Problems owners report
Complaints filed with NHTSA about the 2012 Volvo XC90, by the system named in each complaint. One complaint can name several.
- Electrical system1
- Equipment1
- Power train1
- Back over prevention1
- Steering1
- Unknown or other1
NHTSA ODI complaints (public domain) · updated 23 Oct 2026 · 0 injuries and 0 deaths reported
Compared with other years
NHTSA ODI complaints by model year
Fatal crashes in the US
From 2020 to 2023, 4 2012 XC90 vehicles were involved in crashes on US public roads in which someone died; 3 people died inside them. This is a count, not a crash rate: it grows with the number of cars on the road.
NHTSA Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS), crash years 2020–2023 (public domain)
New York safety inspections
At its first New York inspection the 2012 Volvo XC90 failed the safety check 1.93% of the time — 23% less often than the average 2012 passenger car (2.52%). Median odometer at inspection: 129,326 miles.
NY DMV Vehicle Inspections (vezn-fmmk), initial inspections since Aug 2021 · how we count
Registered new in Europe in 2012
8,600 new Volvo XC90 cars were registered in the EU, Norway and Iceland in 2012; the largest markets were the United Kingdom (3,215), Germany (1,856), France (774).
- Average mass
- 2,187 kg
- Average power
- 139 kW
- Fuel type recorded
- Diesel 99% · Petrol 1.0%
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 XC90 cars on Dutch roads are the 2.4 diesel (147 kW, 197 hp) and 3.2 petrol (179 kW, 240 hp).
| Engine | Power | Cars |
|---|---|---|
| 2.4 diesel | 147 kW 197 hp | 225 |
| 3.2 petrol | 179 kW 240 hp | 42 |
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
284 first registered in 2012 are on Dutch roads; 42% arrived later as imports. Median list price when new: €66,500.
Most common APK defects
- Band onvoldoende profiel146
- Bandenspanning niet op juiste waarde115
- Dimlicht onjuist afgesteld66
- Stadslicht werkt niet (goed)65
- Band(en) aanwezig met een profieldiepte van 1,6 t/m 2,5 mm64
- Remvertraging / remwerking parkeerrem onvoldoende50
- Roetfilter werkt niet goed, aantal deeltjes meer dan toegest29
- Kentekenplaatverlichting werkt niet (goed) / ontbreekt28
Colours
RDW Open Data: registered vehicles and APK defects (CC0) · defect descriptions in the RDW's Dutch wording
In the United Kingdom
2,753 cars built in 2012 were licensed for the road at the end of 2025, and 131 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, 2,974 of these cars first registered in 2012 took their annual MOT test. 69% passed first time; among all cars first registered in 2012 the figure was 66%.
| Failed on | These cars | All cars from 2012 |
|---|---|---|
| Brakes | 14.1% | 7.7% |
| Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment | 12.3% | 14.3% |
| Tyres | 6.1% | 7.0% |
| Visibility | 4.2% | 5.0% |
| Suspension | 2.7% | 12.2% |
| Body, chassis, structure | 1.4% | 3.8% |
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
40 of these cars first registered in 2012 were in use in Finland on 30 Jun 2026, with an average of 276,000 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
74 2012 cars are on the New Zealand register; 34% arrived as used imports, 66% 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 XC90 SUV AWD | — | 17.9 % |
| 2012 Volvo XC90 SUV FWD | — | 19.1 % |
- Electronic stability control
- Standard
- Forward collision warning
- No
- Lane departure warning
- No
- 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 12.6–12.8 L/100 km (about 18–19 mpg US), CO₂ 290–294 g/km.
| Variant | City | Highway | Combined |
|---|---|---|---|
| XC90 3.2 · Sport utility vehicle · Regular gasoline | 14.5 | 10.3 | 12.6 |
| XC90 3.2 AWD · Sport utility vehicle · Regular gasoline | 14.8 | 10.4 | 12.8 |
Litres per 100 km. Natural Resources Canada, Fuel consumption ratings (open.canada.ca) · Open Government Licence – Canada
Recalls
No recall campaigns cover the 2012 Volvo XC90.
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 XC90: known faults, fixes and updates.
| Bulletin | Summary |
|---|---|
| 11007925 | Information about valid Software partnumbers to order and download Software for "PDS" Pre-Delivery Service |
| 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 |
| 10234711 | SiriusXM Radio inop or No Sound on SAT Source |
| 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. |
| 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 |
| 10205670 | XC90 Noise/Squeal from rear brakes |
| 10203167 | Volvo Chassis 2008 And Up LED Headlight Conversion Programming Procedure |
| 10202436 | New Software Products (SP) have been developed to convert a Care Key to a standard key. |
| 10197371 | This is a Service Manager Bulletin : Volvo Electric Vehicle Technical De-Energization Permit to Work Form |
| 10188881 | Volvo?s Warranty Department tracks Retailer warranty spending by utilizing the Warranty Retailer Counseling Process (WRCP). The WRCP is used to gauge individual retailer performance on objective measures over time. By setting clear performance expectations and parameters and assisting retailers in focusing on individual processes and procedures, all retailers are provided with adequate tools to help achieve the ultimate goal of qualifying for self-authorization status. |
| 10182494 | This is a Service Manager Bulletin : Volvo Electric Vehicle Technical De-Energization Permit to Work Form |
| 10182493 | This is a Service Manager Bulletin : Volvo Electric Vehicle Technical De-Energization Permit to Work Form |
| 10181041 | Mandatory Tool List bulletin: Volvo mandatory Special Tools are necessary for technicians to properly diagnose and repair Volvo cars. They are used in development of Volvo labor operations and repair methods, and promote safety and quality repairs in a timely manner. Tools are classified as mandatory because associated repairs and/or diagnostics cannot be completed properly without them. |
| 10179681 | This is a Service Manager Bulletin: Service 2.0 Software & Total Upgrade Reminder |
| 10173760 | This is a Service Manager Bulletin: Service 2.0 Software & Total Upgrade Reminder |
| 10172464 | This is a Service Journal: Coolant Filling Equipment Tool |
NHTSA manufacturer communications (public domain)