Problems owners report
Complaints filed with NHTSA about the 2012 Volvo S80, by the system named in each complaint. One complaint can name several.
- Unknown or other2
- Power train1
- Air bags1
- Steering1
- Vehicle speed control1
- Suspension1
- Seats1
- Wheels1
- Structure1
- Tires1
NHTSA ODI complaints (public domain) · updated 23 Oct 2026 · 1 injuries and 0 deaths reported
Compared with other years
NHTSA ODI complaints by model year
New York safety inspections
At its first New York inspection the 2012 Volvo S80 failed the safety check 1.77% of the time — 30% less often than the average 2012 passenger car (2.52%). Median odometer at inspection: 106,353 miles.
NY DMV Vehicle Inspections (vezn-fmmk), initial inspections since Aug 2021 · how we count
Registered new in Europe in 2012
3,949 new Volvo S80 cars were registered in the EU, Norway and Iceland in 2012; the largest markets were Sweden (835), the United Kingdom (484), France (401).
- Average mass
- 1,704 kg
- Average power
- 138 kW
- Fuel type recorded
- Diesel 85% · Petrol 13% · E85 ethanol 1.3%
European Environment Agency, CO₂ emissions from new passenger cars · averages weighted by registrations; CO₂ is the type-approval value; fuel type as recorded at registration, where many non-plug-in hybrids appear as petrol · re-use permitted with acknowledgement
Engines
The most common engines in 2012 Volvo S80 cars on Dutch roads are the 1.6 petrol (132 kW, 177 hp), 2.0 diesel (120 kW, 161 hp) and 2.0 petrol (177 kW, 237 hp), out of 4 versions with at least 20 cars.
| Engine | Power | Cars |
|---|---|---|
| 1.6 petrol | 132 kW 177 hp | 61 |
| 2.0 diesel | 120 kW 161 hp | 43 |
| 2.0 petrol | 177 kW 237 hp | 37 |
| 2.4 diesel | 158 kW 212 hp | 34 |
RDW Open Data (CC0): registered passenger cars and their fuel data · engine size rounded to 0.1 litre, net maximum power · versions with at least 20 cars
In the Netherlands
208 first registered in 2012 are on Dutch roads; 20% arrived later as imports. Median list price when new: €53,265.
Most common APK defects
- Bandenspanning niet op juiste waarde75
- Band onvoldoende profiel54
- Band(en) aanwezig met een profieldiepte van 1,6 t/m 2,5 mm38
- Band beschadigd34
- Kentekenplaatverlichting werkt niet (goed) / ontbreekt29
- Stadslicht werkt niet (goed)29
- Stofhoes aandrijfas beschadigd en dicht niet af27
- Dimlicht onjuist afgesteld25
Colours
RDW Open Data: registered vehicles and APK defects (CC0) · defect descriptions in the RDW's Dutch wording
In the United Kingdom
332 cars built in 2012 were licensed for the road at the end of 2025, and 31 more were declared off the road (SORN).
Department for Transport and DVLA, vehicle licensing statistics (table VEH0124, year of manufacture) · Open Government Licence v3.0
MOT test results in Great Britain
In 2023, 359 of these cars first registered in 2012 took their annual MOT test. 77% passed first time; among all cars first registered in 2012 the figure was 66%.
| Failed on | These cars | All cars from 2012 |
|---|---|---|
| Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment | 12.0% | 14.3% |
| Suspension | 5.6% | 12.2% |
| Brakes | 3.9% | 7.7% |
| Tyres | 3.6% | 7.0% |
| Steering | 3.3% | 2.3% |
| Noise, emissions and leaks | 2.2% | 3.2% |
DVSA anonymised MOT tests and results, 2023 (Department for Transport) · Open Government Licence v3.0 · first tests only; a fix made at the test station within the hour still counts as a fail
In Finland
261 of these cars first registered in 2012 were in use in Finland on 30 Jun 2026, with an average of 293,000 km on the odometer at their last inspection.
Traficom (Finnish Transport and Communications Agency), open data on vehicles in use · CC BY 4.0
In New Zealand
3 2012 cars are on the New Zealand register; 100% arrived as used imports, 0% were sold new in New Zealand.
