Volvo XC40 Complaints

218 consumer complaints on file.

#11774101October 27, 2026
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, AIR BAGS, SEATS
Liquid intrusion in the center console from a routine cup holder spill penetrated unshielded wiring harnesses. This caused progressive electrical failures, including loss of engine power and power steering, failure of the SRS passenger airbag occupant sensor, 12V battery drain, and uncommanded movement of the power driver's seat while driving—which surged forward and pinned the driver against the steering wheel. Dealer repairs are approximately $5,000 to date with active hazards remaining
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
1
Deaths:
0
#11768225October 1, 2026
FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE: AUTOMATIC EMERGENCY BRAKING, FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE: WARNINGS
9/4/26: 2023 Volvo XC40 Recharge made an uncommanded collision-avoidance correction at a dead stop. No obstacle ahead, no driver input. No crash/injury. Two prior false alerts (8/25, 8/27). Reported to Volvo Cars Danvers 9/15/26; no finding.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11767657September 29, 2026
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
Sometimes when I start the car, the infotainment has no sound and I have to reboot it. This affects maps, blinkers, safety, anything using audio. When I reboot I lose access to all audio and video in the car. This happens a couple times a month. Sometimes I don’t notice it until I’m already under way.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11765706September 20, 2026
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL, SERVICE BRAKES, FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE: AUTOMATIC EMERGENCY BRAKING
I was pulling into a parking space at very low speed and was in the final stage of positioning the vehicle in the parking space. I was intentionally controlling the vehicle’s movement by gradually lifting my foot from the brake pedal. Instead of continuing to move forward slowly as expected, the vehicle suddenly accelerated forward with substantial force and speed greater than would be expected from simply releasing the brake pedal, and crashed into a cement wall. I did not intentionally press the accelerator or attempt to accelerate the vehicle. The collision caused substantial damage to the vehicle. The repair estimate is $14,644.25. The vehicle was NOT in cruise control. The Volvo-installed rubber floor mats were securely attached to the factory retaining pegs on the floor and were not loose or displaced. The vehicle’s Forward Collision Avoidance system did not engage or provide an automatic braking intervention before the vehicle struck the cement wall. The airbag did not deploy. The seat belt did not lock into place during the crash. I am submitting this complaint because the vehicle was being maneuvered at extremely low speed during a parking maneuver and unexpectedly accelerated forward with sufficient force to cause a collision with a cement wall, and resulted in significant vehicle damage. I am concerned that this may represent a safety defect. I request that NHTSA investigate whether this incident is part of a broader pattern involving the 2023 Volvo XC40 B5 mild-hybrid, including accelerator/throttle system, brake system, transmission, electronic controls, sensors, software, or communication between these systems. And consider examination of the vehicle’s electronic data, including accelerator-pedal position, brake-pedal position, throttle commands, engine-control-module data, transmission commands, brake-control-module data, diagnostic trouble codes, freeze-frame/event data and relevant software versions immediately preceding the collision.
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11764270September 15, 2026
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
Vehicle is starting up in the middle of the night. Not plugged in. Not updating! Has occurred at least twice that I know of. Checking the app shows no remote start. No activity! I am concerned about fire danger! Checking the app the vehicle software has not been updated since June/26.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11763812September 12, 2026
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, BACK OVER PREVENTION: WARNINGS, BACK OVER PREVENTION: REARVIEW SYSTEM BRAKING
The vehicle intermittently loses all audio output, including music/media, turn-signal sounds, lane-change/blind-spot warning tones, parking/reverse proximity sensor alerts, and other vehicle chimes. I have experienced this problem for more than one year, and it has become significantly more frequent/severe following the latest software update. When the failure occurs, visual displays and cameras may continue to function, but the associated audible safety warnings are completely absent. This creates a safety concern because the driver may not realize that important warning tones are unavailable, including while changing lanes or maneuvering near other vehicles or objects. The issue can temporarily be corrected by rebooting/resetting the vehicle's infotainment/head-unit system, but the problem returns. We have had to perform this reset at least 10 times in the past several months. The problem appears to involve the vehicle's electrical/infotainment audio system and affects multiple safety-related audible warning systems. The issue existed prior to the most recent software update but has worsened since the update. The vehicle is available for inspection if requested.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11760486August 28, 2026
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE: AUTOMATIC EMERGENCY BRAKING, FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE: WARNINGS
After the recent software update to 5.1.17, the sound in the car ceases to work. None of the emergency sensors sound, the directional doesn’t make sound, the radio doesn’t work. You have to completely reset the entire electronics system, which then deletes certain app data and requires re-login. Volvo Support has not been helpful. Online forums report that this is an issue for many owners. It’s a major safety problem.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11758689August 22, 2026
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, SEAT BELTS, FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE: WARNINGS
