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2008 Volvo C30 problems

The most common problem on the 2008 Volvo C30 is acceleration and speed control. It has 1.3 times the complaints of a typical C30 model year.

Fewer complaintsAmong the best years of this model
Owner complaints
8
Recalls
2
Service bulletins
194
Worst area
Acceleration

The worst 2008 Volvo C30 problems

Ranked by number of owner complaints. Mileage and cost come from what owners wrote.

  • Acceleration
    2
  • Suspension
    2
  • Airbags
    1
  • Engine
    1
  • Seat belts
    1

Problems by type

Tap a problem to see which part fails, at what mileage and in which other years.

  • Acceleration
    2
  • Suspension
    2
  • Airbags
    1
  • Engine
    1
  • Seat belts
    1
  • Seats
    1
  • Visibility
    1

Recalls 2

Equipment: electrical: navigational system(global positioning system)Reported November 8, 2010 · 416 vehicles affected
What is wrong
Volvo is recalling certain vehicles equipped with garmin 760 portable global positioning system (GPS) units because the batteries on those units may overheat.
Risk
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.

Recall number 10V566000 · Recall details

Steering: hydraulic power assist: hose, piping, and connectionsReported July 23, 2008 · 1,020 vehicles affected
What is wrong
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.
Risk
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.

Recall number 08V329000 · Recall details

See all 2 recalls for the 2008 Volvo C30

Technical service bulletins for the 2008 Volvo C30 194

Bulletins tell dealers how to fix known problems. A warranty extension means the manufacturer pays for that repair for longer.

See all 194 bulletins for the 2008 Volvo C30

What 2008 Volvo C30 owners say

Most recent owner complaints, unedited.

Filed Jan 30, 2015 · Acceleration · ME

Very small foot room on driver side. Shoe traps under brake pedal sometime, make some delay of using brake.

Filed Mar 27, 2014 · Suspension · 53,500 miles · OH

Left front spring broke while entering vehicle (parked overnight in garage). Evidence of anti-corrosion paint flaking off of spring in the area that the break occurred. This is the second broken front spring on the same vehicle, the previous one happened ~ 1 year ago (odi# 10502668.). Potentially a defect in the coating process allowing the coating to crack and let corrosion happen on the surface of the spring.

Filed Nov 4, 2013 · Engine · 105,243 miles · CA

Oil trap broken. Was told by my mechanic there was a volvo recall for this problem (dealership recall # 202). Volvo dealership said my make and model was not included in the recall. I believe it was an oversite, as my vehicle was manufactured in the same country as the other volvo make and models included in the recall. This 2008 c30 is the first model of this type. It should have been included in the recall and was not. Please investigate. I've paid $550 to repair due to poor manufacturing. Please review and contact volvo regarding this. Hopefully other's with the same make and model have filed a complaint for a stronger case. I want my money back.

Filed Jul 2, 2013 · Seat belts · 79,000 miles · MN

Front passenger seatbelt difficult to unbuckle. Took to volvo dealership to have serviced on 7/1/13. Dealership reported "found a little sticky. Lubed it. Now opens to intent. It does help to press down on the buckle before you release the latch." the lube did not fix the buckle. Still difficult to release. Safety concern for emergency exit of car.

Filed Mar 13, 2013 · Suspension · 40,896 miles · OH

Right front spring broke, fracture happened in the transition from the lowest coil (the one always on the spring seat) to the first active coil. Anti-corrosion coating was missing in that area, and a small amount of surface pitting was present. Photos of failed spring are available upon request (both in place before removal, and closeup view of the fracture on the coil that broke off).

Filed Feb 20, 2012 · Seats, Visibility · 33,598 miles · GA

Front driver's seat headrest engaged visor in stowed position when seat pushed forward to enter rear seat. This caused the mirror inside the visor to shatter. We did not realize this had occurred until after my wife was driving, lowered the visor, and glass shards fell on her lap. Thankfully they did not fall in her face/eyes. This did not cause a wreck, but we're concerned that this could cause future accidents. We contacted volvo USA, and they acknowledged prior reports of similar incidents, but stated that the damage was not covered by the warranty, and essentially they took no responsibility. This is unfortunate, as I believe this to be a critical design flaw that could cause a fatal accident. I notified volvo USA that I had no choice but to file this claim with the federal safety agency, in an effort to alert other drivers of potential risks.

Filed Jun 21, 2009 · Acceleration · ME

Volvo c30 2008 has very small space between brake pedal,accelerator and console which make the shoe trapped under the brake pedal. This may very serious accident.

Filed Mar 26, 2008 · Airbags · 3,500 miles · PA

I was driving out of a toll booth and was accelerating. A tractor trailer began coming closer to me. I moved over to avoid impact with the truck. In the process my front and rear drivers side wheels rubbed against a curb causing the side airbags to deploy. There was no damage to the vehicle other than a two inch scrape on the rims. The employees in the body shop and service department stated that the airbags should not have deployed due to the wheels rubbing curb. The woman at volvo stated that the car "detected imminent damage" which caused the airbags to deploy. I was decelerating at the time of the deployment, had I been accelerating to pass the truck I would have been killed. The investigator from volvo stated that they moved the sensors to the wheel wells and the are more sensitive. I think this is a serious safety concern as the vehicle, upon detecting imminent danger almost killed me.

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Questions about the 2008 Volvo C30

Is the 2008 Volvo C30 reliable?

Owners have filed 8 complaints about the 2008 Volvo C30, 1.3 times a typical C30 model year.

What is the most common problem with the 2008 Volvo C30?

Acceleration and speed control, with 2 complaints. Next is suspension (2).

How many recalls does the 2008 Volvo C30 have?

2 recalls, covering equipment and steering.

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