Volvo C30 problems
The Volvo C30 is a three-door, front-engine, front-wheel-drive premium compact hatchback, manufactured and marketed by Volvo Cars from 2006 to 2013, in a single generation. Powered by inline-four and straight-five engines, the C30 is a variant of the Volvo S40/V50/C70 range, sharing the same Ford C1/Volvo P1 platform. Volvo marketed the C30 as a premium hatchback / sports coupe.
The C30's rear styling and frameless glass rear hatch recall Volvo's earlier P1800 ES and Volvo 480.
Pre-production concepts
Volvo SCC (2001)
The Volvo SCC (Safety Concept Car) is a concept vehicle incorporating the rear hatch design from the Volvo P1800ES and the glass hatch from Volvo 480ES. Its safety features included forward collision warning, blind spot monitor and alert, lane departure warning, adaptive cruise control, flashing brake lights during hard braking, and headlights that follow the curvature of the road as the car turns. Many of these features would become commonplace years later. The SCC also featured a head-up display and communication with the car via mobile phone.
The SCC was first unveiled at the 2001 Detroit Auto Show, then in autumn 2001 at the Seville International Airport in southern Spain. Research to adapt its safety features for production began in 2002, and it led to development of the C30 which began in 2003.
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Volvo C30 model years
Common Volvo C30 problems
The Volvo C30 is a compact premium hatchback known for its stylish design and reliability. However, like any vehicle, it can experience certain issues and faults. Here are some of the common problems reported by Volvo C30 owners:
- Keyless Entry System Failure: The keyless entry system may stop working, making it difficult to unlock or lock the car using the remote. This issue can be intermittent or permanent and may require professional assistance to diagnose and repair.
- Parking Brake Issues: Some Volvo C30 owners have reported difficulty releasing the parking brake. This can be caused by a mechanical issue or a problem with the brake cable, which may require replacement.
- Front Suspension Noise: A knocking noise from the front suspension can be a common issue in the Volvo C30. This can be caused by worn-out suspension components, such as bushings or struts, and may require replacement to resolve the problem.
- Gearbox Problems: The Volvo C30 has been subject to a recall due to a known issue with the gear shift mechanism, which may become jammed and prevent the driver from changing gears. If you're experiencing problems with the gearbox, it's worth checking if your vehicle was affected by this recall. Additionally, some C30 models may experience issues with the clutch, which can prevent the driver from disengaging the clutch and present a safety risk.
- Brake Assistance Fault: In some cases, the brake assistance may not work effectively in cold start conditions, requiring additional pressure to be applied to the brake pedal. This issue has resulted in a recall on some affected C30 models and may require replacement of a part of the vacuum pump to rectify the problem.
- Engine Overheating: Some Volvo C30 models have been known to overheat due to a loose hose connection between the coolant expansion tank and the bleed hose. When this happens, it can cause coolant to leak out and air to enter the system, which can cause the engine to overheat. It's essential to address this issue promptly to avoid engine damage.
These are some of the most common problems reported by Volvo C30 owners. If you're experiencing any of these issues, it's essential to address them promptly to avoid further damage and ensure the safety of your vehicle. It's also worth checking if your vehicle was affected by any recalls and ensuring that all relevant work has been carried out.
Percentage distribution of complaints by Volvo C30 years
We have researched Volvo problems and analysed all the complaints filed against Volvo C30 cars and compiled the top 5 most problematic Volvo C30 model years:
Below you can see the percentage distribution of known problems by Volvo C30 model years.
Distribution of the number of complaints by Volvo C30 years
We've also compiled a chart for you with the number of complaints about Volkswagen Jetta cars of certain model years:
Volvo C30 car problems categorized by type of issue
After analysing all complaints related to Volvo C30 , it was concluded that the most common issues with these cars are:
- Visibility/wiper problems
- Unknown or other problems
- Vehicle speed control problems
- Suspension problems
- Structure problems
The graph below shows statistics for all Volvo C30 vehicle components and the number of complaints received.
