Volvo C30, S40, V50 Recall R/2011/075: Brakes May Not Perform As Expected, Who Is Affected And What To Do
- Urgent
- How serious
- 28 Jun 2011
- Launched
- 18,989
- vehicles in the UK
- R/2011/075
- DVSA reference
Volvo recalled C30, S40, V50 vehicles. The cover on the top of the engine cover could chafe against the brake vacuum hose. The dealer will inspect and replace the vacuum hose if necessary. You won't usually pay for it.1
What’s Wrong
The cover on the top of the engine cover could chafe against the brake vacuum hose. If this occurs it may lead to a vacuum leak in the brake booster system and a gradual reduction of brake booster assistance. The will lead to the brake pedal becoming harder to push than normal and increased force would be required to stop the car.
DVSA's Original Wording
Concern: BRAKES MAY NOT PERFORM AS EXPECTED Defect: The cover on the top of the engine cover could chafe against the brake vacuum hose. If this occurs it may lead to a vacuum leak in the brake booster system and a gradual reduction of brake booster assistance. The will lead to the brake pedal becoming harder to push than normal and increased force would be required to stop the car. Remedy: Inspect and replace the vacuum hose if necessary. The hose will also be fitted with a safety net to prevent chafing in the future.
Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0.
The Risk
If the fault occurs, the recall notice says it could lead to a vacuum leak in the brake booster system and a gradual reduction of brake booster assistance.
The Fix
The dealer will inspect and replace the vacuum hose if necessary.
Are You Affected?
C30, S40, V50 may be included. Volvo estimates 18,989 vehicles in the UK. Enter your registration to check, then confirm by VIN with Volvo, because not every car in the date range may be included.
Which Car Is It?
Choose the make and model so we can match recalls to your car.
What To Do Now
- Check your car by registration above, then by VIN with Volvo.
- Book with any franchised Volvo dealer, quoting the DVSA reference R/2011/075. See how to get a Volvo recall fixed.
- Follow the letter's instructions until the repair is done. See can you drive a car with a recall?.
Related Recalls
| Launched | Vehicle and fault | Severity | Reference |
|---|---|---|---|
| S40, V50Exhaust sleeve may detach | Low | R/2013/156 | |
| C30, S40, V50Loss of drive | Urgent | R/2013/046 | |
| C30, C70, S40, V50Fluid may leak into wiring harness which may cause fire | Urgent | R/2011/163 | |
| C30, C70, S40, V50Clutch pedal mechanism may fail | Stop driving | R/2011/127 | |
| C30, S40, V50Support member may crack | Low | R/2011/031 |
This is one of 175 Volvo recalls in DVSA’s data. The Volvo recall launched before it was R/2011/063 on 27 May 2011, for engine may stall. The one launched after it was R/2011/094 on 20 Jul 2011, for loss of power steering fluid. You can also see every Volvo recall, all recalls launched in 2011 and brake recalls across every make.
Source: DVSA recall R/2011/075, launched 28 June 2011. Data updated 15 October 2026. How we grade urgency.
Sources
- The Code does not itself say repairs are free. GOV.UK guidance says "You will not usually have to pay for any repairs or parts under a safety recall." gov.uk Checked 15 Oct 2026.