NHTSA Complaint #11511344 — 2021 VOLVO XC40

The vehicle is a battery electric that relies on its 12V battery to start and operate. My wife and I were driving the vehicle and began to stop in a let hand turn lane when it shuddered violently and stopped without any ability to move forward or in reverse - an emergency message appeared in the dash display indicating a 12V battery charging fault, and to immediately take the vehicle to a service center, also indicating that vehicle could not be restarted. Had we been on a highway in the process of merging, changing lanes or simply in front of another vehicle a serious accident could have occurred causing injury or death for occupant of multiple vehicles (beyond significant property damage). Furthermore, the 12V Battery charging fault is a known issue to Volvo, having been experienced by many drivers over the past several years with no resolution by Volvo other than replacing 12V batteries when they fail (mine was replaced in November 2022, and previously the battery was recharged after failing in December 2021 when it stranded us at the airport after returning from a trip.) Finding the vehicle dead is one thing, having it die when operating it is another more serious thing. I have raised this issue through my dealership on at least 2 prior occasions, as noted above. The service department at the Volvo dealership has inspected the vehicle for this 12V battery charging issue but has not provided a physical and/or software fix for this issue over the year and seven months I have owned this vehicle. This failure occurs without warning.