Owners have filed 35 complaints with NHTSA about this car, most about the electrical, backup camera, and brakes. The 9 checks below target those problems, in the order you would do them at the car.
2023Tick items off on your phone at the car, or print it. Ticks stay on this device.
0/9 checked
2023 Volvo XC40: inspection sheet
Before you go, or before you touch the car0/2
Engine off, key in hand0/4
At least 20 minutes, with some highway0/3
These checks are specific to this model year. For tires, body panels, fluids, and the other basics every used car needs, use the general inspection guide.
These years share the 2023's design and most of its parts, so their problems are the ones to look for on this car too.
Worth adding to your 2023 checks
Worth adding to your 2023 checks
Worth adding to your 2023 checks
EPA figures for each version of the 2023 Volvo XC40. Use them to confirm you are looking at the version that was advertised, and as a yardstick on the test drive.
| Version | Drive | EPA rating |
|---|---|---|
| Electric | AWD | 223 mi range |
| 2.0L 4-cylHybrid | AWD, FWD | 26–27 mpg |
NHTSA complaints for the 2023 Volvo XC40, grouped by the part owners named. Open a row to read what goes wrong.
Backup camera dropouts lead this category. In reverse, the screen shows "camera temporarily unavailable" or flickers to black, and dealers reportedly call it common but cannot fix it. Other reports describe a center screen that needs regular resets and shows climate and airbags as unavailable, a full electrical shutdown while driving that disabled even the hazard lights, and a "Do Not Drive - Stop Immediately" warning that a new battery did not cure. False emergency braking and an SOS button placing unwanted calls also appear. One crash followed sudden acceleration while braking to park. One report says the supplied charger handle separates from its cable and exposes the wires.
Reversing triggers the failure: the rearview camera shows "Camera temporarily not available," goes black, or flickers, so the view behind is partly or fully blocked. Failures show up early, with reported mileages between 1,000 and 5,000. Dealer software updates and owner resets have not stopped it for several owners. Some say the problem started or came back right after an update. One report adds that automatic braking engaged both forward and in reverse with nothing nearby, and the infotainment system froze and needed manual resets.
Brakes fail to stop the vehicle, or the pedal stiffens under the driver's foot. In one report the ESC, ABS, and brake warning lights came on together. Another describes the vehicle lurching and accelerating at parking speed while the driver held the brake firmly. One owner says the brake system was replaced twice and still froze or lost pressure intermittently. That vehicle later had transmission trouble, slipping into what felt like neutral at 30 to 40 mph. Reports include collisions with barriers and one injury.
Unintended acceleration that braking cannot stop is the pattern. Both reports in this category ended in crashes, with three people injured in total. In one, the vehicle was on cruise control and kept gaining speed after the driver braked, leaving the road until the airbags deployed. In the other, it was sitting at a light with Auto Hold on when it surged forward into a stopped truck. Neither driver could regain control of the speed before impact.
A closing trunk lid can come down on a person and keep pressing instead of reversing when it meets resistance. One owner was injured this way while loading groceries and says the dealer first blamed the owner. A separate report describes a rear passenger door that would not open from either the inside or outside handle, which could trap someone in the back seat.
The wheel pulls or locks without driver input. One report describes a click in the wheel at highway speeds above 60 mph that nudges the vehicle right and takes a sharp correction to release. Another describes the vehicle veering left with driver assist active, then steering and brakes not responding during the correction, so it left the road. No warning lights came on in that case. Both carry a real loss-of-control risk at speed.
Blank or unresponsive camera screens appear when shifting into reverse, leaving the driver no view behind. Software updates have not fixed it, and one owner says the latest update made it worse. Another vehicle keeps failing on the current version, 3.7, right after a dealer visit. None of the complaints here involve the wipers or glass. Every report concerns the backup camera.
Excerpts from complaints XC40 owners filed with NHTSA, as written. Listen for the same symptoms on your test drive.
Backup camera frequently flickers between video stream and black screen, creating a dangerous situation while backing up. Display screen also frequently displays message sharing camera is not available when shifting into reverse. After multiple trips to Volvo dealership they state the problem is common but nothing they can do about it.
Filed with NHTSA, June 2024
Back up camera repeatedly fails. Often when put in reverse it says “camera temporarily unavailable “. Sometimes while actively backing up the camera fails. Service center says Volvo is aware but unable to fix.
Filed with NHTSA, March 2025
The rear reverse camera cuts out with a message on the driver display stating "Camera temporarily not available". This occurs ~10% of the time. Other times the camera will flicker in and out but both scenarios result in partial or complete obstruction of view while reversing. With my children and other little children on the street, this is very concerning. The issue was reported to the dealership and software was updated but the problem remains.
Filed with NHTSA, January 2025
Cameras Temporarily not available when backing up from garage. This is the third time it has happened. I reset the software as instructed by the tech advisor each time. until it finally worked. Reset from EST to DST, Cameras were reset also. This is happening too often. Approximate mileage is 1000.
Filed with NHTSA, March 2025
On Wednesday, July 16, 2025 I was sitting at a stop light, using the Auto Hold system. A few minutes later, my car took off and accelerated on its own and hit the rear of a truck. I hit the truck so hard as he was sitting at the light as well, it pushed his vehicle into the vehicle in front of him. I was unable to stop my Volvo, it was like it took full control over.
Filed with NHTSA, July 2025
Complaints for this year next to the average for the other model years, area by area.
The 2023 ranks second for owner complaints among 5 XC40 years, about 1.5 times the average of the others. Newer years have had less time to collect complaints, so compare like with like.
Redesigns and mid-cycle updates change what can go wrong.
The 2023 is the sixth model year of the XC40's first generation (2018–2024).
It is also the first year of a mid-cycle update.
What changed for 2023
Recall repairs are free at any Volvo dealer, but the seller may never have had them done. Check each campaign number against the VIN.
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 will need to have the new remedy performed.
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.
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.
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.
Cars shoppers compare with the Volvo XC40, with their own 2023 checklists.
2023 owner complaints, side by side
