VOLVO Complaints

I am reporting a safety defect related to the Vehicle Connectivity Module (VCM) in my 2017 Volvo XC90. The VCM is critical for emergency communications, including automatic crash notification and location sharing with emergency responders. This function is vital for occupant safety in the event of an accident. My VCM was serviced at an authorized Volvo dealer in Natick, MA in December 2024 due to intermittent connectivity issues. Despite this recent service, the VCM completely failed in mid-April 2025. When the module fails, the vehicle loses the ability to automatically contact emergency services and transmit its location after a crash, significantly increasing the risk of delayed or absent emergency response. I am aware that Volvo previously issued Safety Recall R39917 for 2017–2019 XC90s regarding VCM software errors that could prevent GPS location from being sent to emergency personnel. Volvo has refused to cover the repair, even though the failure directly impacts a safety-critical system that was already subject to a recall. This failure compromises the car’s core safety promise and leaves occupants at risk in emergencies. I urge NHTSA to investigate ongoing VCM failures in these vehicles, as the repairs have not resolved all safety concerns. Volvo should be required to address these failures to ensure driver and passenger safety.

The contact owns a 2021 Volvo XC40. The contact stated that while reversing, the back over prevention screen image malfunctioned and started flickering before displaying a blank screen. During the failure, the message "Camera Unavailable" was displayed. The cause of the failure was not yet determined. The manufacturer and local dealer were notified of the failure. The contact was informed that the vehicle was recently repaired under NHTSA Campaign Number: 25V282000 (BACK OVER PREVENTION). The contact stated that the vehicle had experienced the failure listed in the recall. The failure mileage was 36,000.

There are 2 very serious safety issues that are extremely dangerous with this car. #1 - The Automatic Intervention Rear Brake Auto Brake engages for no reason when there is nothing behind the car. It happens when I am backing up very slowly. It throws me forward and then thrusts me back into the headrest. This has happened 3 times in 2 months. #2- At least two times a week the Information Panel turns off while driving for no reason and goes blank. I can’t see the speedometer, blinkers don't work, lane assist doesn't work, and the map disappears. I have pull off the road and reset it to continue driving. We have taken the car to Premier Volvo dealership 2 times and have spoken to the Asst. Service Manager and the General Sales Manager. The Asst Service Mgr. explained these are well known safety issues. He explained #1 is a problem with no solution and #2 is a Google problem waiting for new software. The General Sales Manager agreed that #1 is an issue, but didn't offer a solution. He also said #2 is a Google software problem with this car, they are waiting for a software update. Also, the sales rep and Service Manager verified these issues are well known problems. These were not disclosed to us when we leased the car.

Rear light malfunction alert. Intermittent. Seems to happen when humidity is high.

On 6/24/25 warning given that rear camera — actually all cameras — were unavailable. Cameras remained unavailable for several hours, when they “magically” came back on. 6/24/25 — radio sound disappeared. Only returned after a hard reset of the center infotainment system. 6/25/25 — another warning that cameras were unavailable, but as quickly as it flashed on, it went off, and cameras were available. 6/25/25 — entire infotainment center and air handling/ac system went black while i was driving. Center re-set itself while i was driving. Warning light that cameras were unavailable also flashed on then off. 6/25/25 — Vehicle, which was only purchased on 6/18/25, was picked up by dealer for investigation. 6/26/25 — Told that problems are known by Volvo, apparently related to a software update instituted after a 3/25 recall for same problem, and that multiple vehicles are reporting same and continued issue. Software updated is “promised” but date undetermined.

Vehicle Make/Model/Year: 2014 Volvo S60 Mileage at Failure: 111,000 Incident Description: I am reporting a complete engine failure in my 2014 Volvo S60 due to excessive oil consumption, a known defect in these models as documented in Volvo’s Quality Bulletin P10207. I purchased this vehicle used only 7 months ago, unaware of this defect. There was no notification of any warranty extension or known issue, and the vehicle showed no signs of oil leakage —it simply failed. Volvo has refused to assist me because the vehicle is now beyond 100,000 miles and 8 years, despite their documented acknowledgment of this design flaw. This is a serious safety issue that could have resulted in an accident had the engine seized at highway speed. I am requesting NHTSA investigate further or reopen the matter as a public safety concern.

During the rainy season, moisture found its way inside the right passenger real tail light, causing a “brake malfunction” error on the dash and deactivating the passenger rear brake light. After the moisture dries, the light comes back on but is intermittent. The light continues to malfunction during rainfall. This is a huge safety concern as there is no way to reset the system to turn on the brake light, unless the moisture dries.

While in Reverse and in progress of backing out of a parking space, the live video feed of the rear-view camera froze. I did not realize the screen on the dashboard had frozen until I had already backed up several feet. Once I realized the video feed was a frozen, I stepped on the brake. This frozen video feed caused me to briefly back out of my parking spot blind and unaware if the area behind the car was safe. This was the second occurrence of this happening, after already having received a software update several weeks ago at the local Volvo dealership for a different recall notice to address the rear-view camera screen displaying "Camera Not Available" when in Reverse.

Rear taillight failure due to moisture incursion. No message appeared, but light failure was observed less than a month ago. Car is in for regular service now and item is being replaced at great personal expense, since it will not pass required safety inspection until repaired. Reporting this here because it is a known problem for hundreds of owners of this vehicle, and should be subject to a safety recall, but Volvo has repeated refused to address this flaw. Please see the documentation here of many other instances of same: [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

To Whom It May Concern, I am filing a complaint against Volvo Car USA for unresolved defects in my 2023 Volvo XC90 T8 Recharge, purchased in Indiana. The vehicle’s control systems—infotainment, climate control, navigation, backup camera, and reverse braking—are defective, impairing its use, value, and safety, despite maintenance and updates. Study and searches on owner forums and social media discovered that those issues are widespread among the 2023 model year of Volvo XC-90 T8. Issues: Backup camera often shows “unavailable” when reversing, posing safety risks. -Volvo did a software recall in May, 2025. The issue seemed largely resolved. Automatic reverse braking (ARB) falsely triggers, causing abrupt stops. No permanent adjustment exists. -The issue persists even after multiple software updates including the recall mentioned above. The false ARB activations made drivers and passengers traumatized and panicked for "hitting or being hit by other vehicles or objects. Infotainment and climate control system lags (5+ minutes to respond), displays errors, and is unreliable. That became a bigger problem during inclement weather that driver and passengers may suffer injury from the extreme cold or hot conditions for a long period of time. This is even more dangerous when there are elderlies, pregnant women, or children in the vehicle. This issue was not resolved even after multiple software updates. Further research indicated the issue was not only from software but also from hardware (including but not limited to the CPU chips, RAM, etc. LTE connection is unstable 50% of the time, affecting navigation or emergency assistance. Volvo uses safety and emergency assistance as one of the selling points for its vehicles. However, the instability of its LTE connection makes the "SOS call" unreliable or not functional when customers are in danger. Even after multiple visits of Volvo dealer and contact of Volvo customer care, there is no solution.