2008 Volvo S40 Problems, Complaints & Recalls
- Compared with other S40 years
- Fewer complaints than other years 9th of 12 for complaints
- Safety recalls
- 2 recalls: check your VIN
- NHTSA crash rating
- Not rated
Owners have filed 16 complaints with NHTSA about the 2008 Volvo S40. That ranks 9th out of 12 S40 model years for complaints. The most reported problem area is electrical system (4 complaints, 25%), typically at around 69,900 miles. Complaints mention 5 crashes, 2 injuries. There are 2 safety recalls covering this model year.
.JPG){kind=link}
- 16owner complaints
- 2safety recalls
- 0NHTSA investigations
- 5complaints mentioning a crash
Complaints are unverified owner reports and are not adjusted for sales volume.
Most common 2008 Volvo S40 problems
Complaints grouped by the part of the car owners reported, with the median mileage when the problem happened.
| Problem area | Complaints | Share | Median miles | Owners mention most | Typical repair cost |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Electrical System | 4 | 25% | 69,900 | — | — |
| Engine | 4 | 25% | 77,800 | — | — |
| Steering | 4 | 25% | 79,000 | — | — |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 3 | 19% | 61,000 | — | — |
| Visibility | 3 | 19% | 73,000 | — | — |
| Air Bags | 2 | 13% | 98,000 | — | — |
| Suspension | 2 | 13% | 123,000 | — | — |
| Electronic Stability Control (esc) | 1 | 6% | 69,000 | — | — |
| Seats | 1 | 6% | 123,000 | — | — |
| Tires | 1 | 6% | — | — | — |
| Unknown or Other | 1 | 6% | — | — | — |
| Wheels | 1 | 6% | 79,000 | — | — |
One complaint can list several problem areas, so shares can add up to more than 100%.
Complaints by year received
2008 Volvo S40 recalls (2)
Tap a recall to see the problem, the risk and the fix.
Equipment:electrical:navigational system(global positioning system)
Problem: Volvo is recalling certain vehicles equipped with garmin 760 portable global positioning system (gps) units because the batteries on those units may overheat.
Risk: An overheated battery could lead to a fire.
Fix: 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 be replaced with a new battery and a spacer will be inserted on top of the battery next to the pcb. This service will be performed free of charge. The safety recall began on november 18, 2010. Owners may contact garmin at 866-957-1981 or visit garmin's website at www.garmin.com/nuvibatterypcbrecall.
Steering:hydraulic power assist:hose, piping, and connections
Problem: 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 of the hose can occur.
Risk: This can result in a rapid drainage of the power steering fluid in the system and a complete loss of power assistance, increasing the risk of a crash.
Fix: 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.
To see whether a specific car still has an open recall, enter its VIN on NHTSA's official recall lookup. You can also decode a VIN here.
Recent owner reports
Short excerpts of the latest complaints filed with NHTSA, with personal details removed. Full reports can be searched on NHTSA.gov.
The contact owns a 2008 Volvo S40. The contact stated while his spouse was driving 70 MPH, the moon roof exploded. The vehicle was driven back to the residence. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not informed of the failure. The failure mileage was 133,000.
After buying the vehicle on 7/9/21, the car started having problems with the cooling system. I took it to a repair shop and they said the cooling system was overfilled. The air problem continued. I took it back to the dealership who said they fixed it but it continued. I contacted the prior…
Tl* the contact owns a 2008 volvo s40. The contact stated that after exiting a store and entering the vehicle, the contact was unable to restart the vehicle. The contact stated that there were several unknown warning lights illuminated. The contact stated that a message displayed on the instrument…
Tl* the contact owns a 2008 volvo s40. While driving 60 mph, the vehicle overheated and stalled. In addition, the check engine warning indicator illuminated. The vehicle was towed to the contact's residence. The dealer was not contacted. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer…
The air pump has a faulty switch, started ringing when i turn the engine off. The mechanic says the switch isn't shutting off correctly.
Other Volvo S40 years
| Year | Complaints | Recalls |
|---|---|---|
| 2011 S40 | 5 | 2 |
| 2010 S40 | 9 | 2 |
| 2009 S40 | 10 | 3 |
| 2008 | 16 | 2 |
| 2007 S40 | 25 | 2 |
| 2006 S40 | 58 | 3 |
| 2005 S40 | 69 | 3 |
| 2004 S40 | 48 | 6 |
| 2003 S40 | 18 | 2 |
| 2002 S40 | 27 | 1 |
| 2001 S40 | 84 | 2 |
| 2000 S40 | 122 | 1 |
See all Volvo S40 problems by year, every Volvo model, or the Volvo VIN decoder.
Similar Volvo models
Embed this 2008 Volvo S40 badge on your site
Copy this code into your blog or forum post. It shows live complaint and recall counts and links back here.
Frequently asked questions
What are the most common problems with the 2008 Volvo S40?
Owners most often report electrical system, engine, steering problems. The top one, electrical system, accounts for 4 complaints.
Was there a recall on the 2008 Volvo S40?
Yes, 2 safety recalls. Enter your VIN at NHTSA.gov to check whether the repairs were done on your car.
Was the 2008 Volvo S40 a good year?
Complaint data can't fully answer that, because counts aren't adjusted for sales. Compared with other S40 model years, the 2008 has fewer complaints than most years. Always get a pre-purchase inspection and check the VIN for open recalls.