VOLVO C30 · model year

2012 VOLVO C30

11 NHTSA complaints for this specific cohort.

NHTSA overall rating

Not crash-tested

New Car Assessment Program

The 2012VOLVOC30 carries 11 consumer safety complaints in NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation database for this specific model-year cohort. Within that volume, owners reported 0 crashes, 0 fires, 0 injuries, and 0 fatalities. For crash performance, NHTSA's New Car Assessment Program gave this cohort an overall Not Rated/5 rating, with Not Rated/5 front crash, Not Rated/5 side crash, and Not Rated/5 rollover scores derived from standardized barrier and dynamic tests.

Component-level analysis is where model-year complaints become actionable: the top complaint category for the 2012 C30 is vehicle speed control with 3 filings, followed by unknown or other (2) and visibility/wiper (2). Concentration in one or two component groups is the classic signature of a systemic defect; a flat distribution usually reflects normal aging, warranty complaints, or isolated build-plant variability.

NHTSA currently has 28 investigation files overlapping the 2012 C30. Owners comparing this cohort against neighboring years should pair the counters above with the complaint-by-year trend on the parent model page — a spike in a single year often tracks to a platform refresh, a new transmission supplier, or an updated ECU calibration. Use the related-complaint feed below to read raw owner narratives before deciding whether any pattern here affects your specific use case.

11
Complaints
0
Crashes
0
Fires
0
Injuries
0
Deaths

Total Complaints

11 filings

Crashes Reported

0 reports

Source

NHTSA ODI

Federal complaints database

Complaints vs. fleet median (215)

At or below the fleet median complaint volume.

NHTSA NCAP overall: Not Rated/5 — Not rated · Front: Not Rated/5 · Side: Not Rated/5 · Rollover: Not Rated/5

Complaints by Component

ComponentCount
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL3
UNKNOWN OR OTHER2
VISIBILITY/WIPER2
SERVICE BRAKES1
ENGINE1
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM1
VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD1

Recent Complaints

20260216UNKNOWN OR OTHER

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. So none of the doors are previously open. This may be what keeps the door from swinging fully open when driving. I have reported this happening to my Volvo dealer and they have not been able to find any electronic reading or figure out what is happening to tell them what is going on. Nor have they been able to duplicate the door opening in driving mode when they take it out, probably because it happens when I am driving on the

20231127VISIBILITY/WIPER

The top corners of the windshield have come loose from the seal. The risk is losing a windshield at highway speed. The vehicle was taken to the dealership who referred us to a body shop. The vehicle was then taken to Gerber Collision & Glass - Austin where the problem was confirmed.

20231111VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD

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. However, there is no recall in place to fix the issue and to keep drivers safe on the roads.

20220214VISIBILITY/WIPER

My windshield has become loose and makes a very loud noise when going over any bumps. Im very concerned that at some point, it will shatter while driving.

20210602UNKNOWN OR OTHER

- The front windshield leaks - This allowed water to fall into the footwells and enter the CEM which controls basically the whole car and made my car turn off while I was driving nearly 45mph which was very dangerous, the sudden surprise made me turn my attention away from the road - I don't have any details on it being inspected before but it has never leaked before and after a heavy rainstorm the problem with the leak arose and damaged my CEM, it was wet and corroded a bit and I figured that this water damaged the CEM - The electrical system was acting a bit funky like the radio not working right and my turn signals flashing faster than normal and the right headlight not working, it all happened in pretty much one day, I didn't really think it was anything serious until the car shut off - Volvo needs to recall this on pretty much all year C30s and possibly other Volvo models made around this year because this little leak can easily cause someone to lose control of their car

20160202ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

ON JANUARY 21, 2016, MY VOLVO C30'S FAULTY FACTORY-INSTALLED, BLEMISH-FREE, WINDSHIELD LEAKED WHICH PERMITTED WATER TO FLOW DOWN THE A PILLAR AND INTO THE CAR'S ELECTRONICS. AS A CONSEQUENCE, THE CAR BECAME QUICKLY DEBILITATED BECAUSE OF ELECTRICAL FAILURE. SMOKE BILLOWED FROM THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT BEFORE THE BATTERY CABLE WAS QUICKLY REMOVED. ON JANUARY 21, 2016, THE C30 WAS TOWED VIA FLAT BED TRUCK TO VOLVO OF DALLAS FOR REPAIR. THE COURTEOUS AND KNOWLEDGEABLE MAINTENANCE TECHNICIAN, KENNY, IMMEDIATELY IDENTIFIED THE PROBLEM AS A LEAKING WINDSHIELD AND STATED THAT 'THIS IS A KNOWN PROBLEM IN VOLVOS.' HE STATED, THE 'SEALANT/PRIMER MAY SEPARATE CAUSING A LEAK.' VOLVO OF DALLAS HELD THE CAR FOR A WEEK DURING REPLACEMENT OF THE LEAKING WINDSHIELD. I REQUESTED A FULL INSPECTION. APPARENTLY, THAT WAS COMPLETED. THE 4 YEAR WARRANTY IS DUE TO EXPIRE SOON. I DO NOT TRUST THAT THIS CAR, WHICH NOW HAS AN ELECTRICAL 'HISTORY,' IS ANY LONGER IN THE CAREFUL AND METICULOUS CONDITIO

