VOLVO Complaints

I purchased my 2022 Volvo XC60 in April 2025. I had no problems with the backup camera, until I installed a new version of software, 3.7, over the air, in September. The update was described as addressing a recall, for a safety issue where the backup camera would sometimes not work. Since the recall update, I've had issues with the backup camera not working, at the same time all of the cameras, proximity warnings, and rear emergency braking do not work. Far from this software update fixing a safety concern, it appears to have created one. The only answer I could get from the Volvo USA help line was to "take it to a dealer". I thought they would be more concerned given that they have just carried out a recall action that has created a safety issue!

appears to be significant electrical issue or internal computer issue causing a safety issue

The component that failed was the oil consumption. I noticed it seemed to be using more oil than should be normal. It didn't seem to do it overnight. It seemed gradual, but over a short period of time, bc I haven't had the car that long. It wasn't super alarming but I was keeping an eye on it and would add more in here and there, as I like to keep it full. One morning, driving my son to school, I started hearing an odd sound, I don't know how to describe it, wasn't loud but different. I tried to turn around bc was on a main road, and when I did, I heard a loud bang and pop and I had to pull over to a safe spot bc on a main highway. I hv not driven since getting brought to my home. 06

There has been at least 5 incidences where the audio stopped working for the turn signals, navigation stopped, radio stopped and air conditioning stopped. The first 2-3 times the system reset itself. The 4th incident I was driving in torrential rain, the wiper auto sensor stopped and every warning light on the dashboard lit up. As the rain dissipated, the system seemed to clear itself. Today, on my way to the dealership, the turn signal audio stopped, navigation stopped, radio stopped. The service advisor verified the situation. His response, per Volvo instructions, tell the customer to reset the system once a month. There's no written instructions to resolve the problem. The service advisor admitted this is an ongoing problem and corporate is making no attempt to resolve it. Is Volvo waiting for a life threatening situation before addressing the problem. I can't rely upon the computer system to function properly. Volvo has a responsibility to its car owners for supposedly being one of the safest cars on the road. This vehicle is becoming unreliable. Thank you.

Driving the car at under 20 mph making a left turn into my cul-de-sac which has an upward slope. Car system thought it would crash into the tree straight ahead and started emergency braking making loud noise and then the steering wheels locked. Ended up hitting the parked car in front of neighbors house due to brake and steering malfunction. Heard from other Volvo owners that this has been a problem. Even backing out of garage where there is no object behind the car the car emergency braking system engages causing whiplash. No longer feel safe driving this car.

On September 30, 2025, a 2016 Volvo XC90 T6 experienced sudden engine failure while driving westbound on I-75 (Alligator Alley) at highway speed. The vehicle abruptly went into reduced power mode (“turtle mode”) without warning. This forced the driver to stop on the roadside, creating a serious safety hazard in fast-moving traffic. Component/system that failed: Engine / Power Train. An independent repair facility performed diagnostics on October 6, 2025, including a compression test. Results confirmed that one cylinder had lost compression due to a failed cylinder head. The mechanic attributed this to excessive oil consumption from defective piston rings, a condition documented in Volvo technical bulletins. Inspection: The vehicle was inspected by an independent service center. Photos and test results are available for inspection upon request. The manufacturer was contacted and denied assistance, citing mileage, despite known oil consumption defects in this engine family. Safety risk: The sudden loss of power at highway speed put the driver and other motorists at risk of collision. With no advance warning, the driver was left stranded on a dangerous stretch of interstate. Reproduction: The failure has been confirmed through diagnostic testing and inspection by the independent service center. Manufacturer/police/insurance inspection: The manufacturer has been notified, but no inspection by Volvo has occurred to date. No police or insurance inspection was performed. Warning messages or lamps: Prior to the breakdown, no warning lamps or messages indicated impending failure. The first and only symptom was the sudden loss of power on the highway. Incident cause assessment: Based on mechanic’s findings, the underlying cause is piston ring/oil consumption defect leading to cylinder head failure. This defect is widely reported in Volvo vehicles with this engine and represents a safety-related condition.

