Volvo S40 Problems by Year
NHTSA has 491 owner complaints and 12 safety recalls on file for the Volvo S40, across 12 model years (2000–2011). The 2000 model year has the most complaints (122). The most reported problem area overall is electrical system.
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Volvo S40 years to avoid? What the complaint data shows
These model years drew at least twice as many complaints as a typical S40 year: 2000, 2001, 2005, 2006. Look at what owners reported before buying one, and check the VIN for open recalls.
Model years with the most complaints
- 2000 S40: 122 complaints, 1 recall
- 2001 S40: 84 complaints, 2 recalls
- 2005 S40: 69 complaints, 3 recalls
Model years with the fewest complaints
- 2011 S40: 5 complaints, 2 recalls
- 2010 S40: 9 complaints, 2 recalls
- 2009 S40: 10 complaints, 3 recalls
Complaint counts are not adjusted for how many cars were sold or how long each year has been on the road, so newer and less popular years naturally have fewer complaints. Use them to spot problem patterns, not as a safety ranking.
Most common Volvo S40 problems (all years)
| Problem area | Complaints | Model years | Crashes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Electrical System problems | 100 | 12 | 4 |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic | 98 | 8 | 11 |
| Engine and Engine Cooling | 50 | 9 | 0 |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 42 | 10 | 7 |
| Air Bags | 38 | 9 | 17 |
| Visibility | 30 | 8 | 2 |
| Engine | 27 | 9 | 2 |
| Exterior Lighting | 25 | 7 | 2 |
| Power Train | 25 | 10 | 1 |
| Structure | 24 | 8 | 0 |
| Suspension | 24 | 7 | 2 |
| Fuel/propulsion System | 23 | 7 | 2 |
| Fuel System, Gasoline | 23 | 6 | 0 |
| Seat Belts | 16 | 6 | 5 |
| Steering | 16 | 6 | 1 |
| Equipment | 11 | 6 | 0 |
| Service Brakes | 11 | 6 | 2 |
| Tires | 10 | 9 | 0 |
| Seats | 8 | 7 | 2 |
| Wheels | 8 | 5 | 1 |
| Latches/locks/linkages | 5 | 4 | 0 |
| Electronic Stability Control (esc) | 4 | 3 | 0 |
| Fuel System, Other | 4 | 4 | 0 |
| Visibility/wiper | 4 | 3 | 0 |
| Service Brakes, Air | 2 | 2 | 2 |
| Service Brakes, Electric | 2 | 2 | 0 |
| Equipment Adaptive/mobility | 1 | 1 | 0 |
| Forward Collision Avoidance | 1 | 1 | 0 |
| Parking Brake | 1 | 1 | 1 |
| Traction Control System | 1 | 1 | 0 |
All Volvo S40 model years
| Model year | Complaints | Recalls | Crash rating | Top problem | Compared with other years |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2011 S40 | 5 | 2 | — | Electrical System | |
| 2010 S40 | 9 | 2 | — | Air Bags | |
| 2009 S40 | 10 | 3 | — | Power Train | Far fewer complaints than other years |
| 2008 S40 | 16 | 2 | — | Electrical System | Fewer complaints than other years |
| 2007 S40 | 25 | 2 | — | Electrical System | About as many complaints as other years |
| 2006 S40 | 58 | 3 | — | Electrical System | Far more complaints than other years |
| 2005 S40 | 69 | 3 | — | Electrical System | Far more complaints than other years |
| 2004 S40 | 48 | 6 | — | Air Bags | More complaints than other years |
| 2003 S40 | 18 | 2 | — | Power Train | Fewer complaints than other years |
| 2002 S40 | 27 | 1 | — | Service Brakes, Hydraulic | About as many complaints as other years |
| 2001 S40 | 84 | 2 | — | Service Brakes, Hydraulic | Far more complaints than other years |
| 2000 S40 | 122 | 1 | — | Service Brakes, Hydraulic | Far more complaints than other years |
More from Volvo: all Volvo models · Volvo VIN decoder
Frequently asked questions
Which Volvo S40 years should you stay away from?
By NHTSA complaints, 2000 (122), 2001 (84), 2005 (69), 2006 (58) drew at least twice as many complaints as a typical S40 year. Counts are not adjusted for how many cars were sold, and newer years have had less time to collect complaints.
What is the biggest problem with the Volvo S40?
Electrical System, with 100 complaints across 12 model years.
How many recalls does the Volvo S40 have?
12 safety recalls across all model years. Each model year page lists its recalls and fixes.