Engine and electrical system issues are among the top complaints to the NHTSA from vehicle owners
The 2023 Volvo XC60 is the second-generation version of the best-selling Volvo that was launched in 2008. Reliable reviewers call the new model “timeless and fresh,” but it isn’t without faults. Complaints about the model, even before 2023 kicks in, target a range of problems. These include engine and engine cooling problems, as well as electrical system issues and electronic malfunctions.
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Launched late in 2022, the 2023 Volvo XC60 hasn’t attracted many complaints yet. But it is always a concern when even a few complaints match the complaints made about the previous vehicle model.
Between October 18 and November 30, 2022, 3 consumers complained to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) about a variety of problems they have experienced. These relate to 6 components: the electrical system, engine, exterior lighting, the fuel/propulsion system, power train, and structure of the XC60.
There are 23 complaints on record with the NHTSA for the 2022 XC60. Of these, more than half (13) relate to the electrical system and 7 to forward collision avoidance. The engine, exterior lighting, and fuel/propulsion system all feature in complaints along with several other components.
| Complaint Category | Number of Complaints |
|---|---|
| Electrical System | |
| Fuel/propulsion System | |
| Service Brakes | |
| Unknown Or Other | |
| Forward Collision Avoidance: Automatic Emergency Braking | |
| Engine | |
| Power Train | |
| Engine And Engine Cooling | |
| Exterior Lighting | |
| Lane Departure: Assist |
An owner from Connecticut has listed his complaint under Electrical System, Exterior Lighting, and the Fuel/Propulsion System.
The first malfunction was two weeks after taking possession of the new 2023 Volvo XC60 in September 2022. The headlights malfunctioned. Since then, there have been multiple problems with the vehicle. The complaint states it has “been in the shop for about 15 days.”
Issues described include:
The complaint goes on to say that this isn’t a safe vehicle. “It is controlled by an electronics system and software that are not reliable, leaving me at risk of being in an accident or stranded somewhere. I have read that some of these vehicles go into ‘turtle mode’ and won’t go over about 5 mph after the propulsion system warning has appeared. I do not want to be driving this on a highway and lose all acceleration, and I do not want to stop at a rest stop at night and have my car not start.”
What seems to concern him the most is that there is something seriously wrong with the electronics and operating software the XC60 depends upon.
“It is quite apparent that Volvo’s nascent software development team has adopted the ‘move fast and break things’ philosophy espoused by many software companies. The key distinction here is that when my computer software crashes, I am sitting at my desk chair. With an automobile, the crash could very well happen at 65 mph or with me stuck in some remote location. The idea that Volvo would roll out a product so miserably deficient in basic capabilities is mendacious.”
There are 7 communications from Volvo on file with the NHTSA. Dated between April 29 and October 21, 2022, 4 relate to the electrical system. Three of these specify corrective software downloads to rectify “missing functionality” in Apple CarPlay. The same software updates are available for the 2022 model.
In mid-2022, Apple CarPlay was added to Volvo cars equipped with Google built-in. Prior to this, Volvo was focused on rolling out its new Android-powered infotainment system.
There are complaints to the NHTSA about the Google-based infotainment system in the 2022 model. For example, an owner from Maryland states: “Volvo rushed the 2022 model year XC60 with the new Google infotainment to market before all the bugs were worked out.” Infotainment malfunctions, the complaint states, led to the owner having to manually reboot the infotainment system to regain necessary safety features including maps, speed limit alerts, and turn signal lights.
Surprisingly, even though Volvo acknowledges Apple CarPlay problems for both models, the infotainment system is an issue that hasn’t been raised in complaints about the 2023 yet.
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A complaint from an owner in Virginia is filed under Engine, Powertrain, and the Fuel/Propulsion System. It states that 4 times in 5 days during mid-October, 2022, “as I was braking for a red light or braking as I entered a drive thru, the engine surged and revved to between 3000 RPM and 4000 RPM. I had to use all my power to brake the car and I then put it into Neutral, or shut off the car. Within a few seconds or upon restarting the RPMs were back to normal.
“I did not push on the accelerator by mistake. The car only has 300 miles (on the clock), so I took it to the dealer. The engine had no codes and they had me drive around with the Service Manager but all was fine. On my way home the same surging, increased engine revs happened again. Luckily, I’d read a lot about ‘unintended acceleration’ so I knew enough to just brake firmly and place the transmission in neutral.”
There is also a recall listed under Engine and Engine Cooling that affects as many as 15,674 Volvo vehicles, including certain XC60s. Another software problem, owners are warned that their vehicles may lose drive power as the high voltage battery becomes depleted. This will increase the risk of a crash.
If you think your 2023 Volvo XC60 might be a lemon, you have the option of letting experts work out your lemon case at no cost to you. Every year, auto manufacturers buy back, replace vehicles, or pay cash settlements to thousands of owners. And the law makes the manufacturer, in this case, Volvo, pay the legal fees.
All you have to do is call our Helpline or fill in a contact form. We will assess your problems free of charge and advise you.
Brian Jones spent more than 30 years working as an ASE Certified Master Tech and Parts Specialist at multiple dealerships. Brian has become an authority in the industry, traveling across the country to consult for car dealerships and contributing his expertise as a writer for several major automotive publications. In his spare time, Brian enjoys working on pickup trucks, muscle cars, Jeeps and anything related to motorsports.
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