IllustrationTHE VEHICLE HAS THE FOLLOWING INTERMITTENT ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS. DASHBOARD, RADIO, CLIMATE CONTROLS TURN-OFF BY THEMSELVES. WIPERS ACTIVATE BY THEMSELVES. SRS WARNINGS ARE DISPLAYED. FUEL DOOR BUTTON DOES NOT ACTIVATE. IGNITION WILL NOT ACTIVE SO CAR WILL NOT START. *JB
2004 Volvo S40
Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations
Similar to other model years
Owner complaints for the 2004 Volvo S40 do not stand out strongly from the model-year median of 26.
About this comparison →How this year compares
Owner complaints by model year
Compare all S40 years →Counts vary with age, sales and reporting. They are not failure rates.
What owners reported most
All reported categories
Tap a category to read its complaints. One report may name several components.
When problems were reported
Mileage at the reported incident
60–25K
825–50K
550–75K
875–100K
7100–150K
1150K+
35 reports with mileage · 13 unknown
NHTSA’s mileage field refers to the reported incident, not necessarily the filing date. This shows report counts, not the likelihood of a failure.
What to inspect
Issues worth paying extra attention to based on owner reports.
- Air Bags. Review the 11 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Electrical System. Review the 11 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Service Brakes, Hydraulic. Review the 8 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
5 crash reports1 fire reports4 injury reports
What owners actually said
48 reportsTHE ENGINE DIES INTERMITTENTLY ONCE EVERY SIX MONTHS. THIS NORMALLY HAPPENS WHEN MAKING A RIGHT TURN OR SLOWING DOWN. ALL OF THE WARNING LIGHTS IN THE DASHBOARD LIGHT UP. THE GEAR MUST BE PUT BACK IN PARK, MUST TURN OFF THE IGNITION AND THEN RE-START AGAIN. THE FIRST TIME IT HAPPENED, I THOUGHT IT MIGHT HAVE BEEN A FLUKE, THE SE…
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THE ENGINE DIES INTERMITTENTLY ONCE EVERY SIX MONTHS. THIS NORMALLY HAPPENS WHEN MAKING A RIGHT TURN OR SLOWING DOWN. ALL OF THE WARNING LIGHTS IN THE DASHBOARD LIGHT UP. THE GEAR MUST BE PUT BACK IN PARK, MUST TURN OFF THE IGNITION AND THEN RE-START AGAIN. THE FIRST TIME IT HAPPENED, I THOUGHT IT MIGHT HAVE BEEN A FLUKE, THE SECOND TIME I TOOK IT IN THEY CHANGED A VALVE IN THE ENGINE, THE THIRD TIME THEY KEPT THE CAR FOR 2 WEEKS AND THEY CHANGED THE AIR COMPRESSOR AND POSITIVE/NEGATIVE BATTERY CABLES (THEY HAD A VOLVO OF NORTH AMERICA TECHNICIAN COME DOWN). THE LAST TIME IT HAPPENED WAS FRIDAY, AUGUST 19, 2005. I'VE CALLED THE DEALERSHIP AND THEY DON'T SEEM TO WANT TO TAKE MY CALL.
DURING A FRONTAL DRIVERS SIDE CRASH THE DRIVERS SIDE AIRBAG DID NOT DEPLOY CAUSING INJURY TO THE DRIVER. HOWEVER THE PASSENGER SIDE AIRBAG DID DEPLOY, BUT NO PASSENGERS WERE PRESENT AT THE TIME OF THE ACCIDENT. THE IMPACT OF THE CRASH WAS MOSTLY DRIVERS SIDE. I ALSO BELIEVE THE BRAKING SYSTEM FAILED SINCE MY CAR FAILED TO SLOW …
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DURING A FRONTAL DRIVERS SIDE CRASH THE DRIVERS SIDE AIRBAG DID NOT DEPLOY CAUSING INJURY TO THE DRIVER. HOWEVER THE PASSENGER SIDE AIRBAG DID DEPLOY, BUT NO PASSENGERS WERE PRESENT AT THE TIME OF THE ACCIDENT. THE IMPACT OF THE CRASH WAS MOSTLY DRIVERS SIDE. I ALSO BELIEVE THE BRAKING SYSTEM FAILED SINCE MY CAR FAILED TO SLOW LIKE A CAR SHOULD DURING BRAKING.
