2023 Volvo C40bev problems, complaints & recalls
Most-reported problem areas: Steering (3) · Service Brakes (3) · Back Over Prevention: Sensing System: Camera (3)
🧭 Reliability snapshot
Compared against other Volvo C40bev model years — complaint volume vs the model's median year, recalls and severity. How we score →
Safety recalls (6)
Back Over Prevention:software 2025-12-23 · campaign 25V908000 · 413,151 vehicles
Defect: Volvo Car USA, LLC (Volvo Car) is recalling certain 2021-2025 XC40, 2022 V90, 2022-2024 C40BEV, 2022-2025 S90, V90CC, XC60, 2023-2025 S60, V60, V60CC, XC90, and 2025 EC40, and EX40 vehicles. The rearview camera image may not display when the vehicle is placed in reverse. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 111, "Rear Visibility."
Risk: A rearview camera image that does not display reduces the driver's view behind the vehicle, increasing the risk of a crash.
Fix: The software will be updated by a dealer or through an over-the-air (OTA) update, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed February 24, 2026. Owners may contact Volvo Car’s customer service at 1-800-458-1552. Volvo Car's number for this recall is R10333. Vehicle Identification Numbers (VINs) involved in this recall will be searchable on NHTSA.gov beginning February 16, 2026. This recall replaces previous NHTSA recall number 25V282. Vehicles previously repaired under recall 25V282 w
Service Brakes, Hydraulic:power Assist:electric:control Module:software 2025-06-12 · campaign 25V392000 · 11,469 vehicles
Defect: Volvo Car USA, LLC (Volvo Car) is recalling certain 2023 Volvo C40 BEV, 2025 EC40, 2023-2024 XC40 BEV, 2020-2026 XC90 PHEV, 2022-2026 XC60 PHEV, 2023-2025 S60 PHEV, 2024-2025 V60 PHEV, and 2025-2026 EX40 and 2025 S90 PHEV vehicles. In certain driving scenarios while coasting down a hill and using "B" mode or "One Pedal Drive," the vehicle may lose brake function.
Risk: A loss of brake function increases the risk of a crash.
Fix: Owners are advised not to use "B" Mode (for plug-in hybrid vehicles) or "One Pedal Drive" (for pure electric vehicles) until the repair has been completed. The brake module software will be updated over-the-air (OTA) or by a dealer, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed July 15, 2025. Owners may contact Volvo Car's customer service at 1-800-458-1552. Volvo Car's number for this recall is R10329.
Back Over Prevention:software 2025-05-08 · campaign 25V282000 · 413,151 vehicles
Defect: Volvo Car USA, LLC (Volvo Car) is recalling certain 2021-2025 XC40, 2022 V90, 2022-2025 S90, V90CC, C40, XC60, 2023-2025 S60, V60, V60CC, XC90, and 2025 EC40 and EX40 vehicles. The rearview camera image may not display when the vehicle is placed in reverse. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 111, "Rear Visibility."
Risk: A rearview camera image that does not display reduces the driver's view of what is behind the vehicle, increasing the risk of a crash.
Fix: The software will be updated by a dealer or through an over-the-air (OTA) update, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed June 27, 2025. Owners may contact Volvo Car customer service at 1-800-458-1552. Volvo Car's number for this recall is R10320.
Air Bags:frontal:driver Side:inflator Module 2024-12-18 · campaign 24V938000 · 2 vehicles
Defect: Volvo Car USA, LLC (Volvo Car) is recalling certain 2023-2024 Volvo C40 vehicles. The clamps may be improperly crimped on the driver's side inner far side air bag module (FSAB), which can cause the air bag to deploy improperly.
Risk: An air bag that deploys improperly may not protect the driver as intended during a crash, increasing the risk of injury.
Fix: Dealers will replace the driver's side inner FSAB, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed January 24, 2025. Owners may contact Volvo Car customer service at 1-800-458-1552. Volvo Car's number for this recall is R10296.
Electrical System 2023-03-22 · campaign 23V188000 · 393 vehicles
Defect: Volvo Car USA, LLC (Volvo Car) is recalling certain 2023 S60, V60CC, XC60, XC90, XC40, and C40 vehicles. A diagnostic trouble code (DTC) may be falsely detected for the emergency call system (e-call) and display "e-Call Service Required" in the driver information module (DIM).
Risk: The false warning message could prevent the detection of an actual e-call system failure, which could delay an emergency response during a crash, increasing the risk of injury.
Fix: Dealers will update the telematics and connectivity antenna module (TCAM) software, free of charge. Owner notification letters are expected to be mailed May 16, 2023. Owners may contact Volvo Car's customer service 1-800-458-1552. Volvo Car's number for this recall is R10225.
Service Brakes, Hydraulic 2023-01-19 · campaign 23V012000 · 27,457 vehicles
Defect: Volvo Car USA, LLC (Volvo Car) is recalling certain 2023 S60, V60, V60CC, V90CC, XC60, XC90, XC40, and C40 vehicles. A diagnostic error in the Brake Control Module 2 (BCM2) may cause a loss of Antilock Brake System (ABS), Electronic Stability Control (ESC), and traction control.
Risk: A reduction in brake support functions can increase the risk of a crash.
