2011 Volvo C30
Problems, Recalls & Reliability Report
Quick Summary
The 2011 Volvo C30 has 23 owner complaints filed with NHTSA — that's 0.3x the segment average of 80. The most common issue is visibility problems (30% of all complaints), specifically: the car developed a rattle over bumps which got worse with colder weather to the point we determined the windshield is loose almost the entire length across the top and part way down the right side. our local auto glass company says it seems to be a factory quality control problem. upon doing some o.
23
Total Complaints
0
Recalls Issued
—/5
Safety Stars
0.3x
vs Segment Avg
Known Problems
VISIBILITY
7 complaints- • THE CAR DEVELOPED A RATTLE OVER BUMPS WHICH GOT WORSE WITH COLDER WEATHER TO THE POINT WE DETERMINED THE WINDSHIELD IS LOOSE ALMOST THE ENTIRE LENGTH ACROSS THE TOP AND PART WAY DOWN THE RIGHT SIDE. OUR LOCAL AUTO GLASS COMPANY SAYS IT SEEMS TO BE A FACTORY QUALITY CONTROL PROBLEM. UPON DOING SOME O
- • THE WINDSHIELD GOT LOOSE. WHEN PRESSING IT FROM THE INSIDE, THE WINDSHIELD MOVES. WHEN THE DOOR CLOSES THAT WINDSHIELD MOVES, OR WITH VIBRATIONS WHILE DRIVING. UNDER HEAVY RAINING, WATER LEAKS INSIDE THE CABIN. THE VEHICLE WAS STATIONARY AT A PARKING LOT WHEN WE REALIZE IT WAS LIKE THAT. TAKING WITH
- • THE VEHICLE IS STATIONARY UNTIL I CAN GET THE ISSUE CORRECTED IN THE NEXT DAY OR TWO. THE WINDSHIELD IS LOOSE. I DISCOVERED A LEAK AND DETERMINED THAT THE ISSUE IS THAT THE WINDSHIELD IS NOT ATTACHED TO THE CAR AT THE TOP. THE SLIGHTEST PRESSURE FROM THE INSIDE CAN MOVE THE WINDSHIELD AWAY FR
“THE CAR DEVELOPED A RATTLE OVER BUMPS WHICH GOT WORSE WITH COLDER WEATHER TO THE POINT WE DETERMINED THE WINDSHIELD IS LOOSE ALMOST THE ENTIRE LENGTH ACROSS THE TOP AND PART WAY DOWN THE RIGHT SIDE. OUR LOCAL AUTO GLASS COMPANY SAYS IT SEEMS TO BE A FACTORY QUALITY CONTROL PROBLEM. UPON DOING SOME O”
— NHTSA complaint filing
OTHER
3 complaints- • WHILE DRIVING AT ABOUT 65 MPH IN HEAVY TRAFFIC ON I-87, THE CAR SUDDENLY LOST ALL POWER, INCLUDING ALL ELECTRICAL INSTRUMENTS AND ACCESSORIES. IT ROLLED TO A STOP AND COULD NOT BE STARTED BY PUSHING (THE CAR HAS A MANUAL TRANSMISSION).
- • THE WINDSHIELDS ON THESE CARS MAZDA 3 AND THE FORD FOCUS ALL SAME PLATFORM ARE KNOWN TO HAVE A BONDING DEFECT WHEN THEY WERE BUILT. THIS SHOULD HAVE BEEN A RECALL FOR SAFETY.
- • Windshield is not sealed properly- moving as i drive from faulty seal
“WHILE DRIVING AT ABOUT 65 MPH IN HEAVY TRAFFIC ON I-87, THE CAR SUDDENLY LOST ALL POWER, INCLUDING ALL ELECTRICAL INSTRUMENTS AND ACCESSORIES. IT ROLLED TO A STOP AND COULD NOT BE STARTED BY PUSHING (THE CAR HAS A MANUAL TRANSMISSION).”
