What 121 owners told NHTSA about the 2012 Volvo S60 T5

The driver's side seat airbag system failed. Specifically, diagnostic trouble code SRS-B002011 was retrieved, indicating a circuit short to ground in the left side airbag deployment control system. The technician found a broken clip on the airbag connector housing, causing an intermittent connection failure between the connector and the seat airbag itself. The airbag cannot be relied upon to deploy in a crash. The vehicle is available for inspection upon request. I purchased this vehicle on May 10, 2026, and drove it as my primary means of transportation. During that time, the driver's side seat airbag was non-functional due to a circuit short to ground and a broken connector housing. Had I been involved in a collision during that period, the driver's side airbag may not have deployed, significantly increasing the risk of serious injury or death. I was not informed of this defect at the time of purchase and had no knowledge that the airbag system was compromised. I drove the vehicle believing it to be equipped with functioning safety systems. The defect was confirmed by Volvo Cars Tacoma (O'Brien Auto Group), a franchised manufacturer-certified Volvo dealership in Tacoma. Technician #2101608 performed a comprehensive inspection using Volvo's proprietary VIDA diagnostic system dated May 16–30, 2026. The inspection retrieved diagnostic trouble code SRS-B002011 confirming a circuit short to ground in the left side airbag deployment control system, and physically identified a broken clip on the airbag connector housing. The technician documented: "There is likely an intermittent failure at the connection between the airbag connector and the seat airbag itself. Need to start with replacement of airbag and repin connector." The check engine light illuminated within days of my purchase. This prompted me to bring the vehicle to Volvo Cars Tacoma on May 16, 2026 — six days after purchase. I personally did not observe an SRS warning light.

NHTSA ODI 11742523

LIGHT ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL INDICATES I NEED TO SERVICE MY AIRBAG IMMEDIATELY. THE AIRBAG HAS NEVER BEEN DEPLOYED. VOLVO SERVICE SAYS I NEED TO PAY TO REPLACE IT WHEN ITS NEVER BEEN USED.

NHTSA ODI 11242307

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

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

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

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