Distribution of the number of complaints where the accident occurred by C30 model years
A total of 3 complaints were registered in which the accident occurred. In the graph you can see the distribution of the number of complaints by model year.
The NHTSA has received 46 complaints about various vehicle components related to the Volvo C30 . Below are the 25 most recent complaints reported for Volvo C30 vehicles.
Latest 25 complaints
Volvo C30 2012
- Date Of Incident: 2023-11-14
- Date Complaint: 2023-11-27
- VIN: YV1672MK4C2
- Components: VISIBILITY/WIPER
- Summary: The top corners of the windshield have come loose from the seal. The risk is losing a windshield at highway speed. The vehicle was taken to the dealership who referred us to a body shop. The vehicle was then taken to Gerber Collision & Glass - Austin where the problem was confirmed.
Volvo C30 2012
- Date Of Incident: 2023-11-08
- Date Complaint: 2023-11-11
- VIN: YV1672MK9C2
- Components: VISIBILITY
- Summary: The seal around the front windshield of the car is leaking. The leak lets water in the car while driving, it’s dripping down the windshield which is very distracting. The excess amount of water being let into the vehicle also fogs up the front windshield and side windows. This causes a huge visual impairment putting myself and others at risk on the road. There are many other Volvos from similar years and models that I’m seeing have the same issue. I have never had the issue looked at, but Volvo representatives say they know about the issue. However, there is no recall in place to fix the issue and to keep drivers safe on the roads.
Volvo C30 2009
- Date Of Incident: 2023-07-18
- Date Complaint: 2023-08-08
- VIN: YV1MK672192
- Components: POWER TRAIN
- Summary: The clutch gets stuck on depressing intermittently. I was not able to shift the gear in the middle of the highway at around 80 miles an hour and this was a fatal encounter for me. It could have killed me as well as was a hazard for other cot ravellers around me. This problem reproduces its multiple times but at unpredictable moments. It is difficult to replicate the problem when showing it to the service centre however, Volvo issued a recall for faulty clutch master and slave cylinders in the UK but not in USA. There are absolutely no leaks or problems as the clutch is new.
Volvo C30 2013
- Date Of Incident: 2023-01-05
- Date Complaint: 2023-07-06
- VIN: YV1672MK3D2
- Components: VISIBILITY/WIPER
- Summary: The adhesive that holds the windshield in place and seals it against the weather has degraded to the point where the windshield is barely being held in place and could blow out if the interior negative pressure exceeds the strength of the remaining adhesive. The glass pulls away from the frame when lightly pushed from the inside. Furthermore, there are various leaks that create a moldy environment and have damaged electrical switches--sunroof. We have contacted Volvo corporate and the local dealer and their contention is that the vehicle is out of warranty so they will not assist with the repair. Our Case Id is as follows: Please refer to this ID#[XXX]. This will help us quickly locate and review your correspondence. If your inquiry requires immediate attention, please contact our Customer Care Center at [XXX]. INFORMATION Redacted PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6).
Volvo C30 2011
- Date Of Incident: 2023-06-10
- Date Complaint: 2023-06-10
- VIN: YV1672MK0B2
- Components: VISIBILITY/WIPER
- Summary: The top of the windshield no longer adheres to the body of the vehicle. My searches of the internet have found multiple instances of the Volvos where the top part of the windshield is no longer attached to the vehicle. Here is a link to the Auto Glass Safety Council describes the issue (https://agsc.org/volvo-glass-bonding-issue/). Volvo Car USA LLC recently issued a statement that all windshield replacements on Volvo vehicles must be performed “according to Volvo standards at an authorized facility, using only Volvo Genuine Windshields and adhesives.” Their reasoning for this statement is, “The Volvo windshield is an integral part of our vehicles. Not only does it provide an undistorted view, it serves as a critical structure component on the vehicle." Since Volvo is claiming there is a safety component to the windshield and only Volvo can fix it, they should recall and repair all vehicles with this known issue.
