2012 Volvo S60 Electrical Problems

On June 2, 2023 I went to start my car and the engine would not turn over. The dashboard displayed a number of warning lights and messages (DSTC Service Required, SRS Airbag Service Urgent, Transmission Service Required, Coolant System Service Required). When the tow truck driver arrived later that day, they tried to jumpstart my car but reported the battery was completely dead. I had the car taken to a local shop that specialized in Volvo cars. A few days later the shop called to tell me that not only was the battery dead, but my car key was no longer responding, and that the Engine Control Module "exploded." None of the mechanics at the shop had seen such a thing before. The shop also told me that they could not figure out what had been draining the battery. I was advised to reach out to the dealership. I did and happened to meet with the general manager and a lead technician who happened to be on site. I was told that while rare, the Engine Control Module can "explode." I was willing to drop the matter until I started seeing "Low Battery" warnings in early Sept. of 2023. I was finally able to get the car into the dealership on 1/2/24. After talking with the mechanic, he suggested that the satellite radio in my car was continuously draining my battery and to resolve the problem all they would need to do is download new software. A few hours later the mechanic confirmed that my car needed an RDAR upgrade to stop the battery drainage. I do not understand how the dealership could sell me the car without checking to make sure the software had been upgraded in the first place. RDAR failure is not something that pops up as a recall or major safety concern. If the car had lost power while in motion, there could have been serious consequences.

NHTSA ID

11564522

Incident

Jun 6, 2023

My wife and I were driving to BWI airport for a 10:30am flight from Virginia Beach in the Express Lane on I-95N going 75mph when all of a sudden at 8:30am the engine seized and I got a message telling me I would experience "Reduced Engine Performance" as my car puttered to a stop with white smoke pouring out of the exhaust. Prior to this message I had no warnings or messages on my dashboard. I got out of my car to check my oil and it was completely evaporated, so I called AAA. While we are 1 hour into waiting (it is now 9:30am) on the narrow shoulder of two Express Lanes for a tow truck to take our car to a shop at 11:40am and for a Lyft driver to figure out how to get to us, two VDOT employees told us we had to move our car by 11am otherwise the state police will tow us. I managed to call a local tow company who finally arrived by 10:55am, so we had been stranded in an Express Lane watching cars fly by at 85mph for almost 2 and a half hours before we were able to move. After the first shop took a look and told me the engine was damaged and that they couldn't replace it, I had it towed to a Volvo dealership. 5 days and a $375 diagnostic later, they find that the turbocharger has an internal oil leak and that this and the catalytic converter would have to be replaced for $6k. Aside from now being carless 4 hours from the dealership and missing my wife's birthday celebration without refund, I now have a $6,375 bill that I had no way of preventing due to a manufacturing design flaw in 2012 Volvo S60 T5. I SHOULD have been warned of a low oil situation so I could have at least pulled over and properly tended to it. I SHOULD NOT have to be liable for a Volvo design flaw that may involve faulty piston rings that has apparently affected countless others. This incident put both my wife and I in danger on an Express Lane on a very busy highway. Volvo needs to be accountable for this design flaw.

NHTSA ID

11452418

Incident

Feb 11, 2022

When I first bought this Volvo there was condensation in both of the headlights then took it for a test drive and I really liked it and when I got back the dealer said if I was to buy it he would take care of both headlights so I assumed that he did but I bought it and left and was driving and then a code came on in the car saying low beam out I was like oh [XXX] so took it back to them they had me go buy $120 light bulb and that wasn't the problem they did some working and testing and said that it was the low beam ballast so I bought 1 for the drivers side and that fixed that problem but then not even a week later the same light came on saying low beam out, took it back and they said that it was the same thing on opposite side on passenger side so they said order the part and we'll fix it I did that took it back to them and they said it was fixed not even a day later and the light was back on swing low beam out I'm thinking that there is an issue that has to deal with some kind of recall with these lights cause there is no way that they should break that easy or quick so please get back to me and let me know thank you INFORMATION Redacted PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6).

