94 of the
326 complaints filed about the Volvo XC40
are about the driver-assist systems —
29% of everything owners reported.
The worst model year for it is 2021.
94
Complaints
29%
Share of all complaints
13
Crashes
0
Fires
Driver Assist & Collision Avoidance complaints by model year
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.
NHTSA complaint #11758689 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
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.
NHTSA complaint #11755741 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
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.
NHTSA complaint #11755741 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
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.
NHTSA complaint #11755741 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
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.
NHTSA complaint #11752676 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
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.
NHTSA complaint #11749318 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
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)
NHTSA complaint #11747055 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
While I was driving, the infotainment system turned itself off twice during the same trip. First time was on a highway and was extremely scary. I wasn’t in a place I could easily pull over to assess. Both the main screen in the middle console and the screen behind the steering wheel went dark. Volvo NEEDS to figure it out re infotainment. It shouldn’t be turning itself off mid drive and then ultimately rebooting itself while the car is moving. I have already installed all the updates, but clearly it wasn’t enough/effective.
NHTSA complaint #11744378 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
While I was driving, the infotainment system turned itself off twice during the same trip. First time was on a highway and was extremely scary. I wasn’t in a place I could easily pull over to assess. Both the main screen in the middle console and the screen behind the steering wheel went dark. Volvo NEEDS to figure it out re infotainment. It shouldn’t be turning itself off mid drive and then ultimately rebooting itself while the car is moving. I have already installed all the updates, but clearly it wasn’t enough/effective.
NHTSA complaint #11744378 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
The rear backup camera display system failed, resulting in a completely blank or black center infotainment screen when the vehicle is shifted into reverse. Yes, the vehicle and its Sensus infotainment system software logs are available for inspection upon request. My safety and the safety of pedestrians were put at immediate risk because the sudden failure of the rearview camera created a severe blind spot directly behind the vehicle. This loss of visibility prevents the driver from seeing small children, pedestrians, or obstacles while backing up. Furthermore, this software malfunction causes the vehicle to become non-compliant with Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard FMVSS 111, which legally requires operational rearview image displays to prevent backover accidents. I’m not even sure if the dealership could replicate the issue. All they could tell me is that reinstalling the software is the first step to figuring out the issue. So I paid the fee which ended up being around 230 something dollars. Mind you I stated that it was affecting my backup camera. Yes, it was inspected by the manufacturer's authorized dealership service department. It has not been inspected by police or insurance representatives as no crash has occurred yet. No, there were no warning lights, error messages, or symptoms prior to the failure. The backup camera screen simply went completely black without warning when the car was placed in reverse. The issue first appeared around this year of January
NHTSA complaint #11739661 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
I am submitting this complaint to report a persistent safety-related defect in my 2023 Volvo XC40. Since the vehicle was purchased, the infotainment system has repeatedly crashed while the vehicle is in operation, at times as often as every 5 minutes. The condition has existed both before and after completion of the recall/software update, and it was not corrected after presentation to an authorized dealer for inspection and repair. These repeated system failures materially affect the safe operation of the vehicle. When the infotainment system crashes, the rearview camera becomes unavailable. In addition, the windows and windshield may fog up, and I may lose access to the controls needed to restore visibility. The loss of forward visibility, combined with the loss of rear camera functionality, creates a substantial and unreasonable risk to motor vehicle safety. Although I suspect the problem may involve inadequate hardware or processing capacity, I am not asserting a definitive technical diagnosis. The critical fact is that the vehicle repeatedly loses important operational and safety-related functions while being driven. Because the defect persists despite the recall update and dealer intervention, I request that NHTSA investigate this condition as a potential safety defect in the 2023 Volvo XC40.
NHTSA complaint #11732029 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
I was pulling out of a parking space, and the car opposite me in the next row was pulling out at the same time. We backed into each other, damaging both cars. The ADAS failed to activate the rear camera, automatic emergency braking, parking collision warning, and rear cross traffic warning. There were no injuries, so we didn't call the police; we exchanged insurance info. The other driver was also driving a Volvo, and the ADAS also failed in his car. The first thing we said to each other was, "What happened to all the Volvo safety alerts!" I called Volvo to report the incident, and we set up an appointment for an inspection. A few days later, the ADAS failed again when I was backing out of a space. A car drove behind my car as I was backing out and my car banged into the side of the other car. I could not believe that every warning system failed again and I reported it to Volvo. They conducted the inspection and reported no issues with the car. I requested a copy of the inspection, and they said they can't send it since it's proprietary information. I disputed that argument since it is my car and my safety at risk. The same day, I was notified of the urgent 2026 Volvo recall due to a rear-view camera failure that could cause a collision. This is the second recall, a 2025 recall for the same issue.
NHTSA complaint #11732047 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
I was pulling out of a parking space, and the car opposite me in the next row was pulling out at the same time. We backed into each other, damaging both cars. The ADAS failed to activate the rear camera, automatic emergency braking, parking collision warning, and rear cross traffic warning. There were no injuries, so we didn't call the police; we exchanged insurance info. The other driver was also driving a Volvo, and the ADAS also failed in his car. The first thing we said to each other was, "What happened to all the Volvo safety alerts!" I called Volvo to report the incident, and we set up an appointment for an inspection. A few days later, the ADAS failed again when I was backing out of a space. A car drove behind my car as I was backing out and my car banged into the side of the other car. I could not believe that every warning system failed again and I reported it to Volvo. They conducted the inspection and reported no issues with the car. I requested a copy of the inspection, and they said they can't send it since it's proprietary information. I disputed that argument since it is my car and my safety at risk. The same day, I was notified of the urgent 2026 Volvo recall due to a rear-view camera failure that could cause a collision. This is the second recall, a 2025 recall for the same issue.
