2019 Volvo Xc40 problems

The Volvo XC40 is a subcompact luxury crossover SUV (C-segment) manufactured by Volvo Cars. It was unveiled on 21 September 2017 as the smallest SUV model from Volvo, below the XC60. Orders started in September 2017, and manufacturing began in November 2017.
Aside with conventional petrol and diesel engines, a plug-in hybrid model was introduced in 2019, and a battery electric vehicle model was released in 2020. Both the plug-in hybrid and the battery electric versions were marketed as the XC40 Recharge. In 2024, Volvo renamed the battery electric XC40 to the Volvo EX40, aligning it with newer battery electric models such as the EX30 and the EX90.
A coupe version of the battery electric model with a sloping rear roof was released in 2021 as the C40 Recharge. It was renamed to the Volvo EC40 since 2024.
The XC40 was given the European Car of the Year Award at the 2018 Geneva Motor Show. and the car was named Car of the Year Japan for 2018/2019.
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Common 2019 Volvo Xc40 problems
The 2019 Volvo XC40 has been praised for its appearance, performance, safety, and technology. However, there are some common problems and issues that owners have reported.
- Transmission Jerkiness: Some owners have reported a weird transmission jerkiness in the 2019 Volvo XC40. This issue can be particularly noticeable during low-speed driving and can affect the overall driving experience.
- Fuel Economy: The 2019 Volvo XC40 has been criticized for its lackluster fuel economy.
- Seat Comfort: The XC40's seat comfort has been questioned, with some owners finding it inadequate for long trips. This can be a significant issue for those who enjoy road trips or have long commutes.
- Software Updates: Some software issues have been reported in the 2019 Volvo XC40, such as problems with the vehicle connectivity module (VCM) that sends location information to the emergency services after a collision. A software update is required to fix this issue, which applies to cars constructed between 6 October 2017 and 30 October 2018.
- Rear Seatbacks: The rear seatbacks in some 2019 Volvo XC40s might not remain in the upright position, which can be attributed to missing lock strikers on both sides of the bench. This issue affects a small number of examples built between 20-21 June 2018 and can be resolved by having the strikers fitted by any Volvo dealer free of charge.
- Brake Booster: A small number of 2019 Volvo XC40s built between 29 November 2019 and 21 February 2020 may have a missing nut securing the brake booster, which is part of the vehicle's braking system. It is recommended to speak with a Volvo dealer to find out if your XC40 is affected by this issue.
- Reliability: The 2019 Volvo XC40 has received mixed feedback from owners regarding its reliability. While some have reported a satisfactory level of reliability, others have experienced minor electronic glitches, particularly with the infotainment system and electronic driver aids. These faults, while not affecting the vehicle's drivability, can cause inconvenience.
- Brake and Electronics Issues: The Volvo XC40 has been known to have issues with its brakes and electronics, which can be a concern for potential buyers. These problems are more prevalent in used XC40s, and it is recommended to consider an extended warranty or look for a certified example with inspection and history reports.
- Tailgate Release and Rear Camera: The tailgate release button and rear view camera module can come loose in some 2019 Volvo XC40s, with the screws that hold it in place breaking through the plastic cover . This issue is particularly common in 2019 models and can be fixed by the dealer if it is still under warranty.
- Tailgate Drain Hole Rusting: The drain holes at the bottom of the tailgate can start rusting out, especially in climates where a lot of salt is used on the roads in the winter . This area isn't sealed, making it susceptible to getting wet and rusting.
In summary, while the 2019 Volvo XC40 has many positive attributes, potential buyers should be aware of these common problems and issues to ensure they make an informed decision.
What are the most common problems with Volvo XC40?
What are the most common problems with a used Volvo XC40 estate?
- Software issue. A problem was found with the vehicle connectivity module (VCM) that sends location information to the emergency services after a collision. ...
- Rear seatbacks. ...
- Brake booster.
Is the Volvo XC40 a reliable vehicle?
The 2024 Volvo XC40 has a predicted reliability score of 72 out of 100. A J.D. Power predicted reliability score of 91-100 is considered the Best, 81-90 is Great, 70-80 is Average and 0-69 is Fair and considered below average.
How many miles will Volvo XC40 last?
200,000 miles
How many miles does a 2024 Volvo XC40 last? A Volvo XC40 compact SUV can last up to 200,000 miles or even more when it is treated to routine maintenance and preventive service over its lifetime.
Is the Volvo XC40 expensive to repair?
The average annual repair cost for a Volvo is $769, which means it has above average ownership costs.
What are the most common problems with Volvo XC40?
What are the most common problems with a used Volvo XC40 estate?
