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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.

About this comparison →

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

What owners actually said

69 reports
Mileage unknown · Mar 2, 2015
Electrical System

2005 VOLVO S40 FAULTY WIRE IN IGNITION SWITCH. CAR FAILS TO START. NO MESSAGES INITIALLY, THEN IMMOBILIZER LIGHT INDICATED. UNSURE OF EQUIPMENT MODEL. ORIGINAL TO FACTORY INSTALLED. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10691394

37,000 miles · Aug 9, 2014
Electrical SystemExterior Lighting

OFTEN, THE HEADLAMPS BULBS FAIL, AFTER A FEW YEARS CHANGING BULBS, I FOUND OUT THAT DUE TO CONTACT BETWEEN DETACHMENT OF THE WIRING HARNESS COVER IS THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE BULBS IN RIGHT AND LEFT HEADLAMPS. THE WIRING HARNESS INSTALLED BY THE MANUFACTURER DO NOT RESIST VOLTAGE AND HEAT. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10621166

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

40,000 miles · Apr 10, 2014
Electrical SystemLatches/locks/linkages

3 OF THE 4 DOOR LOCK ACTUATORS ON MY CAR HAVE STOPPED WORKING. THIS HAPPENED RIGHT AFTER THE WARRANTY EXPIRED. THE LOCKS WILL NOT LONGER LOCK OR UNLOCK. THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE. PLEASE LOOK AT REQUIRING VOLVO TO FIX THIS ISSUE. IT IS A KNOW ISSUE DUE TO FAULTY PARTS. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10578969

34,500 miles · Apr 2, 2014
Visibility

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 VOLVO S40. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WATER WAS LEAKING INTO THE REAR PASSENGER SIDE FLOOR BOARD. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE THE TECHNICIAN DIAGNOSED THAT THE SUN ROOF LINES NEEDED TO BE CLEANED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED AND THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWAR…

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 VOLVO S40. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WATER WAS LEAKING INTO THE REAR PASSENGER SIDE FLOOR BOARD. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE THE TECHNICIAN DIAGNOSED THAT THE SUN ROOF LINES NEEDED TO BE CLEANED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED AND THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 34,500 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 34,900. UPDATED 06/24/14*LJ UPDATED 06/25/2014 *JS

NHTSA ODI #10576913

93,000 miles · Jul 30, 2013
Engine And Engine CoolingFuel System, Gasoline

MY CAR WAS MAKING A PUMPING NOISE FROM THE REAR OF THE CAR AND THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT WOULD COME ON. I TOOK IT TO A LOCAL MECHANIC AND THEY INFORMED ME OF THE PEM RECALL/EXTENDED WARRANTY. I TOOK THE CAR TO THE VOLVO DEALERSHIP TO HAVE REPAIRED AND THEY SAID THE PEM WAS NOT THE PROBLEM AND THAT IT WAS A FUEL PRESSURE SENSOR AN…

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MY CAR WAS MAKING A PUMPING NOISE FROM THE REAR OF THE CAR AND THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT WOULD COME ON. I TOOK IT TO A LOCAL MECHANIC AND THEY INFORMED ME OF THE PEM RECALL/EXTENDED WARRANTY. I TOOK THE CAR TO THE VOLVO DEALERSHIP TO HAVE REPAIRED AND THEY SAID THE PEM WAS NOT THE PROBLEM AND THAT IT WAS A FUEL PRESSURE SENSOR AND POSSIBLY THE FUEL PUMP ITSELF. I DECLINED THE REPAIR AND EXACTLY 2 WEEKS LATER THE CAR FAILED TO START. I HAD IT TOWED TO MY LOCAL MECHANIC SINCE I LIVE 70 MILES FROM THE VOLVO DEALERSHIP. MY MECHANIC REPLACED AND MOVED THE PEM TO A NEW LOCATION, WHICH WAS EXACTLY WHAT THE RECALL/EXTENDED WARRANTY WAS FOR! THE DEALERSHIP GAVE ME A FORM FOR REIMBURSEMENT FROM VOLVO, BUT VOLVO REFUSED TO PAY THE $634 THAT I PAID FOR THE REPAIR. THEY FIRST TRIED TO SAY IT WAS NOT A "GENUINE VOLVO PART" BUT I VERIFIED IT WAS. THEN THEY SAID SINCE I DECLINED THE REPAIR FOR THE FUEL PRESSURE SENSOR, THEY COULD NOT PAY! THE REIMBURSEMENT FORM IS FOR THE PEM AND HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH THE FUEL PRESSURE SENSOR. SO THIS PEM BECAME FAULTY IN A 2 WEEK PERIOD? I THINK NOT! OBVIOUSLY VOLVO DOES NOT STAND BEHIND THEIR CARS AND I FEEL LIKE THEY LIED TO ME. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10532656

Mileage unknown · Jul 30, 2013
Visibility

2005 VOLVO S40. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO DEFECTIVE SUN ROOF DRAINAGE THAT LEAD TO VEHICLE ELECTRICAL DAMAGE. *SMD THE CONSUMER NOTICED WATER LEAKING IN THE VEHICLE AND SOAKING THE FLOOR MATS BEHIND THE DRIVER'S SEAT. YEARS LATER, THE DEALER INFORMED THE CONSUMER THERE WAS KNOWN DEFECT IN THE SUNROOF DRAINS, THAT CAUSE…

