2021 Volvo XC40

Complete power failure of all electric Volvo XC 40 Recharge Vehicle has had recall update of software and additional software update. This is the second complete power failure Previously reported October 12 Recurrent power failure after "fix" on October 23. Volvo is unable to fix a complete power failure requiring tow truck to dealership.

On Oct 8, we noticed a crack on the front lower right passenger-side of the windshield. We purchased this car less than 2 months ago. The crack was perplexing to us because we've never had a cracked windshield on any of our cars we've owned in the last 20 years, driving in the same roads and neighborhoods. We live in southern California where we don't experience extreme weather conditions. We google searched Volvo XC40 cracked windshield and found similar experiences. The most disconcerting part of this situation is that we had chosen a different XC40 on the dealer lot to purchase. We almost finished the paperwork when the salesperson let us know that the windshield cracked while they were washing it! We weren’t too concerned because it seemed like a rare occurrence. The salesperson asked if we would like to have it fixed or if we would like to purchase a different car, same model. We're buying a new car so we don't want a car that's been fixed. We opted for a different car, but it didn't have the same options as the first car. Yet, we were still happy to buy a new Volvo because Volvo has great reputation for safety. Less than 2 months later, a crack appears on the windshield out of the blue. The car has only been driven in our home neighborhood. We haven't taken it on a roadtrip or off-roading. Then we remembered the first car we tried to buy. Now, this sounds very suspicious. What are the odds that the first car we tried to buy, the windshield broke while washing and the car we bought, the windshield cracks in less than two months in normal driving conditions? This seems like a defect, but Volvo will not cover the cost of fixing the windshield. This is most certainly a safety issue. What if the windshield cracks further while we’re driving and injures us or anyone else in the vicinity? It could've cracked more severely. We’re very disappointed with Volvo and don’t believe in their safety claims anymore.

On October 12, 2021 the above described car had a catastrophic failure of the power system. All functions ceased and the car was dead towed on a flatbed truck. Because the tow mode could not be engaged due to loss of all power the vehicle was dragged onto the flatbed. The repair indicated the cause was a The Battery Energy Control Module (BECM). This is noted in recall R10078. This car was sent for service in April where a request for a software update was made. At that service, no recall was noted and no update was given for this condition. There has been no attempt to recall this vehicle for this problem and it is not noted as a recall for this vehicle. The failure of the energy module caused a complete loss of all power and an inability to move the car.

A complete power failure. The main battery failed due to a software failure from The Battery Energy Control Module (BECM). The entire car stopped working. No power to unlock the wheels. The car was dead towed on rollers under the wheels via flatbed truck. A recall r10078 was not given and was not performed on prior visits to the dealer.

On 3 occasions the brakes were seized when attempting to drive the car after being parked if the brakes had gotten wet prior to parking. There is a loud clunk and even at times grinding. The pads/rotors were replaced 2 times and it is going back in for the third time. Each time brake pad material broke off. This compromises the braking capability of the vehicle if the pads have pieces missing.

On 8/3/21 I had an accident in my brand new 2021 xc40. I lightly tapped on the accelerator to close in a gap as I came to a stop at a red light. The vehicle jumped forward as though I floored the accelerator, though again, it was a slight tap. I rear-ended the car in front of me. There was no forward collision warning, no mitigation by the vehicle applying the brakes, nothing. The vehicle is supposed to assist in this situation, but the aeb system did not work at all. The jump in power and failure of the aeb is very troubling. Especially since it's a large part of the Volvo selling point.

Within 2-3 weeks of owning the vehicle, my main two screens on the dashboard intermittently changed colors with important information not being visible or the screen went black completely while driving. I took it back to the dealership where I was informed another car of the same make & model was doing the same thing. My car was kept for a week and a half while they were in touch with Volvo. Volvo instructed the tech to open tie case, replaced the IHU and reload the software, which was done. About a week after getting my car back the screens began to do the same, but this time if the display was a different color or black and I turned my turnsignal on, it would flash on the perimeter of the display, and not make noise, but it was not actually blinking externally on the front or rear of the car. The display going out with the turn signals not working happened 3 times in 2 days. The vehicle is now back at the dealership where they are incontact with Volvo not only about repair, but about giving me a different car because I do not feel safe driving the vehicle with my children in the car.

There appeared a crack on the passenger side of the car when making a turn onto a expressway ramp. There were no vehicles in front of me to kick up any road debris. I went to the Volvo dealer and the service manager dragged a ball point pen across the crack and said it was hit by something. I could not see any sign of something hitting my car. I am concerned that if something did hit the windshield how could something so small, that it can be seen, cause this damage. My car is 4 months old. I checked the XV40 forum and there were other people having the same problem and some even had the problem several times

The 2021 XC 40 vehicle will periodically not restart - may be something to do with the safety key or some other electrical malfunction. The dashboard shows the battery symbol when the car will not restart as if the vehicle is dead (no electrical connection). Also, when the start button is depressed the dashboard illuminates with the dead battery signal, but otherwise, it seems the button is not connected to the vehicle in that the engine does not respond. Also, we had an issue where the vehicle, while we were beginning to stop at a stop sign, went dead and was not responsive. The “Start/Stop” function, although engaged in the center console, is often not operational and will show in the dashboard that it is not operational, but then, randomly (not consistent with the reasons itemized in the Volvo manual for why the start/stop function may not work), will work on a few stops for that particular drive and then revert back to not being operational on the next trip, although it is engaged to be “on” in the center console. Again, this appears to be a sign or symptom of some sort of electrical malfunction. Now, most recently, my wife and daughter were driving the vehicle, and it lost power and shut off in the middle of the road, horrifying these two individuals and greatly upsetting me that a vehicle sold by Volvo would perform so poorly and create a significant hazard to driver and passengers of the vehicle (not to mention others on the roadway). Again, and clearly, there appears to be some sort of electrical malfunction. Clearly, what we first reported to Volvo on or about May 17, 2021 was an electrical problem that Volvo had an idea or knowledge (knew or should have known) that was or may be similar to the problem they had already issued a recall for on the XC 40 recharge.

The contact owns a 2021 Volvo XC40. The contact stated that the vehicle was delivered to his residence by the local dealer. Upon inspection, he became aware that the automatic emergency braking system sensor was not operating as designed while reversing with an object nearby. The local dealer was made aware of the issue however, no assistance was offered. The vehicle was not diagnosed nor repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was 7.