2019 Volvo XC40

Problems, Recalls & Reliability Report

Above Average

Quick Summary

The 2019 Volvo XC40 has 43 owner complaints filed with NHTSA — that's 0.5x the segment average of 80. The most common issue is other problems (16% of all complaints), specifically: 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 t.

7 crash reports 5 injuries

Total Complaints

Recalls Issued

—/5

Safety Stars

0.5x

vs Segment Avg

Known Problems

OTHER

7 complaints

16%

• 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 T
• 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 ADEQUAT
• 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 INJU

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500

“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 T”

— NHTSA complaint filing

ENGINE

5 complaints

12%

• 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 W
• 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 DE
• VEHICLE SHUT DOWN AND SHOWED 'SAFETY MODE SEE OWNERS MANUAL' AFTER SUSTAINING MINOR FRONT END DAMAGE IN A COLLISION WITH A DEER. UNABLE TO MOVE VEHICLE TO A SAFE STOPPING LOCATION ON A RURAL INTERSTATE FOR APPROXIMATELY 2 MINUTES UNTIL 'SAFETY MODE' EVENTUALLY RESET AND ALLOWED LIMP-HOME POWER. TH

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500💥 1 crashes

“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 W”

— NHTSA complaint filing

BRAKES

5 complaints

12%

• I WAS BACKING OUT OF MY DRIVEWAY AND MY BACKUP ALARM FAILED TO SOUND AS WELL AS MY BACKUP BREAKING SYSTEM. THE RESULT WAS ME BACKING UP INTO A PARKED VEHICLE. THE FAILURE OF THE SYSTEM WAS REPORTED TO THE VOLVO DEALERSHIP AND THEY DENIED THAT THE SYSTEM WAS NOT WORKING PROPERLY. SEVERAL MONTHS LATER
• The vehicle has approximately 16,000 miles on it. It began to shudder in the front end when the brakes were applied at any speed. I contacted the dealer, Parkway Volvo of Wilmington, NC concerning the problem and was told that the vehicle had just gone out of warranty. On December 16, 2022, I took t
• Earlier today I submitted a complaint, NHTSA Tracking Number 11498747. Would it be possible to send this back to me as I would prefer to modify it? Please do not post it now. Thanks, Craig Wenger wengerca@msn.com 910-471-7653

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500💥 2 crashes

“I WAS BACKING OUT OF MY DRIVEWAY AND MY BACKUP ALARM FAILED TO SOUND AS WELL AS MY BACKUP BREAKING SYSTEM. THE RESULT WAS ME BACKING UP INTO A PARKED VEHICLE. THE FAILURE OF THE SYSTEM WAS REPORTED TO THE VOLVO DEALERSHIP AND THEY DENIED THAT THE SYSTEM WAS NOT WORKING PROPERLY. SEVERAL MONTHS LATER”

— NHTSA complaint filing

SEATS/RESTRAINTS

4 complaints

• 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 CH
• Front seat belts came on suddenly while stopped at light. Bruised front passengers neck. No car in front or near in rear.
• While entering a parking spot my car suddenly accelerated and crashed into the wall in front of me in spite of my pushing my brakes 100%. The car never went into the automatic braking system before I applied the brakes, the seat belt never engaged and the air bags on the driver's side did not deplo

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500💥 1 crashes

“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 CH”

— NHTSA complaint filing

AIR BAGS

4 complaints

• 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
• Driver was stuck on ice pulling into a driveway, car got traction and driver thought they were on the brake but was on the gas. The vehicle ran into the garage going 9.9 mph (we have the EDR) and the steering wheel airbag and knee airbags deployed. The knee airbag caused a significant compound fra
• The contact owns a 2019 Volvo XC40. The contact stated while driving at various speeds, while his wife was seated in the passenger’s side front seat using an orthopedic back support, the air bag warning light illuminated. The contact stated that while not using the back support, the air bag sensor w

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500💥 1 crashes

“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”

— NHTSA complaint filing

Estimated Repair Costs

OTHER(~50K mi)

$500

ENGINE(~50K mi)

$500

BRAKES(~50K mi)

$500

SEATS/RESTRAINTS(~50K mi)

$500

AIR BAGS(~50K mi)

$500

Estimates based on average reported repair costs. Actual costs vary by location, shop, and severity.

🔍 Pre-Purchase Inspection Checklist

Based on 43 owner complaints for this specific year, here's what to check or ask about:

☐
OTHER: 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 T
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
ENGINE: 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 W
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
BRAKES: I WAS BACKING OUT OF MY DRIVEWAY AND MY BACKUP ALARM FAILED TO SOUND AS WELL AS MY BACKUP BREAKING SYSTEM. THE RESULT WAS ME BACKING UP INTO A PARKED VEHICLE. THE FAILURE OF THE SYSTEM WAS REPORTED TO THE VOLVO DEALERSHIP AND THEY DENIED THAT THE SYSTEM WAS NOT WORKING PROPERLY. SEVERAL MONTHS LATER
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
SEATS/RESTRAINTS: 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 CH
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
General: Get a pre-purchase inspection from an independent mechanic ($100-$200)