According to Au7o's research across NHTSA recalls, manufacturer TSBs, and owner forum reports, the 2012 Volvo S60 has 2 documented known issues, with 2 rated critical. The most serious are "No Oil Pressure - Stop Safely" Warning and Oil Pump Pickup Restriction ($250-$2,500 repair) and S60 Seat Belt Anchor Cable Fatigue — Safety Recall 20V378000. Across all issues with published estimates, repair costs range from $250 to $2,500. DIY maintenance guides at au7o.io.
On the 2011-2016 Volvo S60, p3-generation S60 owners report a sudden 'No Oil Pressure - Stop Safely' message on the driver information display, often with no prior noise or warning, and frequently while the engine still has oil on the dipstick. CarComplaints lists this as the number-one engine complaint on the 2013 model year. Three root causes account for most cases: a failed or contaminated oil pressure sensor/switch giving a false low reading, sludge and carbon partially blocking the oil pump pickup screen (aggravated by the same oil-consumption and PCV problems these engines suffer), and in the worst cases genuine low pressure from a worn oil pump or bearings. Because the message tells the driver to stop, many owners have the car towed only to be told 'no fault found', which is the classic sensor-failure presentation.
"No Oil Pressure - Stop Safely" message on the driver display
Warning appears suddenly with no noise and normal oil level
Oil pressure warning light illuminated
Ticking or rattling from the top end on cold start
Message clears after restart then returns
How to Fix
Do not assume the sensor. Measure actual oil pressure with a mechanical gauge at the sender port at hot idle and at 2000 rpm before replacing anything. If pressure is normal, replace the oil pressure sensor/switch and its connector. If pressure is genuinely low, drop the oil pan and inspect the pump pickup screen for sludge; a restricted screen requires cleaning the pan and pickup and correcting the underlying oil-consumption/PCV condition, plus shortening the oil change interval to 5,000 miles with the correct low-ash spec oil. Continued driving with real low pressure destroys bearings, which is why some of these cars end up as complete engine failures.
What you need to fix it
Only diagnosis- and fitment-reviewed repair parts are linked here.
Genuine Volvo 3545696 oil pressure switch
replace a confirmed false-warning oil pressure switch on the matching five-cylinder branch Fitment/availability: 2012-2016 S60 T5 five-cylinder B5254T5/B5254T12 branch after mechanical pressure is normal; confirm VIN, engine and installe…
replace a confirmed false-warning switch on the specified Drive-E engine-serial branch Fitment/availability: 2014-2016 S60 Drive-E B4204T branch up to engine serial 3048013 and only where the installed sensor is 31405635; confirm engine …
On the 2011-2018 Volvo S60, s60 sedans from 2011 through 2018 are covered by Volvo recall 20V378000. The problem is the flexible steel cable that connects the seat belt to each front outboard seating position: Volvo reported that this cable may fatigue over time. If the cable has fatigued, the seat belt may not secure the driver or front passenger in a crash, and NHTSA notes the resulting increased risk of injury to an unsecured occupant. There is no mileage or driving condition attached to the defect — it is age- and use-related, and the remedy applies to both front seats. Volvo refers to the campaign internally as R10029, and the 308,260 vehicles reported to NHTSA is the total for the campaign across all affected Volvo models.
Common Symptoms
Front seat belt may not secure the occupant in a crash
How to Fix
This is a free repair at any Volvo dealer: the dealer replaces the seat belt anchor cable for both front seats. Owner letters started going out December 10, 2020, so an S60 bought used may or may not have had the work done. Verify by entering the VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls, or call Volvo customer service at 1-800-458-1552 and give them recall number R10029.
Volvo is recalling certain model year 2014 S60, S80, XC60 and XC70 vehicles equipped with keyless ignition. In the affected vehicles, the Central Electronic Module (CEM) will not perform as intended. As a result, the front windshield wipers might run continuously when the ignition is on. Also, the turn signals, high beams, and headlight switch might not work.
Campaign #13V37700021/08/2013
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 Country vehicles. The flexible steel cable that connects the seat belt to the front outboard seating positions may fatigue over time, causing the seat belt to not secure the occupant in the event of a crash.
Campaign #20V37800030/06/2020
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 passenger to believe a door is securely closed when, in fact, it is not.
Campaign #19V84900026/11/2019
AIR BAGS
Volvo Car USA LLC (Volvo) is recalling certain model year 2017 S60 and S60 Cross Country, V60 and V60 Cross Country, and XC60 vehicles manufactured August 16, 2016, through October 21, 2016. The affected vehicles have driver and front passenger seat side mounted side air bags (SAB) with inflator initiators that may fail to ignite during a crash. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 208, "Occupant Crash Protection" and number 214, "Side Impact Protection."
Campaign #16V91800021/12/2016
AIR BAGS
Volvo Car USA LLC (Volvo) is recalling certain 2017 S60, S60CC, V60, V60 Cross Country, and XC60 vehicles. The affected vehicles have driver and front passenger seat side mounted side air bags (SAB) with inflator initiators that may fail to ignite during a crash. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 208, "Occupant Crash Protection" and number 214, "Side Impact Protection."
According to Au7o's research across NHTSA recalls, manufacturer TSBs, and owner forum reports, the 2012 Volvo S60 has 2 documented issues. The most frequently reported are: "No Oil Pressure - Stop Safely" Warning and Oil Pump Pickup Restriction, S60 Seat Belt Anchor Cable Fatigue — Safety Recall 20V378000. Of these, 2 are rated critical and should be addressed promptly.
Is the Volvo S60 reliable?
The 2012 Volvo S60 has 2 known issues compiled from NHTSA recalls, manufacturer TSBs, and owner forum reports. 2 issues are rated critical: "No Oil Pressure - Stop Safely" Warning and Oil Pump Pickup Restriction and S60 Seat Belt Anchor Cable Fatigue — Safety Recall 20V378000. Prospective buyers should inspect for these issues and factor potential repair costs into their purchase decision. Regular maintenance following the manufacturer's schedule helps prevent many common problems.
How much does it cost to fix common Volvo S60 problems?
Repair costs for known Volvo S60 issues range from $250 to $2,500, depending on the specific problem and whether you choose DIY or professional repair. The most critical issue, "No Oil Pressure - Stop Safely" Warning and Oil Pump Pickup Restriction, typically costs $250-$2,500 to repair. Au7o provides step-by-step DIY maintenance guides that can help reduce repair costs.
What is the 2011-2016 Volvo S60 "No Oil Pressure - Stop Safely" Warning and Oil Pump Pickup Restriction?
P3-generation S60 owners report a sudden 'No Oil Pressure - Stop Safely' message on the driver information display, often with no prior noise or warning, and frequently while the engine still has oil on the dipstick. CarComplaints lists this as the number-one engine complaint on… Repairs typically run $250-$2,500. Severity: high.
What is the 2011-2018 Volvo S60 S60 Seat Belt Anchor Cable Fatigue — Safety Recall 20V378000?
S60 sedans from 2011 through 2018 are covered by Volvo recall 20V378000. The problem is the flexible steel cable that connects the seat belt to each front outboard seating position: Volvo reported that this cable may fatigue over time. If the cable has fatigued, the seat belt may… Severity: high.
Content on this page was compiled with AI assistance using NHTSA complaints, TSBs, owner reports, and public automotive data. While we strive for accuracy, this information may contain errors. Always verify repair procedures and specifications with your vehicle's service manual or a qualified mechanic.
