2019 Volvo XC40: complaints, problems and recalls
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
30 owner complaints analyzed
4 distinct recall campaigns
5,055 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 2019 model year. Data snapshot: . 14 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Unknown Or Other is the most frequently named component, appearing in 7 of 30 complaints (23.3%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Braking behavior | 6 | 20.0% |
| Steering behavior | 6 | 20.0% |
| Transmission and shifting | 1 | 3.3% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 1 | 3.3% |
Topic matches use published keyword rules. They describe mentions, including negations or comparisons, and do not confirm a diagnosis. Read the matching rules.
Component breakdown
Number of unique complaints naming each component. Top eight shown.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Unknown Or Other | 7 |
| Engine | 5 |
| Service Brakes | 5 |
| Air Bags | 3 |
| Seat Belts | 3 |
| Electrical System | 2 |
| Forward Collision Avoidance: Automatic Emergency Braking | 2 |
| Fuel/Propulsion System | 2 |
Unknown Or Other: 7; Engine: 5; Service Brakes: 5; Air Bags: 3; Seat Belts: 3; Electrical System: 2; Forward Collision Avoidance: Automatic Emergency Braking: 2; Fuel/Propulsion System: 2
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 12 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 2 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 0 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 0 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 0 |
| 150,000 and above | 0 |
Under 25,000: 12; 25,000 to 49,999: 2; 50,000 to 74,999: 0; 75,000 to 99,999: 0; 100,000 to 149,999: 0; 150,000 and above: 0
Under 25,000 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (12). 16 complaints have missing, zero or invalid mileage.
Complaints over time
Year the complaint was filed, not the vehicle model year or incident year. The snapshot year is partial.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| 2018 | 2 |
| 2019 | 8 |
| 2020 | 2 |
| 2022 | 3 |
| 2023 | 5 |
| 2024 | 6 |
| 2025 | 2 |
| 2026 | 2 |
2018: 2; 2019: 8; 2020: 2; 2022: 3; 2023: 5; 2024: 6; 2025: 2; 2026: 2
Pattern summary
Unknown Or Other leads the component reports. Braking behavior appears in 6 complaint narratives. Steering behavior appears in 6 complaint narratives. Transmission and shifting appears in 1 complaint narratives. Use these patterns to inspect individual reports and prepare questions for a mechanic.
Calculated from recorded counts. An AI narrative has not been published for this selection.
Examples from the source records
Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.
Owner report 11083622 · 2018-04-06 (April 6, 2018)
I WAS AT THE DENVER CAR SHOW AND LOOKED AT THIS MODEL. WITH THE REAR HATCH UP THE REAR SEATS CAN BE FOLDED DOWN VIA A BUTTON/LATCH WHEN REACHING IN TO THE BACK. THE REP DEMONSTRATED THIS MANEVER AND THE SEATS RELEASED SO FORCEFULLY WITH A SLAM THAT IT COULD (AND EVENTUALLY WILL) INJURE OR KILL A CHILD OR PET SEVERELY. I WAS SHOCKED AT THE SNAP-LIKE, FORCE AND LOUD BANG ONTO THE SEAT ONCE RELEASED. WHEN STANDING ON THE GROUND AND REACHING IN THE BACK OF THE VEHICLE ONE ALSO CAN NOT SEE WHAT IS IN THE BACK SEAT BEFORE PUSHING THE BUTTON MAKING …
Owner-reported narrative. 11 miles reported. Look up ODI 11083622 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11094068 · 2018-05-16 (May 16, 2018)
AFTER LESS THAN 2 MONTHS AIR BAG SYSTEM FAILED AT ONLY 2400 MILE MARK. SUGGEST ENTIRE BRAND BE RECALLED SINCE IT IS A NEW MODEL IT WAS NOT TESTED PROPERLY. I AM IN DANGER AND AFRAID TO DRIVE THE CAR
Owner-reported narrative. 2,400 miles reported. Look up ODI 11094068 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11166429 · 2019-01-11 (January 11, 2019)
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2019 VOLVO XC40. WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS WITH THE PILOT ASSIST FEATURE ACTIVATED, THE VEHICLE DRIFTED INTO THE OPPOSITE LANE AND WOULD ERRONEOUSLY CHANGE LANES. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO VOLVO OF TAMPA (6008 NORTH DALE MABRAY HWY, TAMPA, FL) TO BE DIAGNOSED, BUT THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE COULD NOT BE DETERMINED. THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE MANUFACTURER WAS AWARE OF THE FAILURE, BUT NO REMEDY WAS AVAILABLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 1,450.
