2023 Volvo Xc40: Recalls, Complaints & California Lemon Law

The contact owns a 2023 Volvo XC40. The contact stated that while reversing, the rearview camera display intermittently was distorted or inoperative. The failure occurred on several different occasions. The contact stated that the infotainment system was intermittently inoperative and had to be manually reset to return to normal operation. The contact stated that the Forward Collision Avoidance: Automatic Emergency Braking and the Back Over Prevention: Automatic System Braking independently activated while there were no vehicles or objects in front or behind the vehicle. The contact was concerned that the failure was causing emotional distress for him and his children and could eventually cause an injury. The failure had occurred on several occasions. The contact stated that the rear taillights were dim and failed to provide adequate illumination behind the vehicle while in reverse. No warning lights were illuminated. The vehicle was taken to a dealer for diagnosis; however, the dealer stated that the vehicle was operating as designed. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and stated that the vehicle was performing normally. The failure mileage was unknown.

NHTSA #11709773

When the vehicle was put into reverse, the rear view camera failed to be displayed on the screen.

NHTSA #11681234

My name is [XXX] , and I am writing to escalate a critical and ongoing safety issue following a recent recall-related software update on my Volvo vehicle (VIN: [XXX] ). The recall was intended to resolve a defect involving the rear camera becoming unavailable. However, ever since the update—starting approximately two weeks ago—my car has begun to experience the very issue the recall was meant to fix. The rear camera frequently becomes non-functional, especially while reversing, creating a major safety risk. The latest incident occurred today, [XXX], and I have multiple video recordings clearly documenting the failure over the past two weeks. This malfunction has resulted in accident-prone situations, endangering my safety and that of others. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

NHTSA #11675536

I am writing to provide an update on an existing recall, 25V282, for the rear-view camera image failing to display during the start of each reversing event. This issue was meant to be resolved via a software update, which my car received and installed. However, this did not solve the issue. I still receive the "Camera Temporarily Unavailable" message regularly when shifting my car into reverse, and I am unable to see the rearview camera image.

NHTSA #11693063

While driving, and slowly coming to a complete stop and if I drive over a pothole, the car will launched forward and I have to press the brakes fast in order not to jot out into traffic or run into the back of another vehicle. This is very dangerous

NHTSA #11691056

Describe what happened: While driving my Volvo, both right side tires simultaneously went flat on a deserted road. I was traveling with my [XXX] daughter, who was hungry and tired, making this situation extremely stressful and unsafe. There were no warning lamps or messages indicating any issues before the tires went flat. What component or system failed or malfunctioned, and is it available for inspection upon request? The GPS navigation system failed to report an accurate location to Volvo Roadside Assistance. Yes, the GPS navigation system is available for inspection upon request. How was your safety or the safety of others put at risk? Our safety was severely compromised as we were stranded on a deserted road with no immediate help available. I had to drive on flat tires to find assistance, which could have caused further damage to the vehicle and posed additional risks. Has the problem been reproduced or confirmed by a dealer or independent service center? No, the problem has not been reproduced or confirmed by a dealer or independent service center. Has the vehicle or component been inspected by the manufacturer, police, insurance representatives, or others? No, the vehicle or component has not been inspected by the manufacturer, police, insurance representatives, or others. Were there any warning lamps, messages, or other symptoms of the problem prior to the failure, and when did they first appear? There were no warning lamps, messages, or any other symptoms prior to the tires going flat. Additional Details: Despite being a loyal Volvo customer, the GPS location provided to the tow truck by Volvo Roadside Assistance was incorrect, and the tow truck never arrived. I had to drive on flat tires to find help and eventually flagged down a park service vehicle to get an address for roadside assistance. Additionally, Volvo wouldn't provide an Uber due to my phone's unstable connection, leaving us feeling completely abandoned. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

NHTSA #11595208

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 #11675339

While driving, car suddenly stoped and all electrical functions stoped working. Could not even turn on hazard warning flashers. Very lucky for not being rear ended.

NHTSA #11618188

The contact owns a 2023 Volvo XC40. The contact stated that while driving at various speeds, the message "Do Not Drive - Stop Immediately" message was displayed on the instrument panel. The vehicle was taken to the dealer where the contact was informed that the START/STOP feature was inoperable and was the cause of the failure. The dealer attempted to recharge the START/STOP battery; however, the battery failed to hold a charge. The dealer then decided to replace the main battery but that repair also failed to correct the failure. The vehicle remained in the possession of the dealer unrepaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure but offered no assistance. The failure mileage was 4,000.