- Software issue. A problem was found with the vehicle connectivity module (VCM) that sends location information to the emergency services after a collision. ...
- Rear seatbacks. ...
- Brake booster.
Is the Volvo XC40 a reliable vehicle?
The 2024 Volvo XC40 has a predicted reliability score of 72 out of 100. A J.D. Power predicted reliability score of 91-100 is considered the Best, 81-90 is Great, 70-80 is Average and 0-69 is Fair and considered below average.
What are the brake issues with the 2019 Volvo XC40?
Volvo Car USA LLC (Volvo) is recalling certain 2019 Volvo XC40 vehicles. The brake pedals may not have been correctly riveted, allowing the pedal to move out of position, possibly reducing braking performance. Tip: Recalls don't affect every vehicle of the same year, make and model.
Does 2019 Volvo XC40 require premium gas?
Volvo recommends that premium, 91 unleaded octane or higher for the best performance.
2019 Volvo Xc40 complaints
The NHTSA has received 0 complaints about various vehicle components related to the 2019 Volvo Xc40.
You can leave your car complaint via the special form below.
2019 Volvo Xc40 recalls
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has issued 4 recalls for different components of the 2019 Volvo Xc40.
- Manufacturer: Volvo Car USA LLC
- Components: FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE: AUTOMATIC EMERGENCY BRAKING
- Summary: Volvo Cars USA LLC (Volvo Cars) is recalling certain 2019-2020 S60, V60, V60 Cross Country, S90L, V90, V90 Cross Country, XC40, XC60, and XC90 vehicles. Due to a software/hardware incompatibility, the Automatic Emergency Brake (AEB) system may not detect obstacles and engage as intended.
- Consequence: If the automatic emergency braking system does not engage as intended, it can increase the risk of a crash.
- Remedy: Volvo will notify owners, and dealers will update the Active Safety Domain Master (ASDM) software, free of charge. The recall began April 9, 2020. Owners may contact Volvo customer service at 1-800-458-1552. Volvo's number for this recall is R29998.
- Manufacturer: Volvo Car USA LLC
- Components: ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:SOFTWARE
- Summary: Volvo Car USA LLC (Volvo) is recalling certain 2017-2019 Volvo XC90, S90, V60, V60 Cross Country, V90, XC40, XC60, and V90 Cross Country vehicles. The software installed in the Vehicle Connectivity Module (VCM) may have an error causing the Telematics and Driver Support Systems to function improperly. As a result, the GPS will not provide location information to emergency personnel in the event of an emergency.
- Consequence: If the GPS location is not provided to emergency personnel it can inhibit emergency response in the event of a crash or injury.
- Remedy: Volvo will notify owners, and dealers will correct the software, free of charge. The recall began December 26, 2018. Owners may contact Volvo customer service at 1-800-458-1552. Volvo's number for this recall is R39917.
- Manufacturer: Volvo Car USA LLC
- Park It: 1
- Components: SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:PEDALS AND LINKAGES
- Summary: Volvo Car USA LLC (Volvo) is recalling certain 2019 Volvo XC40 vehicles. The brake pedals may not have been correctly riveted, allowing the pedal to move out of position, possibly reducing braking performance.
- Consequence: Reduced braking performance can increase the risk of a crash.
- Remedy: Volvo has notified owners advising them to stop driving their vehicle. Cars will be inspected on-site or towed to dealers and the brake pedals will be replaced as necessary, free of charge. Volvo began contacting their owners on August 23, 2018. Owners may contact Volvo customer service at 1-800-458-1552. Volvo's number for this recall is R59899.
- Manufacturer: Volvo Car USA LLC
- Components: SEATS:MID/REAR ASSEMBLY
- Summary: Volvo Cars USA LLC (Volvo) is recalling certain 2019 Volvo XC40 vehicles. The rear seats may not have rear seat back lock strikers, allowing the seat back to move forward during certain hard braking conditions or a crash.
- Consequence: If the seat back moves forward during hard braking or in a crash, it can increase the risk of injury.
- Remedy: Volvo will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the vehicles and install the seat back lock strikers if they are missing, free of charge. The recall began October 12, 2018. Owners may contact Volvo customer service at 1-800-458-1552. Volvo's number for this recall is R89898.
Negative 2019 Volvo Xc40 car reviews
Positive 2019 Volvo Xc40 car reviews
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The XC40 met all of your requirements! It's a subcompact size (perfect for downsizing from a regular SUV), has an uncluttered roomy interior, a streamlined touch screen, cool driver assist features, and a phone charger/USB connection. While there is a learning curve, you won't be overwhelmed with the touch screen device or the tech features. This is a fun car to drive, with easy handling and maneuverability. You've been getting 27 MPG with Economy Drive mode. Keep enjoying your ride!
