VOLVO Complaints

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.

When putting vehicle in reverse, camera can become stuck or not load at all impacting rear visibility. This was previously recalled and Volvo claims a remedy through software update but I believe this is processor based and they will need to replace the units with their snapdragon processor to rectify this. Their newer models include the snapdragon processor and don’t have this issue.

While my own 2026 Volvo EX90 was in for warranty repair (air conditioning compressor failure, believed related to a recent over-the-air software update), the dealership provided me with a loaner vehicle that exhibits its own intermittent climate control malfunction: the air conditioning shuts off completely when the vehicle comes to a stop and resumes when the vehicle is put back in motion. This occurs consistently and unpredictably during normal driving. I am filing this as a related report to a prior NHTSA complaint I submitted regarding my own EX90's air conditioning/compressor failure, as this may indicate a broader pattern with climate control systems on this platform rather than an isolated defect.

Electrical, Parking Collision Warning, and Rear Cross Traffic Warning. Electrical is the root cause........the entire audio subsystem drops after the AAOS 5.1.17 update. It’s not just the rear cross traffic and parking collision warnings: ALL audio goes, including media, chimes, reverse proximity tones, and even the turn-signal/blinker sound. The rear camera still shows an image, so it’s not obvious the audible alerts are gone, which is what makes it dangerous. Rebooting the head unit fixes it temporarily, then it comes back.

I am reporting a potential safety defect involving the driver-assistance, lane-assist/steering intervention, and automatic braking systems in my 2026 Volvo XC60. I purchased the vehicle new on May 20, 2026, and it currently has approximately 10,000 miles. I have experienced repeated unexpected steering intervention while driving. On multiple occasions, the vehicle’s lane-assistance system has pulled or attempted to steer the vehicle toward oncoming traffic, requiring me to actively correct the steering. At other times, the steering intervention creates a sensation similar to hydroplaning, sliding, or temporarily losing control of the vehicle. Most recently, the vehicle unexpectedly and violently applied the brakes when there was no apparent obstacle or other reason for emergency braking. I have contacted a Volvo dealership regarding the lane-assist behavior and was told that the factory feature cannot simply be turned off. I am concerned that unexpected steering intervention toward opposing traffic or unexpected severe braking could cause the driver to lose control or could cause a front, side, or rear-end collision resulting in serious bodily injury or death. I am reporting these incidents because I believe this behavior presents a potential vehicle safety defect and should be documented and investigated.

I purchased a brand-new 2026 Volvo EX90 just 4days ago from a volvo dealership . Yesterday, the vehicle’s software proximity logic malfunctioned and auto-locked the doors while my baby was strapped inside. My physical key card and my phone with the digital key were both inside the cabin. To make matters worse, when I tried to use the Volvo remote app to unlock it with a different phone, the app failed completely because the car was not “connected”. Volvo roadside assistance could not unlock the vehicle either. Because of this total software failure, I had no choice but to have firefighters physically break into my brand-new car to rescue my child."

Hood latch assembly corrodes making it impossible to open hood or service the vehicle.

On 25th August, while driving my brand-new leased 2026 Volvo XC90 B6 (approximately 4,930 miles) at highway speeds of 60 to 65 mph on the interstate i80 NJ at night, the vehicle suffered a sudden, catastrophic loss of propulsion. The engine abruptly shut off without warning, causing the vehicle to immediately and rapidly lose speed.Traffic conditions were active, and a semi-truck was directly behind my vehicle. Due to the sudden deceleration and total loss of engine power, I narrowly missed a life-threatening, high-speed collision with the semi-truck. I managed to safely maneuver the unpowered vehicle across active lanes to the right shoulder.Once on the shoulder, the "Check Engine" light and a "Turtle" icon (reduced engine performance indicator) appeared on the digital dashboard. The vehicle completely refused to restart. Eventually when Roadside Assistance arrived and attempted to add fuel to the tank to rule out a low fuel (odometer said 1/4 tank re ~65miles to empty), but the vehicle still failed to start or turn over. The car was flatbed-towed to an authorized Volvo dealership at 3:00 AM, where it currently sits. This is the second major electrical failure this new vehicle has suffered in less than 3 months, following a previous incident where the battery abruptly died. A complete powertrain and engine shutdown at highway speeds presents an extreme, life-threatening safety defect that requires immediate federal investigation

On July 28, 2026, at approximately 3:30 p.m., I was stopped in my 2025 Volvo EX30 at the intersection of Laurel Avenue and Mount Pleasant Avenue in Livingston, New Jersey. When the light turned green, I applied the accelerator normally. The vehicle unexpectedly surged/lurched forward and struck another vehicle. After the accident, the tow-truck operator reported that the Volvo lurched forward three or four additional times while he was attempting to load it onto the truck. He reported that this behavior did not occur while unloading it in reverse. Volvo subsequently inspected the vehicle and retrieved electronic data. Volvo states that the data showed full accelerator-pedal input and that the vehicle operated as designed, but it has not provided me with the underlying data, technical report, extraction records, or supporting documentation. I dispute that I intentionally applied full acceleration. Police body-camera footage may also show the vehicle lurching while it was being handled after the collision. I am reporting this because the repeated behavior raises a serious potential unintended-acceleration or accelerator-control safety issue.

This submission supplements NHTSA Complaint #11759206, filed on August 24, 2026, regarding a 2018 Volvo XC90, in order to provide additional relevant information that came to light after the original filing. At the time of the first safety-critical malfunction (in-vehicle warnings including "Transmission Acceleration Performance Reduced" "Gear Lever Locked" and related electrical system symptoms), the service manager at Volvo Cars Brooklyn was able to remotely diagnose the likely cause by telephone, before the vehicle was even towed to the shop, specifically instructing the owner to check for dampness under the driver's floor mat, which was confirmed to be present. This indicates the symptom pattern described (sunroof leak leading to corrosion affecting the transmission, brakes, and electrical system) was already recognized and familiar to Volvo Cars Brooklyn's service staff, not a novel or difficult-to-diagnose issue. Additionally, the owner was informed that multiple other Volvo vehicles were present at Volvo Cars Brooklyn on the same day for repair of the same reported issue. Once arriving at the dealership, the service manager tole us that he had, "Just totaled a vehicle for the same issue." This suggests the underlying defect is not an isolated occurrence, but a broader, recurring pattern affecting multiple vehicles of this platform. This supplemental information is provided to support NHTSA's assessment of whether a safety-related defect trend exists affecting this vehicle platform, consistent with the pattern described in the original complaint and in other publicly available consumer complaints regarding sunroof-related water intrusion on the Volvo XC90.