NHTSA #11614296

NHTSA Vehicle Safety Complaint – 2023 Volvo XC40 Recharge Plus Vehicle: 2023 Volvo XC40 Recharge Plus BEV VIN: [[XXX]] Date of Incident: [XXX Approximate Mileage: [26,9333] Location: [[XXX]] – occurred while going downhill Component: Service Brakes, Electric; Parking Brake; Vehicle Speed Control Summary: I experienced complete loss of braking while driving my 2023 Volvo XC40 Recharge on a highway. One Pedal Drive was active. After coasting downhill for approximately 1.5-2 minutes with no accelerator or brake pedal input, I applied the brake pedal to slow for traffic and discovered the vehicle had no braking capability. The pedal was firm but the car did not decelerate. There were no warning lights, messages, or alerts before or during the failure. This resulted in a collision with other vehicle Damage to my vehicle to the front left etc.]. Police responded and generated report #[XXX]. Additional Details: 1. Drive mode: One Pedal Drive was ON at the time of incident. This matches the failure mode described in NHTSA Recall 25V-392 for 2020-2026 Volvo BEV/PHEV models, which warns of total brake loss after 1 minute 40 seconds of coasting in One Pedal Drive/B mode. 2. No warnings: No dashboard alerts, sounds, or messages occurred before brake failure, inconsistent with a safe design. 3. After incident: Braking function returned intermittently after the vehicle came to a complete stop, also consistent with 25V-392. 4. Recall status: My VIN currently shows no open recalls on NHTSA’s lookup tool. However, 2023 XC40 BEV is explicitly listed in NHTSA Recall 25V-392. I was never notified to disable One Pedal Drive or that my vehicle was unsafe to operate. Vehicle Status: I still have possession of the vehicle and it has not been repaired. It is available for inspection. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

NHTSA #11744615

On Wednesday morning [XXX] at [XXX] I was parking my 2023 Volvo XC Recharge in the parking lot on Stearns Wharf in Santa Barbara where I was meeting my walking group for our regular morning walk on the pier and along the waterfront. While I was slowly finishing pulling into a parking spot, with my foot solidly on the brake, the car suddenly lurched and accelerated. It jumped the parking spot wooden stop and then jumped the orange iron barrier that divides the parking lot from the pier road. It felt as if I were suddenly on a runaway horse. My instincts kicked in as the car bounced fully onto the pier road, and I immediately turned the car so that I would not crash through the other barrier on the ocean side of the pier road and dive into the ocean. I immediately drove the car back into the lot and parked it. The pier is not a standard asphalt/concrete road or lot. It is wooden beams placed one after the other. It is very bumpy and the speed limit is 10 miles per hour, but usually you cannot even drive that fast because it is so rough and bumpy. I was going the slowest you can go just before coming to a full stop in my parking spot, with my foot fully on the brake, when the sudden acceleration occurred. It is a very bumpy and uneven surface and maybe that contributed to a failure in the vehicle monitoring system or automatic braking system. I feel incredibly fortunate that this malfunction did not cause more damage than a blown tire. I am grateful there were no pedestrians or cars in the path of the car and that I was not parked on the ocean side of the parking lot. This could easily have been a fatal and catastrophic incident. My trust in the car to function properly is severely compromised. Volvo kept the car for 2 months while investigating. They said there was no malfunction, but refused to release any report substantiating their conclusion. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

NHTSA #11637199

I am reporting 2 incidents for my 2023 Volvo XC40, both involving failure of brakes to engage. The 1st incident occurred on 26 August 2023. The 2nd incident occurred on 20 September 2023. A full description of both incidents, including 2 photos of the incident scenes, is attached. The 1st incident involved a collision with a Jersey wall and crosswalk signal activation sign. Repair of the resulting damage required replacement of a mirror assembly that was destroyed and some repainting.

NHTSA #11550725

backup camera continues to say 'camera temporarily unavailable' even after software update from recall. latest software update has made the problem worse. Camera frequently fails when backing up

NHTSA #11688785

The rear-view camera is cutting out and/or unresponsive. Upon going into reverse, the rear-view camera occasionally cuts out to a blank screen. In a recent instance, I was in reverse and was completely unable to get the rear-view camera to operate whatsoever. When this occurs it is impossible to see what is directly behind the car. My car was just at the dealership yesterday (8/18/25) and has the current version of the software (v 3.7) installed.

NHTSA #11681683

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 #11744378

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 #11741990

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 #11732029

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 #11718766

The contact owns a 2023 Volvo XC40. The contact stated while the vehicle was parked, the front passenger's side seat belt failed to latch as intended. The contact's mother was attempting to latch the front passenger's side seat belt when the failure occurred. The contact stated that the failure could have occurred while the vehicle was being driven. The vehicle was taken to the dealer to be diagnosed; however, the contact was not provided the result of the diagnostic test. In addition, the contact stated that four months prior to the failure, the front driver's side seat belt failed to latch as intended. The vehicle was taken to the dealer where it was determined that there was a failure with the latching mechanism. The vehicle was repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure and a case was filed. The failure mileage was approximately 5,000.

