2008 Volvo C30

Routine

Owners filed 8 complaints about this vehicle with federal regulators, most often about the vehicle speed control. It has been recalled 2 times.

What fails
ComponentReportsCrashesFiresInjuries
Vehicle Speed Control2
000
Suspension2
000
Visibility1
000
Seat Belts1
000
Engine and Engine Cooling1
000
Air Bags › Side/Window1
000

2 safety recalls

Part 573 reports
Equipment › Electrical › Navigational System(global Positioning System)10V566000
Filed Nov 8, 2010416 vehiclesVolvo Cars Of N.a. Llc.

Defect. VOLVO IS RECALLING CERTAIN VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH GARMIN 760 PORTABLE GLOBAL POSITIONING SYSTEM (GPS) UNITS BECAUSE THE BATTERIES ON THOSE UNITS MAY OVERHEAT.

Risk. AN OVERHEATED BATTERY COULD LEAD TO A FIRE.

Remedy. VOLVO ADVISES OWNERS TO PLEASE STOP USING THE GARMIN PORTABLE GPS DEVICE IMMEDIATELY, AND VISIT THE GARMIN WEBSITE TO DETERMINE IF THEIR UNIT IS AFFECTED. THE UNIT'S BATTERY WILL BE REPLACED WITH A NEW BATTERY AND A SPACER WILL BE INSERTED ON TOP OF THE BATTERY NEXT TO THE PCB. THIS SERVICE WILL BE PERFORMED FREE OF CHARGE. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN ON NOVEMBER 18, 2010. OWNERS MAY CONTACT GARMIN AT 866-957-1981 OR VISIT GARMIN'S WEBSITE AT WWW.GARMIN.COM/NUVIBATTERYPCBRECALL.

Steering › Hydraulic Power Assist › Hose, Piping, and Connections08V329000
Filed Jul 23, 20081,020 vehiclesVolvo Cars Of N.a. Llc.

Defect. VOLVO IS RECALLING MY 2008-2009 VEHICLES. A SECTION OF THE POWER STEERING RETURN LINE HOSE WAS NOT PROPERLY VULCANIZED (CURED) AND DOES NOT MEET SPECIFICATIONS. IF THE POWER STEERING RETURN HOSE FAILS, A SUDDEN RUPTURE OF THE HOSE CAN OCCUR.

Risk. THIS CAN RESULT IN A RAPID DRAINAGE OF THE POWER STEERING FLUID IN THE SYSTEM AND A COMPLETE LOSS OF POWER ASSISTANCE, INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH.

Remedy. DEALERS WILL INSPECT AND REPLACE THE STEERING RETURN LINE HOSE ASSEMBLY FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON AUGUST 13, 2008. OWNERS MAY CONTACT VOLVO AT 1-800-458-1552.

What owners reported

Newest filings
Vehicle Speed Control
Filed Jan 30, 2015ME

VERY SMALL FOOT ROOM ON DRIVER SIDE. SHOE TRAPS UNDER BRAKE PEDAL SOMETIME, MAKE SOME DELAY OF USING BRAKE. *TR

Suspension
Filed Mar 27, 201453,500 milesOH

LEFT FRONT SPRING BROKE WHILE ENTERING VEHICLE (PARKED OVERNIGHT IN GARAGE). EVIDENCE OF ANTI-CORROSION PAINT FLAKING OFF OF SPRING IN THE AREA THAT THE BREAK OCCURRED. THIS IS THE SECOND BROKEN FRONT SPRING ON THE SAME VEHICLE, THE PREVIOUS ONE HAPPENED ~ 1 YEAR AGO (ODI# 10502668.). POTENTIALLY A DEFECT IN THE COATING PROCESS ALLOWING THE COATING TO CRACK AND LET CORROSION HAPPEN ON THE SURFACE OF THE SPRING. *TR

Engine and Engine Cooling
Filed Nov 4, 2013105,243 milesCA

OIL TRAP BROKEN. WAS TOLD BY MY MECHANIC THERE WAS A VOLVO RECALL FOR THIS PROBLEM (DEALERSHIP RECALL # 202). VOLVO DEALERSHIP SAID MY MAKE AND MODEL WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL. I BELIEVE IT WAS AN OVERSITE, AS MY VEHICLE WAS MANUFACTURED IN THE SAME COUNTRY AS THE OTHER VOLVO MAKE AND MODELS INCLUDED IN THE RECALL. THIS 2008 C30 IS THE FIRST MODEL OF THIS TYPE. IT SHOULD HAVE BEEN INCLUDED IN THE RECALL AND WAS NOT. PLEASE INVESTIGATE. I'VE PAID $550 TO REPAIR DUE TO POOR MANUFACTURING. PLEASE REVIEW AND CONTACT VOLVO REGARDING THIS. HOPEFULLY OTHER'S WITH THE SAME MAKE AND MODEL HAVE FILED A COMPLAINT FOR A STRONGER CASE. I WANT MY MONEY BACK. *TR

Seat Belts
Filed Jul 2, 201379,000 milesMN

FRONT PASSENGER SEATBELT DIFFICULT TO UNBUCKLE. TOOK TO VOLVO DEALERSHIP TO HAVE SERVICED ON 7/1/13. DEALERSHIP REPORTED "FOUND A LITTLE STICKY. LUBED IT. NOW OPENS TO INTENT. IT DOES HELP TO PRESS DOWN ON THE BUCKLE BEFORE YOU RELEASE THE LATCH." THE LUBE DID NOT FIX THE BUCKLE. STILL DIFFICULT TO RELEASE. SAFETY CONCERN FOR EMERGENCY EXIT OF CAR. *TR

