In the never‑ending saga of the Volvo EX30 battery issue, we’ve been made aware that “franchised” Volvo dealers have been supplying vehicles that are subject to the battery recall (Safety Recall R/2025/559) — something they are not legally permitted to do.
(For those highlighting that this isn’t Volvo – under their franchise agreement with the retailer, they are responsible for their legal compliance and quality assurance)
In a post on the Volvo EX30 UK Facebook group, a buyer explained that the dealer never mentioned the battery‑module recall or the temporary 70% charging limit when they signed the paperwork. They only discovered the issue through the Facebook group and had to contact the dealer themselves. The dealer apologised, said replacement modules were expected in the coming weeks, and offered an additional three years of warranty as compensation. The buyer noted they still have Volvo’s 28‑day / 1,500‑mile return window.
As governed by General Product Safety Regulations 2005 and Vehicle Safety Defects and recalls: code of practice, dealerships are not permitted to sell a vehicle that is subject to a recall
The rules state
- GPSR states that no product should be placed on the market in an unsafe condition – this
extends to used products - The recall activity should be completed prior to the sale of the vehicle
- This responsibility extends to independent vehicle sales outlets
- Clear instructions should be given by the producer and/or distributors. The dealers
represent your company
A dealer handing over a Volvo EX30 with the battery‑module recall still outstanding is acting outside UK product‑safety law. Under the DVSA’s Vehicle Safety Defects and Recalls: Code of Practice (updated March 2024), a vehicle with an unresolved safety recall must not be sold or supplied under any circumstances. The recall work has to be completed before the car is delivered, and disclosure or customer consent does not change that.
The General Product Safety Regulations 2005 reinforce this. Businesses are prohibited from supplying any product they know is unsafe, and a car with an active safety recall is legally classed as unsafe until the repair is carried out. Offering extra warranty or goodwill does not make the sale lawful, because warranty has no bearing on product safety.
In short, the dealer should not have attempted to supply the car, and the additional warranty does not correct the breach.
This is yet another example of Volvo’s mishandling of the recall. Owners are already being told to expect waits of up to nine months for replacement battery modules, and incidents like this only underline how poorly the situation is being managed. The fact that the dealership didn’t immediately refund the buyer speaks for itself. It shows the lengths franchised Volvo dealerships will go to by misleading customers, breaching safety law, and demonstrating business practices that fall well below the standards set by UK legislation in the UK automotive sector.
Just another day for Volvo. We deserve better.
Give it back
We have reached out to the buyer of the car and urged them to hand it back. Given that the vehicle was offered with additional warranty and a very attractive trade-in, the facts above might (as Volvo hoped) be enough for this issue to be overlooked.
References
- https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/code-of-practice-on-vehicle-safety-defects-and-recalls/vehicle-safety-defects-and-recalls-code-of-practice
- https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/5a7578f9e5274a1242c9e961/manufacturers-guide-to-recalls-in-the-uk-automotive-sector.pdf
- https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/general-product-safety-regulations-2005/general-product-safety-regulations-2005-great-britain
Let’s hear from you
Have you unknowingly bought an EX30 with the battery recall? How had the battery recall affected you? Let us know in the comments below
Read More
Read more about this battery issue here
https://www.hypermiler.co.uk/volvo-ex30