2004 VOLVO S40 EXPERIENCING PROBLEMS WITH THE REAR TAIL LIGHT ASSEMBLY. *MR THE LEFT REAR TAIL LIGHT ASSEMBLY WAS INTERMITTENT. AT NIGHT THERE WOULD BE NO REAR TAIL LIGHTS. THE RIGHT FRONT PARK LIGHT AND THE YELLOW SIDE MARKER LIGHT HAD GONE OUT AS WELL. THE DEALER REPLACED THE CEM. THE VEHICLE'S BATTERY LASTED 8 MONTHS.…
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2004 VOLVO S40 EXPERIENCING PROBLEMS WITH THE REAR TAIL LIGHT ASSEMBLY. *MR THE LEFT REAR TAIL LIGHT ASSEMBLY WAS INTERMITTENT. AT NIGHT THERE WOULD BE NO REAR TAIL LIGHTS. THE RIGHT FRONT PARK LIGHT AND THE YELLOW SIDE MARKER LIGHT HAD GONE OUT AS WELL. THE DEALER REPLACED THE CEM. THE VEHICLE'S BATTERY LASTED 8 MONTHS. *SC
CONSUMER COMPLAINED ABOUT ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS. THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS SUDDENLY CUT ON AND OFF AT TIMES; THE POWER WINDOWS AND DOORS DID NOT WORK, AND GAS GAUGE ALWAYS SHOWED THAT VEHICLE HAD NO FUEL. ALSO, AIRBAG LIGHT CAME ON. FINALLY, THE TRUNK DID NOT OPEN. *AK
CONSUMER IS EXPERIENCING ON GOING PROBLEMS WITH APPLYING THE BRAKE PEDAL AND THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL SIMULTANEOUSLY. THE CONDITION CAUSES THE VEHICLE TO ACCELERATE WHEN APPLYING THE BRAKES. THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN TO THE DEALER. THE DEALER INFORMED THE CONSUMER THAT NOTHING WAS WRONG AND THE VEHICLE MEETS NHTSA SPECIFICATION . *JB
THE CONSUMER STATED THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED WHEN BRAKE WAS APPLIED. A RECALL WAS ISSUED, HOWEVER THE VEHICLE IDENTIFICATION NUMBER WAS OUTSIDE OF THE REMEDY SCOPE. PLEASE PROVIDE ADDITIONAL INFORMATION. *JB. THERE WERE FIVE INCIDENTS WHEN VEHICLE ACCELERATED APON APPLICATION OF BRAKES. INITIALLY TOOK VEHICLE TO VOLVO ON 11/11/…
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THE CONSUMER STATED THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED WHEN BRAKE WAS APPLIED. A RECALL WAS ISSUED, HOWEVER THE VEHICLE IDENTIFICATION NUMBER WAS OUTSIDE OF THE REMEDY SCOPE. PLEASE PROVIDE ADDITIONAL INFORMATION. *JB. THERE WERE FIVE INCIDENTS WHEN VEHICLE ACCELERATED APON APPLICATION OF BRAKES. INITIALLY TOOK VEHICLE TO VOLVO ON 11/11/2004. THEY RAN ALL TESTS AND COULD FIND NOTHING WRONG. SINCE THEN, IT HAPPENED AGAIN, AND CONSUMER WILL AGAIN REQUEST VOLVO TO CHECK IT. *AK
MULTIPLE FAILURES. AIR BAG SYSTEM, PROBLEM STARTING AND NOISE IN STEERING. *BF THE VEHICLE ALSO HAD AN AIR CONDITION PROBLEM. THE AIR BAG LIGHT ILLUMINATED ON 3 OCCASIONS. THE CONSUMER STATED THE PASSENGER SEAT WAS EQUIPPED WITH A DEVICE THAT WEIGHED PASSENGERS TO DETERMINE IF THE AIR BAG SHOULD BE ACTIVATED. *JB
Official recalls
610V566000 · Equipment:electrical:navigational System(global Positioning System)
Nov 8, 2010
VOLVO IS RECALLING CERTAIN VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH GARMIN 760 PORTABLE GLOBAL POSITIONING SYSTEM (GPS) UNITS BECAUSE THE BATTERIES ON THOSE UNITS MAY OVERHEAT.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: AN OVERHEATED BATTERY COULD LEAD TO A FIRE.
Remedy: 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.