Volvo C30 2011
- Date Of Incident: 2023-05-24
- Date Complaint: 2023-05-29
- VIN: YV1672MK7B2
- Components: VISIBILITY/WIPER
- Summary: The entire top edge of the windshield is no longer sealed to the car. Water gets in. If all of the windows are closed, the windshield briefly pops out a little bit as the door is closed.
Volvo C30 2010
- Date Of Incident: 2023-02-27
- Date Complaint: 2023-03-13
- VIN: YV1672MKXA2
- Components: VISIBILITY/WIPER
- Summary: While on the freeway my sunroof shattered and spilled a bunch of glass fragments all over me, I believe a rock or some kind of other object, never found out what hit it or if it was hit, from the freeway hit it, so I don't know if it counts as a vehicle safety problem but I wanted to make a report just in case it counts as one. My safety was put at risk by having glass falling on top off me while going around 60mph on the freeway, the sudden noise of the glass breaking followed by the glass falling on me caused me to swerve and it left me shaken and covered in glass. I ended up pulling over on the shoulder to relax myself and get all the glass off of me and my seat, no one was hurt or injured. There was no problem confirmed other than the sunroof being broken. The component was not inspected. There were no other warnings or symptoms of the problem prior to it breaking.
Volvo C30 2011
- Date Of Incident: 2022-12-30
- Date Complaint: 2023-01-15
- VIN: YV1672MK9B2
- Components: STRUCTURE,VISIBILITY/WIPER
- Summary: Windshield seal bond at top failed resulting in loose front windshield not being attached to the body. This is leaking water and leading to poor visibility that is dangerous but more concerning is the detachment of the window from the body. This would be extremely dangerous in a collision. The car is parked at this time due to being dangerous to drive.
Volvo C30 2012
- Date Of Incident: 2021-12-06
- Date Complaint: 2022-02-14
- VIN: Yv1672mk5c2
- Components: VISIBILITY/WIPER
- Summary: My windshield has become loose and makes a very loud noise when going over any bumps. Im very concerned that at some point, it will shatter while driving.
Volvo C30 2010
- Date Of Incident: 2021-12-13
- Date Complaint: 2021-12-23
- VIN: YV1672MK5A2
- Components: VISIBILITY/WIPER
- Summary: The windshield is loose at the top and can leak. The windshield may move under normal driving conditions.
Volvo C30 2013
- Date Of Incident: 2021-10-27
- Date Complaint: 2021-11-09
- VIN: YV1672MK4D2
- Components: STRUCTURE
- Summary: Windshield bonding failure. Pressing from the inside of the car on the windshield top reveals it's loose allowing moisture into the car.
Volvo C30 2012
- Date Of Incident: 2021-06-01
- Date Complaint: 2021-06-02
- VIN: YV1672MK3C2
- Components: UNKNOWN OR OTHER
- Summary: - The front windshield leaks - This allowed water to fall into the footwells and enter the CEM which controls basically the whole car and made my car turn off while I was driving nearly 45mph which was very dangerous, the sudden surprise made me turn my attention away from the road - I don't have any details on it being inspected before but it has never leaked before and after a heavy rainstorm the problem with the leak arose and damaged my CEM, it was wet and corroded a bit and I figured that this water damaged the CEM - The electrical system was acting a bit funky like the radio not working right and my turn signals flashing faster than normal and the right headlight not working, it all happened in pretty much one day, I didn't really think it was anything serious until the car shut off - Volvo needs to recall this on pretty much all year C30s and possibly other Volvo models made around this year because this little leak can easily cause someone to lose control of their car
Volvo C30 2011
- Date Of Incident: 2021-05-03
- Date Complaint: 2021-05-20
- VIN: yv1672mk3b2
- Components: UNKNOWN OR OTHER
- Summary: Windshield is not sealed properly- moving as i drive from faulty seal
Volvo C30 2011
- Date Of Incident: 2018-11-01
- Date Complaint: 2020-09-14
- VIN: YV1672MK4B2
- Components: VISIBILITY/WIPER
- Summary: THE LOOSE WINDSHIELD ISSUE NEEDS TO BE INVESTIGATED AS IT IS A VERY COMMON ISSUE. I HAVE A 2011 C30. YOU CAN PUSH UP ON THE GLASS AND IT IS NOT ADHERED ON THE TOP AT ALL TO THE CAR. NOT JUST ON THE C30 BUT OTHER MODELS AS WELL. IT'S AS IF THE WINDSHIELD IS ONLY ADHERED TO ON 3 SIDES. IT VIBRATES AND LEAKS. DEFINITELY NEEDS TO BE RECALLED. AND THE MANUFACTURER NEEDS TO BE MADE AWARE.