NHTSA ID

11448430

Incident

Jun 10, 2021

SIRIUS RADIO MODULE FAILURE CAUSE CONTROL AND DISPLAY OF BACK UP CAMERA, NAVIGATION, HANDS FREE PHONE, AND RADIO TO STOP WORKING.

NHTSA ID

11399093

Incident

Sep 1, 2020

Mileage

75,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 VOLVO S60. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE MAKING A LEFT OR RIGHT TURN, THE LOW OIL LEVEL WARNING LIGHT FLASHED ON THEIR INSTRUMENT PANEL AND DISAPPEARED. THE CONTACT ADDED A QUART OF OIL AND APPROXIMATELY THREE WEEKS LATER WHILE HIS WIFE WAS DRIVING, SHE BECAME AWARE OF A KNOCKING SOUND COMING FROM THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT CHECKED THE VEHICLE AND CONFIRMED THE KNOCKING SOUND. THE CONTACT CHECKED THE DIPSTICK AND NOTICED THAT IT WAS DRY. THE CONTACT HAD NOT CONTACTED A DEALER OR A CERTIFIED MECHANIC. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND REFERRED THE CONTACT THE LOCAL DEALER FOR ASSISTANCE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 103,000.

NHTSA ID

11372601

Incident

Aug 1, 2020

Mileage

103,000 mi

MY CAR DOESN'T NOTIFY ME THAT THE ENGINE OIL IS LOW. LAST YEAR, I DROVE ALL THE WAY TO MISSISSIPPI WITHOUT IT WARNING THAT THE OIL WAS LO WITH BARELY ANY OIL ON THE DIP STICK. WE STOPPED TO CHECK IT WHEN WE GOT GAS AND THAT IS HOW WE KNEW. IT HAS BEEN LOW SEVERAL TIMES THIS YEAR WITHOUT NOTIFYING ME. I HAVE TO CONSTANTLY CHECK THE OIL TO ENSURE THERE IS ENOUGH IN THERE. IT DOES NOT HAVE AN OIL LEAK AS THERE IS NO OIL ON THE CONCRETE. I HAVE CHECKED WITH THE VOLVO DEALERSHIP AND WAS TOLD THERE WAS NO RECALL FOR MY CAR IN REFERENCE TO LOW OIL BUT THERE SHOULD BE. I COULD HAVE BLOWN MY ENGINE

NHTSA ID

11367102

Incident

Sep 19, 2019

Mileage

135,000 mi

THE SENSUS/NAVIGATION SYSTEM IS PLAGUED WITH BUGS. FREQUENTLY MY BLUETOOTH FAILS TO CONNECT, AUDIO RANDOMLY STOPS WORKING FOR ALL SATNAV/RADIO FUNCTIONS, SOMETIMES THE SCREEN FAILS TO LOAD UP AT ALL. ALL SEEMS TO HAPPEN COMPLETELY RANDOMLY. SOME DAYS RADIO FUNCTIONS GREAT BUT SOME DAYS I CAN NOT LISTEN TO ANY AUDIO AT ALL. SOME DAYS MY PHONE CONNECTS TO BLUETOOTH WITHOUT ME EVEN TRYING TO CONNECT, AND SOME DAYS THE SATNAV RADIO DOES NOT CONNECT AT ALL. I HAVE EVEN GONE AS FAR AS TO RESET ALL NETWORK SETTINGS ON MY IPHONE AND REMOVE THE IPHONE FROM THE RECENT DEVICE LIST; STILL THE PHONE WILL NOT CONNECT TO THE CAR. THE ONLY THING I HAVE EVER SEEN 'FIX' THIS PROBLEM IS TO STOP THE CAR, GET OUT OF THE VEHICLE, WALK MORE THAN 20FT AWAY FROM THE CAR, LOCK THE CAR, AND WAIT A FEW MINUTES; UNLOCK, ENTER AND START VEHICLE; AND SUDDENLY IT WORKS AGAIN.

NHTSA ID

11281680

Incident

May 1, 2019

Mileage

93,000 mi

THE KEYLESS ENTRY FAILED ONE BY ONE. THE RIGHT FRONT FIRST, THEN THE LEFT FRONT DOOR. I WENT TO DEALER, ENDING UP PAYING MORE THAN 500 DOLLARS FOR FIXING IT. THEY SAID THAT IS CAUSED BY THE POOR DESIGN OF THE DOOR HANDLE WHICH ALLOWED THE WATER TO GET INSIDE AND TO DAMAGE THE SENSOR AND WIRES.