NHTSA #11697427

On Wednesday, July 16, 2025 I was sitting at a stop light, using the Auto Hold system. A few minutes later, my car took off and accelerated on its own and hit the rear of a truck. I hit the truck so hard as he was sitting at the light as well, it pushed his vehicle into the vehicle in front of him. I was unable to stop my Volvo, it was like it took full control over.

Allegedly reported: 1 injury (as reported to NHTSA). NHTSA #11674216

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 #11663690

On January 22, 2025 on a clear sunny day (no wind) I was putting groceries in the trunk of my car when the trunk lid came down on my head injuring me. I was leaning from the right side of my car across to the left side. My key was in my pocketbook on my right shoulder. Volvos should be "Mom" cars where one should be safe putting groceries in the trunk. Instead of popping back open with an obstruction, it continued to press down on my head before eventually popping back open. According to Volvo chat boards, this has happened to others. On January 6 my car had its two year servicing at the dealer on my leased vehicle. The service department's initial reaction to this malfunction was to BLAME me for having the key too close to the kick open sensor and to leave the key in the car while loading groceries. When I got the car, we were told (and it was demonstrated) that the kick open feature was on the left side of the trunk under the first "V". It appears that there was an update which electrified the entire back of the trunk without any notice to owners. Even so, I am 5 feet 2 1/2 inches tall. It is extremely difficult for me to kick open the trunk which is why I always open it from the button in the middle of the trunk and close it with the controls on the top right of the trunk lid. Buried in the owners' manual is a statement that you can kick the trunk lid closed, but no one ever told us that or that it can be kicked closed from the right side of the trunk. I did not kick the sensor to activate the trunk lid closing on my head. Only after a second call to the service department did the dealer agree to "look at" my car, but that they were booked up for the next two weeks.

Allegedly reported: 1 injury (as reported to NHTSA). NHTSA #11639147

I went through a car wash and then pulled into the first parking spot near the vacuum cleaners. As I was braking and coming to a stop, the car suddenly lurched forward and accelerated on its own. Despite pressing the brake pedal multiple times, the car did not stop until it went about 15ft. To avoid hitting the building wall directly in front of me, I swerved to the left. The car collided with the metal pole supporting the vacuum cleaner structure, causing significant damage to the entire side of the vehicle, and also clipped the corner of the building on the right as it went through the area. There were no warning lights, messages, or other indications of an issue before the incident. I have videos of the incident from the car wash. -The issue involves unintended acceleration, potentially related to the accelerator pedal sensor (APS), throttle control system, or braking system. It may also be electrical, as similar issues in 2021 and 2022 Volvo XC40 Recharge vehicles were reported due to water damage and corrosion in the cable harness, leading to unintended APS signals. The vehicle is available for inspection upon request. -The vehicle suddenly accelerated without input causing a collision. To avoid hitting a building wall in front of me, I swerved to the left, and the car struck the metal pole supporting the vacuum cleaner structure. The impact caused significant damage to the side of the car and clipped the corner of the building as well. This incident could have resulted in severe injury or damage had anyone been nearby or if the car had collided directly with the building (which held the car wash electrical panel). As it stands I have a stiff neck and some PTSD. -No, the problem has not yet been reproduced or confirmed by a dealer or service center. It's at the collision center. -No, the vehicle has not yet been inspected by the manufacturer, police, insurance, etc. -No warning lamps, messages, or other symptoms appeared before/during/after the incident.

NHTSA #11629892

Backup camera frequently flickers between video stream and black screen, creating a dangerous situation while backing up. Display screen also frequently displays message sharing camera is not available when shifting into reverse. After multiple trips to Volvo dealership they state the problem is common but nothing they can do about it.

NHTSA #11595667

Rear passenger door was unable to be opened via door handles either from inside or outside the vehicle which could trap occupant inside

