I HAVE BEEN WAITING FOR OVER 1 MONTH FOR A NEW ALTERNATOR FOR MY 2005 S40 VOLVO. I CANNOT GET AN ANSWER FROM ANYONE IN VOLVO WHY IT IS TAKING SO LONG. OF COURSE, I CAN NOT DRIVE THE CAR I HAVE BEEN TOLD BY VOLVO THAT 139 OTHER VOLVO OWNERS ARE IN THE SAME CONDITION. PLEASE HELP. *TR
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 →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
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.
What owners actually said
69 reportsENGINE FAILURE. CAR STALLED WHILE DRIVING ON HIGHWAY. CAR WAS TOWED TO WYNN VOLVO. WAS TOLD THAT THE BELTS BROKE, LEADING TO THE BREAKAGE OF THE TIMING BELT, LOCATED INSIDE THE ENGINE, RESULTING IN MAJOR DAMAGE TO THE ENGINE. WAS GIVEN A QUOTE OF $5600 TO REPAIR. THE CAR HAS 63000 MILES AND THE MANUAL DOES SAY THAT THE BELT…
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ENGINE FAILURE. CAR STALLED WHILE DRIVING ON HIGHWAY. CAR WAS TOWED TO WYNN VOLVO. WAS TOLD THAT THE BELTS BROKE, LEADING TO THE BREAKAGE OF THE TIMING BELT, LOCATED INSIDE THE ENGINE, RESULTING IN MAJOR DAMAGE TO THE ENGINE. WAS GIVEN A QUOTE OF $5600 TO REPAIR. THE CAR HAS 63000 MILES AND THE MANUAL DOES SAY THAT THE BELTS NEED TO BE REPLACE AT 125 THOUSAND MILES. THE SERVICES SUGGESTED PRIOR TO THIS DOES NOT INCLUDE ANY OF THE BELTS BEING REPLACED. I BELIEVE THAT THIS SHOULD BE A RECALL OR ATLEAST CONSIDERED IN THE SERVICES AND NOW. IF THIS IS CONSIDERED, I WOULD HOPE THAT THIS WOULD WARRANT VOLVO TO REPAIR MY CAR AT NO COST TO MYSELF. *TR
PURCHASED A VOLVO OVERSEAS IN 2005 AND IT RECENTLY BROKE DOWN LAST WEEK IN THE MIDDLE OF AN INTERSECTION. I HAD IT TOWED TO THE VOLVO DEALER IN FORT WALTON BEACH AND THEY TOLD ME MY PART WAS FAULTY AND WILL HAVE IT RUNNING BY THE NEXT DAY. I CALLED MY WARRANTY COMPANY AND THEY TOLD ME THAT PART HAD BEEN RECALLED AND VOLVO SHOU…
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PURCHASED A VOLVO OVERSEAS IN 2005 AND IT RECENTLY BROKE DOWN LAST WEEK IN THE MIDDLE OF AN INTERSECTION. I HAD IT TOWED TO THE VOLVO DEALER IN FORT WALTON BEACH AND THEY TOLD ME MY PART WAS FAULTY AND WILL HAVE IT RUNNING BY THE NEXT DAY. I CALLED MY WARRANTY COMPANY AND THEY TOLD ME THAT PART HAD BEEN RECALLED AND VOLVO SHOULD PAY FOR IT BUT THEY DENIED THERE WAS A RECALL AND CALLED IT AN EXTENDED WARRANTY. MY WARRANTY COMPANY AMERICAN GUARDIAN SENT A 3RP PARTY MECHANIC TO VOLVO AND VERIFIED IT WAS CORRODED. THE RECALL IS ALL OVER THE WEBS/INCLUDING YOURS NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID #08V033000 SO I CALLED VOLVO AND THEY SAY THERE IS NO RECALL. THE PART AND LABOR WAS $800.00. MY VIN WASN'T LOADED IN THE US SYSTEM UNTIL THIS WEEK. CURRENTLY THE VOLVO DEALER REPLACE THE PART AND MOVED IT TO A DIFFERENT LOCATION AND SAYS IT CAN'T COVER IT UNLESS VOLVO PUT THAT SPECIFIC VIN NUMBER AND LOAD IT AGAINST IT (EXTENDED WARRANTY) BUT HOW IF THERE IS NO RECALL. NEITHER VOLVO OR THE WARRANTY COMPANY WILL PAY FOR THE PART. IF ITS AN OFFICIAL RECALL AND IT HAPPENED JUST LIKE THE DESCRIPTION ON THE RECALL STATES THEY SHOULD BE OBLIGATED TO COVER IT. ITS ONLY GOT 53000 MILES ON IT WHICH IS 3000 OVER THE MANUFACTURE WARRANTY. I FEEL VOLVO NEEDS TO ADD MY VIN TO THE LIST BECAUSE OBVIOUSLY ITS A PROBLEM TO MINE ALSO. I HAVE REFUSED TO PICK UP THE CAR THE LAST WEEK UNTIL I HEARD BACK FORM VOLVO BUT THEY SAID THERE IS NOTHING THEY CAN DO AND I HAVE TO PAY FOR IT. *TR