Owner-reported narrative. 1,450 miles reported. Look up ODI 11166429 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11174496 · 2019-02-05 (February 5, 2019)
PILOT ASSIST FUNCTION DISENGAGES SUDDENLY WITHOUT WARNING. THIS IS DIFFERENT FROM THE EXPECTED OPERATION WHERE THE SYSTEM'S STEERING ASSISTANCE WILL GO INTO STANDBY UPON LOSING LANE MARKING INPUTS. WHILE THE SYSTEM DOES OCCASIONALLY ENTER NORMAL 'STANDBY' INDICATED BY THE GREEN STEERING WHEEL ICON TURNING GREY, IT ALSO OCCASIONALLY TURNS OFF ENTIRELY WITHOUT WARNING (INCLUDING AUTO THROTTLE CONTROL), WHICH IS INDICATED ONLY BY AN UNEXPECTED DECELERATION AND BY THE STEERING WHEEL ICON AND FOLLOWING DISTANCE INDICATORS BOTH SUDDENLY DISAPPEARING …
Owner-reported narrative. 5,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 11174496 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11191970 · 2019-03-27 (March 27, 2019)
I HAVE A NEW VOLVO XC40 WITH THE SEMI-AUTONOMOUS DRIVER ASSIST PACKAGE THAT CAN STEER AND CONTROL THE CAR. THE SYSTEM CAN SHUT OFF WHILE DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY (ACTIVE MODE) FOR 2 REASON: 1. DRIVER TAKES HANDS OFF THE STEERING WHEEL FOR MORE THAN 15-20 SECONDS 2. SYSTEM CAMERAS CAN NOT ADEQUATELY CAPTURE THE ROAD LANE BECAUSE THE LINES DISAPPEAR OR BECOME FAINT. IN SITUATION 1, AFTER 15 SECONDS OF NO HANDS ON THE WHEEL, THERE IS A DASHBOARD WARNING, FOLLOWED BY A VIBRATION OF THE STEERING WHEEL AND FINALLY AS THE SYSTEM DE-ACTIVATES IT…
Owner-reported narrative. 6,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 11191970 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11203801 · 2019-04-25 (April 25, 2019)
THE VOLVO INTELLISAFE SYSTEM AUTOMATICALLY APPLIED THE BRAKES WHEN THERE WAS NOTHING IN FRONT OF THE VEHICLE TO BRAKE FOR. IT HAS DONE THIS 8 TIMES, 3 TIMES AFTER I HAD THE CAR IN TO REPAIR THIS PROBLEM. IT ALSO THOUGHT THERE WAS A REAR COLLISION EMINENT AND TIGHTENED THE SEAT BELT SO MUCH IT INJURED MY CHEST AND SIDE. I WAS IN A LEFT TURN LANE AND A CAR PASSED QUITE SAFELY TO THE RIGHT OF ME. THIS INTELLISAFE SYSTEM SEEMS TO BE NOT FUNCTIONING PROPERLY. THE DEALER DOES NOT BELIEVE ME AND HAS NOT FIXED IT. 1ST TIME AUTO BRAKING - SEPT 1…
Owner-reported narrative. 5,110 miles reported. Look up ODI 11203801 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11244905 · 2019-08-19 (August 19, 2019)
CHECK ENGINE EMISSIONS LIGHT KEEPS COMING ON; HAVE HAD 3 SERVICE VISITS TO DEALER (RESULTING IN SAME PART BEING REPLACED TWICE, ONE OR MORE SOFTWARE UPDATES, ONE COMPLETE SOFTWARE RELOAD) AND NOW AM GETTING LIGHT ON AGAIN WHICH WILL REQUIRE YET A FOURTH SERVICE VISIT. (NB VISIT 1 WAS IN SUMMER '18 WHEN CAR WAS NEW; VISITS 2-4 ARE ALL IN SUMMER 2019, COMMENCING ALMOST EXACTLY ONE YEAR LATER IN SUMMER WEATHER CONDITIONS (HOT HUMID RAINY)
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 11244905 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11252790 · 2019-09-02 (September 2, 2019)
MY CAR HAS LESS THAN THREE THOUSAND MILES ON IT AND WAS PURCHASED IN LATE MAY 2019. I WAS AT A STOP LIGHT WHEN SUDDENLY, I HEARD A LOUD BUZZ AND THE CAR STOPPED AND STARTED COMPLETELY ON ITS OWN. IT HAPPENED AGAIN AT THE NEXT TRAFFIC LIGHT, ONLY THIS TIME, IT KEPT SHUTTING OFF AND RESTARTING. THE DEALER'S SERVICE DEPARTMENT DOESN'T SEEM TO BELIEVE ME, AND THE MANUFACTURER HAS DENIED MY REQUEST FOR REPURCHASE, DESPITE THE SERIOUS SAFETY RISK THIS PRESENTS.
