YearToAvoid

2023 Volvo XC40 Problems, Recalls & Reliability

Verdict

Avoid

Complaint Index

100/100

#1 most-complained of 9 XC40 years

Based on NHTSA complaints per model-year, not a reliability rating. Methodology

The 2023 Volvo XC40 ranks worst of 9 model years tracked, with a complaint index of 100 and 45 NHTSA complaints across 4 recalls. Collision Avoidance & Cameras issues dominate at 42% of complaints, with brake problems tied to 6 of 8 crashes reported.

Complaints
45
Recalls
4
Crashes / fires
8 / 0
Injuries / deaths
5 / 0
NHTSA overall rating
Not rated
EPA combined MPG
27
24 city / 32 hwy

Top 2023 Volvo XC40 problems

NHTSA owner complaints by component group. Groups with 15+ complaints have their own page.

  1. Collision Avoidance & Cameras19 (42%)
  2. Electrical System12 (27%)
  3. Brakes10 (22%)
  4. Other7 (16%)
  5. Engine4 (9%)
  6. Lane Departure3 (7%)
  7. Visibility & Wipers3 (7%)
  8. Seat Belts2 (4%)
  9. Steering2 (4%)
  10. Structure & Body2 (4%)

What owners report

  • Forward Collision Avoidance system activates with no vehicle nearby, causing sudden phantom braking at highway speed.
  • Brake pedal stiffens or fails to engage, triggering ESC, ABS, and brake warning lights and leading to collisions with barriers or signs.
  • SOS/e-call button misfires and places unintended calls instead of reaching roadside assistance.
  • Vehicle stalls or hesitates while accelerating, paired with intermittent display screen glitches.
  • Steering wheel produces a sudden click and slight unintended turn when driving above 60 mph on the highway.
  • Rear passenger door handle fails to open from inside or outside, raising a risk of trapping an occupant.
2023 Volvo XC40 complaints: complaints filed per month7Dec 2022Sep 2023Jan 2024Oct 2024Mar 2025Sep 2025Feb 2026Aug 2026
67 complaints filed with NHTSA from Dec 2022 to Sep 2026; peak Jun 2026 (7).

2023 Volvo XC40 recalls

4 NHTSA recall campaigns list this model year.

  1. NHTSA 25V908000Dec 23, 2025Collision Avoidance & Cameras413,151 vehiclesOver-the-air fix

    Back over prevention:software

    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.

    Remedy: 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.

  2. NHTSA 25V282000May 8, 2025Collision Avoidance & Cameras413,151 vehiclesOver-the-air fix

    Back over prevention:software

    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.

    Remedy: 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.

  3. NHTSA 23V188000Mar 22, 2023Electrical System393 vehicles

    Electrical system

    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.

    Remedy: 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.

See all 4 recalls for the 2023 Volvo XC40 →

2023 Volvo XC40 fuel economy and fuel cost

City
24 MPG
Highway
32 MPG
Combined
27 MPG
Annual fuel cost (EPA)
$2,950
15,000 mi/yr
Fuel
Premium
Current regular gas
$4.32/gal
national avg.

EPA figures; median across configurations of this model year. Estimate your own cost with the fuel cost calculator.

2023 compared with other XC40 years

Complaint Index by model year (0 = fewest issues, 100 = most)0255075100201720182019202020212022202320242025
Complaint Index: 0 = fewest issues, 100 = most, relative to other years of this model. Avoid Caution Good Best
YearVerdictIndexComplaintsRecallsMPG
2021Avoid7552526
2022Caution6337326
2023Avoid10045427
2024Avoid8828498
2025Good3811226

All Volvo XC40 years: best and worst →

Frequently asked questions

Is the 2023 Volvo XC40 reliable?
Based on NHTSA owner complaints and recalls, the 2023 XC40 has a complaint index of 100, the highest among the 9 model years tracked, and carries an Avoid verdict relative to other XC40 years.
What problems does the 2023 Volvo XC40 have?
NHTSA data shows 45 complaints led by Collision Avoidance & Cameras issues (42% share), Electrical System problems (27%), and Brakes (22%), including 6 brake-related crashes.
Does the 2023 Volvo XC40 have any recalls?
Yes, NHTSA lists 4 recalls for the 2023 XC40, covering rearview camera display faults, a false e-call diagnostic trouble code, and a Brake Control Module 2 error that could cause loss of ABS function.
At what mileage do 2023 XC40 problems typically show up?
NHTSA complaint data shows a median mileage at failure of 4,500 overall, with brake complaints reported at a median of 300 miles and camera-related complaints at a median of 6,500 miles.
How does the 2023 XC40 compare to other years?
The 2023 XC40 ranks worst of 9 years with a complaint index of 100, while 2020 (index 25) and 2025 (index 38) rank as Good years for the model.

Sources: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation complaint and recall databases; U.S. EPA fuel economy data; NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings. Complaints are unverified owner reports.

Data updated Sep 24, 2026. Read the methodology and data sources. The Complaint Index is based on NHTSA owner complaints and recalls; it is not a reliability rating.