Vehicle has 26k miles on it and is under mfr warranty. Dealer-covered warranty has included five (5) visits to address electrical issues with the most recently being 8/13/26. Dealer "system reflash" is not solving the problems. Electrical / safety issues persists, which include: Loss of ALL audio: blinker sounds, all audible safety alerts (seatbelt warning, park assist, blind spot, forward collision alert, and lane keeping). This has also occassionally coincided with a full dark-out of the driver dashboard while the vehicle is running (speedometer, entire instrument panel). This vehicle is for our teenage daughter and dealer efforts combined with my trouble-shooting (car on/off, hard system reset) is not solving the issue. The backup camera also regularly failed to work and on 12/10/24, the dealer addressed as part of earlier recall notice and the camera seems to be working fine. Other than above, the car has operated normally.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11757999August 19, 2026
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, ENGINE, POWER TRAIN
The cooling system cracked, malfunctioned and caused a domino effect of multiple repair issues costing at least $5,200. My car is currently at a Volvo dealer. My Safety: The possibility of the hot engine and hot wires could have resulted in a fire. This problem HAS been reproduced and confirmed by a Volvo dealer. The vehicle overheating was witnessed by the Fire Department and local police.. As far as sufficient Warning Lights or dashboard indications, the ONLY messages I received were 1} About 5 p.m. EST Battery indicator (at which point I pulled over immediately into Batteries Plus who said the battery wasn't fully charged- so they charged it and the light went off and they did not mention or report any other problems; About 9 p.m., 2 blocks from home, the "High Temperature" indicator went "ON" and so I pulled over into my driveway immediately. At 3 a.m. the car security alarm sounded and the hood was smoking at all angles so the Fire Department arrived in 5 minutes and disconnected the battery and stabilized the car within an hour and a half. The car was towed first thing in the morning. I am shocked that a 2020 Volvo would do this to me.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11756190August 11, 2026
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
Right when I turned the car on, a million different alarms went off saying different systems weren’t available. Then I started driving, and it accelerated normally, but when I took foot off accelerator: it didn’t slow down. This was really noticeable because I had one pedal drive on, which means taking foot off the gas acts as a very light brake. I could slow down with the brake, but then as soon as I took my foot off the gas, it would speed back up. Really weird feeling: it was like the cruise control had set itself and it was taking me back to that speed. But braking worked, so I could stop and control the car with just the regular brake. But then when I came to a full stop, it just locked up: parking brake on and wouldn’t come off. I just basically kept trying things to get it going again and it finally did. But then it happened again, where it would accelerate on its own and I had to control the car with just the brake. I had the car towed for repair the next day, and the tow truck driver said he noticed it accelerating on its own as he drove it up onto the truck. Volvo maintenance also confirmed the problem. They had the car forever and ultimately decided it was a problem with my “external audio module”.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11755741August 9, 2026
LANE DEPARTURE: WARNING, BACK OVER PREVENTION: REARVIEW SYSTEM BRAKING, LANE DEPARTURE: BLIND SPOT DETECTION
Randomly, the sound from the infotainment system stops working. This impacts the turn signal sound inside the car, the cross traffic alert sound, blind spot warning sounds, etc. This can be fixed by restarting the infotainment center, but this is not safe to do while driving. Being unable to hear the turn signal increases the chance of forgetting to turn it off, causing confusion for other drivers. This issue has not been confirmed by the dealer or manufacturer, although other infotainment issues have been acknowledged. The failure is random, with no indication before hand.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11753925July 31, 2026
ENGINE
I live in [XXX], where summer temperatures are extremely high. This week, afternoon temperatures have been reaching nearly 100°F (38°C). My vehicle is a mild-hybrid Volvo XC40, and there is no option to permanently disable the automatic start-stop function (or at least every time I start the car). This week, while driving home from work at around 4:00 PM, I stopped at a traffic light and the engine shut off automatically. As a result, the air conditioning immediately reduced its cooling performance, making the cabin noticeably less comfortable in the extreme heat. I instinctively pressed the accelerator to turn the engine back on and I nearly collided with the vehicle in front of me. In my opinion, this creates a genuine safety concern. Volvo should provide drivers with the ability to disable the automatic start-stop feature through a software setting. While the system is intended to reduce emissions and improve fuel economy, drivers should be able to decide when those benefits are appropriate and when safety, comfort, or local driving conditions make continuous engine operation the better choice. A permanent on/off setting would allow owners to use the feature when desired while avoiding situations where the automatic engine shutdown negatively impacts driving safety or cabin comfort. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11752676July 24, 2026
FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE: ADAPTIVE CRUISE CONTROL
The car speeds up from 30mph around a curve when the adaptive speed control loses sight of the vehicle ahead of me. A speed of 55mph on the curve posted at 30mph is dangerous. The dealer says “oh just turn off the crisis control by tapping the brake.” This is true but could be too late, since the car has already increased its speed on the curve. Volvo is unresponsive.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11751346July 19, 2026
ENGINE, FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM