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2005 VOLVO S40. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO DEFECTIVE SUN ROOF DRAINAGE THAT LEAD TO VEHICLE ELECTRICAL DAMAGE. *SMD THE CONSUMER NOTICED WATER LEAKING IN THE VEHICLE AND SOAKING THE FLOOR MATS BEHIND THE DRIVER'S SEAT. YEARS LATER, THE DEALER INFORMED THE CONSUMER THERE WAS KNOWN DEFECT IN THE SUNROOF DRAINS, THAT CAUSED THEM TO BECOME CLOGGED AND FLOOD THE FLOOR, WHERE ELECTRICAL COMPONENTS WERE STORED. ALTHOUGH, THE DRAINAGE CLOGS COULD BE CLEARED, IT WOULD ONLY BE A TEMPORARY FIX DUE TO THE DEFECT, AND THE DEALER INFORMED THE CONSUMER THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM WAS LIKELY ALREADY DAMAGED FROM ALL THE LEAKING AND IT WOULD COST $5,000 TO FIX. THE CONSUMER STATED OVER THE YEARS, HE NOTICED RELATIVELY MINOR PROBLEMS DUE TO THE LASTING WATER DAMAGE, SUCH AS REDUCED AND INCONSISTENT PERFORMANCE, AND RANDOM ERROR MESSAGES APPEARING AND DISAPPEARING .

NHTSA ODI #10532516

116,740 miles · Jun 29, 2013
Fuel System, Gasoline

I HAVE RESEARCHED VOLVO FORUMS AND FOUND THAT VOLVO COMPLETED RECALL #181 FOR A FUEL PRESSURE SENSOR. (HTTP://SS.OTHERON.COM/RKELLY/VIDEO/R181+RETAILER+LETTER+-+FINAL.PDF) WHILE I DON'T OWN A VEHICLE INCLUDED IN VOLVO RECALL 181, I DO OWN A VOLVO WHICH SHARES THE SAME FUEL PRESSURE SENSOR. HERE IS THE BACKGROUND: I DR…

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I HAVE RESEARCHED VOLVO FORUMS AND FOUND THAT VOLVO COMPLETED RECALL #181 FOR A FUEL PRESSURE SENSOR. (HTTP://SS.OTHERON.COM/RKELLY/VIDEO/R181+RETAILER+LETTER+-+FINAL.PDF) WHILE I DON'T OWN A VEHICLE INCLUDED IN VOLVO RECALL 181, I DO OWN A VOLVO WHICH SHARES THE SAME FUEL PRESSURE SENSOR. HERE IS THE BACKGROUND: I DRIVE A 2005 VOLVO S40, T5 AWD. I AM THE ONLY PERSON WHOM HAS EVER OWNED THIS CAR. IN SEPTEMBER 2011 MY FUEL PRESSURE SENSOR FAILED AND I WAS CHARGED APPROXIMATELY $550 AT THE DEALERSHIP TO HAVE IT REPLACED. IT FAILED WHILE I WAS DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY. I HAD ALSO EXPERIENCED POWER-SURGE TYPE BEHAVIORS DURING START-UP, AFTER THE CAR HAD SET OVERNIGHT OR DURING MY WORKDAY. YESTERDAY, WITH THE KIDS IN THE CAR, I WAS DRIVING ALONG ABOUT 60MPH AND ALL OF A SUDDEN IS WAS LIKE MY CAR HAD STALLED OUT. THE BRAKES WORKED AND TURN SIGNALS WORKED. HOWEVER, THE STEERING HAD TIGHTENED UP. ALL OF THE LIGHTS ON THE DASHBOARD WERE LIT. I COASTED TO THE FAR RIGHT LANE AND TURNED ON MY CAUTION LIGHTS, STILL BEING IN THE ACTUAL ROAD. I TURNED THE KEY OFF AND THEN RESTARTED THE CAR. THE CAR STARTED OK. AS SOON AS I ARRIVED HOME IT HAPPENED AGAIN; THIS WAS NOT EVEN 5 MILES AND 15 MINUTES LATER. THE CURRENT FUEL PRESSURE SENSOR PART NUMBER SHOWS BOSCH PART- 31272730; WHICH, AGAIN, WAS NEW AS OF 2011. I'M CONCERNED THAT THE REPLACEMENT PART IS NOW FAILING- ALMOST 2 YEARS LATER AND LESS THAN 7,000 MILES LATER! RECENTLY I HAVE ALSO FOUND THE ISSUES WITH THE POWER-SURGE DURING START UP HAVE BEGAN RECURRING. UNTIL RESEARCHING THE ISSUE I WAS UNAWARE THERE WAS A RELATION BETWEEN THE POWER-SURGE AND FUEL PRESSURE SENSOR. I HAVE AN APPOINTMENT ON MONDAY TO DROP OFF MY CAR AT VOLVO. AT THIS POINT I DON'T HAVE CONFIDENCE THAT THE ROOT CAUSE AND COMPLETE SCOPE HAVE BEEN IDENTIFIED IN VOLVO RECALL #181 OR THAT REPLACING THIS PART WILL CORRECT THE SAFETY ISSUE. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10522417

84,000 miles · May 20, 2013
Power Train

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 VOLVO S40. THE CONTACT STATED THAT VEHICLE STALLED WITH THE ILLUMINATION OF THE INFORMATION SENSOR LIGHT. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED NOR WAS THE MANUFACTURER NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 84,000. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10512825

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.