Menu

Volvo S40Years to avoid, problems & recalls

Based on 491 NHTSA owner complaints across 12 model years, no Volvo S40 year stands out as one to avoid, and the strongest years are 2002, 2004, 2006 and 2007. The S40 has 12 safety recalls on record.

Volvo S40
Years to avoidNoneUse caution: 2000, 2001Best years'02 '04 '06 '07Fewest complaints for their ageOwner complaints491Top: Electrical systemSafety recalls122000–2011 model years

Source: NHTSA complaints, recalls, investigations and manufacturer recall reports. Updated daily. How we score years. Photo: IFCAR, Public domain.

Best & worst years

Volvo S40 years to avoid

Complaints by model year, colored by the CarFlaw verdict: complaints weighted for crashes, fires and injuries, adjusted for years on the road and compared with the S40 median. Tap a year for its full report.

'00'01'02'03'04'05'06'07'08'09'10'11
  • Avoid
  • Caution
  • Solid
  • Best
  • Not rated
2011Not rated–/1005 complaints · 2 recalls2010Not rated–/1009 complaints · 2 recalls2009Not rated–/10010 complaints · 3 recalls2008Not rated–/10016 complaints · 2 recalls2007Solid61/10025 complaints · 2 recalls2006Solid52/10058 complaints · 3 recalls2005Solid48/10069 complaints · 3 recalls2004Solid50/10048 complaints · 6 recalls2003Not rated–/10018 complaints · 2 recalls2002Solid64/10027 complaints · 1 recall2001Caution35/10084 complaints · 2 recalls2000Caution31/100122 complaints · 1 recall
Complaints by system

Most common Volvo S40 problems

All model years combined: 491 complaints grouped by the system owners reported.

Box size = number of complaints naming that system. Darker = larger share. One complaint can name more than one system.
Complaints by system
SystemComplaintsCrash, fire or injury
Electrical system1008
Service brakes, hydraulic9814
Engine and engine cooling505
Vehicle speed control427
Air bags3818
Visibility302
Engine275
Exterior lighting252
Power train251
21 other systems19921
12 recalls

Volvo S40 recalls

Newest first. The ring shows the share of affected vehicles repaired, from the manufacturer's latest report to NHTSA.

–Structure: frame and members11V-186 · 2011 · Mar 18, 2011 · 7 vehicles–Seats10V-591 · 2009–2011 · Nov 22, 2010 · 7,420 vehicles–Electrical: navigational system(global positioning system)10V-566 · 2004–2010 · Nov 8, 2010 · 416 vehicles–Hydraulic power assist: hose, piping, and connections08V-329 · 2008–2009 · Jul 23, 2008 · 1,020 vehicles–Foundation components: master cylinder08V-101 · 2007 · Mar 5, 2008 · 1,114 vehicles–Delivery: fuel pump08V-033 · 2004–2006 · Jan 28, 2008 · 23,000 vehicles–Fuel system, gasoline06V-137 · 2004–2006 · Apr 24, 2006 · 16,175 vehicles–Vacuum: hoses, lines/piping, and fittings04V-493 · 2004 · Oct 14, 2004 · 1,719 vehicles–Power assist: vacuum03V-474 · 2000 · Nov 17, 2003 · 36,000 vehicles–Fuel system, gasoline03V-424 · 2003–2004 · Oct 24, 2003 · 15,067 vehicles–Other: labels03V-284 · 2001–2004 · Aug 1, 2003 · 220,407 vehicles–Appliance: air conditioner01V-169 · 2001 · May 21, 2001 · 19,000 vehicles
2 investigations

NHTSA investigations of the S40

  1. VOLVO S40/V40 MY 2000-2001EA02026 · 2000–2001 · closed Nov 21, 2003
    Led to recall 03V-474
  2. BRAKE POWER-ASSISTPE02009 · 2000 · closed Sep 10, 2002
    No recall