08V033000 · Fuel System, Gasoline:delivery:fuel Pump
Jan 28, 2008
ON CERTAIN VEHICLES SOLD IN OR CURRENTLY REGISTERED IN THE STATES OF CONNECTICUT, DELAWARE, ILLINOIS, INDIANA, IOWA, MAINE, MARYLAND, MASSACHUSETTS, MICHIGAN, MINNESOTA, MISSOURI, NEW HAMPSHIRE, NEW JERSEY, NEW YORK, OHIO, PENNSYLVANIA, RHODE ISLAND, VERMONT, WEST VIRGINIA, WISCONSIN, AND THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA, REOCCURRING, LONG-TERM EXPOSURE TO CERTAIN ENVIRONMENTAL CONDITIONS SUCH AS SALTY-WET CONDITIONS, IT IS POSSIBLE FOR THE PUMP ELECTRONIC MODULE (PEM) TO BECOME CORRODED INTERNALLY. THIS CAN CAUSE A FAULTY SIGNAL TO THE FUEL PUMP, RESULTING IN LOW OR NO FUEL PRESSURE TO THE ENGINE.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: IF THIS OCCURS, THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT MAY ILLUMINATE. IN SOME CASES, THE VEHICLE MAY FAIL TO START OR MAY STALL, INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE PEM AND INSTALL IT IN A NEW LOCATION TO PREVENT CORROSION. THE RECALL BEGAN ON FEBRUARY 20, 2008. OWNERS MAY CONTACT VOLVO AT 1-800-458-1552.
06V137000 · Fuel System, Gasoline
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 MAY OCCUR IN THE AREA WHERE THE TURBO/EXHAUST MANIFOLD IS LOCATED.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: THIS MAY POTENTIALLY RESULT IN FUEL LINE LEAKAGE. FUEL LEAKAGE, IN THE PRESENCE OF AN IGNITION SOURCE, COULD RESULT IN A FIRE.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL CHANGE THE FUEL LINE MATERIAL TO TEFLON FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON JUNE 5, 2006. OWNERS MAY CONTACT VOLVO CARS AT 1-800-458-1552.
04V493000 · Service Brakes, Hydraulic:power Assist:vacuum:hoses, Lines/piping, And Fittings
Oct 14, 2004
ON CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES, THE NON-RETURN VALVE MAY CRACK DUE TO A POOR WELD CAUSING A VACUUM LEAK.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: IF THIS OCCURS, MORE BRAKE PEDAL FORCE MAY BE REQUIRED TO STOP THE VEHICLE AND/OR MAY EXPERIENCE A ROUGH ENGINE IDLE, WHICH COULD RESULT IN A CRASH.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSPECT, AND IF NECESSARY, REPLACE THE VACUUM HOSE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON NOVEMBER 29, 2004. OWNERS SHOULD CONTACT VOLVO CARS AT 1-800-458-1552.
03V424000 · Fuel System, Gasoline
Oct 24, 2003
ON CERTAIN SEDANS AND STATION WAGONS, THERE MAY BE A FUEL LEAK FROM THE FUEL RAIL DUE TO INADEQUATE WELDING.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: FUEL LEAKAGE IN THE PRESENCE OF AN IGNITION SOURCE COULD RESULT IN A FIRE.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSTALL A V-CLAMP TO THE FUEL RAIL. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN ON JANUARY 28, 2004. OWNERS SHOULD CONTACT VOLVO AT 1-800-458-1552.
03V284000 · Equipment:other:labels
Aug 1, 2003
CERTAIN PASSENGER CARS FAIL TO COMPLY WITH THE REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 225, "CHILD RESTRAINT ANCHORAGE SYSTEMS." THE SECOND ISOFIX GUIDE WAS NOT INSTALLED IN THESE VEHICLES AND, IN CERTAIN CASES, THE OWNER'S MANUAL ISOFIX INFORMATION IS INCORRECT.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: THIS DOES NOT MEET THE REQUIREMENTS OF THE STANDARD.
Remedy: OWNERS WILL RECEIVE A LETTER/PACKAGE CONSISTING OF THE SECOND ISOFIX GUIDE WITH INSTALLATION INSTRUCTIONS, AND IN CERTAIN CASES, THE CORRECTED OWNER'S MANUAL MAY BE PROVIDED. IF THE OWNER WANTS TO TAKE THEIR VEHICLE TO A VOLVO DEALER FOR INSTALLATION OF THE GUIDE, IT WILL BE PERFORMED AT NO CHARGE TO THE OWNER. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN ON DECEMBER 19, 2003. OWNERS SHOULD CONTACT VOLVO AT 1-800-458-1552.
Model-level recall history does not show whether a particular VIN is affected or has received a repair. Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗
NHTSA investigations
0No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.