Tap a category to read its complaints. One report may name several components.
When problems were reported
Mileage at the reported incident
Limited mileage data: 7 of 14 reports include usable mileage. There isn’t enough coverage to show a useful chart.
NHTSA’s mileage field refers to the reported incident, not necessarily the filing date. This shows report counts, not the likelihood of a failure.
What to inspect
Issues worth paying extra attention to based on owner reports.
Visibility/wiper. Review the 7 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
Structure. Review the 3 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
Steering. Review the 2 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
1 crash reports0 fire reports0 injury reports
What owners actually said
14 reports
42,000 miles · Dec 8, 2015
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 OF LARGE VEHICLES THAT COULD …
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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 OF LARGE VEHICLES THAT COULD HAVE KICKED UP DEBRIS. I ALSO HAD NOT PASSED UNDER ANY OVERPASSES. FROM MY RESEARCH ONLINE, THERE DOES NOT APPEAR TO BE A RECALL ON ANY VOLVO SUNROOFS. THE LOCAL VOLVO DEALER IN SAN DIEGO HAS TOLD ME THAT THE REPAIR WILL NOT BE COVERED UNDER WARRANTY SINCE THEY COULD NOT DETERMINE THE CAUSE OF THE EXPLOSION. THE OUT OF POCKET REPAIR COSTS ARE ESTIMATED AT $980. IT DOES NOT SEEM THAT THE LOCAL DEALER IS INTERESTED IN INVESTIGATING THIS INCIDENT, BUT THEY DID POINT OUT THAT THEY HAVE SEEN SIMILAR EXPLOSIONS ON OTHER MODEL VOLVO BEFORE.
NHTSA ODI #10809123
50,000 miles · May 29, 2015
Electrical SystemEngineUnknown Or 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).
NHTSA ODI #10722125
200 miles · Dec 28, 2014
SteeringSuspensionTires
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 TIRES AT 10,000. CAR STILL SHAKI…
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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 TIRES AT 10,000. CAR STILL SHAKING. NOW I AM ON MY 3RD SET OF TIRES AT 50,000. SOMETHING IS VERY WRONG WITH THIS CAR-DO NOT BUY ONE VOLVO WILL NOT FIX. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10668544
21,000 miles · May 25, 2012
SuspensionTires
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! ALIGNMENT SAID TO BE WITHIN SPEC B…
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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! ALIGNMENT SAID TO BE WITHIN SPEC BOTH TIMES! I HAVE FACTS SUPPORTING THIS TO BE COMMON OCCURRENCE ON VOLVO C-30 MODELS AS WITNESSED BY OWNERS ON INTERNET FORUMS. EXCESSIVE TIRE WEAR BY UNSUSPECTING DRIVER CAN AND WILL LEAD TO UNEXPECTED TIRE BLOW OUT CAUSING DAMAGE TO VEHICLE AND/OR INJURY OR DEATH. SIMILAR INCIDENTS HAVE HAPPENED AS POINTED OUT IN THE FORD EXPLORER ACCIDENTS IN THE 1990S! *TR
VOLVO IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2010-2011 C30, MODEL YEAR 2010 S40 AND V50 VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH 6 SPEED MANUAL TRANSMISSIONS. THE GEARSHIFT LEVER STUD ASSEMBLY MAY NOT HAVE BEEN TIGHTENED TO THE CORRECT SPECIFICATION DURING ASSEMBLY. IF THE GEARSHIFT LEVER CABLE OR STUD ASSEMBLY BECOMES LOOSE, IT MAY NOT BE POSSIBLE TO ENGAGE, DISENGAGE OR SHIFT GEARS.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: THIS CONDITION CAN INCREASE THE RISK OF A VEHICLE CRASH.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL TORQUE THE GEARSHIFT LEVER STUD ASSEMBLY TO THE CORRECT SPECIFICATION FREE OF CHARGE. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN ON JUNE 14, 2010. OWNERS MAY CONTACT VOLVO AT 1-800-458-1552 OR CUSTOMERCARE@VOLVOFORLIFE.COM .
Model-level recall history does not show whether a particular VIN is affected or has received a repair. Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗
NHTSA investigations
0
No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.
2011 Volvo C30 Problems, Complaints & Recalls | Skip That Year