Owner-reported narrative. 2,700 miles reported. Look up ODI 11252790 at NHTSA ↗
Recall history
4 distinct campaigns affect this selection. Announcement dates below are different from vehicle model years. A campaign may cover multiple years.
18V535000 · Seats:Mid/Rear Assembly
Reported: 2018-08-15 (August 15, 2018)
Volvo Cars USA LLC (Volvo) is recalling certain 2019 Volvo XC40 vehicles. The rear seats may not have rear seat back lock strikers, allowing the seat back to move forward during certain hard braking conditions or a crash.
Consequence: If the seat back moves forward during hard braking or in a crash, it can increase the risk of injury.
Remedy: Volvo will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the vehicles and install the seat back lock strikers if they are missing, free of charge. The recall began October 12, 2018. Owners may contact Volvo customer service at 1-800-458-1552. Volvo's number for this recall is R89898.
NHTSA campaign record ↗18V554000 · Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Pedals And Linkages
Reported: 2018-08-22 (August 22, 2018)
Volvo Car USA LLC (Volvo) is recalling certain 2019 Volvo XC40 vehicles. The brake pedals may not have been correctly riveted, allowing the pedal to move out of position, possibly reducing braking performance.
Consequence: Reduced braking performance can increase the risk of a crash.
Remedy: Volvo has notified owners advising them to stop driving their vehicle. Cars will be inspected on-site or towed to dealers and the brake pedals will be replaced as necessary, free of charge. Volvo began contacting their owners on August 23, 2018. Owners may contact Volvo customer service at 1-800-458-1552. Volvo's number for this recall is R59899.
NHTSA campaign record ↗18V800000 · Electrical System:Software
Reported: 2018-11-13 (November 13, 2018)
Volvo Car USA LLC (Volvo) is recalling certain 2017-2019 Volvo XC90, S90, V60, V60 Cross Country, V90, XC40, XC60, and V90 Cross Country vehicles. The software installed in the Vehicle Connectivity Module (VCM) may have an error causing the Telematics and Driver Support Systems to function improperly. As a result, the GPS will not provide location information to emergency personnel in the event of an emergency.
Consequence: If the GPS location is not provided to emergency personnel it can inhibit emergency response in the event of a crash or injury.
Remedy: Volvo will notify owners, and dealers will correct the software, free of charge. The recall began December 26, 2018. Owners may contact Volvo customer service at 1-800-458-1552. Volvo's number for this recall is R39917.
NHTSA campaign record ↗20V144000 · Forward Collision Avoidance: Automatic Emergency Braking | Forward Collision Avoidance:Software:Pedestrian/Cyclist/Object/Obstacle/ Recognition
Reported: 2020-03-12 (March 12, 2020)
Volvo Cars USA LLC (Volvo Cars) is recalling certain 2019-2020 S60, V60, V60 Cross Country, S90L, V90, V90 Cross Country, XC40, XC60, and XC90 vehicles. Due to a software/hardware incompatibility, the Automatic Emergency Brake (AEB) system may not detect obstacles and engage as intended.
Consequence: If the automatic emergency braking system does not engage as intended, it can increase the risk of a crash.
Remedy: Volvo will notify owners, and dealers will update the Active Safety Domain Master (ASDM) software, free of charge. The recall began April 9, 2020. Owners may contact Volvo customer service at 1-800-458-1552. Volvo's number for this recall is R29998.
NHTSA campaign record ↗