After seeing and looking at the XC40 reviews I took the plunge, put a deposit down and ordered a Black R-Design, full options with the moon roof (paying cash). I was pretty excited about it till I started looking at brand reliability comparisons (J. D. Power, Consumer Reports, etc) and seeing that Volvo is pretty low on the list. Now I find myself second guessing myself which is a bummer cause I REALLY love the car. I don't want to buy a car that I'm constantly going to be spending money on and taking to the shop. Can anyone chime in on their knowledge/experience with Volvos long term that might make me feel better about this?
SvenskSkott
That's a pretty tough question, considering the relative newness of all these modern Volvos. The SPA (the new platform that all Volvo's bigger vehicles are built on now) cars first model year was 2016 with the XC90... they had a few kinks in that first model year but have seemed fine since? Those initial kinks might be much of the lower ratings you are seeing. The XC40 is the first of the CMA platform. It does use the same engine as the SPA cars, and same infotainment system and such, so should be rather similar to those.
But yea, that's it. Long term is 2016 to now.
But yea, that's it. Long term is 2016 to now.
I had two SPA XC90s. Both have spent more time in the shop than out of it. Volvo has stonewalled me at every step. I waste tons of time and took a huge financial hit on both. Stay away from the brand, they are dishonest bastards.
Feel better yet? ?
Kidding... wish I had something more positive. Stay away, for real. I am waiting on delivery of a new Q7. Litigation ongoing with Volvo.
Of course, who knows whether the 40s will have more luck. But the brand is horrible to deal with, if things do go wrong.
Feel better yet? ?
Kidding... wish I had something more positive. Stay away, for real. I am waiting on delivery of a new Q7. Litigation ongoing with Volvo.
Of course, who knows whether the 40s will have more luck. But the brand is horrible to deal with, if things do go wrong.
I also had two SPA XC90s. First one was MY16, bought back, and MY18 was totaled by someone who rear ended us.
I ended up in the Q7 as well and have no regrets.
The XC40 models seem to have fixed a lot of issues, like a new processor for faster boot up etc.
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I ended up in the Q7 as well and have no regrets.
The XC40 models seem to have fixed a lot of issues, like a new processor for faster boot up etc.
Sent from my iPhone X using Tapatalk
This is my first Volvo purchase having been loyal to the Japanese brands for the past two decades. I have had a sunroof leak, had to replace the spark plugs, and recently the struts. All covered under warranty and all fixed within a day. In contrast, never had much a warranty issue with Acura, Infiniti, Toyota, or Mazda. All that said, I really like my xc90! The interior is just so nice,and I like the RDesign profile. I like how it drives with the P* tune as well.
A couple folks on this board had real lemons and I can’t blame them for moving on from Volvo. But if you sift through the posts you will find that what really matters is the quality of the dealer. It seems to make or break the ownership experience. So, hopefully you have a quality dealer nearby and you will enjoy your XC40.
A couple folks on this board had real lemons and I can’t blame them for moving on from Volvo. But if you sift through the posts you will find that what really matters is the quality of the dealer. It seems to make or break the ownership experience. So, hopefully you have a quality dealer nearby and you will enjoy your XC40.
I have now exceeded 30K with MY16 XC90 T8 Inscription - first one ever deliver in MN. Other than a couple of early production and mechanical issues, regular software updates (3-6 months) have any software glitches.
Volvo has always backed up any issue and dealer has provided a loaner each and every time - even routine maintenance.
I have the 8-year 100K Volvo exclusionary warranty and I am “on my own” now with maintenance post 30K miles. Between the car, Volvo and the dealer, I have no concern for reliability. Time and circumstances will tell but my glass is at least half full.
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Volvo has always backed up any issue and dealer has provided a loaner each and every time - even routine maintenance.
I have the 8-year 100K Volvo exclusionary warranty and I am “on my own” now with maintenance post 30K miles. Between the car, Volvo and the dealer, I have no concern for reliability. Time and circumstances will tell but my glass is at least half full.
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Volvo reliability was a big concern when we were making the decision to get our XC40. Consumer Reports has generally said the VWs and the Jeep we have are below average for reliability, but we really haven't found that to be true. Our newest car, my 2013 VW GTI, has 42,000 mikes on it and has gone in once for a repair since new. Very happy with that.
We're going to give Volvo a chance. Hopefully the four year warranty period will Be free from repairs and we'll keep the Volvo long term.
We're going to give Volvo a chance. Hopefully the four year warranty period will Be free from repairs and we'll keep the Volvo long term.
I'm a bit concerned about reliability myself. This will be my first Volvo, and my first Luxury brand car. Plus the closest Volvo dealership is an hour drive from my house. I've been very lucky with my last two cars (2006 Mazda 3, 2013 Ford Focus ST), so hoping that trend continues.
I'm actually going to pay for my XC40 OSD today, so depending on what kind of deals they offer on extended warranty, I might consider that.
Has anyone gotten any of the extended warranties on the XC40? If so, which, and how much was it?
I'm actually going to pay for my XC40 OSD today, so depending on what kind of deals they offer on extended warranty, I might consider that.
Has anyone gotten any of the extended warranties on the XC40? If so, which, and how much was it?
The reasons I'm taking a chance on XC40:
Yes, it's new. But many of its major systems, engine, transmission and AWD, infotainment, and so on, have been refined over years of experience in its new-generation SPA siblings.
My 2016 V60 (first Volvo ever) has been flawless. Volvo's attention has too. The sole minor flaw was one of the bag hooks under the rear compartment shelf came loose - didn't break, just hadn't been glued securely enough. Volvo didn't just re-glue it, they replaced both hooks. I noticed at my second annual service (Nice those are paid for 3 years - far as I know only BMW does that, for 4) sparkplugs had already been replaced free of charge, for no apparent reason. Asked why. Volvo had noted the ceramic coatings on one batch of plugs were cracking occasionally. So changed everybody's out at annual services. That's it, in 2.5years.
Yes, it's new. But many of its major systems, engine, transmission and AWD, infotainment, and so on, have been refined over years of experience in its new-generation SPA siblings.
My 2016 V60 (first Volvo ever) has been flawless. Volvo's attention has too. The sole minor flaw was one of the bag hooks under the rear compartment shelf came loose - didn't break, just hadn't been glued securely enough. Volvo didn't just re-glue it, they replaced both hooks. I noticed at my second annual service (Nice those are paid for 3 years - far as I know only BMW does that, for 4) sparkplugs had already been replaced free of charge, for no apparent reason. Asked why. Volvo had noted the ceramic coatings on one batch of plugs were cracking occasionally. So changed everybody's out at annual services. That's it, in 2.5years.
I've never purchased an extended warranty/service contract on any car I've outchased. We keep cars for a long time (currently 5,10,11 and 22 year for the cars in the garage) and have never owned one where such a contract would have been worth it.
If a car was going to be so problematic or costly to repair that I would need such a thing, I would probably buy something else or if it was a nightmare during the warranty period I might just cut my losses and sell it.
If a car was going to be so problematic or costly to repair that I would need such a thing, I would probably buy something else or if it was a nightmare during the warranty period I might just cut my losses and sell it.
I've had 4 Volvos. 3 in the span of the past 6 years.
Not an issue with any of them that required more than a day at a dealer. And most of those were my pet peeves anyway.
Not an issue with any of them that required more than a day at a dealer. And most of those were my pet peeves anyway.
I’ve been driving Volvo for quite a few years. I’ve only had a few minor things here and there; alternator, brake roasts. I’ve found them to be quite reliable. There are two things that worry me a bit with the XC40. First, it is a new car on a new platform. Second, it has a lot of electronics, computers, cameras, and sensors that could have an issue. I know that they got a lot of the bugs worked out of the systems with release of the XC90 a few years ago so I expect it to be fine. I know there were a few Drive-E issues that took a couple of years to work through. Overall, Volvos tend to run a long time. Search the forums for hightest mileage on a modern Volvo and you may be surprised. I don’t consider it to be relative to modern cars, but the current world record for most miles on a passenger car also belongs to a Volvo. I don’t put much faith in JD Power any longer. Consumer Reports is also hit or miss.
just over 3,000 miles on my XC40 - no major issues. Only a cable connector in the door panel that had come loose. The XC40 is much more reliable than my 2016 XC90 R-Design. As others have written, the major electrical components and the engine and transmission have been in production for several years.
The 2016 XC90s were the first and had the most issues with software and some hardware components. I had zero issues working with my dealer and Volvo customer service.
The 2016 XC90s were the first and had the most issues with software and some hardware components. I had zero issues working with my dealer and Volvo customer service.
Again, this is going to be based on who you ask.
My co-worker hates Volvos, because, and I quote:
Her: I bought it brand new, and it just broke right away
Me: What happened?
Her: One day, I just couldn't start it
Me: Battery?
Her: Yes
Me: How many miles were on the car?
Her: 152,000
Me: ??????? You said it broke down right away...
She keeps telling people Volvo is a horrible car.
So, to sum it up, I feel like CR is doing just that!
My co-worker hates Volvos, because, and I quote:
Her: I bought it brand new, and it just broke right away
Me: What happened?
Her: One day, I just couldn't start it
Me: Battery?
Her: Yes
Me: How many miles were on the car?
Her: 152,000
Me: ??????? You said it broke down right away...
She keeps telling people Volvo is a horrible car.
So, to sum it up, I feel like CR is doing just that!
Consumer Reports lost a lot of credibility with me when they reviewed the XC40.
Link: https://www.consumerreports.org/suvs/2019-volvo-xc40-suv-first-drive-review/
Their first beef with xc40 is a somewhat legit one, the "jerky" start-stop (now a moot point because you can turn it off ONE TIME and be done with it forever, and it makes a negligible impact on fuel economy).
Their second beef with xc40 is the gear shifter:
"Now, about that shifter: It's terrible. In order to engage Drive or Reverse, drivers need to move the gear selector twice in the appropriate direction, like a double-tap. If they miss the second tap, the transmission stays in Neutral. This can result in a delay during a parking maneuver and will surely frustrate drivers. Consumer Reports has repeatedly discussed the problems with these types of shifters in previous coverage. (Read "When It Comes to Automatic Shifters, It's Proceed With Caution.")
There are simply better ways to do this, and Volvo, particularly because it sees itself as the "safety" brand, should rethink this approach."
When I turn the car on, I press the power button, and then I "double-tap" the shifter to put it in reverse or drive. Done. It's simple, and there's nothing to it. There is no risk of "missing" the second tap, any more risk than there is missing a double-click on a mouse. Click it twice for double click. It's easy. And when I stop driving the car, I don't even touch it, I touch the Power button, that signals the transmission to shift into park, then it powers it down. I just don't get why CR makes such a huge deal of a feature that is so small. Is the shifter the best feature on the car? No. But it's unobtrusive and simple to use.
Their third problem is that the touch-screen involves too many swipes and taps and results in a lot of distracted driving:
"The other challenging feature is the XC40's central control screen. It looks inviting and high-tech, resembling a tablet computer, and serves as the command center for climate, audio, and phone controls. But using the system while driving is frustrating, thanks to the multiple taps, swipes, and scrolls necessitated to navigate through the layered menu structure."
This is just not true because the combination of Sensus Connect and CarPlay mean that a smart driver literally never has to touch the screen at all. For example:
"Set temperature 74" ... "Now set to 74 degrees."
"Set fan to max" ... "Fan is now set to max."
"Turn on steering wheel heat" etc etc
Apple CarPlay:
"Play popular songs by The Beatles." ... "Now playing The Beatles' popular songs."
"Play Imagine" .... "Now playing "Imagine by John Lennon."
"What's the weather?" "The weather is 84 degrees with showers this afternoon."
"Start directions home." "Starting directions home."
Bottom line: I almost never TOUCH the center screen let alone have it distracting me while I'm driving.
Link: https://www.consumerreports.org/suvs/2019-volvo-xc40-suv-first-drive-review/
Their first beef with xc40 is a somewhat legit one, the "jerky" start-stop (now a moot point because you can turn it off ONE TIME and be done with it forever, and it makes a negligible impact on fuel economy).
Their second beef with xc40 is the gear shifter:
"Now, about that shifter: It's terrible. In order to engage Drive or Reverse, drivers need to move the gear selector twice in the appropriate direction, like a double-tap. If they miss the second tap, the transmission stays in Neutral. This can result in a delay during a parking maneuver and will surely frustrate drivers. Consumer Reports has repeatedly discussed the problems with these types of shifters in previous coverage. (Read "When It Comes to Automatic Shifters, It's Proceed With Caution.")
There are simply better ways to do this, and Volvo, particularly because it sees itself as the "safety" brand, should rethink this approach."
When I turn the car on, I press the power button, and then I "double-tap" the shifter to put it in reverse or drive. Done. It's simple, and there's nothing to it. There is no risk of "missing" the second tap, any more risk than there is missing a double-click on a mouse. Click it twice for double click. It's easy. And when I stop driving the car, I don't even touch it, I touch the Power button, that signals the transmission to shift into park, then it powers it down. I just don't get why CR makes such a huge deal of a feature that is so small. Is the shifter the best feature on the car? No. But it's unobtrusive and simple to use.
Their third problem is that the touch-screen involves too many swipes and taps and results in a lot of distracted driving:
"The other challenging feature is the XC40's central control screen. It looks inviting and high-tech, resembling a tablet computer, and serves as the command center for climate, audio, and phone controls. But using the system while driving is frustrating, thanks to the multiple taps, swipes, and scrolls necessitated to navigate through the layered menu structure."
This is just not true because the combination of Sensus Connect and CarPlay mean that a smart driver literally never has to touch the screen at all. For example:
"Set temperature 74" ... "Now set to 74 degrees."
"Set fan to max" ... "Fan is now set to max."
"Turn on steering wheel heat" etc etc
Apple CarPlay:
"Play popular songs by The Beatles." ... "Now playing The Beatles' popular songs."
"Play Imagine" .... "Now playing "Imagine by John Lennon."
"What's the weather?" "The weather is 84 degrees with showers this afternoon."
"Start directions home." "Starting directions home."
Bottom line: I almost never TOUCH the center screen let alone have it distracting me while I'm driving.
As an engineer and a car guy, and a new owner of a XC40, here are my observations.
- There's a lot to like about the XC40 in terms of reliability for a first year product. A lot of the electronics, nav, etc are borrowed from other, existing cars, so generally those systems are proven. The engine follows this as well, it's not completely untested. The transmission is standard fare, so again, parts that function in other places and seem to perform well. That's not to say putting all of these pieces together is easy or won't result in problems, but at least a good portion of the individual pieces aren't completely new.
- As someone who still owns a BMW and has had Mercedes in the past, Volvo's seem very well engineered, and built very well. It's the little things that tell me that at least from an engineering standpoint, care was taken in choosing components and decisions that went into it.
- Generally speaking, the most unreliable cars today are still more reliable than cars from 10, 15, 20 years ago. Not to say that this is always the case, but "reliability" is somewhat of an analogous term. Is a folding mirror failing the same as a transmission failing to shift? To me it isn't, but many times these two things are seen as the same.
- You never can tell how some of these people treat their cars. Not trying to blame anyone, but I've known several people that don't really take care of the cars they drive, and then turn around and blame the car. Not using the proper fluids, improper maintenance, etc, etc.
At the end of the day, Volvo doesn't seem to have an outright poor reliability rating, has one of the best safety ratings in the industry, and seems to be making great cars these days. If the reliability concerns you that much, they do offer extended warranties, and they didn't seem like a bad deal either.
- There's a lot to like about the XC40 in terms of reliability for a first year product. A lot of the electronics, nav, etc are borrowed from other, existing cars, so generally those systems are proven. The engine follows this as well, it's not completely untested. The transmission is standard fare, so again, parts that function in other places and seem to perform well. That's not to say putting all of these pieces together is easy or won't result in problems, but at least a good portion of the individual pieces aren't completely new.
- As someone who still owns a BMW and has had Mercedes in the past, Volvo's seem very well engineered, and built very well. It's the little things that tell me that at least from an engineering standpoint, care was taken in choosing components and decisions that went into it.
- Generally speaking, the most unreliable cars today are still more reliable than cars from 10, 15, 20 years ago. Not to say that this is always the case, but "reliability" is somewhat of an analogous term. Is a folding mirror failing the same as a transmission failing to shift? To me it isn't, but many times these two things are seen as the same.
- You never can tell how some of these people treat their cars. Not trying to blame anyone, but I've known several people that don't really take care of the cars they drive, and then turn around and blame the car. Not using the proper fluids, improper maintenance, etc, etc.
At the end of the day, Volvo doesn't seem to have an outright poor reliability rating, has one of the best safety ratings in the industry, and seems to be making great cars these days. If the reliability concerns you that much, they do offer extended warranties, and they didn't seem like a bad deal either.
Impossible question to answer. You could have a brand with 99% reliability and get the 1% vehicle without tons of issues. Or a brand with 75% reliability and get a trouble free ride. Each car is unique in a sense.
Now, every make and model has points of failure where lots of people suffer the same issue. Hard to say whether the XC40 will be a gem or not on a grand scale. Very new vehicle with too few data points at the moment.
Now, every make and model has points of failure where lots of people suffer the same issue. Hard to say whether the XC40 will be a gem or not on a grand scale. Very new vehicle with too few data points at the moment.
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