Problem Lookup › Volvo › C70 › 2012
Car problem report
2012 Volvo C70 problems, recalls and owner complaints
What the 2012 Volvo C70 has been recalled for, how often it fails the UK MOT and what owners report, from official government data. Updated November 2, 2026.
- 1safety recall
- 23owner complaints
- 0crash reports
- 0fire reports
- 29%fail the UK MOT
The most complained-about Volvo C70 year on file: 23 complaints, against an average of 11 for the other 1 model year.
Every Volvo C70 model year with its number of owner complaints. Pick a year to compare.
What goes wrong with the 2012 Volvo C70?
The components named most often in the 23 owner complaints. One complaint can name several, so the shares can add up to more than 100%.
Has the 2012 Volvo C70 been recalled?
1 U.S. safety recall. Repairs are free at a franchised dealer; some are done over the air.
Equipment: Other: Labels VOLVO IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2006-2012 C70 VEHICLES MANUFACTURED FROM NOVEMBER 15, 2005, THROUGH JULY 31, 2011, AND MODEL YEAR 2011-2012 S60 VEHICLES MANUFACTURED FROM JULY 14, 2010, THROUGH APRIL 16, 2011, THAT WERE EQUIPPED WITH OPTIONAL ACCESSORY SPARE TIRE KIT. THESE VEHICLES FAIL TO COMPLY WITH THE REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NUMBER. 110, "TIRE SELECTION AND RIMS." THESE VEHICLES DO NOT CONTAIN THE CORRECT INFORMATION FOR VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH THE OPTIONAL ACCESSORY SPARE TIRE AND WHEEL KIT.
Risk: A MISPRINTED LABEL COULD LEAD TO IMPROPER TIRE INFLATION WHICH COULD RESULT IN A TIRE FAILURE, INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH.
Fix: VOLVO WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND DEALERS WILL INSPECT THE VEHICLE AND INSTALL THE LABEL AS NECESSARY, FREE OF CHARGE. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN ON FEBRUARY 23, 2012. OWNERS MAY CONTACT VOLVO AT 1-201-768-7300.
How often does the 2012 Volvo C70 fail its MOT?
Why they failed: the share of failed tests with at least one fault in each area (a test can fail on several). Cars first registered in 2012, tested in Great Britain in 2023; first registration is usually, but not always, the model year. Source: DVSA anonymised MOT tests and results, Open Government Licence v3.0.
What do 2012 Volvo C70 owners report?
12 of the 23 complaints, the most recent for the most-reported components, as the owners wrote them. NHTSA removes names and VINs; long reports are trimmed. CarHooq has not verified individual claims.
The drivers side door keeps opening while driving. I see recalls for other volvo models but not mine. This is very concerning when driving on the highway
While in transit, the passenger door periodically unlatches on its own. There is a safeguard that prevents the door from completely swinging open when this happens. This problem has not been inspected by a professional. The warning light appears after the door unlatches while in motion. Because I never have a passenger, I am not able to immediately close the door. The last time this happened was at 65 mph on [XXX]. This problem has existed for years. The vehicle is available for inspection upon request. The cause is unknown, and timing is unpredictable. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE…
The car developed an electronic communication issue that would cause random failure messages for the ABS, anti-skid system, transmission control and a "brake failure" message that would put the car into limp mode even at highway speeds. If you come to a complete stop, it would not allow you to pull away at any speed which makes you a traffic hazard and at risk for a rear end collision. I took the car to the dealer and they said it was the steering module so I had them replace it which ended up not resolving the problem. More alarming, the mechanic said that the factory original windshield had…
There is a know defect with the chassis used for several Volvo car models. My car is a Volvo C70, year 2012. My car is affected by this defect. The defect wasn't disclosed to me at time of sale. I only learned about it literally 10 years later when Volvo of Gilbert (dealership) advised me to install a costly part on the rear suspension of my car because of "excessive negative camber". According to the Volvo repair department, they've known for years of an internal repair "recommendation" memo issued by Volvo that Volvo actually pays for on other models, but won't pay for on mine, to correct…
The driver side seat belt gets stuck and is very hard almost impossible to unlatch once it is locked over driver
This occurred after driving for about an hour. While driving at a fairly high rate of speed, I felt the driver's door move slightly. The dome light came on indicating that the door had opened. The windows were down so I cannot state if they would have slightly lowered as they normally do when the door is opened. I pushed outward on the door to see if it was fully open. The latch held the door. Using the interior door handle, I then opened and closed the door. The doors were then locked as extra security. Approximately 30 minutes later this happened again on a busier highway. I then had to…
Drivers door without warning while driving at high speed suddenly unlatches, hazard light and warning indicator that door is open is shown .Besides being very dangerous it is very scary .My problem has not been confirmed by dealer but was reported to dealer as far back as 7 years ago.
