← New search

2006 Volvo S40

Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations

Similar to other model years

Owner complaints for the 2006 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

44 reports with mileage · 14 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 24 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Structure. Review the 9 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Fuel/propulsion System. Review the 7 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

1 crash reports0 fire reports1 injury reports

What owners actually said

58 reports
114,000 miles · Jan 4, 2016
Electrical System

WHILE DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD AT APPROXIMATELY 50 MPH I NOTICED MY DIM ( DRIVER INFORMATION MODULE) HAD COMPLETELY STOPPED WORKING. I WAS UNABLE TO READ MY SPEEDOMETER, RPM, FUEL LEVEL, AND ENGINE TEMPERATURE WHILE THE CAR WAS STILL RUNNING . AFTER RESEARCHING THIS ONLINE, IT APPEARS THAT THIS SEEMS TO BE A COMMON PROBLEM.

NHTSA ODI #10817742

78,000 miles · Dec 28, 2015
EngineFuel/propulsion System

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 VOLVO S40. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT 65 MPH, THE ENGINE STALLED WHILE THE CHECK ENGINE WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS ABLE TO RESTART. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER WHERE THE FAILURE WAS NOT DETERMINED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT AWARE OF THE …

Read full complaint

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 VOLVO S40. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT 65 MPH, THE ENGINE STALLED WHILE THE CHECK ENGINE WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS ABLE TO RESTART. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER WHERE THE FAILURE WAS NOT DETERMINED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 08V033000 (FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE). THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 78,000.

NHTSA ODI #10816446

65,000 miles · Oct 5, 2015
Electrical SystemVisibility

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 VOLVO S40. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 40 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED AND FAILED TO RESTART. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC, WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE SUN ROOF DRAINAGE SYSTEM WAS CLOGGED AND WATER ENTERED INTO THE VEHICLE WHICH CAUSED DAMAGE TO THE ELECTRICAL SY…

Read full complaint

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 VOLVO S40. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 40 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED AND FAILED TO RESTART. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC, WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE SUN ROOF DRAINAGE SYSTEM WAS CLOGGED AND WATER ENTERED INTO THE VEHICLE WHICH CAUSED DAMAGE TO THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 65,000.

NHTSA ODI #10779853

156,185 miles · Sep 17, 2015
Electrical System

PRIOR TO THIS INCIDENT, MY CAR IDLED DOWN AND PRESSING THE GAS DID NOT PREVENT IT FROM COMING TO A COMPLETE STOP. THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ILLUMINATED AND ALL OF THE LIGHTS CAME ON TO INCLUDE, WARNING LIGHTS, AIRBAG, STABILITY CONTROL, AND OTHERS INCLUDING ABS. FORTUNATELY WE HAD JUST EXITED THE HIGHWAY TO PURCHASE FUEL AND WAS I…

Read full complaint

PRIOR TO THIS INCIDENT, MY CAR IDLED DOWN AND PRESSING THE GAS DID NOT PREVENT IT FROM COMING TO A COMPLETE STOP. THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ILLUMINATED AND ALL OF THE LIGHTS CAME ON TO INCLUDE, WARNING LIGHTS, AIRBAG, STABILITY CONTROL, AND OTHERS INCLUDING ABS. FORTUNATELY WE HAD JUST EXITED THE HIGHWAY TO PURCHASE FUEL AND WAS IN NO IMMEDIATE DANGER. BECAUSE OF THE VEHICLES AGE IT WAS RECOMMENDED WE HAVE THE STARTER, OXYGEN SENSOR, SPARK PLUGS, 1 COIL PACK, AND BATTERY REPLACED; AND THE FUSES, FUEL PUMP, FUEL FILTER, ALTERNATOR AND WIRING EXAMINED, BUT THEY DID NOT NEED TO BE REPLACED. AFTER READING OTHER COMPLAINTS ABOUT THE ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS OF THIS VEHICLE, I AM SERIOUSLY WONDERING IF THIS CAR IS SAFE. I DON'T WANT TO SPEND MORE MONEY AND STILL HAVE TO BE CONCERNED ABOUT MY FAMILY AND I BEING INVOLVED IN A COLLISION BECAUSE THE REPLACEMENT OF PARTS WON'T FIX AN UNDERLYING PROBLEM THAT MAY BE MUCH MORE SERIOUS.

