Volvo Recalled 73,000 Cars — Now Faces U.S. Lawsuit

Volvo is facing legal backlash in the United States after recalling 73,000 plug-in hybrid vehicles over a fire risk tied to faulty battery packs.

One frustrated owner, Burhaan Saleh of Pennsylvania, has filed a class-action lawsuit against the Chinese-owned Swedish carmaker, claiming the recall has crippled the resale value of his Volvo XC60.

The lawsuit could pave the way for hundreds or even thousands of affected U.S. Volvo owners to join the case.

The recall exposed owners to danger and financial loss,” the complaint argues, as cited by Boosted. “These vehicles are now worth significantly less than if they had been free of battery defects.”

What Sparked the Controversy?

In March 2025, Volvo announced a global recall of several hybrid models—including the S60, V60, S90, V90, XC60, and XC90—from model years 2020 to 2022.

The company warned of a risk that the battery pack could catch fire, urging drivers not to charge their vehicles until they had been inspected.

The issue stems from faulty battery cells, which in some cases required not just a software fix but a full battery pack replacement.

Volvo’s solution involved updating the car’s software, but in cases where defective battery modules were detected, the entire pack had to be changed—an expensive and time-consuming process.

Plaintiff Burhaan Saleh says he received no warning from Volvo about the battery issue at the time he purchased his car. His legal team argues that the recall alone has damaged consumer trust and resale values—and that Volvo should compensate for more than just repairs.

Owners also reported additional expenses, including paying for towing services to transport their cars to dealerships.

It’s not just the defect, it’s the time lost, the stress, and the sudden drop in resale value,” the legal team at Carpey Law, representing the plaintiffs, said.

Class Action: More Volvo Owners May Join

Because the lawsuit is filed as a class action, other affected owners in the U.S. can join the case and potentially receive compensation if it’s successful.

The suit accuses Volvo of breach of warranty and violating U.S. consumer protection laws, alleging that the vehicles were “defective in design and construction” and sold without proper disclosure.

Volvo isn’t alone. Audi has also faced backlash for similar problems in its hybrid line-up, with reports of long wait times for service and a lack of immediate solutions. Like Volvo, Audi advised drivers not to charge their vehicles until repairs could be made.