Volvo C30 2011
- Date Of Incident: 2020-09-03
- Date Complaint: 2020-09-05
- VIN: YN1672MK2B2
- Components: VISIBILITY/WIPER
- Summary: THE VEHICLE IS STATIONARY UNTIL I CAN GET THE ISSUE CORRECTED IN THE NEXT DAY OR TWO. THE WINDSHIELD IS LOOSE. I DISCOVERED A LEAK AND DETERMINED THAT THE ISSUE IS THAT THE WINDSHIELD IS NOT ATTACHED TO THE CAR AT THE TOP. THE SLIGHTEST PRESSURE FROM THE INSIDE CAN MOVE THE WINDSHIELD AWAY FROM THE SEAL ON THE CAR. I HAVE LEARNED THAT THIS IS A COMMON ISSUE TIN VOLVO'S THAT OCCURS DUE TO IMPROPER GLASS PREPARATION. HOW CAN THIS BE SAFE? SHOULDN'T VOLVO BE RESPONSIBLE FOR CORRECTING THE ISSUE? THANK YOU
Latest 5 recalls Volvo C30
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has issued 9 recalls for different components of the Volvo C30.You can explore the year of the Volkswagen Jetta you are interested in by selecting it from the list.
- Model: Volvo C30 2008
- Report Received Date: 2010-11-08
- Manufacturer: VOLVO CARS OF N.A. LLC.
- Components: EQUIPMENT:ELECTRICAL:NAVIGATIONAL SYSTEM(GLOBAL POSITIONING SYSTEM)
- Summary: VOLVO IS RECALLING CERTAIN VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH GARMIN 760 PORTABLE GLOBAL POSITIONING SYSTEM (GPS) UNITS BECAUSE THE BATTERIES ON THOSE UNITS MAY OVERHEAT.
- Consequence: AN OVERHEATED BATTERY COULD LEAD TO A FIRE.
- Remedy: VOLVO ADVISES OWNERS TO PLEASE STOP USING THE GARMIN PORTABLE GPS DEVICE IMMEDIATELY, AND VISIT THE GARMIN WEBSITE TO DETERMINE IF THEIR UNIT IS AFFECTED. THE UNIT'S BATTERY WILL BE REPLACED WITH A NEW BATTERY AND A SPACER WILL BE INSERTED ON TOP OF THE BATTERY NEXT TO THE PCB. THIS SERVICE WILL BE PERFORMED FREE OF CHARGE. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN ON NOVEMBER 18, 2010. OWNERS MAY CONTACT GARMIN AT 866-957-1981 OR VISIT GARMIN'S WEBSITE AT WWW.GARMIN.COM/NUVIBATTERYPCBRECALL.
- Model: Volvo C30 2007
- Report Received Date: 2010-11-08
- Manufacturer: VOLVO CARS OF N.A. LLC.
- Components: EQUIPMENT:ELECTRICAL:NAVIGATIONAL SYSTEM(GLOBAL POSITIONING SYSTEM)
- Summary: VOLVO IS RECALLING CERTAIN VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH GARMIN 760 PORTABLE GLOBAL POSITIONING SYSTEM (GPS) UNITS BECAUSE THE BATTERIES ON THOSE UNITS MAY OVERHEAT.
- Consequence: AN OVERHEATED BATTERY COULD LEAD TO A FIRE.
