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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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NHTSA Complaints for the 2023 Volvo XC60
| Complaint Category | Number of Complaints |
|---|---|
| Electrical System | |
| Fuel/propulsion System | |
| Service Brakes | |
| Unknown Or Other | |
| Forward Collision Avoidance: Automatic Emergency Braking | |
| Engine | |
| Engine And Engine Cooling | |
| Exterior Lighting | |
| Structure:body | |
| Power Train |
Most Common problems with the 2023 Volvo XC60
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.
Problems with the Electrical System
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 center control panel electronics that control heating and cooling, the phone etc. failed suddenly and without warning while on the highway.
- A propulsion system warning appeared without warning while driving.
- The battery drained for unknown reasons while plugged in to charge.
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.”
Manufacturer Communications About the Electrical System & Apple CarPlay
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.
Engine & Engine Cooling Issues
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.
What to do if your XC60 is a lemon? Your Lemon Law Rights
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.
Complaint Data
| Category | Electrical System, Fuel/propulsion System |
| Date | Mar 12, 2023 |
| State | MN |
| Description | Now on two occasions found car completely without power after sitting unused for 2 or 3 days. On both occasions car plugged into level 2 charger overnight (this is a plug in hybrid model). Required jump start after having to use emergency key to get inside. After jumpstart, received numerous propulsion system errors as well as on first incident, errors saying sos communication system disabled. Dealer replaced tcam battery with fresh one stating that computer tries to do updates and drains battery, and dealer lot has occasional dead cars with similar issue. On second incident, car moved into “turtle†limp home mode with critical 12v charging messages. In both instances, car was in a conditioned garage around 48 degrees. Hybrid battery was 100% charged in both cases. Concerned there is a batter drain due to tcam or main software systems. This is more than inconvenience - this could be a real danger to have a car that may not start reliably after sitting for 48 hours, such as an airport or other setting where getting help is difficult. Limp home mode is driving hazard. There are multiple instances of this on volvo websites that seems to impact multiple t8 models with a plug in hybrid power train and google aaos infotainment/car system architecture. Please help! |
| Category | Electrical System |
| Date | Mar 09, 2023 |
| State | CT |
| Description | When I go to start the car the car does not start.... A warning comes on saying "vehicle key not being detected" see owners manual the key is sitting on the console when I start it. It took me 3 times before it started . I left a gym in the morning hours and it wouldn't start when I came out ... Same warning came on.. This has happened 4 times in a 3 month period. Has been in service 4 times. This is a big safety issue I don't want to keep driving this car it cannot be trusted. It's not reliable. When it's in service they cannot replicate it and they told me the first time it was the battery . The next time they said it may need an update . They just don't know. Brought it in 4 th time , now they're saying the farb goes into sleep mode and thats why it doesn't start the car!!! That so untrue. They looking for things because they can't find a fix. It"s inconsistent . I'm afraid I am going to be stranded somewhere . I have a baby in the car and on the road alot going long distances . This is outrageous not safe ! Inspected by service and they confer with volvo. The coolant light came on in the first week and they had to change out the thermosat. The air bag warning light came on recently . These problems don't replicate for service but I have videos and pics . I am looking for a buy back and my downpayment back this is so stressful and so many inconveniences for a brand new car cannot be trusted. |
| Category | Service Brakes |
| Date | Feb 21, 2023 |
| State | IA |
| Description | Car was turned on and shifted in to reverse. Car was driven backwards and when attempted to stop the car the brake became non depressible and car was difficult to stop. |
| Category | Unknown Or Other |
| Date | Feb 21, 2023 |
| State | IA |
| Description | Car was started and a/c system including all defrosting capabilities were non functional. Car was turned off and on with no change. Safety was at risk due to lack being able to have a functioning defrost and possible compromise of visibility out both front and back windshields. Called local dealership to troubleshoot. Service department said likely just a computer malfunction and would be difficult to find remedy if not a continual problem. After car was allowed to sit off for some time and then turned off, normal a/c functions resumed. |
| Category | Unknown Or Other |
| Date | Feb 03, 2023 |
| State | LA |
| Description | 2 of the vehicle's original tries developed aneurysms at 3000 miles and 3 months of ownership. Pirelli scorpion zero all season 235/55 r19 105v m+s dot xb 08 031b 2722 |
| Category | Forward Collision Avoidance: Automatic Emergency Braking |
| Date | Feb 02, 2023 |
| State | WI |
| Description | While backing out of garage, the car abruptly and violently braked. The driver was tossed forward. The rear camera showed nothing in the car's path and no alarms had been set off. Visual review confirmed the absence of anything in the path of the automobile. The automobile was purchased new about 7-10 days before this occurrence. The driver has experienced shoulder, neck, and upper body pains somewhat responsive to acetaminophen tablets. The driver was instructed to turn off the automatic rear brake each time backing up but has not been offered a permanent fix. I do not know if volvo has been informed or if the dealership has inspected the car. |
| Category | Forward Collision Avoidance: Automatic Emergency Braking |
| Date | Jan 31, 2023 |
| State | DC |
| Description | The parking sensors and auto brake malfunctioned while I was parking. Nothing was in the car's vicinity, but the car sensors started to beep intensely and the car automatically broke abruptly. |
| Category | Electrical System, Engine And Engine Cooling |
| Date | Jan 23, 2023 |
| State | CT |