— NHTSA complaint filing
BODY/STRUCTURE
3 complaints- • WHILE DRIVING ALONG THE INTERSTATE IN SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA, AT ABOUT 70MPH, THE SUNROOF OF MY 2011 VOLVO C30 SPONTANEOUSLY EXPLODED. THERE WAS NO PREVIOUS INDICATION OF ANY FAULTS WITH THE SUNROOF SYSTEM AND IT WAS CLOSED AT THE TIME OF THE EXPLOSION. I WAS NOT DRIVING IN TRAFFIC OR IN THE VICINITY
- • THE WINDSHIELDS ON THESE CARS MAZDA 3 AND THE FORD FOCUS ALL SAME PLATFORM ARE KNOWN TO HAVE A BONDING DEFECT WHEN THEY WERE BUILT. THIS SHOULD HAVE BEEN A RECALL FOR SAFETY.
- • Windshield seal bond at top failed resulting in loose front windshield not being attached to the body. This is leaking water and leading to poor visibility that is dangerous but more concerning is the detachment of the window from the body. This would be extremely dangerous in a collision. The car
“WHILE DRIVING ALONG THE INTERSTATE IN SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA, AT ABOUT 70MPH, THE SUNROOF OF MY 2011 VOLVO C30 SPONTANEOUSLY EXPLODED. THERE WAS NO PREVIOUS INDICATION OF ANY FAULTS WITH THE SUNROOF SYSTEM AND IT WAS CLOSED AT THE TIME OF THE EXPLOSION. I WAS NOT DRIVING IN TRAFFIC OR IN THE VICINITY”
— NHTSA complaint filing
SUSPENSION
2 complaints- • REAR TIRES WORN OUT ON THE INSIDE AFTER 21000 MILES. 1/32 INSIDE AND 5/32 OUTSIDE TREAD DEPTH. UNACCEPTABLE TIRE WEAR AS FRONT TIRES HAVE 4 TO 5/32 TREAD DEPTH ACROSS THE TIRE. NOTE THAT THIS CAR IS ALSO A FRONT WHEEL DRIVE VEHICLE! AUTHORIZED VOLVO DEALER HAS ALIGNED VEHICLE AT LEAST 2 TIMES! ALIG
- • TIRES WERE SHAKY WHEN I BOUGHT A BRAND NEW C30 VOLVO. ASKED DEALER TO FIX-SALES MANAGER SAID NOTHING WAS WRONG (FT. MEYERS, FL VOLVO). AND HE WOULD TELL VOLVO I WAS CRAZY. TIRES WERE DESTROYED AT 10,000. WENT TO DIFFERENT VOLVO DEALER IN SARASOTA AND ST. PETE-NOTHING IS WRONG. DEALER REPLACED TI
“REAR TIRES WORN OUT ON THE INSIDE AFTER 21000 MILES. 1/32 INSIDE AND 5/32 OUTSIDE TREAD DEPTH. UNACCEPTABLE TIRE WEAR AS FRONT TIRES HAVE 4 TO 5/32 TREAD DEPTH ACROSS THE TIRE. NOTE THAT THIS CAR IS ALSO A FRONT WHEEL DRIVE VEHICLE! AUTHORIZED VOLVO DEALER HAS ALIGNED VEHICLE AT LEAST 2 TIMES! ALIG”
— NHTSA complaint filing
TIRES
2 complaints- • REAR TIRES WORN OUT ON THE INSIDE AFTER 21000 MILES. 1/32 INSIDE AND 5/32 OUTSIDE TREAD DEPTH. UNACCEPTABLE TIRE WEAR AS FRONT TIRES HAVE 4 TO 5/32 TREAD DEPTH ACROSS THE TIRE. NOTE THAT THIS CAR IS ALSO A FRONT WHEEL DRIVE VEHICLE! AUTHORIZED VOLVO DEALER HAS ALIGNED VEHICLE AT LEAST 2 TIMES! ALIG
- • TIRES WERE SHAKY WHEN I BOUGHT A BRAND NEW C30 VOLVO. ASKED DEALER TO FIX-SALES MANAGER SAID NOTHING WAS WRONG (FT. MEYERS, FL VOLVO). AND HE WOULD TELL VOLVO I WAS CRAZY. TIRES WERE DESTROYED AT 10,000. WENT TO DIFFERENT VOLVO DEALER IN SARASOTA AND ST. PETE-NOTHING IS WRONG. DEALER REPLACED TI
“REAR TIRES WORN OUT ON THE INSIDE AFTER 21000 MILES. 1/32 INSIDE AND 5/32 OUTSIDE TREAD DEPTH. UNACCEPTABLE TIRE WEAR AS FRONT TIRES HAVE 4 TO 5/32 TREAD DEPTH ACROSS THE TIRE. NOTE THAT THIS CAR IS ALSO A FRONT WHEEL DRIVE VEHICLE! AUTHORIZED VOLVO DEALER HAS ALIGNED VEHICLE AT LEAST 2 TIMES! ALIG”
— NHTSA complaint filing
Estimated Repair Costs
Estimates based on average reported repair costs. Actual costs vary by location, shop, and severity.