Fix: Volvo will release an over-the-air (OTA) BCM2 software update, free of charge. Owner notification letters are expected to be mailed March 15, 2023. Owners may contact Volvo Car customer service at 1-800-458-1552. Volvo Car's number for this recall is R10217.
Service bulletins (123)
Technical service bulletins are repair instructions manufacturers send dealers for known issues. Unlike recalls, the fix is not automatically free — but naming the bulletin at the service desk can save diagnosis time and support goodwill repairs.
Power Train 2026-09-19 · 37504.3.0 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
this is a tj text only no attachment if a customer experiences a dim message stating "propulsion service required" and iem p0a7a48 is stored, please follow the advice under "service".
Unknown Or Other 2026-07-28 · 37893.2.0 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
this is a tj - text only - no attachments - if the software version displayed in the csd is not aligned with the actual software version installed in the vehicle (this may occur after a failed software download), and no total upgrade is available in vida, note! do not replace any parts. a software p
Unknown Or Other 2026-07-28 · 37231.1.1 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
this is a tj - text only no attachments - if the software version displayed in the csd is not aligned with the actual software version installed in the vehicle (this may occur after a failed software download), and no total upgrade is available in vida, note! do not replace any parts. a software pro
Unknown Or Other 2026-07-11 · 37342.2.3 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
this is a technical journal: icup ihu - text plus 1 pdf prior approval. in most cases, the ihu does not need to be replaced -in many cases the infotainment head unit (ihu) does not need to be replaced and can be retained by following the fault tracing in vida.
Unknown Or Other 2026-07-11 · 36555.8.0 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
this is a technical journal: text plus 3 .png files and 1 mp4 csd stuck in recovery mode, icup. in most cases this recovery mode can be resolved by preforming a ihu reload.
Unknown Or Other 2026-05-23 · 37839.1.1 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
this is a tj - text plus two .mov attachments - if the customer is experiencing a frozen sirius radio banner, meaning in the app view the title of the song and station name will stay on the previous selected station; the audio will be for the station that is selected and not what is shown on the scr
Showing the 6 most recent of 123 bulletins. Search all of them free at nhtsa.gov.
What owners report
2026-10-20 · Unknown Or Other“on october 20, 2026, while driving my 2023 volvo c40 recharge to work, the center infotainment touchscreen and the navigation map portion of the instrument display behind the steering wheel unexpectedly went black. the speedometer and ev power gauge remained visible. the displays were black for approximately 15 seconds before the volvo logo appear…”
2026-09-16 · Vehicle Speed Control“volvo offers a one-pedal drive (opd) where the car can be driven exclusively with the accelerator on its c40 electric cars. foot off is braking and foot on is accelerating. while using this mode i experienced an uncommanded acceleration of the vehicle. i was creeping forward, applying slight pressure on the accelerator, when the car lurched forwa…”
2026-05-13 · Steering“persistent steering wheel vibration at highway speeds (60-80 mph), present from the first drive within two hours of taking delivery of this certified pre-owned vehicle on april 14, 2026 at 21,075 miles. no warning lamps or messages. the vibration is constant at highway speed, not intermittent, causing driver fatigue and distraction during sustained…”
2026-02-19 · Unknown Or Other“car was parked at my house. after a heavy heavy rain, i saw 1/2" standing water on the passenger side floorboards. the cowl drainage had been blocked, and i was told water had found it's way into the cabin. it's an ev, so this is a serious issue. my climate control was inoperative, the tire pressure sensors also affected. and not sure what ot…”
2026-01-20 · Service Brakes“i purchased a used 2023 volvo c40 that was represented as certified pre-owned. shortly after purchase, the vehicle developed persistent grinding noises during braking, vibration, and mechanical noises that occur even after normal driving. the vehicle has been returned to the selling volvo dealer multiple times for diagnosis and repair. dealer serv…”
2025-08-14 · Steering · 11,100 mi“the contact owns a 2023 volvo c40 bev. the contact stated that while coming to a stop, the contact depressed the brake pedal and the vehicle lunge forward. the contact also stated that the steering wheel became inoperable with several unknown warning lights were illuminated. the contact stated that while driving to and arriving at the residence, th…”
2025-08-09 · Structure:body“i was at a traffic light today and my rear passenger window just completely spider webbed, while my daughter was in the back seat. i had to pull over and clean as much glass from the window to prevent falling on her and causing any additional damage. there were no other vehicles or pedestrians around. the only thing i can think of is that it was t…”
2025-08-05 · Visibility/Wiper“re. r10320 volvo sent a recall notice regarding the rearview camera being unavailable when vehicle is placed in reverse. this is an issue that affects me/my car almost daily. the notice is dated june 27, 2025 and was told an over the air update would be available. i do not live nearby a volvo dealer so rely on the ability to update the software rem…”
2025-07-30 · Back Over Prevention: Sensing System: Camera“after having our car repaired per nhtsa recall 25v-282 we are still having issues with malfunctions of the backup camera system including warning messages that the camera is unavailable during attempts to drive in reverse.…”
2025-01-31 · Back Over Prevention: Sensing System: Camera“cameras stopped working and getting message “camera temporarily not available”. but does not appear to be temporary. lots of discussion of this issue on message boards but nothing from volvo. …”
Excerpts of consumer complaints filed with NHTSA, lightly truncated. They are owner statements, not verified findings.