44 of the
326 complaints filed about the Volvo XC40
are about the electrical system —
13% of everything owners reported.
The worst model year for it is 2021.
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.
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.
NHTSA complaint #11757999 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
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.
NHTSA complaint #11748171 — 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.
I pulled into a parking spot with a concrete barrier pole at a pharmacy to pick up my sister. I had my foot on the brake while she was getting into the vehicle when the vehicle suddenly accelerated forward crashing into the pole. I have also had an incident where I tried to start the vehicle and could not get the vehicle to go from park to reverse. This is concerning that there could be some faults in the electrical system, sensors or brakes.
NHTSA complaint #11741990 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Passenger side map light activates and locks on for no reason. This can be particularly disruptive at night. The only way to switch off the light is by cycling the dome lights disruptive and dangerous at night. Light may still activate and lock on for no reason.
NHTSA complaint #11732814 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Brake system failed. I was NOT in one pedal mode. I have up to date software. After break system failed I was unable to put vehicle in park. Parking break could not be applied. Could not turn car off or lock doors. I was driving on interstate when it occurred. I got multiple warnings on display. I was lucky to pull over and not crash.
NHTSA complaint #11727849 — 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.
My car randomly has a battery charging fault. An alert stating “stop safely 12V battery critical charging fault” will just pop up while driving and then put the vehicle in turtle mode. This is an intermittent fault and is likely a false indication. This could cause an accident because it causes the car to slow down. This could happen on a highway.
NHTSA complaint #11713785 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Two Issues: 1. "Check Engine Light" comes on for no reason. This has happened six times (I have video recordings and maintenance reports from the dealership.) In the last maintenance report, Volvo technicians acknowledged the issue and stated that "AS OF NOW NO SOLUTION FOR THIS TO BE FIXED, VOLVO WILL BE LOOKING INTO THIS FOR FURTHER NOTICE." They also told me to just ignore the light if it comes on again. So, if there is a real and dangerous engine malfunction, there is no way to be alerted. 2. The entire sound system goes off while driving. This has happened few times. When this issue occurs, there will be no sound of alerts (turn signals, collision warnings, parking warnings, air conditioning, Google Maps, radio, etc.) The sales associates and manager told me this happens to their vehicles as well, and told me to reboot the screen whenever it happens. In one incident, I had to pull over in a shopping center parking lot to reboot the screen. No permanent solutions to this issue as well.
NHTSA complaint #11699484 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Back up camera consistently does not turn off. Audio system, including turning signals and reverse alert do not activate. This continues to be a safety risk despite numerous software updates that have allegedly fixed the issues.
NHTSA complaint #11690240 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
2024 Volvo xc40 with 10,000 miles suddenly became completely disabled on the express lane of a highway. The flashers were inoperable. The windows could not be opened. Road ranger was called. Nothing was wrong with the battery. Car was towed to a safe spot. Car was taken to Volvo dealership. Volvo determine that serpentine belt came apart and the tensioner was the cause - a manufacturer defect. This was very dangerous situation for the driver and unusual for a car with such low miles to have such a break in the serpentine belt. Fortunately there was an accident ahead and cars were traveling slowly in the express lane.
NHTSA complaint #11688879 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
My vehicle is affected by the recall #R10320 or NHTSA # 25V282. The recall letter states that the dealerships have the updated software available to solve the back-up camera issue, also over the air update will solve the problem later if that is my choice. The problem is that I see this as just a marketing ploy to get me into the dealership and upsell me on something I don't want. The OTA update should be available at the same time the dealership has the software. This is not an acceptable situation. This issue has always been very annoying and inconvenient and continues to be so. I just don't want the inconvenience of going to the dealership where there should be an alternative.
NHTSA complaint #11677554 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
am writing to formally report a serious issue involving the sale of a Certified Pre-Owned Volvo by a franchised Volvo dealership in Pennsylvania that I believe violates consumer protection standards and certified vehicle regulations. On [XXX], I purchased a 2024 Volvo XC40 from Volvo Cars Fort Washington, represented and sold to me as a Certified Pre-Owned (CPO) vehicle. However, I have since discovered that this vehicle had an active safety recall as of May 1, 2025, prior to the sale. The recall was related to a malfunction in the safety camera system, which could potentially lead to severe accidents and endanger the driver and passengers. Despite this open recall, the vehicle was still certified and sold to me without any disclosure of the safety issue. I only learned about the recall after experiencing a problem with the camera system and independently seeking service. This violates the core standards of manufacturer-backed CPO programs, which clearly state that no certified vehicle may be sold with an unresolved safety recall. I believe this sale represents a misrepresentation of the vehicle’s condition, a failure of duty to disclose, and a potential violation of consumer protection laws in the state of Pennsylvania. I am requesting that this matter be investigated and that appropriate action be taken against the dealership for selling a vehicle as “certified” when it did not meet the required safety and certification standards. Details: •Dealer Name: Volvo Cars Fort Washington •Vehicle: 2024 Volvo XC40 •VIN: [XXX] •Purchase Date: [XXX] •Recall Issue Date: May 1, 2025 •Nature of Recall: Safety camera malfunction that could lead to accidents •Consumer: [XXX] •Address: [XXX] •Email: [XXX] •Phone: [XXX] I am happy to provide additional documentation, including sales contracts, service records, and communications with the dealer, upon request INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)
NHTSA complaint #11677425 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
1. OBC failure. Stranded unable to charge. Situational could be dangerous. 2. Rt side mirror defaults to extreme angle after locking car evert time. Dealership could not troubleshoot solution.
NHTSA complaint #11677385 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
The supplied 240V Level 2 charger has a design defect that causes the J1772 handle to detach from the high voltage supply cable exposing the individual wires to a possible fire condition.
NHTSA complaint #11675339 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
In the past 3 months, my 2022 Volvo XC40 has experienced four complete power failures, each requiring a tow. 1️⃣ The first incident occurred while waiting at a left-turn lane; the car stalled and would not restart. 2️⃣ The second incident happened at a car wash where the vehicle died mid-process and could not be restarted. 3️⃣ The third incident was the most dangerous—while driving at 50–60 mph on a single-lane road, the car suddenly lost all power. I was fortunate to find a safe spot to pull over. 4️⃣ The fourth incident occurred on July 4th while I was visiting a town 2.5 hours from home. After stopping for gas, the car wouldn’t restart and had to be towed to a local Volvo dealership. These repeated failures create a serious safety risk, especially for drivers like myself who use highways regularly. Sudden loss of power at high speeds could result in a collision or leave occupants stranded in dangerous situations.
NHTSA complaint #11671271 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Going back to last year I have reported to Volvo the software issues on the car. 1. Automatic Emergency Braking - Currently the car is ABRUPTLY breaking in the streets thinking it there is a car in front. It's so incredibly dangerous. I've reported it and they have not done anything about it. (Most Recent Issues) 2. Electrical - the screen every other week needs to be reset - it reads that it does not have air-conditioning, airbags, and all the buttons are grayed out. I've reported this since December of last year. NOTHING HAS BEEN DONE 3.
NHTSA complaint #11663690 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Turning out of parking lot , car started pulsing, and stopped. Propulsion failure box popped up. Thankfully no cars behind us (young daughter in car seat)or was not attempting to merge on highway. Tow truck manually pulled car as no electric (cannot unlock or open trunk), completely shut down.
NHTSA complaint #11662285 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.