Most common 2012 Volvo VN problems
Share of the 2 complaints; one complaint can involve more than one system. "~" is the median mileage when the problem started.
Volvo VN complaints by model year
Best VN years: 2011, 2012, 2016. Compare all years →
2012 Volvo VN recalls (2)
Suspension › Front › Control arm › Lower ball joint
Volvo Trucks North America (Volvo) is recalling certain model year 2009-2015 Volvo VN trucks manufactured April 14, 2008, to December 23, 2014. The affected vehicles may experience corrosion of the ball joints due to the seals being compromised, possibly resulting in accelerated wear and failure of the ball joint.
Remedy: Volvo will notify owners, and dealers will inspect and replace the drag links, free of charge. Parts are not currently available. Volvo issued an interim notification to owners on October 28, 2015.
Seat belts
Volvo is recalling certain model year 2002-2013 VHD and VN trucks, manufactured from August 4, 2000, through June 22, 2012, and equipped with bench passenger seats. The seat belt d-ring weld may not be sufficient enough to meet the seat belt pull test.
Remedy: Volvo Trucks of America will notify owners, and dealers will replace the suspected d-ring, free of change. The safety recall began on May 10, 2013. Owners may contact Volvo at 1-336-393-2000.
NHTSA defect investigations
Federal safety investigators have looked into a possible defect involving the 2012 Volvo VN:
Discrepancies in Required CFR Reporting
On October 22, 2018, an Audit Query (AQ18-005) was opened to assess the completeness and timeliness of Volvo Group's early warning reporting, safety recalls, and communications submissions to the agency.NHTSA's investigation determined that Volvo Group failed to recall vehicles in a timely fashion and to comply with other recall and reporting requirements, including notifying owners of recalls and reporting death…
Frequently asked questions
Is the 2012 Volvo VN a good car?
Based on 2 owner complaints filed with NHTSA, the 2012 VN rates few complaints: 33% fewer complaints than a typical year of the VN at the same age. It is one of the best VN years by this measure. Complaint counts don't account for sales volume or individual maintenance, so have any used car inspected before buying.
What is the most common problem with the 2012 Volvo VN?
The wheels & tires — 2 complaints, 100% of all complaints for this model year.
How many recalls does the 2012 Volvo VN have?
There are 2 recalls for the 2012 Volvo VN, the most recent from October 13, 2015 (lower ball joint). Recall repairs are free at any authorized dealer — check whether yours has been done with the VIN recall check.
What are the best and worst years of the Volvo VN?
The best years by complaints, compared at the same age, are 2011, 2012 and 2016. See the full Volvo VN years comparison.
Source: U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) — owner complaints through October 20, 2026, recalls and defect investigations; fuel economy from the EPA. Complaints are unverified reports and are not proof of a defect. How we rate model years.