While driving on crowded I40 near Statesville NC, the engine started to stutter and moments later quit entirely. Fortunately we were able to move to the shoulder with only a few seconds to spare. This was very dangerous as we had to move through the right lane in front of speeding semi trucks. The only warning light received was that there was an engine problem, that the car would go into “safe” mode. This was mere seconds before entirely disabling the engine. Had we come to a halt on the highway there would have been a serious accident and injury to ourselves and most likely others. We contacted Volvo, a tow was dispatched and the car was winched on to a flat bed trailer and we were transported to a dealer in Hickory. Later it was confirmed that the Integrated Starter General (ISG) had failed and that power had been interrupted to the hybrid battery. There is a serious problem here and I suspect may impact other “mild hybrid” systems that install integrated alternator/starter motor systems between the engine and transmission.

While driving, my car suddenly displayed the "Driver Support System Fault" icon (Picture 1). At that time, the only issue was the fault icon. I still had full navigation, lane departure warning and 360 camera functionality when I backed into my parking spot. The car was locked with my key card. I returned to 15 to 20 minutes later. The Driver Support System Fault Icon was lit in addition to the lane departure unavailability icon (Picture 2). The following functions and/or features did not work: - Lane Departure - 360 Camera - Front Camera - Tracking Lines for the Rear Camera - Park Sensor audible alerts (Forward or Backup) - Ambient Temperature (Reads "0 degrees Celsius") - Odometer in the central stack (Reads "-- km") - HVAC Functionality - Heated Seats - Heated Steering Wheel - Bluetooth - Wi-Fi - Google Assistant - Navigation, including map being frozen in one position - Glovebox access - Connectivity with Internet or Volvo App - Volume control for the radio did not function. - 4-way hazard button greyed out and non-functional on center stack Attempted reset/reboot of the Infotainment System did not resolve the issue and the car was taken to the local Volvo dealer. Summary of Pictures attached: Pic 3 - Quick Controls - Shows glove box, 4-way hazard icon and other control icons greyed out Pic 4 - Status - States "Everything is OK", but tire pressure button is not available and Total distance reads "--km". Additionally, as shown in Picture 3, the 4-way hazard icon is greyed out. Pic 5 - Similar shot as Picture 2 - Shows Driver Support System Fault and no Lane Departure Pic 6 - Car is in reverse. Shows rear back up camera without guidance lines. Does not show 360 camera. Pic 7 - HVAC Climate is off and cannot turn on. All controls were greyed out. I pressed "Manual" and "Auto" with no change. Pic 8 - Heated seats and heated steering wheel would not turn on even when I pressed the buttons.

On three occasions my car has initiated automatic emergency braking while I was driving across the same grated bridge deck (Montlake Bridge in Seattle). In each instance there was no potential for collision and my car slammed on brakes and jammed on my seatbelt with varying levels of discomfort and terror. This also created a safety risk because I could have been rear ended as there was so reason to suddenly stop and certainly was shocked to have my car brake urgently and restrain me suddenly with seatbelt. My best guess is that this related to boats traveling under the bridge as this happened three times during higher boat traffic. I reported incident to Volvo and was told a case would be opened and that I would be contacted. I was not contacted. I scheduled a service appointment to address this and other issues with the EX90 that are unrelated but for the third time my appointment was cancelled as the Volvo dealership is refusing to service the ex90s they have been selling.

When slowing to a stop the vehicle is unsmooth and unpredictable, there is also a sudden release when braking downhill (not sure if they are related). There’s been occasions where the car lurched when coming to a stop almost resulting in me rear ending the vehicle in front of me. The unsmooth/unpredictable stopping only happens at speeds under 10mph when approaching a stop like with city driving. I’ve had it to the dealership two times for this. They’ve had trouble reproducing it, but acknowledged it is unsmooth and said that’s just the way the regenerative braking was designed. The holding back and release when braking downhill is completely random.