NHTSA complaint #11732047 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
I was pulling out of a parking space, and the car opposite me in the next row was pulling out at the same time. We backed into each other, damaging both cars. The ADAS failed to activate the rear camera, automatic emergency braking, parking collision warning, and rear cross traffic warning. There were no injuries, so we didn't call the police; we exchanged insurance info. The other driver was also driving a Volvo, and the ADAS also failed in his car. The first thing we said to each other was, "What happened to all the Volvo safety alerts!" I called Volvo to report the incident, and we set up an appointment for an inspection. A few days later, the ADAS failed again when I was backing out of a space. A car drove behind my car as I was backing out and my car banged into the side of the other car. I could not believe that every warning system failed again and I reported it to Volvo. They conducted the inspection and reported no issues with the car. I requested a copy of the inspection, and they said they can't send it since it's proprietary information. I disputed that argument since it is my car and my safety at risk. The same day, I was notified of the urgent 2026 Volvo recall due to a rear-view camera failure that could cause a collision. This is the second recall, a 2025 recall for the same issue.
NHTSA complaint #11732047 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Despite multiple repair attempts by Volvo Cars Sugar Land — including software reloads, module reprogramming, and the completion of Recall R10333 — the vehicle continues to experience failures that directly compromise my safety and the safety of my wife. I no longer feel safe operating this vehicle. My XC40 has undergone five documented repair visits, including: • Electrical system failures • Infotainment instability • Parking sensor and camera malfunctions • Multiple software reloads and module reprogramming • Recall R10333 “Total Upgrade” On March 11th, while driving at approximately 60 mph on the highway, the IHU screen froze, went completely black, and all audible safety indicators inside the cabin were lost, including: • Turn signal click • Hazard flasher sound • Parking sensor tones • Multimedia audio This condition lasted for nearly 10 minutes, during which I had no ability to safely signal lane changes or rely on audible warnings. I was forced to continue driving until I could safely pull over. After parking, shutting the vehicle off, and waiting several minutes, the IHU restored itself. This incident occurred five days after the most recent repair attempt and represents a serious safety hazard and a complete loss of trust in the vehicle’s reliability.
NHTSA complaint #11724948 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
The contact leased a 2025 Volvo XC40. The contact stated that upon shifting to reverse(R), the rearview camera displayed a narrow view of the roadway, limiting peripheral visibility. The vehicle was taken to the dealer; however, the failure could not be corrected. The contact later received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 25V908000 (Back Over Prevention) and personally completed the software update, as per the manufacturer's instructions; however, the failure persisted. The dealer was notified of the failure, and a service appointment was scheduled. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and informed the contact that the vehicle was operating as designed. The failure mileage was approximately 50.
NHTSA complaint #11724037 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
The contact leased a 2025 Volvo XC40. The contact stated that upon shifting to reverse(R), the rearview camera displayed a narrow view of the roadway, limiting peripheral visibility. The vehicle was taken to the dealer; however, the failure could not be corrected. The contact later received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 25V908000 (Back Over Prevention) and personally completed the software update, as per the manufacturer's instructions; however, the failure persisted. The dealer was notified of the failure, and a service appointment was scheduled. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and informed the contact that the vehicle was operating as designed. The failure mileage was approximately 50.
NHTSA complaint #11724037 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
The contact owned a 2024 Volvo XC40. The contact stated that his wife was entering a parking lot at approximately 10 MPH when she heard the vehicle engine abnormally revving and the vehicle independently accelerated. The vehicle drove through the parking lot and crashed into a tree. The contact stated that the driver's and passenger front air bags deployed, and the front collision avoidance had not engaged. The contact stated that the vehicle crashed into the tree almost at the center of the front bumper and grill. The hood had been crushed, the grill cracked, and the bumper had been torn off. The contact stated that the police arrived on scene but did not write a report since no other vehicles were involved. The contact stated that his wife had scrapes and bruises on both arms and scrapes on her nose and forehead. The wife was not attended to by EMT, but later went to the ER for neck and back pain. The vehicle was towed to an impound lot and later declared a total loss by the contact's insurance provider. The contact had contacted the manufacturer, who sent a technician to download information from the vehicle computers. The contact stated that a summary was released by the manufacturer that indicated that the crash was a driver error. The failure mileage was approximately 8,000.
NHTSA complaint #11723648 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
back-up camera delays coming on when car put in reverse. Have had the car for over a year and taken to dealer for repair, with no result. Volvo model XC40 not listed on nhtsa site for recall #25V908 (Mfg R10333).
NHTSA complaint #11722843 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Driver assist failed and brakes failed when vehicle veered to left on its own..Brakes and steering failed when trying to correct failure.. Overcorrection caused vehicle to veer off road and over a sign and continue for approximately 50 feet. Vehicle is currently at State Farm towing lot. My safety and others were put at risk with "reckless" driving. The problem has not been reproduced. A State Farm claims adjuster will inspect the vehicle today 2/18/26 or tomorrow. No warning lamps or messages appeared.
NHTSA complaint #11718766 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.