Volvo Recall Alert

Volvo Recalls Over 413,000 Cars: What’s Going On?

Thanks to some freshly released documents from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), it’s been made clear that Volvo is pulling back over 413,000 of their cars. This is due to a software hiccup affecting several models, leading them to fall short of a key federal safety standard.

The range of this recall is pretty wide, encompassing a variety of Volvo’s lineup. Affected vehicles include the 2023–2025 S60 sedans produced from June 2022 to June 2024, the 2023–2025 V60 wagons crafted between May 2022 and June 2024, and the 2023–2025 V60 Cross Country models from May 2022 to April 2025. Let’s not leave out the 2022–2025 S90s built from June 2021 to January 2025, 2022–2025 V90 Cross Country versions made from June 2021 to April 2025, and a handful of 2022 V90s that came off production on October 14, 2021.

Check out the 6 images of this gallery on the original article.

Also caught up in this matter are some of Volvo’s popular SUVs and crossovers, like the 2021–2025 XC40s crafted between September 2020 and April 2025, the 2022–2025 XC60s rolling out between May 2021 and April 2025, and 2023–2025 XC90 models from May 2022 to April 2025. The all-electric C40 models made from October 2021 to April 2025 are also included.

The trouble spot is a software fault related to Google-built infotainment systems that don’t display the backup camera image when drivers engage reverse. This glitches out the compliance with Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) No. 571.111. Considering this rule requires all new cars to feature working backup cameras post-2018, that’s a problem.

What Drivers Notice

The issue crops up when a specific “fault code” hits. While this doesn’t knock out other safety features like park assist alerts, rear automatic braking, or cross traffic alert, the main display does flash a note saying “Camera is temporarily not available.” It’s a bit unnerving considering how much one relies on that view when backing up in tight spots.

Explore the 4 images of this gallery on the original article.

This isn’t a new problem for Volvo, since the first rumblings were noted in April 2021. By now, they’ve received 57 similar reports. The investigation formally kicked off in late March 2025, bringing us to this recall announcement. Thankfully, no related crashes or injuries have been reported so far.

A quick fix for owners involves either a dealership software update or, for select models, an over-the-air update. Dealers have been informed, and car owners should be on the lookout for notification letters starting June 24.

Final Thoughts

This recall highlights just how entwined technology is with today’s vehicles. A minor software misstep can snowball into a big safety issue. It’s akin to when Xiaomi dialed back phone performance via a sneaky software update, much like updating an iPhone can spark user grumbles.

Backup camera snags aren’t just a Volvo problem. Stellantis was in the same boat recently with a recall on 49,000 Alfa Tonales and Dodge Hornets due to similar woes. It’s a recurring tech issue, yet backup cameras are vital to slashing backup-related fatalities, making such regulations critical.