NHTSA recalls & complaints · 2007–2013

Volvo C30 recalls, complaints and VIN decoding

NHTSA lists 4 recall campaigns and 49 owner complaints for the Volvo C30, covering model years 2007 to 2013. The 2011 model year drew the most complaints (14), and Visibility/Wiper is the component owners name most often.

Source: NHTSA recall and complaint flat files, updated September 25, 2026.

Decode your Volvo C30 VIN

See the model year, plant and build details of one vehicle, then the recalls for its exact year.

4 recall campaigns on file
49 owner complaints (unverified reports to NHTSA)
7 model years with data (2007–2013)

most complaints: 2011 (14 for that model year)
top component: Visibility/Wiper (15 complaints)
latest recall 10V566000 (reported Nov 8, 2010)

3 complaints reporting a crash (6.1%)
0 complaints reporting a fire (0.0%)
0 complaints reporting an injury (0.0%)
0 complaints reporting a death (0.0%)

Volvo C30 complaints by model year

7 model years · NHTSA complaints

The 2011 model year has the most complaints: 14 of 49, or 28.6%. Next come 2012 (10) and 2008 (8). The fewest are for 2007, with 1 complaint.

Owner complaints per model yearHighest yearOther years

Volvo C30 complaints by model year, with complaints reporting a crash, fire, injury or death

Volvo C30 complaints by model year, with complaints reporting a crash, fire, injury or death
Model year	Complaints	Reporting a crash
2007	1	0
2008	8	0
2009	6	0
2010	6	2
2011	14	1
2012	10	0
2013	4	0
All model years	49	3

Crash, fire, injury and death columns count complaints that report at least one of them, not people.

Most-reported Volvo C30 components

top 15 · NHTSA categories

Visibility/Wiper is the component named most often, in 15 complaints (30.6% of all 49), followed by Suspension (5) and Vehicle Speed Control (5).

Components named most often in Volvo C30 complaints (top 15)

Components named most often in Volvo C30 complaints (top 15)
Component	Complaints	Share of complaints
Visibility/Wiper	15	30.6%
Unknown or Other	6	12.2%
Suspension	5	10.2%
Vehicle Speed Control	5	10.2%
Structure	4	8.2%
Air Bags	3	6.1%
Engine	3	6.1%
Power Train	3	6.1%
Steering	3	6.1%
Tires	3	6.1%
Electrical System	2	4.1%
Visibility	2	4.1%
Wheels	2	4.1%
Engine and Engine Cooling	1	2.0%
Exterior Lighting	1	2.0%

One complaint can name several components, so the shares add up to more than 100%. Component names are NHTSA’s top-level categories.

What NHTSA owner complaints mean

These figures count complaints that vehicle owners and other members of the public have submitted to NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation. NHTSA uses complaints, together with other data, to spot safety issues that may warrant an investigation and to check whether existing recalls go far enough.

They are reports, not findings. Each complaint is the submitter's own account. Its presence in the database does not mean NHTSA has confirmed a defect.
Counts are not defect rates. The data doesn't say how many vehicles were sold, so a raw count can't tell you what share of vehicles had a problem.
Popular models collect more complaints. A model sold in large numbers will usually gather more complaints than a rare one, simply because more people own it.
One complaint can name several components. Totals by component can therefore add up to more than the number of complaints.
Coverage starts in 1995. NHTSA's complaint file contains complaints received since January 1, 1995.

Use complaint patterns as a prompt for questions: whether a recall covers the issue, whether the vehicle you are considering has had the fix, and what a mechanic finds on inspection. For confirmed safety defects, see the recall list for this model.

Volvo C30 recalls

4 campaigns · newest first

Every vehicle recall campaign NHTSA lists under the model name C30, newest first. The 4 campaigns cover model years 2007 to 2011. 4 model years tie for the most campaigns (2 each).

4 recall campaigns

Volvo C30 recall campaigns covering each model year
2007: 2 campaigns	2008: 2 campaigns	2009: 2 campaigns	2010: 2 campaigns	2011: 1 campaign

Highlighted: the model years with the most campaigns.

