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2023 Volvo C40 problems, recalls and owner complaints
What the 2023 Volvo C40 has been recalled for and what owners report, from official government data. Updated November 2, 2026.
- 0safety recalls
- 25owner complaints
- 2crash reports
- 1fire report
- 2injuries reported
The most complained-about Volvo C40 year on file: 25 complaints, against an average of 15 for the other 1 model year.
Every Volvo C40 model year with its number of owner complaints. Pick a year to compare.
What goes wrong with the 2023 Volvo C40?
The components named most often in the 25 owner complaints. One complaint can name several, so the shares can add up to more than 100%.
What symptoms do 2023 Volvo C40 owners describe?
Found by reading the text of all 25 owner complaints. Tap a symptom for the answer, a real owner quote and any related recall.
Has the 2023 Volvo C40 been recalled?
NHTSA lists no safety recalls for the 2023 Volvo C40 as of November 2, 2026. Recalls can be issued at any time, so check your VIN before you rely on this.
Is the 2023 Volvo C40 recalled in the UK or Europe?
Recalls issued by the UK's DVSA and through the EU's Safety Gate system that cover this model and build period. European models can differ from U.S. ones, and "years estimated" means the recall gave no build dates, so confirm your own car with your registration or VIN.
UK DVSABCM2 SW – Safety Notice
Risk: Affected vehicles may experience a temporary loss of braking functionality after coasting downhill with ‘B’ mode selected or when using One Pedal Drive. This could potentially lead to a collision.
Fix: Install modified software via an Over the Air (OTA) update.
UK DVSAThere may be a potential software error in the brake control module.
Risk: There may be a potential software error in the brake control module.
Fix: Update the brake control module software.
What do 2023 Volvo C40 owners report?
12 of the 25 complaints, the most recent for the most-reported components, as the owners wrote them. NHTSA removes names and VINs; long reports are trimmed. CarHooq has not verified individual claims.
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 appeared and the infotainment system began rebooting. Full operation returned approximately two minutes after the initial outage. I did not initiate the restart. The unexpected loss of the touchscreen and navigation display while the vehicle was moving was…
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 forward suddenly and was close to impacting a stopped car in front of me. The amount the car accelerated did not match the amount of pressure I exerted on the accelerator pedal. After the car in front of me moved up, I again began to creep and again the car…
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 highway driving. This is a known defect documented in Volvo Technical Journal TJ 36752.3.0, classified under function group 4661 (drive shaft). Kline Volvo of Maplewood, MN confirmed the vibration and performed the TJ-prescribed repairs: tire…
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 other systems may have been damaged. This had never happened before, and my repair estimate is $5,000.00. It is unfathomable that a car of this level (and price) could have a design that would allow this situation. Thank you for your attention.
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 service records state that brake rust was “cleaned” and that the issue was resolved; however, the grinding noise persisted immediately upon pickup. Multiple dealership employees acknowledged hearing the noise. The dealer drove the vehicle over 140 miles…
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, the contact was unable to shut off the vehicle. The contact attempted to turn off the vehicle with the key fob and instrument panel, but the vehicle failed to shut off. The vehicle was towed to the dealer but was not diagnosed or repaired. The dealer…
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 temperature related from being in the sun for a few hours and then having the AC on for about 5 minutes. I have researched on different volvo forums and threads and see other owners having similar issues. [XXX] [XXX] Thermal stress and expansion: When…
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.
I (and I think many other people) have had accidents in which a Volvo C40 while in One Pedal Driving mode (OPD) lurched forward after having come to a stop from braking. I have had two such accidents. The first time, which occurred on or about 11/10/23 occcurred when I pulled into a neighbor's driveway and stopped behind her car. I was intending to turn around. The Volvo C40, after I had brought it to a stop with the brake, suddenly lurched forward causing major damage to the C40 and my neighbor's car. Her car was pushed into her garage door causing damage to the front, as well as the back…
Under acceleration, there is a knocking/loud rattling sound from both front axles and constant velocity joints. I am a former master technician and this is clearly a serious issue with these axles as they cannot tolerate the huge torque output from the electric motor. This is also a mechanical safety issue as if this issue is not rectified by Volvo, the axles could disintegrate leading to loss of control.
I am writing to bring to your attention a potentially catastrophic accident involving our leased C40 vehicle that happened on [XXX], 3:30pm. (ID [XXX] ) On the above mentioned date, my husband, [XXX] , was parking the C40 in a school parking lot to pick up our grandchild. He experienced an alarming episode of unintended acceleration. Despite his efforts to control the vehicle, the car lurched out of the parking space and rapidly accelerated, veered onto a snowy embankment, ran over a metal post, and stopped only after it rammed into a minivan parked in the school pick-up zone with enough force…
The vehicle started exhibiting steering and acceleration issues on the highway that mimicked high winds. Despite my efforts to keep it in its lane, the car would not respond to my slight adjustments for split seconds, causing a cat and mouse game of projecting it’s next move. The vehicle seemed to be accelerating in a way that made it feel as if is moving diagonally. The steering becomes stiff and unresponsive then releases, like two magnets separating, making only minor incremental changes. This caused the vehicle to swerve around the lane, merely veering into the lanes of a semi truck and…
2023 Volvo C40: questions owners ask
Is the 2023 Volvo C40 reliable?
NHTSA data alone cannot rate reliability, but it shows what owners reported. Owners filed 25 complaints with NHTSA about the 2023 Volvo C40; the most common categories were electrical system (7, 28%), power train (4, 16%), service brakes (4, 16%). There are no safety recalls listed for this model year. 2 complaints mention a crash, 1 mentions a fire, 2 injuries were reported.
What are the most common problems with the 2023 Volvo C40?
Across 25 owner complaints filed with NHTSA, the categories mentioned most often are electrical system (28% of complaints), power train (16% of complaints), service brakes (16% of complaints), steering (16% of complaints), back over prevention (12% of complaints). One complaint can name several components.
Does the 2023 Volvo C40 have any recalls?
As of November 2026, NHTSA lists no safety recalls for the 2023 Volvo C40. Recalls can be issued at any time, so check your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
Why does my 2023 Volvo C40 transmission jerk, shudder or shift hard?
3 of the 25 owner complaints NHTSA has on file for the 2023 Volvo C40 (12%) describe harsh, jerky or delayed transmission shifting or shuddering. One owner wrote: "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." (NHTSA complaint 11764597, September 2026). If it happens to your car, check your VIN for open recalls at nhtsa.gov/recalls and report the problem to NHTSA; complaints are what trigger investigations.
Check your own C40
Counts are a starting point, not a verdict: popular models collect more complaints because more of them are on the road, and NHTSA does not verify individual reports. To see whether a recall is still open on your car, enter your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls (U.S.) or your registration at check-vehicle-recalls.service.gov.uk (UK). Had a safety problem? Report it to NHTSA; complaints are what trigger investigations and recalls.
Data: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation recall and complaint databases (public domain), DVSA vehicle recalls (Open Government Licence v3.0), retrieved November 2, 2026. Model year 2023 only. How these reports are made.
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