NHTSA #11584753

The brake systems have failed repeatedly on this vehicle, and have been replaced by the manufacturer TWICE since purchase (April 28, 2023). Brakes continued to intermittently freeze or lose pressure, so car is now classified as a lemon. However, as we have waited months and months for the lemon process to complete, the transmission began to fail. At first, we had incidents of the car seeming to shift into neutral at speeds of 30-40 MPH. The car’s engine would rev and yet forward propulsion would become coasting. Lifting foot from accelerator and then putting fit back on would often result in the gear “catching” and the car lurching into gear. On the most recent and dangerous iteration of this transmission/engine problem, when merging onto an interstate and traveling at 45-50 MPH, I attempted to accelerate and merge. Instead of downshifting to give me more power, the car entered a seeming neutral state (both hands were on the wheel, indicator said I was in Drive). The engine revved and yet the car coasted. I was unable to pull into traffic, on a very short entrance ramp. I pulled my foot off the gas pedal, waited a second, and put it back on. The car lurched into gear and shot forward. We have stopped driving this car while awaiting Volvo’s agreed upon lemon law payout. The dealer will not fix the car, given its lemon status. The buyback company, Sedgwick, takes no responsibility. We are fortunate enough to be able to afford a new car while awaiting the payout. But had we not been able to, these transmission/engine problems could easily have caused an accident. No other person should be in danger from these cars. The service manager at our dealer states that they are in the process of multiple XC40 buybacks right now. Volvo has a problem and it is simply buying back these cars. I will list the date of the most aggregators transmission issue (the merging problem) below.

NHTSA #11562233

When traveling down a local and city road traveling at approximately 55 miles per hour, the vehicle is fine. But once I get on the highway and travel over 60 miles per hour (approximately driving 70 miles per hour), there is a horrible click that engages in the steering wheel at around approximately 1° angle (it turns right barely when it happens). While driving in either lane, the steering wheel will automatically lock up and turn the vehicle right. When this happens, you can legitimately feel it in the steering wheel. You have to then turn the steering wheel left in order for the click to disengage, but it causes the vehicle to turn sharply. This is unsafe and I feel it will eventually result in a car accident if this is not fixed. It is my daily drive and I feel 100% unsafe!

NHTSA #11563210

The vehicle was driving on cruise control at 55 mph approaching an intersection with a stop sign. Attempted to brake to cancel the cruise control, but vehicle sped and continued gathering speed so that the driver lost any control over the speed. Frantic application of the brake did not have any effect on the speed. The vehicle shot across a south bound highway, collided with traffic signs in the center, crossed northbound lanes, jumped a four foot berm and landed in bushes where the air bags deployed.

Allegedly reported: 2 injuries (as reported to NHTSA). NHTSA #11555285

The contact owns a 2023 Volvo XC40 equipped with Pirelli Tires, Tire Line: Scorpion Zero, Tire Size: 235/45/R20, DOT Number: 1XB1H884J5022. The contact stated that the message "Low Air Pressure" was displayed. Upon inspection, it was discovered that the rear passenger’s side tire was flat. The vehicle was towed to the local dealer who replaced the tire. Later, while driving approximately 35 MPH, the front driver’s side tire had a blowout. The cause for the failures was not yet determined. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 3,588.

NHTSA #11552613

The contact owns a 2023 Volvo XC40. The contact stated that while her son was driving at various highway speeds, the brakes inadvertently activated, causing the vehicle to abruptly stop even though were no other vehicles or objects nearby. Additionally, the vehicle occasionally stalled and hesitated while accelerating. The contact also stated that the display screen occasionally became inoperable, and messages and safety warnings were not available to the driver. The vehicle was taken to the local dealer who was unable to duplicate the failure. The dealer had replaced unknown sensors, but the failure persisted. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 13,000.

NHTSA #11547353

The contact owns a 2023 Volvo XC40. The contact stated that while driving at approximately 30 MPH, he was approaching a stop light when he depressed the brake pedal to stop the vehicle however, the brake pedal stiffened. The contact stated that he had to apply pressure to the brake pedal when suddenly the ESC warning light, the brake warning light, the ABS warning light, and another unknown warning lights were illuminated. The contact then stated that in the same instance, the RPMs inadvertently increased to 1000 without acceleration when he desperately pumped the brake pedal multiple times to stop the vehicle however, the vehicle started to decrease in speed as the vehicle proceeded through the red stop light. As a result, another vehicle crashed into the front end of the contact’s vehicle. The air bags did not deploy. The driver of the other vehicle sustained an unknown injury that required medical attention. A police report was filed. The contact’s vehicle was towed to the dealer however, the contact was uninformed of the diagnoses. The vehicle was repaired. The contact notified the manufacturer by email of the failure and to inquire of a recall and the contact was informed that the VIN was included in the manufacture recall R10217. The contact stated that he then received a recall notification of the NHTSA Campaign Number: 23V012000 (Service Brakes, Hydraulic). The failure mileage was approximately 300.

Allegedly reported: 1 injury (as reported to NHTSA). NHTSA #11520580

The contact owns a 2023 Volvo XC40. The contact stated while driving 65 MPH, the Forward Collision Avoidance system activated without a vehicle nearby and the vehicle experienced phantom braking. The contact stated that the failure occurred on three separate occasions. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, but the vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 6,500. The contact stated that they have experienced multiple failures with their vehicle.

NHTSA #11526950