Vehicle structure, collision avoidance and electrical system issues among the top complaints received by the NHTSA from vehicle owners
Hybrid vehicles have grown in popularity, with the 2019 Volvo XC60 gaining a lot of enthusiasm. This model is said to “set the bar,” but research shows that it is riddled with problems. From a faulty electrical system to a dangerous forward collision avoidance system and a poorly made structure, this model could be considered the opposite of safe.
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When many people think of an automotive electrical system, they think of the stereo and power windows, but there’s so much more to it.
Read some of the electrical complaints left by a customer on Edmunds. “Don’t buy a new Volvo SUV. There are so many electronics issues, and the dealership has an excuse for all of them. 1. The phone disconnects from the system after a couple of hours. VOLVO blames this on Apple CarPlay and says they can do nothing about it. This is after reading about how proud VOLVO is to have Apple CarPlay in their SUV’s in 2019. Please don’t offer it in your cars if you can’t figure out how to get it to sync with the VOLVO computer system. 2. The radio turns on in the car when the car has been turned off and the keys are in the house and the car is in my garage. VOLVO says that the car must be locked, in my locked garage – – in order for the car to be completely powered down. 3. The radio doesn’t consistently turn down when replying to a text. You never know when it’s going to work or not work.4. With nothing on the passenger car seat, the red light in the instrument panel flashes on and off, indicating that the seatbelt should be turned on. So disappointed that I bought this brand new car and have absolutely no recourse.”
However, the electrical system ailments can be downright dangerous. NHTSA Campaign Number 18V800000 states that the Vehicle Connectivity Module might contain an error that stops emergency personnel from finding the vehicle after an accident. That’s not all. NHTSA Campaign Number 18V589000 also says that some models with the TurboCord and TurboDock/TurboDX charging systems might have capacitors that fail, leading to an electrical shock or fire. Both of these issues don’t lead anyone to believe that this Volvo is looking to set the bar high.
| Complaint Category | Number of Complaints |
|---|---|
| Service Brakes | |
| Electrical System | |
| Unknown Or Other | |
| Structure:body | |
| Suspension | |
| Air Bags | |
| Steering | |
| Tires | |
| Vehicle Speed Control | |
| Exterior Lighting |
Advanced safety systems are designed to keep people safe, but the defective ones in this Volvo are putting more lives at risk.
Here’s another Edmunds review to consider. “The biggest issue is the random braking for no reason. It has happened to me multiple times, so I sent it back to the dealer for repair. They fixed other things that were wrong (bent rim, warped rotors, bad brake pads -side note, how is there THIS much wrong with a new car?), but they said when they brought it back to me that nothing is wrong with the autobrake feature.”
Again, there is a recall worth mentioning. NHTSA Campaign Number 20V144000 affects more than 120,000 vehicles and states that a software/hardware incompatibility might cause the AEB system to miss obstacles. If the system fails, it’s possible to run into something that should have activated the system. Hopefully, whoever “set the bar” put it high so this Volvo doesn’t run into it.
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Paying a premium price for a Volvo should mean that owners gain a vehicle that is solidly built, but that doesn’t appear to be the case.
One NHTSA complaint states, “In a stationary position, tailgate does not fully latch when button pressed to close it. Have to manually push the tailgate down for it to fully latch. Dealership was unable to fix the problem. Problem has been present since purchase.”
There are two more structure-related recalls to pay attention to. NHTSA Campaign Number 19V046000 illustrates that some models may have tailgate lifting arms that can freeze and separate from the vehicle. NHTSA Campaign Number 19V220000 states that some models have front seat rear flange nuts that weren’t installed correctly. If the vehicle is involved in an accident, the front seat could be affected, causing greater injuries. Looking at the amount of recalls on this high-priced vehicle makes everyone wonder what they are paying for. It might be safer to ride a bike to work, and owners could save a lot of money in the process.
Think you have a lemon? Sit back and let the experts work out your lemon case at no cost to you. The law makes Volvo pay legal fees. You may be able to get your lemon out of your life. Every year, auto manufacturers buy back, replace or pay cash settlements to thousands of ‘lemon’ owners like 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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