Volvo XC40 common problems & buying guide (2018–on)

Written by the C4R team from DVSA data and owner reports. Fact-checked 2026-10-08.

The 30-second verdict

The XC40 is a practical compact SUV with petrol, diesel, mild-hybrid, plug-in hybrid and battery-electric versions on the used market. The published evidence does not support treating every example as troublesome, but it does justify a thorough check of the infotainment, powered equipment and driver-assistance systems. Powertrain choice matters: a diesel needs a use pattern that lets it reach full temperature, while a plug-in hybrid or electric XC40 should be test-charged and checked for completed high-voltage and braking campaigns.

Buy on condition and history rather than trim alone. Check the exact registration on GOV.UK, ask a Volvo retailer to confirm campaign completion against the VIN, and commission a Volvo-capable diagnostic scan if warning messages or intermittent electrical symptoms appear.

At a glance

Read the RAC model history · Read the Auto Express used-car guide

Known issues

The item below is a reported used-car issue, not a recall claim. It is retained because two independent motoring organisations report the same broad fault area. Their evidence supports a buying check; it does not show that every XC40 will be affected or establish one cause and repair for every symptom.

Infotainment, software and electrical glitches

• What you may notice: a frozen or restarting centre display, lost phone or data connectivity, intermittent driver-assistance messages, or a powered feature that does not operate consistently.
• What the evidence supports: What Car? records minor electronic glitches, particularly involving infotainment and electronic driver aids, in XC40 owner feedback. RAC separately advises checking all powered and infotainment functions because electrical and software issues have been reported. Neither source establishes that the problem is confined to one model year or proves a universal failed component.
• Check when buying: pair a phone, make a call, use navigation and audio, test both keys, cameras, parking sensors, climate controls, windows, mirrors, tailgate and driver aids. Switch the car off, lock it, restart it and repeat the key checks.
• Next step: if a fault recurs, obtain a whole-vehicle scan and have the 12V supply, software status and network faults tested before authorising hardware replacement.
• Sources: What Car? used XC40 reliability review · RAC XC40 2018–2023 used review

MOT watch-points

No model-level pass rate, mileage figure or defect ranking is quoted because no audited XC40-specific MOT aggregate was supplied with the source guide. Check the history of the exact registration and inspect the car itself. Useful checks include:

• tyre condition and wear across both shoulders;
• brake discs, pads and parking-brake operation;
• suspension joints, bushes and springs;
• warning lamps for the engine, braking, restraint and driver-assistance systems;
• exterior lights, including the rear indicators; and
• on diesel cars, smoke, emissions warnings and evidence of repeated emissions-system work.

Check the registration at GOV.UK — Check MOT history. The underlying DVSA anonymised MOT tests and results are published as open data.

Confirmed recalls — DVSA data

The table below comes only from a programmatic filter of C4R's local DVSA Vehicle Safety Branch recalls CSV. The filter selected Make = VOLVO CAR and the two XC40 model labels present in the file: XC40 and XC40 RECHARGE. It returned 15 rows and 15 unique recall references: 14 rows labelled XC40 and one labelled XC40 RECHARGE.

Dates are the launch and build dates recorded in the CSV, not registration dates. A car built inside a listed window is not necessarily affected. Check the registration at the GOV.UK recall checker, then ask a Volvo retailer to verify completion against the VIN.

“Vehicle Numbers” in the CSV describes the wider campaign row and is not a count of used XC40s still affected. Completion status is VIN-specific.

Buying one? Our checklist

1. Match the VIN on the car, V5C and service records; review invoices rather than relying on service stamps alone.
2. Check the registration on GOV.UK and ask a Volvo retailer to check the VIN for completed and outstanding campaigns.
3. Arrange a genuinely cold start. Investigate warning lamps, smoke, fluid leaks, unusual smells, starter noise or a slow start.
4. Test every screen, key, camera, parking sensor, window, mirror, light, climate-control function, powered tailgate and driver aid.
5. Have a Volvo-capable whole-vehicle scan performed if there are warning messages or a patchy electrical history.
6. On an automatic, check engagement of Drive and Reverse and make sure changes remain smooth from cold through a full road test.
7. On a diesel, review the use pattern and any DPF or EGR invoices; repeated short trips are a poor match for a diesel emissions system.
8. On a plug-in hybrid or electric version, test charging, inspect the port and cables, check for battery or propulsion warnings and request a battery-health assessment where available.
9. Inspect both faces of the brake discs, pad life, tyre wear and suspension condition rather than judging them from the outer face alone.
10. Check the MOT history and commission an independent inspection if the history, charging behaviour or warning messages are unclear.

Running costs

• Vehicle tax: check the exact registration on GOV.UK. First-registration date, CO₂ figure, powertrain and original list price can affect the amount due.
• Insurance: obtain a quote for the exact registration, driver and postcode rather than relying on a model-wide group range.
• Fuel or electricity: compare like-for-like official figures for the exact derivative. Real use depends on journey type, temperature, speed and, for a plug-in hybrid, how often it is charged.
• Servicing and tyres: price the exact engine, wheel size and service schedule before buying; four-wheel-drive and higher-output versions can have different consumable requirements.

Sources & further reading

• DVSA Vehicle Safety Branch Recalls Database
• GOV.UK — Check if a vehicle has been recalled
• GOV.UK — Check MOT history
• DVSA anonymised MOT tests and results
• What Car? — used Volvo XC40 reliability review
• RAC — Volvo XC40 2018–2023 used review
• Auto Express — used Volvo XC40 Mk1 buying guide

Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0.

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