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Volvo C30Model year report

2012 Volvo C30 Problems

Complaints
10filed with NHTSA
Median mileage
34,014miles, 4 complaints with mileage
Recalls
0campaigns on record
Trend
Not enough dataFewer than 15 complaints, too few for a reliable trend.
NHTSA crash rating
—no overall rating published
EPA fuel economy
24 mpgcombined, 2.5L 5-cyl FWD · 21 city / 29 hwy

Sources: NHTSA records for the 2012 Volvo C30 (complaints, recalls, investigations), EPA fuel economy. Report an error

NHTSA recorded 10 consumer complaints for the 2012 Volvo C30. The part named most often is vehicle speed control, with 3 complaints (30% of the total), followed by visibility (3) and other or unknown (2). 4 of the complaints include a mileage, and 75% of those were filed for vehicles with under 50,000 miles; the median is 34,014 miles. NHTSA lists 0 recall campaigns and 178 technical service bulletins for this model year. Vehicle speed control complaints overlap with 2 technical service bulletins filed under the same part. Visibility complaints overlap with 4 technical service bulletins filed under the same part.

This model year has fewer than 25 complaints on record, so the numbers below can change a lot with a few new reports.

Which parts are reported most

Complaints can name more than one part, so the counts add up to more than the total. Select a part to see its complaints, recalls and bulletins.

Example complaints

Vehicle speed control: “While stopped at a red light, my 2012 Volvo C30 rdesign began to accelerate to a high speed independently causing the car to move into the intersection. I immediately jammed the brake peddle to stop the car from moving any further and put the car into park causing the car to stop. The car continued to rev for an additional 5 seconds, then drop down to a normal idle. Please help, what's wrong?”

NHTSA complaint #10621843, filed 2014-08

Visibility (wipers, defrost, mirrors): “The seal around the front windshield of the car is leaking. The leak lets water in the car while driving, it’s dripping down the windshield which is very distracting. The excess amount of water being let into the vehicle also fogs up the front windshield and side windows. This causes a huge visual impairment putting myself and others at risk on the road. There are many other Volvos from similar years and models that I’m seeing have the same issue. I have never had the issue looked at, but Volvo representatives say they know about the issue. …”

NHTSA complaint #11554638, filed 2023-11

Other or unknown: “On Jan. 8, 2026, and February 10, 2026, while driving on I-75 and 1-10 at approximately 70 miles an hour, my passenger door lock disengaged multiple times ---it came open -- while was driving on the highway at top speeds. It has done this at least 8 other times since then. When the door disengages, it is partially open, the wind comes into the car and all of the lights inside come on, the dash caution sign lights up and the dash reads that the door is open. The locks are still in lock position as they are when it automatically locks when you pull off in the car. …”

NHTSA complaint #11718235, filed 2026-02

Brakes: “A message that read ABS brake system needs service came on in my 2012 Volvo C30 tuesday, march 18. I called the service dept of the dealership - he said he knew what it was and to bring it in either thurs or fri. I chose friday morning. Wednesday about 3pm as I was downshifting to slow then applied my brakes there was no braking action. I was able to pull into the left turn lane to avoid running into the car ahead of me and then the brakes engaged. I pulled over and called the dealership. They said bring it in right then. …”

NHTSA complaint #10584502, filed 2014-04, 23,328 miles

Mileage when problems were reported

75% of the 4 complaints with a mileage were filed for vehicles with under 50,000 miles; the middle half falls between 23,328 and 44,700 miles.

25%0–1025%10–2525%25–500%50–7525%75–1000%100–1500%150+
Share of complaints by mileage when the problem was reported, in thousands of miles (4 complaints with mileage). Red bars: under 50,000 miles. Bucket widths differ. Median: 34,014 miles.

Complaints by year filed

Fewer than 15 complaints, too few for a reliable trend.

2012201422015201620212022202322026
Complaints by year the complaint was filed with NHTSA. Red bars: the last 3 full calendar years used for the trend. The current year (2026) is partial.

Fuel economy and running cost

EPA ratings for each 2012 Volvo C30 version. Annual fuel cost is the EPA's estimate at its current fuel prices for 15,000 miles a year (55% city driving).

VersionEngineTransmissionCityHwyComb.Fuel / yr
C30 FWD2.5L 5-cyl6-speed manual212924$2,800
C30 FWD2.5L 5-cyl5-speed automatic213024$2,800

Source: U.S. EPA and Department of Energy, fueleconomy.gov. Ratings are for comparing vehicles; real-world mileage varies with driving and conditions.

Recalls and investigations

NHTSA lists no recall campaigns for the 2012 Volvo C30 in the data used here. A recall can apply to some vehicles of a model year and not others, so check a specific vehicle by VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.

Technical service bulletins

TSBs are manufacturer notes to dealers about known repair procedures. They are not recalls and do not by themselves mean a vehicle has a fault. 178 on record; the latest 10 are shown.

See all 178 bulletins →

Other model years of the Volvo C30

YearComplaintsMedian miRecallsCrash ★MPGScore (50 = typical)Trend
20121034,0140—24—Not enough data
20111450,0001—24—Not enough data
2010659,0002—24—Not enough data
2009699,8002—23—Not enough data
2008847,1982—23—Not enough data

All Volvo C30 model years

Frequently asked questions

How many NHTSA complaints does the 2012 Volvo C30 have?

NHTSA recorded 10 consumer complaints for the 2012 Volvo C30 as of Oct 28, 2026. Complaints are unverified consumer reports and may be duplicated or inaccurate.

What part of the 2012 Volvo C30 is reported most often?

Vehicle speed control is named most often, in 3 complaints (30% of the total), followed by visibility with 3.

Has the 2012 Volvo C30 been recalled?

NHTSA lists no recall campaigns for this model year in the data used here. To check a specific vehicle, enter its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.

What gas mileage does the 2012 Volvo C30 get?

The EPA rates the 2012 Volvo C30 (C30 FWD, 2.5L 5-cyl) at 24 mpg combined, 21 city and 29 highway, with an estimated annual fuel cost of $2,800 at 15,000 miles a year. Other engine and drive versions are rated differently.

At what mileage are problems with the 2012 Volvo C30 reported?

Among the 4 complaints that include a mileage, the median is 34,014 miles and the middle half falls between 23,328 and 44,700 miles; 75% were filed for vehicles with under 50,000 miles.

About this data. Data from NHTSA (ODI) complaints, recalls, TSBs and investigations, updated Oct 28, 2026. Complaints are unverified consumer reports and may be duplicated or inaccurate. Fuel economy is from the EPA and DOE (fueleconomy.gov).

Complaint counts come from NHTSA’s public complaint database; we count each complaint once. The source records for this vehicle are on nhtsa.gov. Scores and trends are our own summaries of that data, described in the methodology. This page is not legal, safety or repair advice: for a specific vehicle, check its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls and ask a qualified mechanic. See an error? Tell us.