AFTER LETTING THE VEHICLE SIT OVER NIGHT...WHEN STARTING THE VEHICLE IN THE MORNING THERE IS NO BRAKE PRESSURE AFTER A HALF MILE OF DRIVING. THIS HAPPENS EVERYDAY AND THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH VOLVOS. THIS PROBLEM COULD RESULT IN VERY SERIOUS PROBLEMS AND MAYBE EVEN FATAL TO OTHER VOLVO OWNERS WHO ARE NOT AWARE OF THIS COM…
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AFTER LETTING THE VEHICLE SIT OVER NIGHT...WHEN STARTING THE VEHICLE IN THE MORNING THERE IS NO BRAKE PRESSURE AFTER A HALF MILE OF DRIVING. THIS HAPPENS EVERYDAY AND THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH VOLVOS. THIS PROBLEM COULD RESULT IN VERY SERIOUS PROBLEMS AND MAYBE EVEN FATAL TO OTHER VOLVO OWNERS WHO ARE NOT AWARE OF THIS COMMON PROBLEM......I DO KNOW THAT ON THE VOLVO S40 2000 MODEL THIS WAS A RECALL AND IT SHOULD ALSO BE ON THE VOLVO S40 2005 MODEL. *TR
ENGINE FAILURE. CAR STALLED WHILE ON HIGHWAY. UPON ARRIVAL AT VOLVO SERVICE DEALER, I WAS TOLD THAT A DRIVE BELT BROKE, LEADING TO THE BREAKAGE OF THE TIMING BELT AND SUBSEQUENT EXTREME DAMAGE TO THE ENGINE. ALL BELTS, PISTONS, VALVES AND TOP PART OF ENGINE NEEDED REPLACING. APPROXIMATE DAMAGE WAS $5000. CAR HAS ONLY 85K ON…
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ENGINE FAILURE. CAR STALLED WHILE ON HIGHWAY. UPON ARRIVAL AT VOLVO SERVICE DEALER, I WAS TOLD THAT A DRIVE BELT BROKE, LEADING TO THE BREAKAGE OF THE TIMING BELT AND SUBSEQUENT EXTREME DAMAGE TO THE ENGINE. ALL BELTS, PISTONS, VALVES AND TOP PART OF ENGINE NEEDED REPLACING. APPROXIMATE DAMAGE WAS $5000. CAR HAS ONLY 85K ON IT, DRIVE BELT AND TIMING BELT HAVE A RECOMMENDED REPLACEMENT IN MANUAL AS 125K. VOLVO DID NOTHING TO ACKNOWLEDGE THIS ISSUE, IN FACT CALLING OUT THE SERVICE RECORD WHICH IS IMPECCABLE MINUS A 50K SERVICE WHICH WOULD'VE COST $1500 AND DID NOT INCLUDE ANY MAINTENANCE TO THE TIMING BELT. IN LOOKING UP THIS ISSUE ON MANY WEBSITES, IT WOULD APPEAR THIS IS NOT ATYPICAL FOR THIS MAKE, MODEL AND YEAR VOLVO. *TR
IN AUGUST OF 08 MY 2004.5(NEW BODY STYLE) VOLVO S40 T5'S ENGINE BEGAN TO MAKE A HIGH SCREECHING NOISE AT IDLE AND THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON. IT HAD 61,000MILES AND I BROUGHT IT TO THE DEALERSHIP WHERE THEY DIAGNOSED THAT IT NEEDED A NEW OIL TRAP. THE PROBLEM HAS NOT RECURRED. MY WIFE'S 05 S40 T5 HAS 58,000MILES AND THE SA…
