YIELD THE RIGHT OF WAY AND PULLED INTO THE PATH OF MY CAR WHILE I WAS GOING APPROX. 45MPH. I HIT THE BRAKES HARD AND TURNED TO THE LEFT TO TRY AND AVOID THE CAR AND COLLIDED WITH THE OTHER CAR. I ESTIMATE THE SPEED OF AT LEAST 35MPH AT IMPACT. THE RIGHT FRONT OF THE CAR TOOK MOST OF THE IMPACT. THE DRIVER'S SIDE AIRBAG DEPLOYED AND BURNED MY ARM. HOWEVER, DESPITE THE PASSENGER SIDE OF THE CAR TAKING THE BRUNT OF THE IMPACT, THE PASSENGER AIRBAG DID NOT DEPLOY. THE PASSENGER (MY FIANC) WAS DIAGNOSED WITH A CONCUSSION DUE TO THIS ACCIDENT. I BELIEVE THE CONCUSSION MAY HAVE BEEN AVOIDED HAD HER AIRBAG DEPLOYED. VOLVO INSPECTED THE VEHICLE AND CLAIMS FOR SOME REASON THE AIRBAG SHOULD NOT HAVE DEPLOYED IN THIS ACCIDENT. I SUSPECT THEY ARE COVERING UP A PRODUCT FAILURE. I HAVE PICTURES OF THE ACCIDENT AVAILABLE FOR YOUR REVIEW. *TR

NHTSA ODI 10604730

Jan 21, 2014AirbagsSeat beltsBody & structureCrash2 injuries

ON AUGUST 24, 2013, I WAS INVOLVED IN A CAR ACCIDENT. A CAR STOPPED SHORT ON THE HIGHWAY. THE CAR IN FRONT OF ME HIT THAT CAR. I THEN HIT THE CAR IN FRONT OF ME. I HAD ONLY A FEW SECONDS TO REACT. ANOTHER CAR THEN RE-ENDED ME. MY AIRBAG NOR SEATBELT PRETENTIONERS DEPLOYED. I HAD DIFFICULTY TURNING THE CAR OFF. THE CAR WAS TOTALED. WITHIN A FEW WEEKS OF THE INCIDENT, I REPORTED THE MATTER TO VOLVO. THEY SENT AN INVESTIGATOR OUT. VOLVO CLAIMS THAT SENSORS WERE NOT ACTIVATED SINCE THE DAMAGE WAS ABOVE THEM, AND THERE WAS NOT ANY PROBLEM. HOWEVER, AT THE SPEED I HIT, THERE IS NO EXCUSE FOR WHY THE AIRBAGS SHOULD NOT HAVE DEPLOYED. EITHER THE CAR IS DESIGNED IMPROPERLY IN TERMS OF WHERE THE SENSORS ARE PLACED OR THERE IS A MANUFACTURING DEFECT. AS I UNDERSTAND IT, OTHER S60S (NOT MY VID#) HAVE BEEN RECALLED FOR AN ELECTRICAL PROBLEM THAT COULD CAUSE AIRBAGS NOT TO DEPLOY. *TR

NHTSA ODI 10560896

Sep 11, 2013SteeringElectrical systemCrash

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 VOLVO S60. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 60 MPH, THERE WAS A LOSS OF STEERING CONTROL AND THE REAR END SPUN UNCONTROLLABLY. THE DYNAMIC TRACTION CONTROL FAILED TO ACTIVATE AND THE VEHICLE CRASHED INTO THE CURBSIDE, CAUSING DAMAGE TO THE FRONT DRIVER AND PASSENGER'S SIDE WHEEL RIMS. IN ADDITION, THE REAR DRIVER'S SIDE RIM AND FRONT BUMPER WAS DAMAGED. THERE WERE NO INJURIES. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING. A TROUBLE CODE WAS DETECTED FOR THE SRS MODULE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE PROBLEM. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 18,991.

NHTSA ODI 10543130

Aug 8, 2013Steering1 injury

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 VOLVO S60. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE ALUMINUM ON THE STEERING WHEEL BECAME DETACHED. THE CONTACT SUSTAINED LACERATIONS TO THE HANDS AS A RESULT. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED ABOUT THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 21,700.

NHTSA ODI 10534272

Mar 18, 2013Steering1 injury

THE STEERING WHEEL BEZEL DELAMINATES ON THE BOTTOM OF THE STEERING WHEEL AND BECOMES VERY SHARP CAUSING CUTS ON HANDS. DEALER REPLACED THE BEZEL AND WE HAVE THE SAME PROBLEM AGAIN. IT APPEARS TO BE A DEFECT IN THE DESIGN OR MANUFACTURE OF THE BEZEL. THERE SHOULD BE NO SHARP CUTTING EDGES ON THE STEERING WHEEL! *TR

NHTSA ODI 10503380

Working with the data? Download all 121 complaints as CSV · fetched from NHTSA July 18, 2026

How to use these: a complaint is one owner’s report, filed voluntarily and published unverified. Patterns matter more than any single story. If several owners describe the same failure at similar mileage, put that system at the top of your pre-purchase inspection list. Back to the full 2012 Volvo S60 Recharge verdict →