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I've had this SUV for just over 2 years now and I live in the northeast. I've previously owned BMW's, Toyota's, Subaru's, Acura's, Honda's, and wanted to try something new. With over 15 years of driving experience, I can confidently say that this car has a lot of great features. Let's start with the bad first. The start-stop feature can be a bit jerky and not the smoothest experience, so I recommend not using it. Additionally, if you're doing a lot of city driving or have a heavy foot, the mileage may be below 20mpg. If you have guests or children over 5'7, long haul drives may not be the most comfortable. However, the car can still fit 3 adults in the back, as long as they're not all very heavy set. The cabin can be a bit louder than I would like, but it's not a deal breaker. Now, onto the good stuff. The design of this car is top-notch. Everything is super well thought out, from the little trash bin to the variety of hooks for small items in the trunk and passenger areas. The navigation map with directions in the dash is a game changer. The mixed bag of tricks you get used to fairly quickly, including the big C-pillar blind spot. It's not bad to deal with if you position your side mirrors and turn your head to check the blind spot like a normal person. Don't be lazy. The trunk space cover does not roll and retract, it doesn't fold or bend, but it can be stored under the trunk floor. I just leave it up and in place all the time for security and peace of mind that no one can look into my trunk. The shifter is digital, which may take some getting used to, but after an hour or so, I was fine. The brakes have an early biting point, but they are progressive and confidence-inspiring. Overall, I highly recommend this car for anyone looking for a new ride.The Harmon Kardon unit in this car is fantastic! It has a really expansive soundstage and customizable sound, making it better than similar Harmon Kardon units in other manufacturer vehicles. The car has a very neat feature where it can pull itself in and out of a parking spot, which is especially helpful when parking in a tiny spot in the city. The 360 camera works great and helps with parking, making it easy to park. One thing I love about this car is that I can adjust the temperature, fan speed, seat heat, steering wheel heat, front and rear defroster, and recirculate the air with just voice commands, reducing distractions while I drive. The materials used in the car are upscale and long-lasting even after 2 years of abuse. Although the piano black plastic is regrettable, it's not a dealbreaker. Everything that you touch in the car is pleasant, even the trunk cover. It's not a silk pillowcase but it's not sandpaper either. Everything you touch is generally soft touch, even in the backseat, which is similar or better than BMW and better than Subaru. The seats are well-bolstered, even for a skinny guy, so you won't be sliding around. They are certainly adjustable and comfortable over long 3+ hour trips. The Alcantara is also great, but keep a vacuum handy if you plan to eat in the car. The front door bins are positively massive, but the rear passengers' bins are just okay. Driving this car in traffic is a breeze. You can set it up to the speed and distance you want and just let it drive itself. It's very easy, better than Toyota and similar to Subaru. The crash prevention system is impressive and knows before you do if there are issues on the road ahead of you. It has literally saved my life and helped to prevent fender benders. No issues with the system, which is similar to Subaru's. The power and braking are good.The car has several driving modes that feel different, and I find that the ECO mode is the best for driving in traffic. I have had no problems merging into traffic or coming to a stop from highway speeds. While the steering is precise, it is not very communicative. However, I have no fears that the vehicle will roll over, even when cornering hard into a turn. The car corners better than most SUVs and family sedans. Even on the supplied 20-inch All-Season tires, the winter weather performance is excellent. I very rarely worry about the car in the rain, and it's very predictable in the snow. It can easily pull itself out of a snowy parking spot after a storm with 12+ inches of snow on the ground, no problem. I find it very enjoyable to do donuts, and it performs similarly or better than a Subaru. While this car is very specific and not for everyone, it is luxurious, modern, well-designed, and eye-catching. I believe it will age very well, and you'll get plenty of compliments.
