AutoStatsIQ
Data through Oct 2026
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Volvo S40

Every Volvo S40 model year on file, 1993 to 2012. Pick a year for its recalls, investigations, service bulletins and the full text of owner complaints.

Owner complaints, all model years49160 involved a crash, fire, injury or death
Model years141993 to 2012
Recall campaigns12Distinct campaigns listing it
Service bulletins2,210Summed across model years
By model year

The 2000 model year drew the most complaints, 122, 25% of the model's total

Owner complaints filed with NHTSA, all years filed, by model year.

0501001501993122200120032005200720092012
Source: NHTSA ODI. Complaints are not verified by NHTSA, and NHTSA publishes no sales volumes, so counts are not rates.
Components

Brakes leads the Volvo S40 complaint record

Owner complaints across all model years, by component.

Brakes
114
Electrical system
100
Engine and cooling
77
Fuel system
50
Speed control
42
Airbags
38
Visibility and wipers
34
Lighting
25
Powertrain
25
Suspension
24
Source: NHTSA ODI complaints file.
Model years

The record for each Volvo S40 model year

Peer index compares complaints with the median vehicle of the same model year and body class (100 is the median). It corrects for age, not for how many were sold.

Volvo S40 by model year
YearBodyComplaintsSeverity indexPeer indexRecallsInvestigationsBulletins
2012Not decoded0NoneNone00146
2011Sedan520.02520158
2010Sedan911.14320153
2009Sedan1030.03630154
2008Sedan1631.34420158
2007Sedan2520.06020161
2006Sedan583.412130162
2005Sedan692.914430170
2004Sedan4812.512060239
2003Sedan185.65520161
2002Sedan2718.510410157
2001Sedan8419.038221188
2000Sedan12210.738712200
1993Not decoded0NoneNone003
Source: NHTSA ODI. Body class from NHTSA's VIN decoder where decoded.
Latest recalls

Recent campaigns covering the Volvo S40

  • 11V-186 Mar 18, 2011
    Crack on the top side of the passenger side support member in the engine compartment may have developed during the forming process in component…
    Structure · 7 vehicles
  • 10V-591 Nov 22, 2010
    Front seat rail's detection system was manufactured incorrectly and may permit the passenger to forward the seat beyond the intended maximum
    Seats · 7,420 vehicles
  • 10V-566 Nov 8, 2010
    Volvo is recalling certain vehicles equipped with garmin 760 portable global positioning system (gps) units because the batteries on those units…
    Equipment · 416 vehicles
  • 08V-329 Jul 23, 2008
    Section of the power steering return line hose was not properly vulcanized (cured) and does not meet specifications
    Steering · 1,020 vehicles
  • 08V-101 Mar 5, 2008
    Soft anodized layer in the master cylinder may trigger early wear on a rubber seal that can result in internal leakage of brake fluid
    Brakes · 1,114 vehicles
  • 08V-033 Jan 28, 2008
    On certain vehicles sold in or currently registered in the states of connecticut, delaware, illinois, indiana, iowa, maine, maryland,…
    Fuel system · 23k vehicles
  • 06V-137 Apr 24, 2006
    On certain passenger vehicles equipped with t5 turbo engines, the polyamide tube in the fuel line is sensitive to the extreme temperatures that…
    Fuel system · 16k vehicles
  • 04V-493 Oct 14, 2004
    On certain passenger vehicles, the non-return valve may crack due to a poor weld causing a vacuum leak
    Brakes · 1,719 vehicles
  • 03V-474 Nov 17, 2003
    On certain passenger vehicles, water can enter the electrical brake vacuum pump, causing the pump to fail
    Brakes · 36k vehicles
  • 03V-424 Oct 24, 2003
    On certain sedans and station wagons, there may be a fuel leak from the fuel rail due to inadequate welding
    Fuel system · 15k vehicles
Source: NHTSA ODI recalls file.