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2012 Volvo XC90 problems, recalls and owner complaints
What the 2012 Volvo XC90 has been recalled for, how often it fails the UK MOT and what owners report, from official government data. Updated November 2, 2026.
- 0safety recalls
- 3owner complaints
- 0crash reports
- 0fire reports
- 31%fail the UK MOT
The least complained-about Volvo XC90 year on file: 3 complaints, against an average of 45 for the other model years.
Every Volvo XC90 model year with its number of owner complaints. Pick a year to compare.
What goes wrong with the 2012 Volvo XC90?
The components named most often in the 3 owner complaints. One complaint can name several, so the shares can add up to more than 100%.
Has the 2012 Volvo XC90 been recalled?
NHTSA lists no safety recalls for the 2012 Volvo XC90 as of November 2, 2026. Recalls can be issued at any time, so check your VIN before you rely on this.
Is the 2012 Volvo XC90 recalled in the UK or Europe?
Recalls issued by the UK's DVSA and through the EU's Safety Gate system that cover this model and build period. European models can differ from U.S. ones, and "years estimated" means the recall gave no build dates, so confirm your own car with your registration or VIN.
UK DVSAThe engine's plastic inlet manifold may melt and deform
Risk: The engines plastic inlet manifold may melt and deform
Fix: Update vehicles with improved soot reducing software cleaning of TMAP and EMAP. Fit additional hoses where necessary.
UK DVSAEngine may failYears estimated
Risk: There could be a sudden and unexpected failure of the bottom end of the engine because of a non-conformity during production of the connecting rods.
Fix: Recall the vehicles that are likely to be affected to replace the engine.
How often does the 2012 Volvo XC90 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 XC90 owners report?
3 of the 3 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.
ON MORNING OF 2/15/2020, I WAS DRIVING MY XC90 (2012, BASE, AUTO TRANSMISSION) ON A CITY STREET WHEN I REALIZED THE STEERING WHEEL WAS NO LONGER IN CONTROL. IT CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO SWING LEFT AND RIGHT BETWEEN THE 2 LANES. I PRESSED HARD ON THE BRAKE TO SLOW DOWN -- THANK GOD THAT CARS BEHIND ME WERE ABLE TO AVOID ME. AFTER 10 SECONDS OR SO OF MANEUVERING, I MANAGED TO PULL OVER BY THE STREET. AN ORANGE TRIANGLE LIGHT CAME ON THE DASHBOARD, WITH A WARNING MESSAGE: "AUTO-SKID TEMPORARY OFF". I CALLED THE ROADSIDE ASSISTANCE TO TOW IT TO MY GO-TO DEALERSHIP. AN HOUR LATER, A FLATBED TOW TRUCK…
THERE APPEARS TO BE AN INTERMITENT DEFECT WITH THE TRANSMISSION WHEN THE VEHICLE GETS WET. WHEN WET THE VEHICLE LOCK UP AND NOT EASILY GO INTO FORWARD OR REVERSE. THIS OCCASIONALLY OCCURS AFTER GOING THROUGH A CAR WASH OR WHEN THE VEHICLE IS DRIVEN IN WET WEATHER AND THEN, PARKED. AFTER A FEW HOURS, WHEN IT IS ATTEMPTED TO PUT THE VEHICLE IN GEAR, THE TRANSMISSION IS LOCKED UP AND THE VEHICLE WON'T MOVE. ONLY BY ROCKING THE VEHICLE DOES THE TRANSMISSION LOOSEN UP AND THE VEHICLE GOES INTO REVERSE. THE PARKING BRAKE IS NOT ENGAGED. THIS ISSUE IS MENTIONED MULTIPLE TIMES ON VOLVO RELATED FORUMS.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 VOLVO XC90. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE REAR BACK UP CAMERA AND GPS SYSTEM WORKED INTERMITTENTLY. THE FAILURE OCCURRED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER APPROXIMATELY SIX TIMES WHERE THE TECHNICIAN DIAGNOSED THAT THE VEHICLE NEEDED A SOFTWARE UPDATE AND THE MULTIMEDIA MODULE AND CAMERA NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED; HOWEVER, THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT DUE TO THE SOFTWARE COMPANY GOING OUT OF BUSINESS, THEY WOULD NO LONGER TRY TO REPAIR THE…
2012 Volvo XC90: questions owners ask
Is the 2012 Volvo XC90 reliable?
NHTSA data alone cannot rate reliability, but it shows what owners reported. Owners filed 3 complaints with NHTSA about the 2012 Volvo XC90; the most common categories were back over prevention (1, 33.3%), electrical system (1, 33.3%), equipment (1, 33.3%). There are no safety recalls listed for this model year.
What are the most common problems with the 2012 Volvo XC90?
Across 3 owner complaints filed with NHTSA, the categories mentioned most often are back over prevention (33.3% of complaints), electrical system (33.3% of complaints), equipment (33.3% of complaints), power train (33.3% of complaints), steering (33.3% of complaints). One complaint can name several components.
Does the 2012 Volvo XC90 have any recalls?
As of November 2026, NHTSA lists no safety recalls for the 2012 Volvo XC90. Recalls can be issued at any time, so check your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
Check your own XC90
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), DVSA vehicle recalls (Open Government Licence v3.0), retrieved November 2, 2026. Model year 2012 only. How these reports are made.