- The problem
- 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.
- The risk
- This condition can increase the risk of a vehicle crash.
- The fix
- 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 [email protected] .
Vehicle safety record
2011 Volvo C30 Problems, complaints & recalls
Owners have filed 14 complaints about the 2011 Volvo C30 with NHTSA, most often about the visibility & wipers (7) and the body, doors & structure (3). Those complaints describe 1 crash. It is covered by 1 recall, the latest in June 2010 for the shaft sector. For comparison, the 2010 has 6 and the 2012 has 10.
NHTSA data checked
DMore problems than a typical C30 year, for its age
#192 most complained-about 2011 vehicle
- Complaints
- 14
- Recalls
- 1
- Crashes
- 1
- Fires
- 0
- Injuries
- 0
- Deaths
- 0
Most common 2011 Volvo C30 problems
Share of all 14 complaints. One complaint can name more than one area. Tap an area for its complaints and recalls.
2011 Volvo C30 recalls 1
Recall repairs are free. Your dealer fixes them whether or not you bought the car there - check your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see if yours is done. What to do
What owners say
Be the first C30 owner to share.
Problems or none - your experience is exactly what the next buyer is looking for. Write it now
14 complaints about the 2011 Volvo C30
Newest first, as filed with NHTSA by owners.
The top of the windshield no longer adheres to the body of the vehicle. My searches of the internet have found multiple instances of the Volvos where the top part of the windshield is no longer attached to the vehicle. Here is a link to the Auto Glass Safety Council describes the issue (https://agsc.org/volvo-glass-bonding-issue/). Volvo Car USA LLC recently issued a statement that all windshield replacements on Volvo vehicles must be performed "according to Volvo standards at an authorized facility, using only...
Read the full complaint
Volvo Genuine Windshields and adhesives." Their reasoning for this statement is, "The Volvo windshield is an integral part of our vehicles. Not only does it provide an undistorted view, it serves as a critical structure component on the vehicle." Since Volvo is claiming there is a safety component to the windshield and only Volvo can fix it, they should recall and repair all vehicles with this known issue.
The entire top edge of the windshield is no longer sealed to the car. Water gets in. If all of the windows are closed, the windshield briefly pops out a little bit as the door is closed.
Windshield seal bond at top failed resulting in loose front windshield not being attached to the body. This is leaking water and leading to poor visibility that is dangerous but more concerning is the detachment of the window from the body. This would be extremely dangerous in a collision. The car is parked at this time due to being dangerous to drive.
Windshield is not sealed properly- moving as i drive from faulty seal
The loose windshield issue needs to be investigated as it is a very common issue. I have a 2011 c30. You can push up on the glass and it is not adhered on the top at all to the car. Not just on the c30 but other models as well. It's as if the windshield is only adhered to on 3 sides. It vibrates and leaks. Definitely needs to be recalled. And the manufacturer needs to be made aware.
The vehicle is stationary until I can get the issue corrected in the next day or two. The windshield is loose. I discovered a leak and determined that the issue is that the windshield is not attached to the car at the top. The slightest pressure from the inside can move the windshield away from the seal on the car. I have learned that this is a common issue tin volvo's that occurs due to improper glass preparation. How can this be safe? Shouldn't volvo be responsible for correcting the issue? Thank you
The windshield got loose. When pressing it from the inside, the windshield moves. When the door closes that windshield moves, or with vibrations while driving. Under heavy raining, water leaks inside the cabin. The vehicle was stationary at a parking lot when we realize it was like that. Taking with other owners, it is a known issue, and volvo is aware. *Tr
The windshields on these cars mazda 3 and the ford focus all same platform are known to have a bonding defect when they were built. This should have been a recall for safety.
Tl* the contact owned a 2011 volvo c30. The contact stated that while driving at 35 mph, the steering wheel failed while making a left turn. The contact lost control of the vehicle and crashed into a curb. The air bags did not deploy. A police report was filed. There were no injuries sustained. The vehicle was destroyed and towed to rocko's auto repair of blackwood, new jersey. The dealer was not contacted about the issue. The manufacturer was not made aware of the issue. The failure mileage was unknown.
The car developed a rattle over bumps which got worse with colder weather to the point we determined the windshield is loose almost the entire length across the top and part way down the right side. Our local auto glass company says it seems to be a factory quality control problem. Upon doing some online research it appears to be a somewhat common problem with volvos and it is a problem with the primer applied to the glass possibly being contaminated and separating from the glass and not actually a problem with the...