NHTSA campaign 10V566000
Reported Nov 8, 2010
Equipment › Electrical › Navigational System(Global Positioning System)
Model years 2007–2010
Volvo is recalling certain vehicles equipped with garmin 760 portable global positioning system (GPS) units because the batteries on those units may overheat.
Consequence:
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.
Filed by Volvo Car USA, LLC
NHTSA campaign 10V255000
Reported Jun 8, 2010
Steering › Gear Box › Shaft Sector
Model years 2010–2011
Volvo is recalling certain model year 2010-2011 C30, model year 2010 S40 and V50 vehicles equipped with 6 speed manual transmissions. The gearshift lever stud assembly may not have been tightened to the correct specification during assembly. If the gearshift lever cable or stud assembly becomes loose, it may not be possible to engage, disengage or shift gears.
Consequence:
This condition can increase the risk of a vehicle crash.
Remedy:
Dealers will torque the gearshift lever stud assembly to the correct specification free of charge. The safety recall began on June 14, 2010. Owners may contact Volvo at 1-800-458-1552 or customercare@volvoforlife.com.
Filed by Volvo Car USA, LLC
NHTSA campaign 08V329000
Reported Jul 23, 2008
Steering › Hydraulic Power Assist › Hose, Piping, and Connections
Model years 2008–2009
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.
Consequence:
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.
Filed by Volvo Car USA, LLC
NHTSA campaign 08V101000
Reported Mar 5, 2008
Service Brakes, Hydraulic › Foundation Components › Master Cylinder
Model year 2007
Volvo is recalling 1,114 MY 2007 C30, C70, S40, and V50 passenger vehicles. A soft anodized layer in the master cylinder may trigger early wear on a rubber seal that can result in internal leakage of brake fluid. If affected, the driver may experience reduced brake performance when applying and maintaining force of the brake pedal.
Consequence:
The capacity to brake will gradually deteriorate forcing the driver to use a higher than expected force on the brake pedal when compared to an intact brake system. The deterioration can eventually result in complete loss of the brake system functionality increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy:
Dealers will inspect the master cylinder. The brake master cylinder and brake fluid reservoir will be replaced and certain brake lines cleaned free of charge. The recall began on March 11, 2008. Owners may contact Volvo at 1-800-458-1552.
Filed by Volvo Car USA, LLC

Recall text is shown as NHTSA publishes it; older campaigns, which NHTSA stores in capital letters, are shown in sentence case. NHTSA’s Vehicle Safety Hotline, 1-888-327-4236, also answers recall questions.

How to read this recall list

This list shows every safety recall campaign NHTSA has on file for this make, model and model year. It is not specific to one vehicle: a recall often covers only vehicles built in a certain date range or with a certain part, and many of the vehicles it covers will already have been repaired.

What each recall field means

What each recall field means
Field	What it tells you
Campaign number	NHTSA's unique ID for the recall, such as 20V771000. Quote it to a dealer or when searching NHTSA's site.
Component	The system or part involved, for example air bags, brakes or electrical software.
Summary	What the defect or non-compliance is and which vehicles are covered.
Consequence	The safety risk if the problem isn't fixed.
Remedy	What the manufacturer will do, such as a repair, replacement or software update, and whether it is free.

Some recalls carry an NHTSA consumer advisory, “Do Not Drive” or “Park Outside”. Follow it until the repair is done.
A single campaign often covers several models or model years, so the same campaign number can appear in more than one list.
Recalls are shown as NHTSA publishes them. Very recent campaigns may take time to appear.

Does your vehicle have an open recall? Only a VIN check can tell you. Enter the VIN at NHTSA's recall lookup (opens in a new tab) or on the manufacturer's website. Our VIN recall check guide explains what each option covers.

Volvo C30 questions

5 questions

How many recalls does the Volvo C30 have?

NHTSA lists 4 vehicle recall campaigns for the Volvo C30, covering model years 2007 to 2013. The most recent, 10V566000, was reported on November 8, 2010 and is filed under “Equipment”.

Which Volvo C30 model year has the most complaints?

The 2011 model year, with 14 of the 49 complaints in NHTSA’s file (28.6%). The next are 2012 (10) and 2008 (8). Complaint counts also reflect how many vehicles of each year were sold and how long they have been on the road, so they are not a reliability ranking.

What is the most common Volvo C30 complaint?

Visibility/Wiper is the component named most often: 15 complaints, or 30.6% of all 49. Suspension (5) and Vehicle Speed Control (5) follow. Complaints are unverified reports from owners, not confirmed defects, and one complaint can name several components.

Does every recall on this page apply to my Volvo C30?

Not necessarily. Each campaign lists specific model years, and many cover only vehicles built in a certain period or fitted with a certain part; repairs already carried out aren’t shown. To see whether a recall is open on your vehicle, enter its VIN at NHTSA’s recall lookup (opens in a new tab) or ask a Volvo dealer.

How many Volvo C30 complaints report a crash, fire, injury or death?

Of the 49 complaints, 3 report a crash, 0 a fire, 0 at least one injury and 0 at least one death. These figures count complaints, not people, and each complaint is the submitter’s own unverified account.

8 models · most complaints first

The Volvo models with the most NHTSA complaints, and the Volvo VIN decoder with every Volvo model page, WMI code and VIN note.

Volvo XC90 2003–2025 · 35 recalls · 1,521 complaints
Volvo S60 2000–2025 · 40 recalls · 1,264 complaints
Volvo S80 1999–2016 · 27 recalls · 954 complaints
Volvo V70 1996–2016 · 22 recalls · 933 complaints
Volvo XC60 2009–2025 · 36 recalls · 647 complaints
Volvo S70 1995–2002 · 6 recalls · 593 complaints
Volvo S40 2000–2011 · 12 recalls · 491 complaints
Volvo XC70 2001–2016 · 19 recalls · 417 complaints

All Volvo models and WMI codes Look up recalls by year

Data: NHTSA recalls and complaints flat files, updated September 25, 2026. Recall campaigns are vehicle (V) campaigns listed for this model name; complaints are counted once per NHTSA ODI number and model year.