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Volvo really thought of everything for this car! Ladies, are you tired of your purse flying around on the passenger's side while you drive? No worries, there's a hook for that, and more shopping bag hooks in the cargo area to keep bags from rolling around with their contents. The car is nearly silent on your average road, with just the slight hum of acceleration. There is remarkably little wind or road noise, even on the bumpiest, loudest roads. In fact, people I talk to on the phone joke that they know exactly when I'm maneuvering the car because they can hear things that are normally hidden by the white noise of the engine and road. We found the infotainment system to be very logically designed, functioning very similarly to a smartphone. In fact, the settings quick access buttons on the touchscreen feel very reminiscent of the android pull-down settings menu. After a week, using it feels very natural. My only gripe is that I wish the 360 camera were easier to access quickly. It will appear automatically when it senses I'm parking between two cars, but when I'm pulling into my very tight garage or straight into a parking spot, I have to manually pull it up. Not a big deal -- it just takes 2 seconds, but hopefully there will be a shortcut option on future iterations. Auto-park is wonderfully helpful for tight spaces. The upgraded sound system is excellent -- coming from an audiophile. The self-driving features are wonderful for the highway and really serve to reduce fatigue by keeping you in the lane and following the car in front of you at a given distance. We really enjoy the highly customizable driver profiles that can both be programmed to a specific key and overridden through the settings menu. One thing that I found slightly annoying in city traffic was that by default, the auto parking brake enabled at every full stop. This results in a bit of a I disabled the feature and it doesn't bother me anymore. However, I can definitely see how this feature would be useful for hilly areas where you don't want to roll forward or backwards if you lighten up on the brakes. The back seat has more room than any other car in this class that we test drove. It feels more like a mid-sized SUV in terms of space and seat elevation. After reading a ton of reviews online, I have to say that most reviewers' gripes about this car are really non-issues in the long-run. We specifically looked out for all of the things that were identified as possible cons and haven't actually been able to identify many of them as real cons since we've been driving the car regularly. In conclusion, it's a really solid, well-designed car that's a lot of fun to drive and handle.
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I'm so glad to hear that you're enjoying your first Volvo! The car sounds amazing, especially with features like the adaptive cruise control, auto high beam headlights, and heated steering wheel. The panoramic sunroof with a self-closing shade is a great touch, and I'm happy to hear that the layout of the controls is intuitive. It's also great to hear that the car is easy to maneuver with a tight turning radius, and the back storage is brilliant with easy ability to subdivide to keep things from rolling around. The different driving modes sound like a great feature, and it's impressive that you're getting better than the EPA gas mileage. And of course, the built-in trash can is a fantastic addition that every car should have! Thank you for sharing your positive experience with us.
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Additional sources
More sources of information about 2019 Volvo Xc40 problems:

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2019 Volvo XC40 Problems | Kelley Blue Book
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2019 Volvo XC40 Reliability - Consumer Reports
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May 18, 2019 ... Speaking of fuel economy, it continues to be a problem. Just like almost every other Volvo Roadshow has tested, our XC40's real-world fuel ...
Crawford Roob 2025-03-19
This is my first Volvo and I was so excited for it to arrive after ordering it earlier this year. It's a beautiful car, sporty, and technology-rich. However, I have had some issues with it in the few short months I've owned it. Within a week, I received a notification that the airbag system had failed. Although they replaced the sensor, the same problem came back two weeks later. They had my car for almost a month trying to fix it. Now, a month later, the same sensor has failed, I get notifications about the brake system failing, one tire pressure sensor is faulty, and various interior panels keep popping off. I am currently working with Volvo to get them to buy my car back as part of Michigan's lemon law. It's disappointing, but I am hopeful that we can come to a resolution. Despite these issues, I still appreciate the beauty and technology of the car.
Dallas Murray 2025-02-25
This is my third Volvo and I have been enjoying my ownership of this 2019 model for 1.5 years now. The car is beautifully designed, highly functional, and an absolute joy to drive. The engine is great, with several driving modes to choose from that offer both performance and fuel economy. It is very responsive and provides a smooth driving experience. However, I have had a few issues with the car's quality. I had to replace the rear camera and some moving sunroof parts, which were fortunately covered under warranty. Additionally, I had to pay $600 out of pocket for a rotor replacement job with less than 30K miles on it. Despite these issues, I still love the Volvo brand and look forward to continuing my ownership experience with them.
Angelo Robel 2025-01-03
I've had the car for just two months and unfortunately, it has already been to the dealer twice, despite having less than 1000 miles on it. I must say that my experience with Volvo's roadside assistance has been the worst I have ever encountered. It seems like this car was not ready for production and delivery, and it appears to not have been inspected. Needless to say, I am extremely disappointed.
Myrl Hagenes 2024-10-05
This is such a cute car! I feel really safe driving it and I love the display inside. I would definitely keep it for a while... except for one thing. Unfortunately, my heat hasn't worked for two years in a row now. The first year, it wasn't diagnosed correctly and the dealership only got it to work for the winter by flushing the system. This year, it turns out there's a corrupt sensor that requires the dashboard to be taken off and a three-day time period at the dealership. And to make matters worse, it might not be covered because the warranty has expired (after only 4 years!). Even though it only has 38k miles, if I don't get this fixed, I'll be freezing all winter. I really hope Volvo can help me out here.
Brant Lemke 2024-08-10
I've had it for six months. I'm a bit confused about why the cruise control turns off automatically. When I went to get my first oil change, I had trouble opening the hood and my battery died. Luckily, I was able to jump start it, but then I couldn't shift it into gear.