Is the 2012 Volvo S60 a good car?
An honest AI verdict — reliability, common problems, and real cost to own.
B7.5/10
A solid choice for those who value safety and comfort, but it may incur higher maintenance costs.
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Pros
- Comfortable and well-designed interior
- Strong safety ratings
- Good performance and handling
Cons
- Parts and repairs can be expensive
- Mediocre fuel economy for its class
- Resale value isn't the best
Ownership at a glance
Fuel economy
20 mpg
Maintenance cost
$2,500/yr
Expected lifespan
200,000 miles
Common problems to watch for
- Transmission shifting issues
- Premature wear on suspension components
- Occasional electrical problems
CarsJudge exclusive data
Active recalls (8)
The 2012 Volvo S60 has 8 NHTSA recalls on record. Most recent: Latches/Locks/Linkages — Doors — Latch (campaign 19V849000). All recall repairs are free at any authorized dealer.
- Structure — Body — VOLVO IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2012 S60 AND XC60 PASSENGER VEHICLES. AN INCORRECT MIXTURE OF UNDERBODY COATING AND OVER-APPLICATION CAN RESULT IN RIGID, ICICLE-LIKE AREAS HANGING FROM VEHICLES UNDERCARRIAGE.…
- Engine And Engine Cooling — Engine — Volvo Cars of North America, LLC (Volvo) is recalling certain model year 2011-2012 S60 vehicles manufactured June 22, 2010, through May 14, 2012, and equipped with 5-cylinder B5254T5 (VIN code 62) engines. In the affect…
- 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 Count…
- Latches/Locks/Linkages — Doors — Latch — Volvo Car of USA LLC (Volvo) is recalling certain 2011-2017 S60, S60I, V60, S60CC and V60CC vehicles. A component within the door latches may break, making the doors difficult to latch and/or leading the driver or a pas…
Real owner data from the CarsJudge fleet
1 2012 Volvo S60 owner tracks this exact car in CarsJudge.
Recall data: NHTSA. Owner costs & MPG: anonymized aggregates from CarsJudge users who track this vehicle. Updated 2026-07-05.
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This AI-generated assessment is general guidance only, not a substitute for a professional inspection. Always inspect a used vehicle before purchase.