The large coupe doors on this vehicle have a tendency to become unlatched while driving requiring the need to stop the vehicle and re-open and close the doors. This happens when doors are locked as well as unlocked. When this happens on the highway at high speeds, it is very dangerous and difficult to hold the door closed while making your way to the side of the road to correct the problem. This happens with no warning. There are recalls by Volvo for this exact issue on several other models but not the C70. I have reported this issue directly to Volvo customer service. I am also aware this is…
WHEN DRIVING AND OPERATING THE VEHICLE WITH THE TOP DOOR THE DOOR BECOMES AJAR ON THE PASSENGER AND DRIVER SIDE WITH A SLIGHT BUMP IN THE ROSE.
WHILE ON HIGHWAY AT HIGHWAY SPEED, THE DRIVER DOOR MOVED OUTWARD AS IF IT WAS OPENING. THE OPEN DOOR WARNING LIGHT FLASHED ON THE DASH. MAKES YOU FEEL LIKE YOU'RE ABOUT TO FALL OUT OF THE CAR. HAD TO STOP AND CLOSE THE DOOR AGAIN. WOULD HATE TO HAVE THIS HAPPEN WHILE CORNERING. *TR
MAKE: VOLVO CAR MODEL : C30, S40, V50 AND C70 RECALL DEFECT DESCRIPTION: THE ROD CONNECTING THE CLUTCH MASTER CYLINDER AND THE CLUTCH PEDAL MAY BREAK. IT MAY NOT BE POSSIBLE TO DISENGAGE THE CLUTCH. IN WORST CASES THIS MAY HAPPEN SUDDENLY WITH NO WARNING TO THE DRIVER. IF THIS HAPPENS BRING THE CAR TO A SAFE STOP USING THE ENGINE AND SWITCH OFF THE IGNITION. VOLVO RECALL ACTION: REPLACE CLUTCH MASTER CYLINDER WITH A NEW METAL PUSH ROD IN-PLACE OF THE PLASTIC ONE. SEE BELOW LINKS FOR UK RECALL: HTTP://WWW.VOLVOHOWTO.COM/VOLVO-CLUTCH-PEDAL-MECHANISM-MAY-FAIL-RECALL-C30-S40-V50-C70/…
THIS 2012 VOLVO C70 WAS DRIVEN FROM COHASSET, MA TO CHICAGO IL IN LATE SEPTEMBER 2014. IT WAS DRIVEN WITH THE TOP DOWN FOR A PERIOD OF 400 MILES. THE CAR DID HAVE BRAND NEW MICHELIN PILOT SPORT TIRES ON THE FRONT AND REAR TIRES, THE REAR TIRES HAD OVER 7/10THS WEAR ON THEM. UPON REACHING CHICAGO AN ODD NOISE WAS NOTICED IN THE CAR LIKE A FAILING REAR HUB. UPON TAKING THE CAR TO THE DEALER THE FIELDS VOLVO SERVICE ADVISER NOTICED THERE WAS FEATHERING OF THE REAR TIRES WHICH WAS DUE TO THE EXCESSIVE NEGATIVE CAMBER WITH THE TOP DOWN (INCORRECT OEM SUSPENSION SETTING FROM VOLVO). THE SERVICE…
2012 Volvo C70: questions owners ask
Is the 2012 Volvo C70 reliable?
NHTSA data alone cannot rate reliability, but it shows what owners reported. Owners filed 23 complaints with NHTSA about the 2012 Volvo C70; the most common categories were structure (8, 34.8%), power train (2, 8.7%), suspension (2, 8.7%). There is 1 safety recall.
What are the most common problems with the 2012 Volvo C70?
Across 23 owner complaints filed with NHTSA, the categories mentioned most often are structure (34.8% of complaints), power train (8.7% of complaints), suspension (8.7% of complaints), wheels (8.7% of complaints), electrical system (4.3% of complaints). One complaint can name several components.
Does the 2012 Volvo C70 have any recalls?
Yes. NHTSA lists 1 recall for the 2012 Volvo C70; the most recent (campaign 11V508000, 2011-10-18) concerns Equipment: Other: Labels. Recall repairs are free at a franchised dealer; check your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
Check your own C70
Counts are a starting point, not a verdict: popular models collect more complaints because more of them are on the road, and NHTSA does not verify individual reports. To see whether a recall is still open on your car, enter your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls (U.S.) or your registration at check-vehicle-recalls.service.gov.uk (UK). Had a safety problem? Report it to NHTSA; complaints are what trigger investigations and recalls.
Data: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation recall and complaint databases (public domain), DVSA anonymised MOT results (Open Government Licence v3.0), retrieved November 2, 2026. Model year 2012 only. How these reports are made.
Is something missing or wrong on this page? Tell CarHooq. One line is enough; every message is read.