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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

Service Brakes complaints

3 reports
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70,000 miles · Jan 22, 2016
Service Brakes

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 VOLVO S40. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 40 MPH, THE BRAKE PEDAL TRAVELED TO THE FLOORBOARD AND FAILED TO STOP THE VEHICLE WHEN IT WAS DEPRESSED. THE VEHICLE SHOOK VIOLENTLY WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT LET THE VEHICLE DECELERATE AND THEN SLOWLY DROVE THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER. THE DEALER DIAGNOSED THAT…

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 VOLVO S40. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 40 MPH, THE BRAKE PEDAL TRAVELED TO THE FLOORBOARD AND FAILED TO STOP THE VEHICLE WHEN IT WAS DEPRESSED. THE VEHICLE SHOOK VIOLENTLY WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT LET THE VEHICLE DECELERATE AND THEN SLOWLY DROVE THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER. THE DEALER DIAGNOSED THAT THE BRAKE VACUUM PUMP FAILED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 03V474000 (SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC). THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 70,000.

NHTSA ODI #10821737

62,700 miles · Jun 15, 2014
Electrical SystemService BrakesUnknown Or Other

(S40 2.4I) INITIAL CAR MESSAGE: "BRAKE FAILURE, PULL OVER SAFELY." I CONTINUED TO DRIVE HOME SINCE I WAS A FEW BLOCKS AWAY. MESSAGE CHANGED TO "ANTI SKID SERVICE REQUIRED" THEN BACK TO BRAKE FAILURE AGAIN. DIFFICULTY ACCELERATING AFTER STOPPING, FELT LIKE THE PARKING BRAKE WAS ON BUT DROVE OK ONCE ACCELERATED. ATTEMPTED TO T…

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(S40 2.4I) INITIAL CAR MESSAGE: "BRAKE FAILURE, PULL OVER SAFELY." I CONTINUED TO DRIVE HOME SINCE I WAS A FEW BLOCKS AWAY. MESSAGE CHANGED TO "ANTI SKID SERVICE REQUIRED" THEN BACK TO BRAKE FAILURE AGAIN. DIFFICULTY ACCELERATING AFTER STOPPING, FELT LIKE THE PARKING BRAKE WAS ON BUT DROVE OK ONCE ACCELERATED. ATTEMPTED TO TURN OFF CAR BUT MESSAGE CHANGED TO "IMMOBILIZER, CHECK MANUAL" AND COULD NOT TURN KEY TO OFF POSITION. FROM WHAT I READ IN THE MANUAL, IT APPEARED THAT THE CARD DIDN'T RECOGNIZE IT WAS IN PARK. TURNED PARKING BRAKE ON AND OFF A FEW TIMES AND WAS ABLE TO TURN OFF CAR. BROUGHT TO LOCAL MECHANIC WHO REPLACED BRAKE PAD SENSOR AND ANTI-STOP SWITCH. --IN AND OUT OF AUTO REPAIR SHOP 4X OVER THE PAST MONTH W/THE SAME ISSUES AND NEW SYMPTOMS: WIPERS TURNED ON AUTOMATICALLY AND DON'T SHUT OFF AND NEW MESSAGE: ENGINE SYSTEM SERVICE URGENT. --MECHANIC REPLACED SOME RUSTED WIRES, BROUGHT TO A VOLVO DEALER WHO RESET COMPUTER AND DID NOT FIND ANY PROBLEMS. --STILL HAVING SAME ISSUES. CANNOT PUT CAR INTO DRIVE OR TURN OFF CAR WHEN BRAKE FAILURE OR ANTI-SKID MESSAGE APPEAR BUT IF I WAIT A FEW MINUTES, I CAN TURN THE CAR OFF AND ON A COUPLE OF TIMES TO GET TO THE ENGINE SYSTEM SERVICE URGENT MESSAGE AND I CAN THEN PUT IT INTO DRIVE. SOMETIMES ALL MESSAGES GO AWAY AND IT IS FINE FOR A FEW DAYS BUT THEN THE CAR JERKS FORWARD AS IF SOMEONE BUMPED THE CAR AND ALL MESSAGES APPEAR AGAIN. NEW MESSAGE: POWER STEERING MESSAGE FLASHED BRIEFLY .. ALTHOUGH THERE WAS NO PROBLEM W/THE STEERING. BRINGING TO ANOTHER VOLVO DEALER.. THE SAGA CONTINUES. --I READ PRIOR CONSUMER COMPLAINTS ON THIS SITE AND I ALSO HAD THE SUNROOF LEAKAGE PROBLEM IN 2013. ENTIRE FLOOR OF CAR WAS SOAKED, ESPECIALLY PASSENGER SIDE. TOOK 3 VISITS, WEEKS AND $900 TO GET IT FIXED. VOLVO FIRST CLEANED OUT THE CLOGGED LINE BUT CARPETS WERE WET AGAIN SO THEY THEN REPLACED THE ENTIRE LINE. *JS

NHTSA ODI #10598364

20,500 miles · May 18, 2014
EngineFuel/propulsion SystemService Brakes

CAR STALLS WITH OUT WARNING WHEN TRAVEL AT SPEEDS OF 0-65 MPH VERY DANGEROUS!! THERE ARE RECALLS RE: FUEL PRESSURE SENSORS FOR NEARLY ALL VOLVO MAKES EXCEPT THE S40 2005 THIS PART IS TRULY A DEFECTIVE ITEM AND NEEDS TO BE RECALLED BEFORE A DEATH OCCURS ON THE HIGHWAY!! I THOUGHT VOLVO WAS A SAFE RELIABLE CAR BUT I CAN HONESTLY S…

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CAR STALLS WITH OUT WARNING WHEN TRAVEL AT SPEEDS OF 0-65 MPH VERY DANGEROUS!! THERE ARE RECALLS RE: FUEL PRESSURE SENSORS FOR NEARLY ALL VOLVO MAKES EXCEPT THE S40 2005 THIS PART IS TRULY A DEFECTIVE ITEM AND NEEDS TO BE RECALLED BEFORE A DEATH OCCURS ON THE HIGHWAY!! I THOUGHT VOLVO WAS A SAFE RELIABLE CAR BUT I CAN HONESTLY SAY THIS CAR IS THE BIGGEST PIECE OF JUNK I HAVE EVER SPENT A LOT OF MONEY ON. THE TIRES BLEW OUT ON THE SIDES WHICH ALSO PUT ME IN DANGER THE INTERIOR HEADLINER FELL OFF AS WELL AS ALL OTHER MATERIAL ON THE DOORS ALL LEATHER IS LOOSE GEAR SHIFTER COVER FELL APART. GAS CAP BROKE GAS BUILDS TOO MUCH PRESSURE LOOSENING THE GAS CAP FREQUENTLY THESE ARE JUST SOME OF THE ISSUES I HAVE. VERY DISAPPOINTED IN THIS VEHICLE I KEEP MY CAR IN THE GARAGE. ONLY DRIVE TO AND FROM GROCERY SHOPPING AND DR APPTS PLEASE CONSIDER RECALLS ON THE IMPORTANT PARTS OF THE VEHICLE THAT CAN SAVE LIVES! *JS

NHTSA ODI #10592271

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.