Volvo S40 complaints by model year
491 owner complaints filed with NHTSA. Red numbers above the columns are recall campaigns for that model year.
| Model year | Complaints | Crashes | Fires | Recall campaigns |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2011 | 5 | 0 | 1 | 2 |
| 2010 | 9 | 1 | 0 | 2 |
| 2009 | 10 | 0 | 3 | 3 |
| 2008 | 16 | 5 | 0 | 2 |
| 2007 | 25 | 4 | 1 | 2 |
| 2006 | 58 | 1 | 0 | 3 |
| 2005 | 69 | 2 | 0 | 3 |
| 2004 | 48 | 5 | 1 | 6 |
| 2003 | 18 | 0 | 1 | 2 |
| 2002 | 27 | 4 | 0 | 1 |
| 2001 | 84 | 11 | 4 | 2 |
| 2000 | 122 | 12 | 1 | 1 |
Counts are owner reports, not failure rates. Higher sales years tend to draw more reports. Source: NHTSA ODI, retrieved Oct 6, 2026.
Among the last 15 model years at least five years old; newer years are left out because owners are still filing reports. Every year compared →
Problem areas by model year
Complaints that name each component, 2002–2011. Darker cells mean more reports. One complaint can name several components.
| Component | 2002 | 2003 | 2004 | 2005 | 2006 | 2007 | 2008 | 2009 | 2010 | 2011 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Electrical system | 5 | 3 | 11 | 19 | 24 | 5 | 4 | 1 | 1 | 4 |
| Service brakes | 7 | 0 | 12 | 4 | 4 | 6 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Air bags | 2 | 0 | 11 | 5 | 4 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 0 |
| Engine and engine cooling | 3 | 1 | 5 | 11 | 4 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Fuel system | 1 | 3 | 6 | 12 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Visibility | 2 | 0 | 2 | 5 | 7 | 1 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Engine | 0 | 1 | 2 | 5 | 5 | 2 | 4 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Fuel/propulsion system | 1 | 0 | 2 | 8 | 7 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
Source: NHTSA ODI owner complaints, retrieved Oct 6, 2026.
Volvo S40 recalls (12)
Recall campaigns NHTSA lists for at least one S40 model year, newest first.
| Campaign | Filed | What | Model years | Repaired |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 11V186000 | Mar 18, 2011 | COMPONENT SUPPORT MEMBER | 2011 | — |
| 10V591000 | Nov 22, 2010 | FRONT PASSENGER SIDE SEAT RAIL | 2009, 2010, 2011 | — |
| 10V566000 | Nov 8, 2010 | 760 PORTABLE AUTOMOTIVE GPS UNITS/GARMIN | 2004–2010 | — |
| 08V329000 | Jul 23, 2008 | POWER STEERING HOSES/HUTCHINSON FLEXIBLES | 2008, 2009 | — |
| 08V101000 | Mar 5, 2008 | BRAKE MASTER CYLINDER | 2007 | — |
| 08V033000 | Jan 28, 2008 | PUMP ELECTRONIC MODULE (PEM) CORROSION | 2004, 2005, 2006 | — |
| 06V137000 | Apr 24, 2006 | FUEL LINE | 2004, 2005, 2006 | — |
| 04V493000 | Oct 14, 2004 | VOLVO/VACUUM VALVE/HOSE ASSEMBLY | 2004 | — |
| 03V474000 | Nov 17, 2003 | VOLVO/ELECTRIC BRAKE VACUUM PUMP | 2000 | — |
| 03V424000 | Oct 24, 2003 | VOLVO/FUEL LEAK | 2003, 2004 | — |
| 03V284000 | Aug 1, 2003 | VOLVO/ISOFIX GUIDE | 2001–2004 | — |
| 01V169000 | May 21, 2001 | VOLVO/ELECTRONIC CLIMATE CONTROL DIODE | 2001 | — |
Only NHTSA and your automaker know whether your specific car was repaired. Open a model-year page for each campaign's official text, or check your VIN on NHTSA.
Check on NHTSA ↗Fuel economy by model year
EPA combined mpg range across engine and transmission configurations. Your mileage will vary. Source: EPA, retrieved Oct 6, 2026.
Where to next
Volvo S40 FAQ
How many recalls has the Volvo S40 had?
NHTSA lists 12 recall campaigns that cover at least one Volvo S40 model year from 2000 to 2011. Each campaign card on the model-year pages has NHTSA's official text and the repair completion rate. Only NHTSA's VIN lookup can tell you whether a specific car was repaired.
Which Volvo S40 year has the most complaints?
Among the last 12 model years with settled counts, the 2000 drew the most owner complaints filed with NHTSA (122) and the 2011 the fewest (5). Counts are owner reports, not failure rates, and sales volume affects them.
What are the most common Volvo S40 problems?
Across the 2002–2011 model years, owners most often name the electrical system, service brakes, air bags in complaints filed with NHTSA.
What mpg does the Volvo S40 get?
EPA rates the 2011 Volvo S40 at 24 mpg combined, depending on engine and transmission.
How this page was madeSources, processing, limits, review and changes
Data sources
- NHTSA recalls by vehicle
Retrieved Oct 6, 2026 - US DOT recall completion rates (data.transportation.gov)
Retrieved Oct 6, 2026 - NHTSA ODI owner complaints
Retrieved Oct 6, 2026 - NHTSA NCAP 5-Star Safety Ratings
Retrieved Oct 6, 2026 - EPA fuel economy data (licence confirmation pending)
Retrieved Oct 6, 2026 - EIA weekly retail gasoline prices
Weekly, all taxes included
Processing
- Complaints are counted per component. One complaint can list several, so component totals add up to more than the total.
- Fuel cost = miles per year ÷ EPA combined mpg × EIA weekly price for your region.
Limitations
- Complaint counts are owner reports, not verified findings or failure rates. There is no sales denominator.
- Recall campaigns are listed for the model year. Only NHTSA and the automaker know whether a specific car was repaired.
- Recent model years are still collecting reports.
Review
Data compiled automatically from the official files listed here.
Changelog
- 2026-10-06 Data refreshed from the official files.