VOLVO Complaints

View complaints related to VOLVO. The complaints found here are submitted by actual consumers with first hand experience. You can submit your own complaint to the NHTSA or call the Hotline, Monday-Friday 8am to 8pm at (888) 327-4236, TTY: (800) 424-9153.

  • 2021 VOLVO XC40
    - Woodland Hills, CA

    On Oct 8, we noticed a crack on the front lower right passenger-side of the windshield. We purchased this car less than 2 months ago. The crack was perplexing to us because we've never had a cracked windshield on any of our cars we've owned in the last 20 years, driving in the same roads and neighborhoods. We live in southern California where we don't experience extreme weather conditions. We google searched Volvo XC40 cracked windshield and found similar experiences. The most disconcerting part of this situation is that we had chosen a different XC40 on the dealer lot to purchase. We almost finished the paperwork when the salesperson let us know that the windshield cracked while they were washing it! We weren’t too concerned because it seemed like a rare occurrence. The salesperson asked if we would like to have it fixed or if we would like to purchase a different car, same model. We're buying a new car so we don't want a car that's been fixed. We opted for a different car, but it didn't have the same options as the first car. Yet, we were still happy to buy a new Volvo because Volvo has great reputation for safety. Less than 2 months later, a crack appears on the windshield out of the blue. The car has only been driven in our home neighborhood. We haven't taken it on a roadtrip or off-roading. Then we remembered the first car we tried to buy. Now, this sounds very suspicious. What are the odds that the first car we tried to buy, the windshield broke while washing and the car we bought, the windshield cracks in less than two months in normal driving conditions? This seems like a defect, but Volvo will not cover the cost of fixing the windshield. This is most certainly a safety issue. What if the windshield cracks further while we’re driving and injures us or anyone else in the vicinity? It could've cracked more severely. We’re very disappointed with Volvo and don’t believe in their safety claims anymore.

    Source: NHTSA WEB SITE
  • 2021 VOLVO XC40
    - Loveland, OH

    On October 12, 2021 the above described car had a catastrophic failure of the power system. All functions ceased and the car was dead towed on a flatbed truck. Because the tow mode could not be engaged due to loss of all power the vehicle was dragged onto the flatbed. The repair indicated the cause was a The Battery Energy Control Module (BECM). This is noted in recall R10078. This car was sent for service in April where a request for a software update was made. At that service, no recall was noted and no update was given for this condition. There has been no attempt to recall this vehicle for this problem and it is not noted as a recall for this vehicle. The failure of the energy module caused a complete loss of all power and an inability to move the car.

    Source: NHTSA WEB SITE
  • 2021 VOLVO XC40
    - Loveland, OH

    A complete power failure. The main battery failed due to a software failure from The Battery Energy Control Module (BECM). The entire car stopped working. No power to unlock the wheels. The car was dead towed on rollers under the wheels via flatbed truck. A recall r10078 was not given and was not performed on prior visits to the dealer.

    Source: NHTSA WEB SITE
  • 2019 VOLVO VNL
    - Atlanta, GA

    The contact owned a 2019 Volvo Truck VNL. The contact stated that the check engine warning light was illuminated intermittently. The contact stated that while the driver was driving approximately 50 mph when they noticed the rear axle smoking. They pulled to the side of the road where they attempted to detach the trailer. The smoke became an actual fire. The fire department was called and extinguished the fire. A report was filed. The vehicle was deemed totaled and was towed. There were no injuries and no medical assistance was needed. The contact did not speak with the dealer. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was unknown.

    Source: HOTLINE VEHICLE OWNERS QUESTIONNAIRE
  • 2005 VOLVO S80
    - Florence, OR

    When I was closing the passenger door, it did not close tight. So I opened it again and shut it a bit harder. When I shut it harder, the passenger side seat airbag and the top passenger side airbag deployed. If I had been sitting inside the car at the time, I could have been injured as small things exploded inside the car and it filled with a smoky powder. We took it to a Volvo dealership and they inspected it but have not relayed thier findings to me. Even tho I have called several times to find out. They never return my calls. Their was no warning or lights on prior to the incident. I know about the drivers side airbag recall but was wondering if their were other airbag issues they have not told us about? It will cost about $1500 to have the airbags replaced and from what I understand, none of the airbags will work now untill the deployed ones have been replaced. And I think it is a manufacturing issue that has made this problem. I just want to kmow if this has happened to other volvo owners? And if Volvo should be required to fix our airbags.

    Source: NHTSA WEB SITE
  • 2009 VOLVO XC90
    - Denver, CO

    I have installed a SprintDrive installed in my Volvo. Since the installation, I have had several safety and security issues occur that stop once the device is removed. The following issues have occurred: 1) Whilst driving on the Muskogee Turnpike, the cruising control system would disengage. This occurred at least three times during the drive. On the third time, the cruising control system disengaged and the braking system engaged causing the vehicle to go from 85 mph to 45 mph. 2) I was driving on C-470. The transmission system would not transition between the gears automatically. The vehicle remained in a low gear until I removed the device. 3) I was driving on I-70 when all of the warning lights went and an alarm sounded. The message console read all system failure. The engine shut down. Once the device was removed, I was able to restart the vehicle.

    Source: NHTSA WEB SITE
  • 2019 VOLVO S60
    - SAN FRANCISCO, CA

    Engine Auto turn off never works. Advertised as feature of the car. Yet to see if active.

    Source: NHTSA WEB SITE
  • 2016 VOLVO XC70
    - San Francisco, CA

    Car stalled at an intersection twice. We took it to a repair shop after the first instance and they told us the battery had died, though they were able to charge it and it restarted fine. They could not find any other issues. We continued to drive it and two days later the car died at another intersection just after my wife had picked up our kids from school. We had it towed to the dealer this time. I relayed the recall information for an earlier or different model of my car that sounded like the same issue: the starter motor fuse. I believe this to be the same issue even though my car did not show up on the recall.

    Source: NHTSA WEB SITE
  • 2015 VOLVO S60
    - Braintree, MA

    The contact owns a 2015 Volvo S60. The contact stated while driving at an undisclosed speed, the contact noticed a warning light and message stating to pull over. The contact stated that the check engine warning light was illuminated. The contact pulled the vehicle over to the side of the road and called the manufacturer about the error message. The manufacturer informed the contact to add engine oil to the vehicle. The contact added engine oil to the vehicle to drive to her destination. The following day the contact took the vehicle to the local dealer for an oil change however, the failure recurred several times. The contact took the vehicle back to the local dealer who inspected the vehicle and performed an oil consumption test and diagnosed the failure as an oil filter housing leak. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 76,000.

    Source: HOTLINE VEHICLE OWNERS QUESTIONNAIRE
  • 2013 VOLVO S60
    - Storrs, CT

    Car has had regular oil changes and was well below the recommended time for the next change when the engine began knocking in September. I took the car for inspection at a Volvo mechanic repair shop and was told all of the oil was gone and engine is damaged beyond repair. No engine or oil indicator light came on to warn me that the oil was low. I understand the 2011-2012 models were recalled for this issue and apparently the problem continued to the 2013 model. The car has low mileage and I am shocked that it is now effectively totaled. I am now without a vehicle and feel that Volvo should have to correct the situation and that a recall should be issued.

    Source: NHTSA WEB SITE