Suspension
Filed Mar 13, 201340,896 milesOH

RIGHT FRONT SPRING BROKE, FRACTURE HAPPENED IN THE TRANSITION FROM THE LOWEST COIL (THE ONE ALWAYS ON THE SPRING SEAT) TO THE FIRST ACTIVE COIL. ANTI-CORROSION COATING WAS MISSING IN THAT AREA, AND A SMALL AMOUNT OF SURFACE PITTING WAS PRESENT. PHOTOS OF FAILED SPRING ARE AVAILABLE UPON REQUEST (BOTH IN PLACE BEFORE REMOVAL, AND CLOSEUP VIEW OF THE FRACTURE ON THE COIL THAT BROKE OFF). *TR

Visibility
Filed Feb 20, 201233,598 milesGA

FRONT DRIVER'S SEAT HEADREST ENGAGED VISOR IN STOWED POSITION WHEN SEAT PUSHED FORWARD TO ENTER REAR SEAT. THIS CAUSED THE MIRROR INSIDE THE VISOR TO SHATTER. WE DID NOT REALIZE THIS HAD OCCURRED UNTIL AFTER MY WIFE WAS DRIVING, LOWERED THE VISOR, AND GLASS SHARDS FELL ON HER LAP. THANKFULLY THEY DID NOT FALL IN HER FACE/EYES. THIS DID NOT CAUSE A WRECK, BUT WE'RE CONCERNED THAT THIS COULD CAUSE FUTURE ACCIDENTS. WE CONTACTED VOLVO USA, AND THEY ACKNOWLEDGED PRIOR REPORTS OF SIMILAR INCIDENTS, BUT STATED THAT THE DAMAGE WAS NOT COVERED BY THE WARRANTY, AND ESSENTIALLY THEY TOOK NO RESPONSIBILITY. THIS IS UNFORTUNATE, AS I BELIEVE THIS TO BE A CRITICAL DESIGN FLAW THAT COULD CAUSE A FATAL ACCIDENT. I NOTIFIED VOLVO USA THAT I HAD NO CHOICE BUT TO FILE THIS CLAIM WITH NHTSA, IN AN EFFORT TO ALERT OTHER DRIVERS OF POTENTIAL RISKS. *TR

Vehicle Speed Control
Filed Jun 21, 2009ME

VOLVO C30 2008 HAS VERY SMALL SPACE BETWEEN BRAKE PEDAL,ACCELERATOR AND CONSOLE WHICH MAKE THE SHOE TRAPPED UNDER THE BRAKE PEDAL. THIS MAY VERY SERIOUS ACCIDENT. *TR

Air Bags › Side/Window
Filed Mar 26, 20083,500 milesPA

I WAS DRIVING OUT OF A TOLL BOOTH AND WAS ACCELERATING. A TRACTOR TRAILER BEGAN COMING CLOSER TO ME. I MOVED OVER TO AVOID IMPACT WITH THE TRUCK. IN THE PROCESS MY FRONT AND REAR DRIVERS SIDE WHEELS RUBBED AGAINST A CURB CAUSING THE SIDE AIRBAGS TO DEPLOY. THERE WAS NO DAMAGE TO THE VEHICLE OTHER THAN A TWO INCH SCRAPE ON THE RIMS. THE EMPLOYEES IN THE BODY SHOP AND SERVICE DEPARTMENT STATED THAT THE AIRBAGS SHOULD NOT HAVE DEPLOYED DUE TO THE WHEELS RUBBING CURB. THE WOMAN AT VOLVO STATED THAT THE CAR "DETECTED IMMINENT DAMAGE" WHICH CAUSED THE AIRBAGS TO DEPLOY. I WAS DECELERATING AT THE TIME OF THE DEPLOYMENT, HAD I BEEN ACCELERATING TO PASS THE TRUCK I WOULD HAVE BEEN KILLED. THE INVESTIGATOR FROM VOLVO STATED THAT THEY MOVED THE SENSORS TO THE WHEEL WELLS AND THE ARE MORE SENSITIVE. I THINK THIS IS A SERIOUS SAFETY CONCERN AS THE VEHICLE, UPON DETECTING IMMINENT DANGER ALMOST KILLED ME. *TR

8 of 8 complaints, reproduced as filed.

Across model years

Worst on record: 2011
YearComplaintsRecallsFiresDeathsAssessment
20134000Routine
201210000Routine
201114100Routine
20106200Routine
20096200Routine
2008 — this page8200Routine
20071200Routine

Compare every C30 year →

Reading this record

No unusual pattern of severe incidents in the complaint record.

Complaint counts track how many cars were sold and how long they have been on the road as much as they track quality. A common model from 2013 has had a decade to accumulate reports; a rare one from last year has not. The signal worth weighing is in the severity columns, in whether the same component keeps appearing, and in whether the manufacturer eventually opened a recall for it.

Recall repairs are free for as long as the recall stands. Check whether a specific car still has open work at NHTSA's VIN lookup.

Most recent recall on file: Nov 8, 2010. Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation.