What 23 owners told NHTSA about the 2023 Volvo C40 Recharge

I (and I think many other people) have had accidents in which a Volvo C40 while in One Pedal Driving mode (OPD) lurched forward after having come to a stop from braking. I have had two such accidents. The first time, which occurred on or about 11/10/23 occcurred when I pulled into a neighbor's driveway and stopped behind her car. I was intending to turn around. The Volvo C40, after I had brought it to a stop with the brake, suddenly lurched forward causing major damage to the C40 and my neighbor's car. Her car was pushed into her garage door causing damage to the front, as well as the back, and to her garage door. Fortunately, there were no injuries to a person. This was reported to State Farm Insurance at the time and they paid the damages and for the repair of my car, except for the $1000 deductible. Claim # is 75-58Z4-06F The second accident occurred on Wednesday, June 26, 2024. I was again in One Pedal Drive in the C40. I pulled up behind a parked car and stopped using the brake. As in November of 2023, the C40 suddenly lurched forward hitting the parked car and causing damage to its rear end. There was a driver sitting in the parked car and he might have suffered mild whiplash. This was reported to State Farm, Claim # 75-69X3-29K. I know that this has occurred to other drivers of the C40 car. See for example XC40 Forum under "Unintended Accelaration after Braking" and "Unintended Accelaration Crash"

NHTSA ODI 11597738

I am writing to bring to your attention a potentially catastrophic accident involving our leased C40 vehicle that happened on [XXX], 3:30pm. (ID [XXX] ) On the above mentioned date, my husband, [XXX] , was parking the C40 in a school parking lot to pick up our grandchild. He experienced an alarming episode of unintended acceleration. Despite his efforts to control the vehicle, the car lurched out of the parking space and rapidly accelerated, veered onto a snowy embankment, ran over a metal post, and stopped only after it rammed into a minivan parked in the school pick-up zone with enough force to push the minivan up on the curb. Regrettably, this accident resulted in injuries to the individual in the minivan who waiting to pick up her preschoolers and required emergency medical attention after the accident. She is presently pursuing legal action against our insurance company for both personal injury and vehicle damage. This accident could have caused far worse injuries since preschoolers were being picked up at this time in the area where the accident occurred. Our C 40 was in one-pedal mode, and during the accident, none of the alarms activated nor did the front emergency braking system work, and the airbag did not deploy even though the car was probably traveling at speeds greater than 10-15 miles/hour upon impact. Disturbingly, upon further investigation, we have uncovered numerous reports indicating similar incidents of unintended acceleration associated with the C40 series. This raises serious concerns about the safety and reliability of this vehicle, not only for us but for all individuals operating or coming into contact with these vehicles. Our insurance company determined that our car was completely totaled, since the EV battery was destroyed by running over the metal post. The driver of the car suffered a concussion and is still suffering from post concussion syndrome 2 months after the accident. She is unable to drive. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

NHTSA ODI 11579426

Rear hatch opens and closed unexpectantly. Closure has hit family members in the head and ear.

NHTSA ODI 11565224

The cup holder sparked and starting burning after the sun reflected on a plastic water bottle placed in the cup holder, and the water bottle then reacted to the cup holder material and began smoking. This first occurred the day after purchasing the car, with the water bottle the dealership provided. It has since occurred two additional times. I notified Volvo who does not have a way to cure the defect and advised they needed to check with engineers. We have video of the smoke and burning.

NHTSA ODI 11487770