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Volvo C30Model year report

2009 Volvo C30 Problems

Complaints
6filed with NHTSA
Median mileage
99,800miles, 5 complaints with mileage
Recalls
2campaigns on record
Trend
Not enough dataFewer than 15 complaints, too few for a reliable trend.
NHTSA crash rating
—overall rating starts with 2011 models
EPA fuel economy
23 mpgcombined, 2.4L 5-cyl FWD · 20 city / 28 hwy

Sources: NHTSA records for the 2009 Volvo C30 (complaints, recalls, investigations), EPA fuel economy. Report an error

NHTSA recorded 6 consumer complaints for the 2009 Volvo C30. The part named most often is transmission and drivetrain, with 2 complaints (33% of the total), followed by exterior lighting (1) and other or unknown (1). 5 of the complaints include a mileage, and 40% of those were filed for vehicles with under 50,000 miles; the median is 99,800 miles. NHTSA lists 2 recall campaigns and 179 technical service bulletins for this model year. Transmission and drivetrain complaints overlap with 2 technical service bulletins filed under the same part. Exterior lighting complaints overlap with 6 technical service bulletins filed under the same part.

This model year has fewer than 25 complaints on record, so the numbers below can change a lot with a few new reports.

Which parts are reported most

Complaints can name more than one part, so the counts add up to more than the total. Select a part to see its complaints, recalls and bulletins.

Example complaints

Transmission and drivetrain: “The clutch gets stuck on depressing intermittently. I was not able to shift the gear in the middle of the highway at around 80 miles an hour and this was a fatal encounter for me. It could have killed me as well as was a hazard for other cot ravellers around me. This problem reproduces its multiple times but at unpredictable moments. It is difficult to replicate the problem when showing it to the service centre however, Volvo issued a recall for faulty clutch master and slave cylinders in the UK but not in USA. There are absolutely no leaks or problems as the clutch is new.”

NHTSA complaint #11537208, filed 2023-08

Exterior lighting: “Headlight assembly cracking. Two passenger side headlight assemblies (original and replacement) have cracked with three months without sign of external impact. Cracking in both assemblies has been identical. A third assembly will be installed this wednesday. Cracking is substantial and poses a safety hazard.”

NHTSA complaint #10359987, filed 2010-10, 28,500 miles

Other or unknown: “Windshield was not properly sealed and seal came loose, freeing windshield from the body of the car. Problem was noticed when rain came in on driver's side and wet the driver's side footwell. Sunroof drains were checked and they were not the problem. Windshield had been loose at pivot point and could be easily pushed out from the inside. Windshield had not been replaced since purchase.”

NHTSA complaint #11324380, filed 2020-05, 196,000 miles

Steering: “Turn engine on and started to get out of my parking space and suddenly noticed hesitation of my wheel to turn left>right. I checked my power steering reservoir and I cannot see power steering fluid. I called Volvo and they said my VIN is not part of the recall. I have low mileage and they just did a routine maintenance on the vehicle past summer.”

NHTSA complaint #10630757, filed 2014-09, 30,000 miles

Mileage when problems were reported

40% of the 5 complaints with a mileage were filed for vehicles with under 50,000 miles; the middle half falls between 30,000 and 106,000 miles.

0%0–100%10–2540%25–500%50–7520%75–10020%100–15020%150+
Share of complaints by mileage when the problem was reported, in thousands of miles (5 complaints with mileage). Red bars: under 50,000 miles. Bucket widths differ. Median: 99,800 miles.

Complaints by year filed

Fewer than 15 complaints, too few for a reliable trend.

201012014120161202012023120251
Complaints by year the complaint was filed with NHTSA. Red bars: the last 3 full calendar years used for the trend. The current year (2026) is partial.

Fuel economy and running cost

EPA ratings for each 2009 Volvo C30 version. Annual fuel cost is the EPA's estimate at its current fuel prices for 15,000 miles a year (55% city driving).

VersionEngineTransmissionCityHwyComb.Fuel / yr
C30 FWD2.4L 5-cyl5-speed manual202823$2,900
C30 FWD2.4L 5-cyl5-speed automatic202823$2,900
C30 FWD2.5L 5-cyl6-speed manual192823$2,900
C30 FWD2.5L 5-cyl5-speed automatic192823$2,900

Source: U.S. EPA and Department of Energy, fueleconomy.gov. Ratings are for comparing vehicles; real-world mileage varies with driving and conditions.

Recalls and investigations

Recall details for the 2009 Volvo C30 → · Check a VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls

Technical service bulletins

TSBs are manufacturer notes to dealers about known repair procedures. They are not recalls and do not by themselves mean a vehicle has a fault. 179 on record; the latest 10 are shown.

See all 179 bulletins →

Other model years of the Volvo C30

YearComplaintsMedian miRecallsCrash ★MPGScore (50 = typical)Trend
20121034,0140—24—Not enough data
20111450,0001—24—Not enough data
2010659,0002—24—Not enough data
2009699,8002—23—Not enough data
2008847,1982—23—Not enough data

All Volvo C30 model years

Frequently asked questions

How many NHTSA complaints does the 2009 Volvo C30 have?

NHTSA recorded 6 consumer complaints for the 2009 Volvo C30 as of Oct 28, 2026. Complaints are unverified consumer reports and may be duplicated or inaccurate.

What part of the 2009 Volvo C30 is reported most often?

Transmission and drivetrain is named most often, in 2 complaints (33% of the total), followed by exterior lighting with 1.

Has the 2009 Volvo C30 been recalled?

NHTSA lists 2 recall campaigns for this model year. To check a specific vehicle, enter its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.

What gas mileage does the 2009 Volvo C30 get?

The EPA rates the 2009 Volvo C30 (C30 FWD, 2.4L 5-cyl) at 23 mpg combined, 20 city and 28 highway, with an estimated annual fuel cost of $2,900 at 15,000 miles a year. Other engine and drive versions are rated differently.

At what mileage are problems with the 2009 Volvo C30 reported?

Among the 5 complaints that include a mileage, the median is 99,800 miles and the middle half falls between 30,000 and 106,000 miles; 40% were filed for vehicles with under 50,000 miles.

About this data. Data from NHTSA (ODI) complaints, recalls, TSBs and investigations, updated Oct 28, 2026. Complaints are unverified consumer reports and may be duplicated or inaccurate. Fuel economy is from the EPA and DOE (fueleconomy.gov).

Complaint counts come from NHTSA’s public complaint database; we count each complaint once. The source records for this vehicle are on nhtsa.gov. Scores and trends are our own summaries of that data, described in the methodology. This page is not legal, safety or repair advice: for a specific vehicle, check its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls and ask a qualified mechanic. See an error? Tell us.