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2008 Volvo C30

Factory specifications, fluid capacities, torque values, EPA fuel economy and the federal safety record for the 2008 C30.

Body PASSENGER CAR

The 2008 Volvo C30 is a passenger car requiring 6.1 quarts of 0W-30, 0W-40, or 5W-30 API oil. With only eight total owner complaints—the most common concerning Vehicle Speed Control—and two recalls, this model year falls in the middle of the C30’s 2007–2013 reliability history, well below the 2011 peak of 14 complaints but above the 2007 low of one, suggesting a generally average reliability record for the generation.

Model year2013 2012 2011 2010 2009 2008 2007

Quick specs

Fluid capacities, tune-up values and fuel economy at a glance.

Engine oil capacity6.1 qtOEM · verified

Engine oil type0W-30 / 0W-40 / 5W-30 APIOEM · verified

Lug nut torque81 ft-lbsOEM · verified

Fitment & sizes

Replacement part sizes and factory part numbers — battery, bulbs, filters and belts.

From the factory this vehicle uses a BCI 91 · 590 CCA battery, OE oil filter 8692305. Each part links to every other vehicle that shares it, so a part you already stock may fit more of your fleet than you'd expect.

Battery groupBCI 91 · 590 CCAOEM · verified

Tire sizeP235-40R18OEM · verified

Wheel / rim7.5-J inOEM · verified

OE service part numbers OEM · verified

Engine oil filter	8692305
Engine air filter	30757155
Fuel filter	31271607
Battery	30772226 alt 30772221
Front wiper blades	31250286
Thermostat	31319608
Cabin air filter	30780376 alt 30780377

Full specifications

Engine, drivetrain, dimensions and economy.

Dimensions & weight NHTSA vPIC

Overall length	167.3 in
Overall width	70.1 in
Overall height	57.1 in
Wheelbase	103.9 in
Curb weight	3100 lb
Track (front / rear)	60.2 / 60.2 in
Weight distribution (front / rear)	62/38

Performance & power Independent road tests

0–60 mph, quarter-mile, horsepower and torque from independent road tests.

Independent road tests for the C30 of this era, listed by trim and engine — this page spans more than one engine, so no single horsepower figure is shown.

6.3–7.0 sec0–60 mph (tested)quickest 6.30 sec — 2008 T5 Version 1.0 3-door Hatchback

Year	Trim / engine	0–60	¼ mile	HP	Drivetrain
2008	T5 Version 1.0 3-door Hatchback 2.5L Turbo I-5	6.30 sec	14.80 sec	227 hp	FWD
2008	T5 Version 2.0 3-door Hatchback 2.5L Turbo I-5	6.30 sec	14.80 sec	227 hp	FWD
2008	T5 Version 1.0 3-door Hatchback 2.5L Turbo I-5	6.70 sec	15.30 sec	227 hp	FWD
2008	T5 Version 2.0 3-door Hatchback 2.5L Turbo I-5	7.00 sec	15.40 sec	227 hp	FWD
2009	T5 R-Design 3-door Hatchback 2.5L Turbo I-5	6.60 sec	15.10 sec	227 hp	FWD

Service quick specs OEM factory data

Capacities, torques and tune-up values from the factory service manual.

This engine holds 6.1 qt of 0W-30 / 0W-40 / 5W-30 API engine oil, DOT 4 brake fluid. Torque lug nuts to 81 ft-lbs. The firing order is 1-2-4-5-3. Note the cylinder-head bolts finish on a torque angle (torque-to-yield) — they stretch permanently and should be replaced, not reused, during any head service.

Lubricants & capacities

Automatic Transmission Fluid	ATF
Automatic Transmission Fluid Capacity	8.2
Brake Fluid	DOT 4
Engine Oil	0W-30 · 0W-40 · API · 5W-30 · 5W-40
Engine Oil Capacity	6.1 qt
Engine Oil	0W-30 · 0W-40 · API · 5W-30 · 5W-40
Engine Oil Capacity	6.1 qt
Manual Transmission Fluid	Volvo part number 31280771

Engine torques

Crankshaft Pulley and/or Damper Bolts	133 ft-lbs
Crankshaft Pulley and/or Damper Bolts	133 ft-lbs
Oil Pump to Cylinder BLock Bolts/Studs	48 ft-lbs
Oil Pump to Cylinder BLock Bolts/Studs	84 ft-lbs

