Brakes: New xc40

[ianvcs]

Looking for opinions Please. I have a new XC40 21 plate manual and also XC90 16 plate, now when I picked up my 40 I called a the garage and the auto handbrake applied when I turned my engine off and vacated the vehicle. So from that point on I never needed to use the hand brake button in the centre console next to the gear lever, until three days after my car rolled backwards causing £4000 worth of damage to my car, luckily not running anyone over. after speaking with volvo, they first told me that the auto handbrake function was not ticked in the car settings and that is why it rolled away as the handbrake was not applied, I have since found out that if you have the auto hold button on, which incidentally is by the gear lever also then weather the auto handbrake tick box is ticked or not then the hand brake will come on every time. but if you accidentally catch this button and not realising then the auto handbrake will not activate, surly this is a safety issue, appreciate your thoughts. many thanks in advance
Ian

[Polestar Pete]

It'll probably be a good idea to visit the specific forum section for the XC40 as you'll see a lot more information there (not everyone reads the General section here).

XC40 '18> General

Where you will see (for example) at least two threads with similar questions to your own:

* Parking Brake Won't Hold
* Parking in neutral
* Auto Hold Parking Brake

[Rocinante]

Originally Posted by ianvcs

Looking for opinions Please. I have a new XC40 21 plate manual and also XC90 16 plate, now when I picked up my 40 I called a the garage and the auto handbrake applied when I turned my engine off and vacated the vehicle. So from that point on I never needed to use the hand brake button in the centre console next to the gear lever, until three days after my car rolled backwards causing £4000 worth of damage to my car, luckily not running anyone over. after speaking with volvo, they first told me that the auto handbrake function was not ticked in the car settings and that is why it rolled away as the handbrake was not applied, I have since found out that if you have the auto hold button on, which incidentally is by the gear lever also then weather the auto handbrake tick box is ticked or not then the hand brake will come on every time. but if you accidentally catch this button and not realising then the auto handbrake will not activate, surly this is a safety issue, appreciate your thoughts. many thanks in advance
Ian

You have my sympathies, you have got used to the auto handbrake, and have accidentally turned it off, and got out of the car, presumably on a slope and thankfully only caused damage and not hurt anyone.

However, no doubt, Volvo have told you it's your responsibility to make sure the handbrake is on (by the light on the dash) before you get out of the car. The highway code also advises that you leave you car in gear when on a slope, so you've missed this as well.

It does seem easier than perhaps it should be to turn it off, and noone is prefect, the system is supposed to make your life easier, but unfortunately I do think the responsibility sits with yourself,

This is a useful warning though for others

[Ian21401]

Sorry to hear about your unfortunate incident. You must be gutted.
I just don’t have faith in “auto” stuff like that for the very reason you have described. Why should a car be fitted with an auto on parking brake. Just another added gizmo because someone thought it was a good idea. Another lesson learned long long ago, apply handbrake AND leave gearbox in a gear opposite to the way the car would roll on a slope.