NHTSA ID

11156934

Incident

Oct 9, 2018

Mileage

118,000 mi

CAR DID NOT INDICATE LOW OIL PRESSURE AT ANY TIME. ENGINE SEIZED AND STALLED ON FREEWAY CREATING DRIVING HAZZARD. CAR WAS IN MOTION AT APPROX. 65 MPL, STARTED SHAKING AS IF A TIRE HAD BLOWN. CAR STARTED TO SMELL LIKE BUNED OIL, STALLED AND WOULD NOT RESTART. THE ONLY ALERT THAT CAME ON WAS THE LOW BATTERY ICON AFTER THE MOTOR SEIZED.

NHTSA ID

11089975

Incident

Apr 23, 2018

Mileage

103,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 VOLVO S60. WHILE DRIVING 5 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE STARTER NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE STARTER WAS REPLACED, BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED WHILE STILL AT THE DEALER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 13V592000 (ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING). THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 49,740.

NHTSA ID

10924834

Incident

Oct 29, 2016

Mileage

49,740 mi

WHEN THE CAR IS OUTDOORS, IN TEMPERATURES APPROACHING 100 F, THE REAR (BACKUP) CAMERA FLICKERS OR FAILS ALTOGETHER.

NHTSA ID

10881411

Incident

Jun 25, 2016

Mileage

45,355 mi

HAVING ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS AND SOFTWARE PROBLEMS. IN THE MIDDLE OF DRIVING ALL ELECTRONICS WILL GO OFF. ALSO, CAR WONT ALWAYS SHUT DOWN OR START PROPERLY. LOOKED OVER MANY FORUMS AND FOUND THE EXACT COMPLAINTS. THERE HAVE BEEN OTHER RECALLS FOR ELECTRICAL AND SOFTWARE FOR THE S60, BUT APPARENTLY THEY DONT APPLY TO MY VIN, EVEN THOUGH I AM HAVING THE EXACT SAME ISSUE.

NHTSA ID

10850541

Incident

Mar 19, 2016

Mileage

29,100 mi

MY 2012 VOLVO S60 HAD SERIOUS ENGINE NOISE BROUGHT TO THE SHOP THEY THOUGHT IT MIGHT OF BEEN THE FACT THAT I HAD LOW OIL, BUT I HAD JUST GOTTEN MY OIL CHANGED 12/17/14 AND IT WAS 5/27/15 NOW AND I HAD NOT DRIVEN ANYWHERE CLOSE TO 6 THOUSAND MILES TO DEPLETE ALL THE OIL. THE SHOP TOLD ME TO REALLY FIGURE OUT WHAT WAS GOING ON THEY WOULD HAVE TO TAKE OUT THE ENGINE TO TAKE A LOOK AT WHAT WAS MAKING THE NOISE. THAT EVENING I GOT A CALL FROM THE SHOP AGAIN TELLING ME THAT THERE WAS A SERIOUS PROBLEM. THEY TOLD ME BECAUSE MY CAR WAS DANGEROUSLY LOW ON OIL IN FACT 3 QUARTS LOW THAT THE ENGINE FOR THAT FACT HAD NOT GOTTEN ANY OIL, THIS IN TURN CASED THE BARRING AND THE CRANK SHAFT THE BE DAMAGED SO BAD THAT THEY SHOP TO ME THAT IF BASICALLY BEYOND REPAIR AND I WOULD NEED TO GET A NEW ENGINE. UPON RESEARCHING THE INTERNET I CAME ACROSS A STRING OF RECALLS FOR MY CAR, IT STATED THAT THE VOLVO'S SOFTWARE HAD A PROBLEM WHICH PREVENTED THE LOW ENGINE OIL LIGHT FROM COMING OUT AND IN DECEMBER 2013 THEY STARTED A RECALL. I CHECK THE WEBSITE AND GOT THE NUMBER TO VOLVO OF NORTH AMERICA AND CALLED AND WAS TOLD THAT MY CAR WAS ONE OF THE VEHICLES THAT WAS RECALLED. I WAS ALSO TOLD THAT THEY PROBLEM WAS FIXED BY A SIMPLE SOFTWARE UPDATE. I WAS ALSO TOLD THAT IN THEIR RECORDS MY CAR WAS TAKEN INTO VOLVO AND THE UPDATE WAS APPLIED TO MY CAR FIXING THE PROBLEM. I TOLD THE REPRESENTATIVE ON THE PHONE THAT IF THIS WAS THE CASE THEN IT MUST OF NOT WORKED BECAUSE MY CAR WAS IN THE SHOP WITH THE EXACT SAME PROBLEM THAT VOLVO'S WEBSITE DESCRIBED AND ALSO NO "LOW ENGINE OIL" LIGHT EVER CAME ON.

