Volvo Cars has issued a recall for 14,014 electric and plug-in hybrid vehicles in the United States after discovering a software defect that could result in total loss of braking under certain driving conditions. The recall affects a range of 2020–2026 model year vehicles using software version 3.5.14, which can disable both regenerative and traditional braking systems during extended coasting in energy recovery modes.
According to Volvo and the U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), the flaw manifests when a driver coasts downhill for more than 100 seconds in One Pedal Drive mode (used in pure electric models) or ‘B’ mode (in plug-in hybrids) without pressing the accelerator or brake. In these scenarios, the Brake Control Module may fail to engage when needed, posing a serious safety risk.
In a statement to InsideEVs, a Volvo spokesperson said the company is advising affected drivers to avoid One Pedal and ‘B’ modes until the software is updated. “We are asking customers who have not yet had the corrective software installed in their car to avoid selecting ‘B’ mode or One Pedal Drive while driving,” the company said.
Impacted models include select units of the 2023 Volvo C40 BEV, 2025 EC40, 2023–2024 XC40 BEV, 2020–2026 XC90 PHEV, 2022–2026 XC60 PHEV, 2023–2025 S60 PHEV, 2024–2025 V60 PHEV, 2025–2026 EX40, and the 2025 S90 PHEV. Volvo began issuing corrected software (version 3.6.4) on June 16 through over-the-air (OTA) updates and dealership service appointments. Notification letters are expected to be sent to owners by August 6.
The original 3.5.14 update was released in April and included unrelated improvements to driver assistance features and system diagnostics. Volvo has not provided a full account of how the braking issue bypassed internal validation.
This marks the second significant recall for Volvo’s electrified lineup this year. Earlier in 2025, the automaker recalled around 7,500 plug-in hybrids due to a separate issue involving defective battery cells.
Volvo is facing renewed scrutiny following recent leadership changes and slowing EV momentum in 2025 despite record sales in 2024. Håkan Samuelsson’s return to a leadership role signals a shift in strategic focus amid quality concerns and a more competitive electric vehicle market.