Known APK problem

Volvo XC40 / EX40 / C40: brakes

On the Volvo XC40 / EX40 / C40 the APK inspector finds brakes problems 50% more often than on cars of the same age: at 7–8 years 4.0%, against about 2.7% nationally.

Window: Oct 2025 – Sep 2026 · Updated: 16 Oct 2026

What is it?

Worn or rusted brake discs and pads, or uneven braking.

Repair indication: mediuma targeted repair at the garage.

How to check it at the viewing

Look through the wheel at the discs: no deep grooves or thick rust edge. Brake firmly on the test drive: the car should stay straight.

Ask the seller: When were the brake discs and pads last replaced?

By age

Share of inspected Volvo XC40 / EX40 / C40s with this defect, compared with all cars of the same age.

Age	Type	XC40 / EX40 / C40	95%-CI	National	Difference	n
3 – 4 years	B	0.2%	0.1 – 0.3%	0.7%	0.3×	12,871
3 – 4 years	C	0.3%	0.2 – 0.4%	0.6%	0.5×	12,871
5 – 6 years	B	0.7%	0.6 – 0.9%	1.2%	0.6×	10,824
5 – 6 years	C	1.9%	1.7 – 2.2%	1.7%	1.1×	10,824
7 – 8 years	A	0.4%	0.2 – 0.7%	1.3%	0.3×	3,586
7 – 8 years	B	1.1%	0.8 – 1.5%	1.4%	0.8×	3,586
7 – 8 years	C	4.0%	3.4 – 4.7%	2.7%	1.5×	3,586

A = structure, safety or costly mechanics; B = fail, usually simple; C = advisory. An age is missing when this defect is not among the most common there.

Comparable cars at 7–8 years

Model	Brakes	Vs. national
Volvo XC40 / EX40 / C40	4.0%	1.5×
Mazda CX-5 II	0.9%	0.8×
Volkswagen T-Cross	4.2%	1.6×
Opel Crossland	1.6%	1.3×
Suzuki Vitara IV	0.6%	0.5×
Kia Niro I	1.3%	1.1×

Looking at a Volvo XC40 / EX40 / C40? Check that car

Enter the plate and see the APK history, open recalls and how this car compares with other Volvo XC40 / EX40 / C40s of the same age.

All weak spots of the Volvo XC40 / EX40 / C40 · Brakes: which models more often · Checklist for this model

Frequently asked questions

Does the Volvo XC40 / EX40 / C40 often have brakes problems?

Yes, more often than average at the APK. At 7–8 years the inspector found a brakes defect on 4.0% of inspected Volvo XC40 / EX40 / C40s, against about 2.7% of all cars of the same age (1.5×). Source: RDW Open Data, Oct 2025 – Sep 2026.

How do you check the brakes on a used Volvo XC40 / EX40 / C40?

Look through the wheel at the discs: no deep grooves or thick rust edge. Brake firmly on the test drive: the car should stay straight.

Repair indication: small, medium or large. An indication of the usual repair, not a quote: the real cost depends on the car, the cause and the garage.

Source: RDW Open Data (CC0), analysis CarXray.nl. 6,857,004 inspected passenger cars aged 3 years and older, Oct 2025 – Sep 2026. Each car counts once. How we know