Mild hybrid vehicle that was purchased 4/20/2026. Volvo service states incident on 06/10/2026 was caused by vehicle running overnight in enclosed garage. Volvo also states that cause was due to item inserted into drivers seatbelt buckle. No warnings posted regarding this would cause the vehicle to turn on once car was parked and driver door shut and run continuously throughout the night in an enclosed garage. Volvo claims every time the driver door is opened, it shuts the engine off. This is not true! And this situation proves that. Vehicle still currently at dealers to be repaired so unsure if components are available for inspection. Components damaged are: Midvoltage battery, midvoltage Converter module, starter generator module, 12v battery. The vehicle became extremely hot and would have caught on fire had our smoke/co detector not gone off. CO was detected in house and garage. Volvo refusing to take any accountability for this situation and refusing to provide me the documentation for the findings of my vehicle.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11749318July 9, 2026
BACK OVER PREVENTION: SENSING SYSTEM: CAMERA
The contact owns a 2023 Volvo XC40. The contact stated that the rearview camera image was directed downward towards the bumper and the ground. The rearview camera image was not displaying within a normal viewing range, making it difficult to park. No warning lights illuminated. A local dealer was contacted, but was unable to determine a related fault code. The manufacturer was contacted, but no assistance was provided. The failure mileage was unknown.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11748717July 7, 2026
EXTERIOR LIGHTING
Blindingly bright passenger-side map light came on for no reason, illuminating the car and startling the driver AND other nearby drivers (it was night). Light would not respond to touch-sensitive on/off control. Had to cycle dome lights (another distraction and even more light) to get light to turn off.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11748329July 5, 2026
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
Front camera stop working . Today it's the second time. Not sure if a software glitch but first time need to be replaced.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11748171July 3, 2026
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM
I own a 2021 Volvo XC40 Recharge (pure electric). At 49,030 miles, while slowly driving in a parking lot, the vehicle suddenly began shuddering and jerking as if driving over rumble strips. A warning message appeared stating “Propulsion System Failure” and indicated the vehicle would reduce speed. The vehicle lost propulsion and came to a stop. After stopping, the vehicle would not re-enter Drive or Reverse and could not be driven. It was stuck in position in the parking lot but not in a parking space. The instrument cluster and infotainment systems still powered on, but the vehicle repeatedly displayed messages such as “Vehicle system check. Wait” and would not enter a ready-to-drive state. The vehicle had to be towed to the dealership with a dolly. It took 4 hours to move it because the first tow truck could not safely move it with the wheels stuck in place. This failure occurred without prior mechanical warning or other preceding symptoms. Dealer diagnosis identified an internal failure of the front axle inverter high-voltage assembly (IHFA). Service records document a 400A fuse failure, welded battery disconnect unit (BDU) contactor relays (R1 and R2), and overheating/damage to high-voltage battery disconnect components. Repair required replacement of the IHFA, BDU contactors, and high-voltage fuse. The dealership stated this was not a normal wear-and-tear issue. I have since found reports from other Volvo Recharge owners describing similar propulsion failures involving inverter and high-voltage battery disconnect components. My safety concern is the sudden loss of propulsion while the vehicle was in motion, with no warning and complete vehicle immobilization. Had this occurred at highway speed or in traffic, it could have created a serious collision hazard. The dealership service person agreed that my only chance to get the vehicle to a safe location was to coast. After that, it'd be stuck. I was unaware of this, which is itself an issue of concern.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11747706July 1, 2026
EXTERIOR LIGHTING
passenger side map light keeps activating. It will not shut off via touch controls. only cycling the dome light manually (not by opening a door) tends to rectify the problem. Shutting off and restarting the vehicle does not work. It's particularly distracting at night for both driver and nearby traffic. Repeated trips to service deny the activity, although it is discussed heavily on discussion boards and forums, particularly centering on recalls of the infotainment head unit (which the dealer also denied there was a recall despite notices and even carfax reports).
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11747055June 28, 2026
LANE DEPARTURE: ASSIST
I was driving northbound on XXX, driving from [XXX] to [XXX]. I was driving in the left most lane and was approaching an area of the highway where there was construction currently in progress to my left (this was where Chuckanut Creek intersects the interstate, I was told they were constructing a salmon run there). As my vehicle was approaching the beginning of the construction area, my car's Lane Assist feature activated and the steering wheel turns to follow the yellow dashed lines that were painted on top of the current highway lane I was driving in, and I could not turn the steering wheel to the right as it was locking and completely turning to the left following the yellow dashed construction lane markings. I could not control the car, and I ended up hitting a concrete construction barrier. After impact, I regained control of the wheel and swerved a bit until fully slowing down to pull over onto the right hand shoulder. The front driver side wheel was completely busted and the car was not drivable following the collision. No person was physically hurt, nor other nearby vehicles. We towed the car to the nearest Volvo dealership where it currently remains, and have received an quote of current damages (the problem of what caused the accident is not included in the report nor confirmed by Volvo. When I spoke to their service department manager, he ultimately said Volvo doesn't claim responsibility and says it's the drivers responsibility to respond to Driver Assistance features). I have opened a claim with my auto insurance, and am still waiting on their inspection/response. The car is available for additional inspection if needed. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

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