Chassis torques

Lug Nuts	81 ft-lbs
Front Wheel Hub	26 ft-lbs

Ignition

Cylinder Firing Order	1-2-4-5-3
Curb Idle Speed (No Load)	720 rpm
Curb Idle Speed Variance (No Load)	50 rpm
Curb Idle Speed (No Load)	720 rpm

Battery & A/C

Refrigerant	R134a
Refrigerant Capacity	1.20-1.30 lbs
Oil Type	Volvo part number 87085817 or equivalent
Oil Capacity	6.00-6.10 oz
Standard BCI Group Number	91
Standard BCI Cranking Performance	590 cca
Optional BCI Group Number	94R
Optional BCI Cranking Performance	700 cca

Service checks

Pressure Test	22 psi
Radiator Cap Pressure Relief	22 psi
Thermostat Opening Temperature	194 °F
Fuel Pump Pressure Minimum	68 psi
Fuel Pump Pressure Maximum	70 psi
Fuel Pump Pressure Minimum	58 psi
Injector Primary Resistance	12 ohms

Brakes

Torque Caliper to Bracket	22 ft-lbs / 26 ft-lbs
Torque to Knuckle	89 ft-lbs / 52 ft-lbs
Minimum Pad Thickness	Front: 0.079; Rear: 0.079 in
Rotor Max Parallel Variation	0.0003 in
Rotor Runout Limit	0.003 in
Rotor Nominal Thickness From	0.984 in / 0.433 in
Rotor Nominal Thickness To	0.984 in / 0.433 in
Rotor Minimum Machining	0.937 in / 0.385 in

Multi-step torque procedures OEM · verified

Connecting Rod (Large End) Bearings — tightening sequence 1 stages

11 ft. lbs, Step 2: 18 ft. lbs., Step 3: 100

11 ft. lbs

Connecting Rod (Large End) Bearings — tightening sequence 1 stages

11 ft. lbs., Step 2: 18 ft. lbs., Step 3: 100

11 ft. lbs

Cylinder Head — tightening sequence 3 stages

1	15 ft. lbs.	15 ft. lbs
2	44 ft. lbs.	44 ft. lbs
3	130 degrees.	130 degrees

Engine Flywheel Bolts — tightening sequence 1 stages

33 ft. lbs., Step 2: 65

33 ft. lbs

Engine Flywheel Bolts — tightening sequence 1 stages

33 ft. lbs., Step 2: 50

33 ft. lbs

Factory maintenance schedule OEM · verified

Normal service, condensed from the factory interval matrix.

Under the factory schedule, replace the engine oil and filter every 7,500 mi; spark plugs every 75,000 mi.

Every 7,500 mi	Brake Linings (inspect) · CV Joint Boot (inspect) · Driveshaft (inspect) · Engine Oil (drain & refill) · Engine Oil Filter (replace) · Exhaust System (Complete) (inspect)
Every 15,000 mi	Cabin Air Filter (replace) · Engine Coolant System (inspect fluid level) · Parking Brake System (inspect) · Underbody (inspect)
Every 30,000 mi	Brake Line (inspect) · Fuel Line (inspect)
Every 37,500 mi	Engine Air Filter Element (replace)
At 60,000 mi	CV Joint Boot (inspect) · Driveshaft (inspect) · Exhaust System (Complete) (inspect) · Steering Linkage (inspect) · Suspension System (inspect)
Every 75,000 mi	Spark Plugs (replace)
At 120,000 mi	Drive Belt (replace)

Reliability & federal safety record

Owner-reported issues, recalls, investigations and service bulletins on record with NHTSA — an unfiltered look at what owners actually experience.

Federal data shows the 2008 Volvo C30 carries 8 complaints, a seven-unit increase from the single complaint logged in 2007 yet well below the 2011 peak of 14, placing it early in a generation-wide arc that saw grievances rise through the middle years before tapering off. Recalls held steady at 2 annually from 2007 through 2010, meaning the 2008 model shares identical recall exposure and TSB count with the launch year, while investigations remained at zero across the entire span. For 2008 specifically, crash and fire complaints both registered at zero, and the highest-volume complaint areas were evenly split between Vehicle Speed Control and Suspension with two filings each, though the federal data does not specify root causes. Given that it avoids the higher complaint volumes seen later and carries only the baseline recall count of the initial production years, the 2008 model presents as a comparatively reasonable year to purchase within this generation, provided a buyer confirms the two outstanding recalls have been completed.

