2025 Volvo EX40: True Cost, Problems & Verdict
2 NHTSA owner complaints · 3 recalls · data-computed verdict. No opinions — public data only.
Owner complaints: 2 filed with NHTSA
Complaints per year on the road: 2.0
What owners say
Verbatim reports filed with the United States safety regulator (NHTSA) by owners of this exact model year. Public record.
Applied the brake while approaching a crosswalk and suddenly multiple warning notifications appeared on dashboard (brake failure, collision avoidance system not functioning, etc) and every warning light started flashing. Lost power steering and brakes. Had to swerve to avoid a pedestrian. Once stopped could not change the gear, engage the parking brake, or turn the car off. I was on a hill and needed to keep my foot …
1st incident vehicle lost power while operating. No way to operate hazard lights, steering and control goes dead and wipers come on continuously. 2nd incident car was returned from dealership. 15 minutes into the drive on a busy highway in Minneapolis car began to replicate similar issues. No power, no hazard lights, SOS call button is inoperable as well.
Recalls: 3 campaigns (1 severe)
| Campaign | Component | Summary |
|---|---|---|
| 25V282000 | Back Over Prevention:Software | Volvo Car USA, LLC (Volvo Car) is recalling certain 2021-2025 XC40, 2022 V90, 2022-2025 S90, V90CC, C40, XC60, 2023-2025 S60, V60, V60CC, XC90, and 2025 EC40 and EX40 vehicles. The rearview camera image may not display when the vehicle is placed in reverse. |
| 25V392000 | Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Power Assist:Electric:Control Module:Software | Volvo Car USA, LLC (Volvo Car) is recalling certain 2023 Volvo C40 BEV, 2025 EC40, 2023-2024 XC40 BEV, 2020-2026 XC90 PHEV, 2022-2026 XC60 PHEV, 2023-2025 S60 PHEV, 2024-2025 V60 PHEV, and 2025-2026 EX40 and 2025 S90 PHEV vehicles. In certain driving scenarios while coasting down a hill and using "B" mode or "One Pedal Drive," the vehicle may lose brake… |
| 25V908000 | Back Over Prevention:Software | Volvo Car USA, LLC (Volvo Car) is recalling certain 2021-2025 XC40, 2022 V90, 2022-2024 C40BEV, 2022-2025 S90, V90CC, XC60, 2023-2025 S60, V60, V60CC, XC90, and 2025 EC40, and EX40 vehicles. The rearview camera image may not display when the vehicle is placed in reverse. |
What it costs to buy — and what owning it really takes
Class-level estimates, priced as a compact premium car of its model year, re-priced to your country. Not a quote, not a valuation of one specific car — condition, mileage and options move it. How these are computed.
What it costs to run
EPA combined 106 MPGe · estimated annual energy cost $700 · EPA range 296 mi
Re-priced automatically from your country's retail fuel, electricity and parts indices — change country in the bar at the top. Estimates; see methodology.
What this car's problems cost to fix
Ranked by the components owners of this exact model year actually complain about. Each figure is flat-rate labour hours x the local shop rate plus a parts band — an estimate of what this kind of failure costs, not a quote, and not a prediction that this car will need it. Formula.
- Steering1 complaints · typical job: Electric power-steering rack or column motor replacement (5.0 h labour + parts)$1,020–$2,500
- Service Brakes1 complaints · typical job: Pads, rotors and caliper service, both axles (3.0 h labour + parts)$580–$1,140
- Power Train1 complaints · typical job: Transmission service or clutch-pack repair (7.0 h labour + parts)$1,290–$4,040
- Electrical System1 complaints · typical job: Alternator, battery-drain or body-module diagnosis and replacement (3.0 h labour + parts)$540–$1,310
- Engine1 complaints · typical job: Cooling-system or timing-drive repair (6.0 h labour + parts)$1,040–$2,220
FAQ
What is the most common problem with the 2025 Volvo EX40?
The most-reported issue in NHTSA complaint data is Steering (1 complaints in our indexed sample).
Is the 2025 Volvo EX40 a good used car to buy?
Our data verdict is BUY with a reliability score of 85/100, computed from 2 NHTSA complaints and 3 recall campaigns. See the verdict card for the top reasons.
How much does it cost to fix the 2025 Volvo EX40's most common problem?
1 of the NHTSA complaints filed against the 2025 Volvo EX40 sit in the Steering group — more than any other component on this model year. The representative job there is electric power-steering rack or column motor replacement: about 5.0 hours of labour plus parts, roughly $1,020–$2,500 at a US independent shop and re-priced to your country at the top of the page. It is an estimate of what this class of failure costs, not a quote for this car.
What does a 2025 Volvo EX40 cost to run per year?
About $1,548 a year in fuel or energy plus the maintenance band — roughly $7,740 over five years, before purchase price, insurance and depreciation. Figures come from available EPA fuel-economy data and industry maintenance averages, and are re-priced to your country.
Does the 2025 Volvo EX40 have recalls?
Yes — NHTSA lists 3 recall campaign(s) for the 2025 Volvo EX40, 1 of them touching fire, crash or stall risk, the most recent recorded 08/05/2025. Check this car's VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls before you buy.
Compare with
Other luxury compacts of about the same age.
What will a 2025 Volvo EX40 really cost YOU per year?
Fuel, maintenance band and depreciation — computed from public data in 10 seconds.
Open the true-cost calculatorData sources
Complaints & recalls: NHTSA ·
Fuel economy: EPA fueleconomy.gov ·
Scoring: our published methodology.
Maintenance bands are industry-average estimates (AAA Your Driving Costs, CarMD index) — labeled estimates, not measurements.
Last updated: 2026-10-04.
Thin evidence — 2 complaints, 3 recalls on record
- 2 NHTSA complaints on record (2.0/yr of exposure) — in line with a typical year of this model (2.0/yr)
- 3 recall campaigns, 1 touching safety-critical systems
- Thin complaint record — this score is held close to the model's own average rather than read as evidence of quality