- Remedy: VOLVO ADVISES OWNERS TO PLEASE STOP USING THE GARMIN PORTABLE GPS DEVICE IMMEDIATELY, AND VISIT THE GARMIN WEBSITE TO DETERMINE IF THEIR UNIT IS AFFECTED. THE UNIT'S BATTERY WILL BE REPLACED WITH A NEW BATTERY AND A SPACER WILL BE INSERTED ON TOP OF THE BATTERY NEXT TO THE PCB. THIS SERVICE WILL BE PERFORMED FREE OF CHARGE. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN ON NOVEMBER 18, 2010. OWNERS MAY CONTACT GARMIN AT 866-957-1981 OR VISIT GARMIN'S WEBSITE AT WWW.GARMIN.COM/NUVIBATTERYPCBRECALL.
- Model: Volvo C30 2009
- Report Received Date: 2010-11-08
- Manufacturer: VOLVO CARS OF N.A. LLC.
- Components: EQUIPMENT:ELECTRICAL:NAVIGATIONAL SYSTEM(GLOBAL POSITIONING SYSTEM)
- Summary: VOLVO IS RECALLING CERTAIN VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH GARMIN 760 PORTABLE GLOBAL POSITIONING SYSTEM (GPS) UNITS BECAUSE THE BATTERIES ON THOSE UNITS MAY OVERHEAT.
- Consequence: AN OVERHEATED BATTERY COULD LEAD TO A FIRE.
- Remedy: VOLVO ADVISES OWNERS TO PLEASE STOP USING THE GARMIN PORTABLE GPS DEVICE IMMEDIATELY, AND VISIT THE GARMIN WEBSITE TO DETERMINE IF THEIR UNIT IS AFFECTED. THE UNIT'S BATTERY WILL BE REPLACED WITH A NEW BATTERY AND A SPACER WILL BE INSERTED ON TOP OF THE BATTERY NEXT TO THE PCB. THIS SERVICE WILL BE PERFORMED FREE OF CHARGE. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN ON NOVEMBER 18, 2010. OWNERS MAY CONTACT GARMIN AT 866-957-1981 OR VISIT GARMIN'S WEBSITE AT WWW.GARMIN.COM/NUVIBATTERYPCBRECALL.
- Model: Volvo C30 2010
- Report Received Date: 2010-11-08
- Manufacturer: VOLVO CARS OF N.A. LLC.
- Components: EQUIPMENT:ELECTRICAL:NAVIGATIONAL SYSTEM(GLOBAL POSITIONING SYSTEM)
- Summary: VOLVO IS RECALLING CERTAIN VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH GARMIN 760 PORTABLE GLOBAL POSITIONING SYSTEM (GPS) UNITS BECAUSE THE BATTERIES ON THOSE UNITS MAY OVERHEAT.
- Consequence: AN OVERHEATED BATTERY COULD LEAD TO A FIRE.
- Remedy: VOLVO ADVISES OWNERS TO PLEASE STOP USING THE GARMIN PORTABLE GPS DEVICE IMMEDIATELY, AND VISIT THE GARMIN WEBSITE TO DETERMINE IF THEIR UNIT IS AFFECTED. THE UNIT'S BATTERY WILL BE REPLACED WITH A NEW BATTERY AND A SPACER WILL BE INSERTED ON TOP OF THE BATTERY NEXT TO THE PCB. THIS SERVICE WILL BE PERFORMED FREE OF CHARGE. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN ON NOVEMBER 18, 2010. OWNERS MAY CONTACT GARMIN AT 866-957-1981 OR VISIT GARMIN'S WEBSITE AT WWW.GARMIN.COM/NUVIBATTERYPCBRECALL.
- Model: Volvo C30 2010
- Report Received Date: 2010-06-08
- Manufacturer: VOLVO CARS OF N.A. LLC.
- Components: STEERING:GEAR BOX:SHAFT SECTOR
- Summary: 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: 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 [email protected] .
Are you having problems with your Volvo C30?