| Description | The contact owns a 2023 volvo xc60. The contact stated that the vehicle failed to recognize the key fob. Due to the failure, the vehicle failed to start after multiple attempts with the key fob message displayed and a warning chime was heard. The contact also stated that the coolant warning light was illuminated. The contact had taken the vehicle to the dealer and the thermostat was replaced the vehicle and the warning light disappeared. The contact stated that despite a software update being performed, the key fob failure persisted. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure mileage was approximately 300. The contact stated that the manufacturer was notified and will not buy the vehicle back. The service dealer is unable to replicate the issue and therefore have no solution to the problem. The contact feels as though the vehicle is unsafe to drive. |
| Category | Electrical System |
| Date | Jan 21, 2023 |
| State | MD |
| Description | Problem with the 12v batteru charging faulty. Took to it the dealer but said its common with undriven vehciles. My car sat in the garage for 1day and got this error message when started for a trip. Speed has been limited to 3mph. Not able to use the car. Searched and verified lot of fourms about volvo this is know issue with xc60b5 engines. But dealers are nt acknowledging this issue. |
| Category | Fuel/propulsion System |
| Date | Jan 17, 2023 |
| State | MA |
| Description | While switching lanes the vehicle became unresponsive to throttle input, momentarily leaving me floundering in the new lane unable to accelerate, with cars quickly approaching. This was then followed by a jolt of power after pumping the gas pedal and then normal acceleration behavior. There were no dashboard warnings or sounds to indicate any driver assistance systems were activated. This has occurred once before (at ~1000 miles) but has not been inspected by the dealer. In both cases the incidents were preceded by slowing down for traffic before switching lanes. |
| Category | Electrical System, Service Brakes |
| Date | Jan 08, 2023 |
| State | SC |
| Description | On friday, january 6, 2023, I left work in my 2023 volvo xc60 recharge. As I merged onto i26 nothing appeared out of the ordinary. As I began to speed up, my tire pressure monitoring system (tpms) alerted me to a low-pressure situation. I pulled to the side of the road and requested roadside assistance. The rear driver-side tire had a screw embedded in the tread. A plug was placed by roadside assistance, and I was told to proceed to the dealership for a new tire as the side wall had damage. About a mile from the dealership my tpms again began to alarm. I needed to be more familiar with my vehicle to troubleshoot the issue, so hendricks advised me to return. Hendricks again inspected the vehicle. They stated that the driver's side tire had been over-inflated. I left the dealership to return home. As I was exiting i26 the tpms monitor again alarmed me. I was surprised to see that it stated that all the tires were low on pressure. I was a short distance from my destination, so I decided to proceed and investigate there as it was dark. At the restaurant, I looked at the tires, which looked perfectly fine and not over or under-inflated. After dinner, I left the restaurant approximately two miles from my house and decided to contact hendricks in the morning. Nothing was unusual about the car as I turned right into my development. One block into the development is a stop sign. At the stop sign, I turned left to go to my home. As I began to apply the brakes, the car started to alarm, “brake failure.†I frantically pumped the brakes, and the car did not stop! It kept going straight right toward our community pool and lake! Straight ahead of me is our community pool and a 300-acre lake (it is a retention pond but calling it that does not overinflate lot prices, so they call it a lake). I did not end up in an accident or the lake because I quickly “skidded†the car sideways. |
| Category | Electrical System, Engine, Fuel/propulsion System |
| Date | Jan 05, 2023 |
| State | NJ |
| Description | I have a 1 month old 2023 xc60 t8 phev recharge extended range with 1250 miles on it. I was driving without any issues for the past 1 months. I got a turtle icon with the check engine light on constant when I started driving today. The car had pulled back while driving and there was substantial diminished power, and could be dangerous in the wrong circumstances. I called volvo and they explained not to drive the car and towed the car to the nearby volvo dealership. Waiting on diagnosis 2 days now. I've now noticed other vehicles of the same type are having the same issues. This does not seem to be normal for a cars operation to have random diminished power. Website showing this to be a problem with these models from different years without any definitive resolution: https://www. Swedespeed. Com/threads/2022-xc90-recharge-extended-range-turtle-icon-check-engine-light. 657482/ |
| Category | Electrical System, Exterior Lighting, Fuel/propulsion System |
| Date | Nov 30, 2022 |
| State | CT |
| Description | The headlights malfunctioned two weeks after I purchased the vehicle. The center control panel electronics that controls heating and cooling, the phone, etc failed suddenly and without warning while I was on the highway. There have been multiple problems with this vehicle since I purchased it on september 19. It has been in the shop for about 15 days. A propulsion system warning appeared without warning while I was driving the car. The battery drained for unknown reasons while plugged in to charge. This is not a safe car. 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 5mph after the propulsion system warning has appeared. I do not want to be driving this on a highway and lose all acceleration. I do not want to stop at a rest stop at night and have my car not start. There is clearly something quite wrong with the operating software and electronics that this vehicle 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 of basic capabilities is mendacious. |
| Category | Structure:body |
| Date | Nov 15, 2022 |
| State | DC |
| Description | After having my car for three weeks, the paint was permanently damaged by an inordinate amount of leaf prints and water stains. Even multiple rounds of polishing didn't fix the issue. Volvo claims this is not covered under warranty, as the damage occurred because of outside influences. I have a hard time believing they think this is an acceptable level of damage from a quite benign, normal level of outside exposure, especially because the dealership gm, the salesman, the detailer, and several car paint experts have never seen this before. |
| Category | Engine, Fuel/propulsion System, Power Train |
| Date | Oct 18, 2022 |
| State | VA |
| Description | Four times in the last five days 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 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. |
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About the Author:
Brian Jones spent more than 20 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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