NZ Transport Agency Waka Kotahi, Motor Vehicle Register (March 2026) · CC BY 4.0
Crash-test ratings
NHTSA 5-star results for 2 variants; not yet fully rated. Rollover risk is the estimated chance of rolling over in a single-vehicle crash.
| Variant | Overall | Rollover risk |
|---|---|---|
| 2012 Volvo S80 4 DR AWD | — | 0.0 % |
| 2012 Volvo S80 4 DR FWD | — | 0.0 % |
- Electronic stability control
- Standard
- Forward collision warning
- Optional
- Lane departure warning
- Optional
- Best overall rating
- —
NHTSA New Car Assessment Program (5-Star Safety Ratings), api.nhtsa.gov · US federal work, public domain
Fuel consumption
Official Canadian test results for 2 variants: combined 10.2–11.1 L/100 km (about 21–23 mpg US), CO₂ 235–255 g/km.
| Variant | City | Highway | Combined |
|---|---|---|---|
| S80 3.2 · Mid-size · Regular gasoline | 11.8 | 8.2 | 10.2 |
| S80 T6 AWD · Mid-size · Regular gasoline | 12.8 | 9.1 | 11.1 |
Litres per 100 km. Natural Resources Canada, Fuel consumption ratings (open.canada.ca) · Open Government Licence – Canada
Recalls in Canada
3 Transport Canada recalls for the 2012 Volvo S80.
| 2020298 30 Jun 2020 | Seats And Restraints Issue: On certain vehicles, the flexible steel cable that attaches the seat belt to the outside of the front seats may weaken over time. As a result, the seat… |
| 2012202 5 Jul 2012 | Powertrain On certain vehicles, when driving, an error in the automatic transmission control system could cause the engine to stall. Engine stalling would result in lost … |
| 2012082 28 Feb 2012 | Airbag On certain vehicles, the wire harness under the driver and/or passenger seat may not have been properly affixed to the seat frame during vehicle assembly. As s… |
Transport Canada Vehicle Recalls Database · Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence – Canada
Recalls
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 the seat belt to not secure the occupant in the event of a crash.
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.
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 GET PULLED, CAUSING IT TO DISCONNECT.
Whether a recall was fixed on a particular car is known only to the manufacturer: check the VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
NHTSA recalls · summaries in NHTSA's own words
Service bulletins
What Volvo told its dealers about the 2012 Volvo S80: known faults, fixes and updates.
| Bulletin | Summary |
|---|---|
| 11007925 | Information about valid Software partnumbers to order and download Software for "PDS" Pre-Delivery Service |
| 10249398 | Left front LED flickers after turning car off - Check outer position bulbs |
| 10249191 | This is a Technical Journal: 12V Battery Testing Method |
| 10241661 | COMPLIMENTARY UPGRADE C00009 DESCRIPTION. |
| 10241651 | Rubber cushion |
| 10234826 | Left front LED flickers after turning car off |
| 10234736 | Sensus screen freezes/system locks up |
| 10234735 | Front brake pads, early or uneven wear on right side on 16" and 16.5" brakes |
| 10234685 | Wind deflector net clogged |
| 10234675 | SiriusXM Tuner Replacement Process |
| 10224584 | Expendable Items Parts List. |
| 10219421 | Engine Control Module (EMS) Software (MSW) Information August 2022; Improvement List (Change Log) - US21+OBD22 (13L VGT, TC) And US17+OBD22 (11L) Emissions |
| 10219302 | Part information for AMT input shaft repair kits and the shim kit that is required for repair. |
| 10213887 | Center wheel caps, removal instruction |
| 10213885 | The Deutronic DBL-1200 is an advanced battery maintainer/charger with the flexibility to be updated as products and repair methods evolve. |
| 10213883 | ICUP/Google Built-In Diagnostic Operations |
| 10213882 | Battery Charger/maintainer requirement |
| 10212892 | Shipping and Handling of Volvo Lithium-ion 48V Mild Hybrid Battery to Global Battery Solutions (GBS) |
| 10212891 | VIDA QR Scanner Mobile App |
| 10209517 | vehicle speed dependent vibrations at highway speeds. |
| 10203167 | Volvo Chassis 2008 And Up LED Headlight Conversion Programming Procedure |
| 10192877 | There is a new process for upgrading maps on cars with Sensus (IAM2.1) navigation. Map updates for Sensus navigation systems in MY2011-2015A cars (identified as shown in attached picture) can now be downloaded online and transferred to the car via a USB flash drive in the same way as current models. Updating via DVDs is no longer possible. |
| 10190794 | Create PB with attached word doc. |
| 10190559 | This is to inform you that we have procured Rebuilders Automotive Supply (RAS) to handle the returns of the recalled Front Seat Belt Fastener Pretensioner for Recall R10029. RAS has created instructions for the pretensioner shipping procedures. You MUST review and inform your staff as to the requirements for handling the returns. There are specific measures as these pretensioners are classified as hazardous materials. A Parts Bulletin with this same information has also been created to ensure your Parts Department will receive these instructions in case they will be handling the returns. |
| 10190558 | This is to inform you that we have procured Rebuilders Automotive Supply (RAS) to handle the returns of the recalled Front Seat Belt Fastener Pretensioner for Recall R10029. RAS has created instructions for the pretensioner shipping procedures. You MUST review and inform your staff as to the requirements for handling the returns. There are specific measures as these pretensioners are classified as hazardous materials. A Parts Bulletin with this same information has also been created to ensure your Parts Department will receive these instructions in case they will be handling the returns. |
NHTSA manufacturer communications (public domain)