Open recalls

NHTSA campaigns

194

Service bulletins

Manufacturer communications

ODI investigations

Office of Defects Investigation

Owner complaints

0 involved a crash · 0 a fire

Owner complaints by model year NHTSA · this generation & adjacent

’07’08’09 ’10 ’11 ’12 ’13

Owner complaints filed with NHTSA, by component

All 8 complaints on record, top 6 components.

Vehicle Speed Control2

Suspension2

Engine & Engine Cooling1

Seat Belts1

Visibility,Seats1

Air Bags,Equipment1

Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation complaint database.

Recalls NHTSA · verified

Showing 2 of 2 campaigns on record for this vehicle.

08V329000Steering:Hydraulic Power Assist:Hose, Piping, And ConnectionsReported 23/07/2008

VOLVO IS RECALLING MY 2008-2009 VEHICLES. A SECTION OF THE POWER STEERING RETURN LINE HOSE WAS NOT PROPERLY VULCANIZED (CURED) AND DOES NOT MEET SPECIFICATIONS. IF THE POWER STEERING RETURN HOSE FAILS, A SUDDEN RUPTURE… Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSPECT AND REPLACE THE STEERING RETURN LINE HOSE ASSEMBLY FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON AUGUST 13, 2008. OWNERS MAY CONTACT VOLVO AT 1-800-458-1552.

10V566000Equipment:Electrical:Navigational System(Global Positioning System)Reported 08/11/2010

VOLVO IS RECALLING CERTAIN VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH GARMIN 760 PORTABLE GLOBAL POSITIONING SYSTEM (GPS) UNITS BECAUSE THE BATTERIES ON THOSE UNITS MAY OVERHEAT. Remedy: VOLVO ADVISES OWNERS TO PLEASE STOP USING THE GARMIN PORTABLE GPS DEVICE IMMEDIATELY, AND VISIT THE GARMIN WEBSITE TO DETERMINE IF THEIR UNIT IS AFFECTED. THE UNIT'S BATTERY WILL…

Technical service bulletins NHTSA · verified

Showing 5 of 194 bulletins on record with NHTSA.

Bulletin	Date	Component	Summary
37809.1.1	2026-04-07	Unknown Or Other	This is a TJ text only - The purpose of this TJ is to be a master reference list to…
19245	2025-12-06	Unknown Or Other	This is a Technical Journal. Vehicle type and platform identification.
8501	2025-04-10	Exterior Lighting	This is a Technical Journal: Remote connection, BOMGAR application. Before joining a…
S10303	2025-02-21	Unknown Or Other	Volvo Cars USA LLC and Volvo Car Canada LTD on behalf of the Volvo Car Corporation has…
S10303	2025-02-13	Unknown Or Other	Volvo Cars USA LLC and Volvo Car Canada LTD on behalf of the Volvo Car Corporation has…

Common OBD-II trouble codes

The most common OBD-II codes for this vehicle's emissions system. These are standardized SAE J2012 definitions, not vehicle-specific fault reports.

P0420

Catalyst system efficiency below threshold — Bank 1

P0300

Random / multiple cylinder misfire detected

P0171

System too lean — Bank 1

P0455

Evaporative emission system leak detected — large leak

P0128

Coolant thermostat below regulating temperature

P0442

Evaporative emission system leak detected — small leak

VIN tools

Decode factory build data for a specific vehicle by VIN.

VIN

Decode a VIN to confirm the transmission and build data for a specific C30. OEM

Build data

Plant, GVWR class, engine and body data for any 17-character VIN.

Recalls

Check open recall campaigns against a specific vehicle by VIN.

Vehicles with shared specs

Find every vehicle that shares this one's battery, bulbs, oil capacity, platform or parts.

Group 91 battery Vehicles taking 6.1 qt Engine oil filter 8692305 Engine air filter 30757155 Fuel filter 31271607 Battery 30772226

Reference guides

Cross-vehicle references for the kinds of data on this page.

Vehicle recalls & TSBs OBD-II trouble codes Torque specifications Maintenance schedules Fluid capacities & specs

Frequently asked

How much oil does the 2008 C30 take?

6.1 qt of BELOW 104 degrees F,: 0W-30 OR 0W-40 API SL, -22 degrees F TO 104 degrees F: 5W-30 API SL, -13 degrees F TO 104 degrees F: 5W-40 API SL, per the factory manual.

Does the 2008 C30 have open recalls?

NHTSA lists 2 recall campaign(s) for this model year. Check your specific vehicle by VIN.