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IN AUGUST OF 08 MY 2004.5(NEW BODY STYLE) VOLVO S40 T5'S ENGINE BEGAN TO MAKE A HIGH SCREECHING NOISE AT IDLE AND THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON. IT HAD 61,000MILES AND I BROUGHT IT TO THE DEALERSHIP WHERE THEY DIAGNOSED THAT IT NEEDED A NEW OIL TRAP. THE PROBLEM HAS NOT RECURRED. MY WIFE'S 05 S40 T5 HAS 58,000MILES AND THE SAME PROBLEM HAS OCCURRED IN HER'S. THERE MUST BE AN ISSUE WITH THIS VEHICLE. *TR
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 VOLVO S40. WHILE DRIVING LOW SPEEDS, THE ENGINE MAKES A HOWLING NOISE. THE NOISE STOPS WHILE DRIVING HIGHER SPEEDS. THE DEALER STATED THAT THERE WAS AN OIL TRAP (PCV SYSTEM) IN THE INTAKE MANIFOLD THAT WAS CLOGGED AND COULD CAUSE THE CRANK CASE TO FAIL. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN.
DRIVER'S SIDE SEAT WILL SQUEAK WHEN MAKING LEFT OR RIGHT TURNS AS BODY WEIGHT SHIFTS. VOLVO HAS PUT 2 "BANDAGES" AROUND THE METAL PARTS THAT MAKE THIS NOISE. THEY KNOW ITS A PROBLEM AND ITS A DESIGN FLAW, AS THEY SHOULD HAVE USED BRONZE BUSHING OR SOMETHING SIMILAR TO AVOID THE 2 METALS CONTACTING EACH OTHER. IS THIS A SAFETY…
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DRIVER'S SIDE SEAT WILL SQUEAK WHEN MAKING LEFT OR RIGHT TURNS AS BODY WEIGHT SHIFTS. VOLVO HAS PUT 2 "BANDAGES" AROUND THE METAL PARTS THAT MAKE THIS NOISE. THEY KNOW ITS A PROBLEM AND ITS A DESIGN FLAW, AS THEY SHOULD HAVE USED BRONZE BUSHING OR SOMETHING SIMILAR TO AVOID THE 2 METALS CONTACTING EACH OTHER. IS THIS A SAFETY CONCERN? MAYBE, WHAT HAPPENS WHEN METALS CONSTANTLY RUBS OVER TIME? THEIR BANDAID SOLUTION IS POOR SINCE THE TAPE WILL WEAR AND TEAR BETWEEN EACH SERVICE. MILEAGE IS APPROX. 35,000, PROBLEM HAS BEEN THERE SINCE DAY 1. *TR
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 VOLVO S40. WHILE ACCELERATING FROM A STOP, THE VEHICLE STALLS AND HESITATES. THE FAILURE ALSO OCCURS AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS AND HAS OCCURRED FOR APPROXIMATELY 8 MONTHS TO A YEAR. THE FAILURE GRADUALLY WORSENS WHENEVER THE VEHICLE IS DRIVEN. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAI…
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TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 VOLVO S40. WHILE ACCELERATING FROM A STOP, THE VEHICLE STALLS AND HESITATES. THE FAILURE ALSO OCCURS AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS AND HAS OCCURRED FOR APPROXIMATELY 8 MONTHS TO A YEAR. THE FAILURE GRADUALLY WORSENS WHENEVER THE VEHICLE IS DRIVEN. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 08V033000 (FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY:FUEL PUMP). THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 75,000.
I HAVE A VOLVO S40 2005 AND THE RADIO/CD PLAYER JUST BLANKS OUT. WHEN I START THE CAR THE RADIO/CD WON'T PLAY. IT WILL POWER UP AND THE DISPLAY WILL SHOW, BUT NO SOUND COMES ON. IT HAS DONE THIS THREE TIMES. I HAVE TO TOTALLY TURN THE CAR OFF AND LET IT SIT FOR A WHILE BEFORE IT WILL WORK AGAIN. *TR
Official recalls
310V566000 · 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
0No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.
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