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2005 Volvo S40

Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations

Similar to other model years

Owner complaints for the 2005 Volvo S40 do not stand out strongly from the model-year median of 26.

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When problems were reported

Mileage at the reported incident

56 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.

  • Electrical System. Review the 19 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Engine And Engine Cooling. Review the 11 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Fuel System, Gasoline. Review the 11 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

2 crash reports0 fire reports1 injury reports

Air Bags complaints

5 reports
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80,000 miles · Jan 10, 2017
Air BagsSeat Belts

[THIS IS A PREVENTATIVE COMPLAINT. NO INJURY SUSTAINED.] THIS CAR HAS A FAILED PASSENGER SEAT SENSOR THAT WHEN DEPRESSED ACTIVATES THE PASSENGER SIDE AIR BAG. THIS VEHICLE ALSO HAS A DRIVER SIDE SEAT BELT THAT CLICKS AND THEN CAN BE PULLED OUT OF THE LOCKING HARNESS. THESE ITEMS ARE NOT RECALLED BY THE MANUFACTURE BUT, IN MY…

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[THIS IS A PREVENTATIVE COMPLAINT. NO INJURY SUSTAINED.] THIS CAR HAS A FAILED PASSENGER SEAT SENSOR THAT WHEN DEPRESSED ACTIVATES THE PASSENGER SIDE AIR BAG. THIS VEHICLE ALSO HAS A DRIVER SIDE SEAT BELT THAT CLICKS AND THEN CAN BE PULLED OUT OF THE LOCKING HARNESS. THESE ITEMS ARE NOT RECALLED BY THE MANUFACTURE BUT, IN MY OPINION, SHOULD BE FOR CUSTOMER SAFETY.

NHTSA ODI #10944096

194,000 miles · Apr 28, 2016
Air BagsElectrical SystemSuspension

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 VOLVO S40. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT 55 MPH, THE STEERING WHEEL AND ENTIRE VEHICLE BEGAN TO SHAKE AS THERE WAS AN ABNORMAL NOISE. IN ADDITION, THE AIR CONDITIONER, RADIO, HORN AND SUN ROOF FAILED TO FUNCTION WHEN ACTIVATED. THE SRS WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN …

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 VOLVO S40. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT 55 MPH, THE STEERING WHEEL AND ENTIRE VEHICLE BEGAN TO SHAKE AS THERE WAS AN ABNORMAL NOISE. IN ADDITION, THE AIR CONDITIONER, RADIO, HORN AND SUN ROOF FAILED TO FUNCTION WHEN ACTIVATED. THE SRS WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE ECM, FRONT AXLES AND STRUTS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 194,000.

NHTSA ODI #10861933

80,000 miles · Oct 26, 2011
Air Bags

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 VOLVO S40. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE PASSENGER AIR BAG OFF WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED WITH THE PASSENGER SEAT OCCUPIED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A LOCAL MECHANIC WHO INSPECTED THE FAILURE AND ADVISED THAT THE AIR BAG WEIGHT SENSOR NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE DEALER WAS NOTIFIED AND ADVISED THAT THEY W…

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 VOLVO S40. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE PASSENGER AIR BAG OFF WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED WITH THE PASSENGER SEAT OCCUPIED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A LOCAL MECHANIC WHO INSPECTED THE FAILURE AND ADVISED THAT THE AIR BAG WEIGHT SENSOR NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE DEALER WAS NOTIFIED AND ADVISED THAT THEY WOULD CONTACT HIM WITH AN ESTIMATE FOR REPAIRS. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 80,000.

NHTSA ODI #10432887

Mileage unknown · Jun 1, 2010
Air Bags

ONE DAY OUT OF THE BLUE, THE WARNING LIGHT SAYING THE AIRBAGS WERE NOT OPERATING APPEARED. FOUND OUT THAT A SENSOR LOCATED WITHIN ANOTHER PART, LOCATED SAFELY UNDER THE PASSENGER SEAT, HAD BECOME DEFECTIVE. ALL ON ITS OWN. I HAD A CHOICE. ROLL THE DICE AND MAYBE IN A BAD CRASH THE AIRBAGS WOULD NOT DEPLOY...OR SPEND $1,400 TO…

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ONE DAY OUT OF THE BLUE, THE WARNING LIGHT SAYING THE AIRBAGS WERE NOT OPERATING APPEARED. FOUND OUT THAT A SENSOR LOCATED WITHIN ANOTHER PART, LOCATED SAFELY UNDER THE PASSENGER SEAT, HAD BECOME DEFECTIVE. ALL ON ITS OWN. I HAD A CHOICE. ROLL THE DICE AND MAYBE IN A BAD CRASH THE AIRBAGS WOULD NOT DEPLOY...OR SPEND $1,400 TO GET IT REPLACED. ALSO EVEN THOUGH IT SAID ONLY PASSENGER AIRBAG WAS AFFECTED, DEALERSHIP SAID THEY WOULD NOT CONFIRM OR DENY WHETHER THE DRIVER AIRBAG WAS OPERABLE. SO I SHELLED OUT THE CASH ONLY TO FIND THAT TWO PARTS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED - ONE PART HAD TO BE BROKEN TO GET TO THE SENSOR. SO I HAD TO PURCHASE BOTH PARTS. AND THEY SAID THIS IS ONE OF THE SAFEST VEHICLES ON THE ROAD? I LATER FOUND OUT THIS IS COMMON, FILED A COMPLAINT WITH VOLVO, AND THEY SENT ME A "COURTESY" CHECK FOR $200 TO HELP DEFRAY THE COST. I THINK THEY SHOULD RECALL THIS PART AND PAY THE ENTIRE PRICE. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10334166

Mileage unknown · Mar 31, 2008
Air BagsCrashInjury

ON NOVEMBER 14, 2007, MY DAUGHTER, HAD A ACCIDENT WITH MY CAR, A 2005 VOLVO S.40, 24.1. SHE HIT A MEDIUM SIZE TREE HEAD ON. THE AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOYED. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10222885

Official recalls

3

10V566000 · 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.

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

0

No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.