Read the full complaint
adhesive which attaches the windshield to the car. The volvo dealer says I'm out of warranty and I will have to pay to have the windshield removed and reset and that if it breaks during removal a new one will be around $800.00. I think this is a factory defect and safety concern caused by lack of quality control and other people in the auto glass industry have expressed the same thought. Check here http://beranek.Agrrmag.Com/?S=volvo+bond+failure I have never heard of windshields becoming loose on vehicles being a common occurrence. It also seem that it would be considered a safety issue. I will have photos tomorrow if I can access this report to add them.
While driving along the interstate in southern california, at about 70mph, the sunroof of my 2011 volvo c30 spontaneously exploded. There was no previous indication of any faults with the sunroof system and it was closed at the time of the explosion. I was not driving in traffic or in the vicinity of large vehicles that could have kicked up debris. I also had not passed under any overpasses. From my research online, there does not appear to be a recall on any volvo sunroofs. The local volvo dealer in san...
Read the full complaint
diego has told me that the repair will not be covered under warranty since they could not determine the cause of the explosion. The out of pocket repair costs are estimated at $980. It does not seem that the local dealer is interested in investigating this incident, but they did point out that they have seen similar explosions on other model volvo before.
While driving at about 65 mph in heavy traffic on i-87, the car suddenly lost all power, including all electrical instruments and accessories. It rolled to a stop and could not be started by pushing (the car has a manual transmission).
Tires were shaky when I bought a brand new c30 volvo. Asked dealer to fix-sales manager said nothing was wrong (ft. Meyers, fl volvo). And he would tell volvo I was crazy. Tires were destroyed at 10,000. Went to different volvo dealer in sarasota and st. Pete-nothing is wrong. Dealer replaced tires at 10,000. Car still shaking. Now I am on my 3rd set of tires at 50,000. Something is very wrong with this car-do not buy one volvo will not fix. *Tr
Rear tires worn out on the inside after 21000 miles. 1/32 Inside and 5/32 outside tread depth. Unacceptable tire wear as front tires have 4 to 5/32 tread depth across the tire. Note that this car is also a front wheel drive vehicle! Authorized volvo dealer has aligned vehicle at least 2 times! Alignment said to be within spec both times! I have facts supporting this to be common occurrence on volvo c-30 models as witnessed by owners on internet forums. Excessive tire wear by unsuspecting driver can and will lead to unexpected tire blow out causing damage to vehicle and/or injury or death. Similar incidents have happened as pointed out in the ford explorer accidents in the 1990s! *Tr
Volvo C30: every year compared
All C30 years2011 Volvo C30 vs rivals
| Vehicle | Complaints | Recalls | Grade | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2011 Volvo C30 | 14 | 1 | D | |
| 2011 Volvo C70 | 14 | 1 | F | Compare |
| 2011 Volvo S80 | 5 | 4 | B | Compare |
| 2011 Volvo S40 | 5 | 2 | A | Compare |
| 2011 Volvo S60 | 5 | 6 | C | Compare |
| 2011 Volvo V50 | 2 | 1 | A | Compare |
More sales usually means more complaints, so compare similar vehicles of the same year. The grade compares each vehicle with its own model's other years.
Questions about the 2011 Volvo C30
Does the 2011 Volvo C30 have any recalls?
Yes - NHTSA lists 1 recall for the 2011 Volvo C30: shaft sector (June 2010). Recall repairs are free at any authorized dealer. Enter your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see whether yours has been fixed.
What are the most common problems with the 2011 Volvo C30?
By the complaints owners filed with NHTSA, the most common problem areas are the visibility & wipers (7), body, doors & structure (3), steering (2).
How many complaints has the 2011 Volvo C30 had?
14 complaints have been filed with NHTSA, the first on May 25, 2012 and the latest on June 10, 2023. Of these, 1 describe a crash and 0 a fire, and together they report 0 injuries and 0 deaths.
Is the 2011 Volvo C30 a reliable vehicle?
Its Safety Index is 33 out of 100 (grade D: more problems than a typical Volvo C30 year, for its age). The index weighs complaints, crashes, fires, injuries, deaths and recalls against how long the vehicle has been on the road, compared with the same model's other years. It is not a measure of every repair - read the complaints and owner experiences, and have any used vehicle inspected before you buy.
Which Volvo C30 years have the most complaints?
2011 (14), 2012 (10), 2008 (8). See every Volvo C30 year compared.
What should I do if my 2011 Volvo C30 has a problem?
If it is a safety problem, stop driving it if it is unsafe and contact your dealer. Report it to NHTSA at nhtsa.gov/report-a-safety-problem - enough reports start investigations and recalls - and share your experience here so other owners know what to look for.
Source: U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) complaints and recalls, checked . Complaints are owners' own reports and are not verified. How we use the data