The 2012 Volvo S60 was a premium sedan that was built on Volvo’s stellar reputation for safety, and many of these are still making drivers happy today. The combination of a modular and flowing profile (for a Volvo) was due to a big redesign in 2011, and the 2012 S60 got a lot of new bells and whistles.

There were a few major issues, however, that had drivers worrying. Both the No. 1 and No. 2 issue reported were due to engine problems.

The 2012 Volvo S60 consumes too much oil

In 2012, excessive oil consumption is a known problem in Volvo S60 models. According to CarComplaints.com, this earned a severity rating of 6.8 or “pretty bad.” Some owners would rank it as much worse than that, however, since some complained that the engine was ruined due to oil leaking out. Not only that, but it was also a very expensive problem to fix at an average of $4,700. 

Drivers reported the problem of excessive oil consumption in the 2012 Volvo S60 at around 75,000 miles. They complained that the S60 would not offer any kind of warning or warning light until the oil was almost dry, putting the engine in danger of seizing. Some drivers took it in stride, saying that once you knew about the issue, you just had to add a few quarts every so often and everything was fine. 

Today’s Volvo S60 makes the grade

In 2020, Volvo seems to have solved its engine issues of the past. There are 4 different engine choices based on either the T5 or T6 powertrain, a plug-in hybrid, and all-wheel-drive offerings.

The 2020 Volvo S60 is a refined sedan that surrounds the driver in luxury and technology. The S60 has 4 distinct trim levels – Momentum, Inscription, R-Design, and Polestar Engineered – that offer sophistication, safety, and excellent performance. On the outside, clean lines flow over all four doors and a panoramic moon roof with a sunshade. 

Once inside, the driver has a choice of experiences. Available inlays include driftwood, metal mesh aluminum, iron ore aluminum, and linear lime. Fine leather upholstery covers all available surfaces, and an electronic climate control system keeps everyone comfortable. Standard in all models is a clear-zone air quality system that keeps the air free of irritants and contaminants. 

There’s plenty of technology to keep drivers and passengers happy, including a high-end audio system, navigation with real-time traffic, and smartphone integration with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. Use your voice to talk to your phone, find your next destination, listen to your messages, and hear your favorite playlist or podcast. 

Legendary Volvo safety

The Volvo reputation for safety is well deserved. In the 2020 S60, you’ll experience the height of Volvo safety engineering with a list of 36 advanced standard safety features. These include everything from an energy-absorbing interior to Volvo’s high-strength steel safety cage. Driver-assist technology is also abundant with lane-keeping assist and an available 360-degree surround-view camera. 

The 2020 Volvo S60 earned a “good” rating from the Insurance Institute of Highway safety in all 6 categories, plus a “superior” in front crash prevention. This keeps Volvo’s reputation intact, with five of their vehicles earning a Top Safety Pick or Top Safety Pick+ designation. The 2020 S60 was one of those that was named a Top Safety Pick+. 

When looking for a pre-owned Volvo, you might want to be careful about the 2012 S60. Although it’s a capable sedan, the excessive oil consumption issue and engine failure issue are enough to raise some eyebrows.