🔍 Pre-Purchase Inspection Checklist
Based on 23 owner complaints for this specific year, here's what to check or ask about:
- ☐VISIBILITY: THE CAR DEVELOPED A RATTLE OVER BUMPS WHICH GOT WORSE WITH COLDER WEATHER TO THE POINT WE DETERMINED THE WINDSHIELD IS LOOSE ALMOST THE ENTIRE LENGTH ACROSS THE TOP AND PART WAY DOWN THE RIGHT SIDE. OUR LOCAL AUTO GLASS COMPANY SAYS IT SEEMS TO BE A FACTORY QUALITY CONTROL PROBLEM. UPON DOING SOME O
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
- ☐OTHER: WHILE DRIVING AT ABOUT 65 MPH IN HEAVY TRAFFIC ON I-87, THE CAR SUDDENLY LOST ALL POWER, INCLUDING ALL ELECTRICAL INSTRUMENTS AND ACCESSORIES. IT ROLLED TO A STOP AND COULD NOT BE STARTED BY PUSHING (THE CAR HAS A MANUAL TRANSMISSION).
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
- ☐BODY/STRUCTURE: WHILE DRIVING ALONG THE INTERSTATE IN SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA, AT ABOUT 70MPH, THE SUNROOF OF MY 2011 VOLVO C30 SPONTANEOUSLY EXPLODED. THERE WAS NO PREVIOUS INDICATION OF ANY FAULTS WITH THE SUNROOF SYSTEM AND IT WAS CLOSED AT THE TIME OF THE EXPLOSION. I WAS NOT DRIVING IN TRAFFIC OR IN THE VICINITY
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
- ☐SUSPENSION: REAR TIRES WORN OUT ON THE INSIDE AFTER 21000 MILES. 1/32 INSIDE AND 5/32 OUTSIDE TREAD DEPTH. UNACCEPTABLE TIRE WEAR AS FRONT TIRES HAVE 4 TO 5/32 TREAD DEPTH ACROSS THE TIRE. NOTE THAT THIS CAR IS ALSO A FRONT WHEEL DRIVE VEHICLE! AUTHORIZED VOLVO DEALER HAS ALIGNED VEHICLE AT LEAST 2 TIMES! ALIG
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
- ☐General: Get a pre-purchase inspection from an independent mechanic ($100-$200)
Volvo C30 — Year Comparison
How does 2011 compare to other years? Fewer complaints = more reliable.
Full years-to-avoid analysis →NHTSA Safety Rating
No NHTSA safety rating available
At a Glance
- Complaints
- 23
- Recalls
- 0
- Fire reports
- 0
- Crash reports
- 1
- Injury reports
- 0
- Segment avg
- 80
Check a Specific VIN
See recalls for YOUR 2011 Volvo C30