2021 Volvo XC40: What to check before buying

All power cuts out, sometimes while the car is moving, and it then will not restart. Reports describe sudden shutdowns at stop lights, on highway exit ramps and while pulling out of parking lots. Screens go black, doors will not unlock and seat belts stop working. Several owners describe repeated no-starts with a dead battery symbol, multiple tows, and dealers who cannot find a cause. One shutdown came at about 58,000 miles. Other reports cite an onboard charger failure that left an owner unable to charge, and a check engine light that returns after every reset.

A "propulsion system failure" message appears and the car stops within seconds, sometimes in highway traffic, with little time to reach the shoulder. In some cases the shifter will not go into neutral, the wheels stay locked and the car cannot be locked. One owner had a second failure a year after a software update, and the dealer said failures continue even with updated software. On electric versions, the charging cable often will not release and the charging display is erratic. A dealer could not duplicate that problem.

Shuddering comes first, then the car stops and loses all power, unable to move forward or in reverse. Some owners see a 12-volt battery charging fault message warning that the car cannot be restarted. Repeat failures are common, with owners reporting two or three complete power losses within months, including after software updates. One repair was traced to the battery energy control module. The wheels stay locked, so the car has to be dragged onto a flatbed. Losing power while turning or merging creates a clear crash risk.

While reversing, the rearview camera flickers, goes blank and shows "Camera Unavailable." Owners say the problem continues after the dealer's software update, including one failure at 36,000 miles. One report blames an underpowered infotainment chipset. In another report, the reverse automatic braking sensor did not work on a car delivered with 7 miles. When the camera drops out, the driver loses the rear view at the moment it matters most.

Windshield cracks appear without a clear impact. They often start low near the pillar on either side and run about halfway up. Owners report cracks on cars only a few months old and repeated replacements. One owner is on a third windshield. Dealers have blamed road debris, and owners dispute that. In a separate problem, the rearview mirror twists off its base during normal adjustment and is left dangling, where it blocks the forward view.

Automatic braking engages with nothing in the way. In one report the rear collision warning went off at a stop light and the emergency brake locked on, so the car had to be towed. In another, city safety braking stopped the car at 25 and 55 mph and tightened the seat belt. Software and module updates did not stop the repeat events. A separate report describes brakes seizing after the car sat wet, with a clunk and grinding, and pad material breaking off after two pad and rotor replacements.

From a stop, the car creeps forward on its own. One report tied this to a crash with 1 injury. The other complaint describes no failure. It concerns a recall repair that was delayed because parts were not available, and both the dealer and the manufacturer confirmed the shortage. With only 2 complaints on file, no wider pattern shows.

A seized power liftgate strut leaves the liftgate stuck open. It looks misaligned and will not close or latch, even after the reset steps a Volvo representative suggested. The other report repeats the windshield problem seen elsewhere. A tiny rock chip led to a crack in glass that had already been replaced once. Cracks like this block the driver's view and interfere with driver assist functions.