NHTSA ID

10721909

Incident

May 20, 2015

Mileage

66,000 mi

CAR STALLED (2 TIMES ) WHILE DRIVING IT. COULD NOT STEER OR OPERATE ANY PART OF THE CAR. ONCE I ALMOST GOT REAR ENDED MY A TRUCK ON A HIGHWAY. MY VOLVO DEALER'S SERVICE DEPARTMENT COULD NOT FIGURE OUT THE PROBLEM. (I RECENTLY READ ABOUT THE GM IGNITION PROBLEMS AND THAT SOUNDS EXACTLY LIKE WHAT WAS HAPPENING WITH THIS CAR). *TR

NHTSA ID

10566259

Incident

Aug 1, 2013

Mileage

3,500 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 VOLVO S60. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 60 MPH, THERE WAS A LOSS OF STEERING CONTROL AND THE REAR END SPUN UNCONTROLLABLY. THE DYNAMIC TRACTION CONTROL FAILED TO ACTIVATE AND THE VEHICLE CRASHED INTO THE CURBSIDE, CAUSING DAMAGE TO THE FRONT DRIVER AND PASSENGER'S SIDE WHEEL RIMS. IN ADDITION, THE REAR DRIVER'S SIDE RIM AND FRONT BUMPER WAS DAMAGED. THERE WERE NO INJURIES. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING. A TROUBLE CODE WAS DETECTED FOR THE SRS MODULE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE PROBLEM. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 18,991.

NHTSA ID

10543130

Incident

Aug 24, 2013

Mileage

18,991 mi

THE ADAPTIVE CRUISE CONTROL IN MY VEHICLE HAS BEEN OCCASIONALLY MALFUNCTIONING (ABOUT 10-15 TIMES SINCE PURCHASING MY VEHICLE IN MAY) CAUSING IT TO APPLY THE PARKING BRAKE AT SPEEDS OF ABOUT 5 MPH. THIS CAUSES MY VEHICLE TO ABRUPTLY STOP WITHOUT THE BRAKE LIGHTS BEING ACTIVATED. I THEN HAVE TO DEPRESS THE BRAKE PEDAL AND RELEASE THE PARKING BRAKE. THEN MY CRUISE CONTROL IS INOPERATIVE UNTIL I RESTART THE VEHICLE. I WAS NEARLY REAR ENDED AFTER THE MOST RECENT OCCURRENCE. I'VE TAKEN MY VEHICLE TO THE NEAREST VOLVO REPAIR CENTER FOUR TIMES TO BE REPAIRED BUT THE MALFUNCTION STILL OCCURS. VOLVO IS UNWILLING TO REPLACE MY CAR UNDER THE LEMON LAW. *TR

NHTSA ID

10466894

Incident

May 11, 2012

Mileage

7,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 VOLVO S60 T5. THE CONTACT STATED THAT IN THE ATTEMPT TO TURN THE VEHICLE OFF AND TAKE THE KEY OUT OF THE IGNITION, THE VEHICLE REMAIN ON. THE DEALER NOR MANUFACTURER WERE CONTACTED IN REFERENCE TO THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS UNAVAILABLE.

NHTSA ID

10412165

Incident

Jul 9, 2011