Mileage: 44,700

20150223VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL

WHILE DRIVING MY VOLVO C30 REDESIGN, I STOPPED AT A STOP SIGN BEFORE I ENTERED MAIN ROAD FROM PARKING LOT AREA VEHICLE BEGAN TO ACCELERATE TO A HIGH SPEED INDEPENDENTLY CAUSING THE CAR TO MOVE TOWARDS THE INTERSECTION. NO CARS WERE APPROACHING SO I CONTINUED TURNING BUT IT WAS VERY UNSAFE. IT HAPPENED BEFORE AT FORT HOOD AND NEAR MY HOUSE IN TEMPLE TX. ALWAYS SAME CONDITIONS; AS I START TO ACCELERATE THE VEHICLE JUMP INTO A HIGH SPEED OR GEAR. THIS MORNING THE VEHICLE WAS ON HIGH REV IDLE, DID NOT WENT DOWN UNTIL I CHANGE TO MANUAL AND BACK TO AUTOMATIC. PLEASE ADVICE. *TR

Mileage: 93,500

20150223ENGINE

WHILE DRIVING MY VOLVO C30 REDESIGN, I STOPPED AT A STOP SIGN BEFORE I ENTERED MAIN ROAD FROM PARKING LOT AREA VEHICLE BEGAN TO ACCELERATE TO A HIGH SPEED INDEPENDENTLY CAUSING THE CAR TO MOVE TOWARDS THE INTERSECTION. NO CARS WERE APPROACHING SO I CONTINUED TURNING BUT IT WAS VERY UNSAFE. IT HAPPENED BEFORE AT FORT HOOD AND NEAR MY HOUSE IN TEMPLE TX. ALWAYS SAME CONDITIONS; AS I START TO ACCELERATE THE VEHICLE JUMP INTO A HIGH SPEED OR GEAR. THIS MORNING THE VEHICLE WAS ON HIGH REV IDLE, DID NOT WENT DOWN UNTIL I CHANGE TO MANUAL AND BACK TO AUTOMATIC. PLEASE ADVICE. *TR

Mileage: 93,500

20140812VEHICLE 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? *TR

20140423SERVICE 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. I WAS A BIT FLUSTERED AND SO STUPIDLY DROVE THE CAR INTO DEALERSHIP ABOUT 4 OR 5 MILES AWAY FROM WHERE I WAS. WHEN I PICKED THE CAR THE NEXT MORNING, I ASKED WHAT THE ISSUE WAS. THE SERVICE PERSON SAID THAT SOME COMPONENT OF THE BRAKE CAME APART (I DON'T RECALL IF HE SAID THE NAME OF THE PART) AND THEY PUT A CLAMP ON IT. I ASKED HOW LONG THIS ISSUE HAD BEEN OCCURRING - HE SAID FOR "MORE THAN A YEAR". I'VE SUBSEQUENTLY CALLED THE OWNER OF THE DEALERSHIP AND HE WAS A

Mileage: 23,328

20120918VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 VOLVO C30. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE THE BRAKES WERE BEING DEPRESSED, THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED INDEPENDENTLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER TWICE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE HOWEVER, THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 361 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 1200. ...UPDATED 10/10/12 *BF THE CONSUMER STATED THE VEHICLE SPONTANEOUSLY AND RANDOMLY FAILS TO RESPOND FOR THREE OR FOUR SECONDS UPON PRESSING THE ACCLERATOR AND THEN IT SURGES. AFTER ABOUT THREE SECNDS IT FALLS BACK TO NORMAL SPEED. UPDATED 10/17/2012 *JS

Mileage: 361

Compare 2012VOLVOC30 to Similar Vehicles

NHTSA Investigations

View all investigations

Frequently Asked Questions

How many complaints does the 2012 VOLVO C30 have?
The 2012 VOLVO C30 has 11 NHTSA complaints, 0 crashes, 0 fires, 0 injuries, and 0 deaths reported.
What is the safety rating for the 2012 VOLVO C30?
The 2012 VOLVO C30 received an overall NHTSA safety rating of Not Rated/5, front crash rating of Not Rated/5, side crash rating of Not Rated/5, and rollover rating of Not Rated/5.
What are the most common problems with the 2012 VOLVO C30?
The most-complained component for the 2012 VOLVO C30 is VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL with 3 complaints. Other frequently reported areas include UNKNOWN OR OTHER and VISIBILITY/WIPER.
Is the 2012 VOLVO C30 safe to buy?
Review the complaint history, crash and fire reports, safety ratings, and recall status on this page to make an informed decision. The 2012 VOLVO C30 has an NHTSA safety rating of Not Rated/5. Compare with other model years using the links above.
Where does this data come from?
All complaint, recall, and safety rating data is sourced from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). Complaints are filed by vehicle owners through NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation.

Vehicle Safety Guides

Data as of 2025. Sources: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) complaints database, NHTSA recall campaign API, NHTSA NCAP crash-test ratings, and NHTSA FARS for fatality cross-reference.