NHTSA ODI #10764605

Mileage unknown · May 6, 2015
Electrical SystemElectronic Stability Control (esc)Structure

THIS IS THE 3RD TIME THAT MY CAR HAS COMPLETELY STOPPED AND GONE IDLE WHEN I HAVE CHILDREN IN MY CAR. SINCE MARCH OF 2015 MY CAR STOPS IN THE MIDDLE OF THE BUSY HIGHWAYS IN HOUSTON. IT STARTS SHAKING AND ALSO WON'T LET ME ACCELERATE WHEN I PRESS ON THE GAS AND IT IS SO SCARY FOR ME AND MY KIDS. I HAVE HAD THE THROTTLE BODY REPAI…

Read full complaint

THIS IS THE 3RD TIME THAT MY CAR HAS COMPLETELY STOPPED AND GONE IDLE WHEN I HAVE CHILDREN IN MY CAR. SINCE MARCH OF 2015 MY CAR STOPS IN THE MIDDLE OF THE BUSY HIGHWAYS IN HOUSTON. IT STARTS SHAKING AND ALSO WON'T LET ME ACCELERATE WHEN I PRESS ON THE GAS AND IT IS SO SCARY FOR ME AND MY KIDS. I HAVE HAD THE THROTTLE BODY REPAIRED AT FIRST AND JUST LAST WEEK I HAD IT COMPLETELY REPLACED. I HAVE PAID OVER 1,000 DOLLARS WITHIN THE LAST MONTH ON THIS ELECTRONIC THROTTLE BODY ISSUE AND I WOULD LIKE FOR IT TO BE KNOWN THAT THIS CAR ISN'T SAFE. IT HAS PUT MY LIFE AT RISK AND MY KIDS AS WELL! WE WERE ALMOST KILLED TONIGHT BECAUSE OUR CAR IDLED AGAIN IN THE MIDDLE OF HIGHWAY 45 AND THE PEOPLE WHO ALMOST RAN INTO US SWERVED INTO ANOTHER LANE AND MISSED US LITERALLY BY MERE INCHES AND WE CAUSED A COLLISION BETWEEN TWO OTHER VEHICLES. I AM TIRED OF DISHING OUT MONEY AND I HAVE RECEIPTS TO SHOW FOR IT. IT HASN'T EVEN BEEN A WEEK SINCE THE THROTTLE BODY WAS REPLACED. SOMETHING NEEDS TO BE DONE ABOUT THIS! I HAVE CHILDREN AND THIS CAR IS NOT SAFE! I WAS TOLD THAT THIS WAS A SAFE CAR AND THE CAR FAX WAS CLEAN. I WANT TO KNOW WHY I AM HAVING SO MANY PROBLEMS AND WHY MY MONEY IS GOING TO WASTE. I SEE WHERE THIS ETM ISSUE ISN'T UNCOMMON IN VOLVO'S AND THAT THERE WAS A RECALL A FEW YEARS AGO. I HAVE RECEIPTS FROM ALL OF THESE REPAIRS I'VE HAD DONE AND I WOULD APPRECIATE IF SOMEONE WOULD REACH OUT TO ME AND LET ME KNOW WHAT CAN BE DONE. I HAVE TO GET TO WORK AND I ALSO HAVE TO GET MY KIDS FROM POINT A TO B SAFELY. I CAN'T AFFORD A BRAND NEW CAR AND I CAN'T AFFORD TO LOSE MY LIFE OR MY KID'S EITHER. SO AN EXPLANATION WOULD BE NICE. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10715060

151,284 miles · Apr 17, 2015
Electrical System

WE HAD BEEN EXPERIENCING RAIN SHOWERS ON THE WAY TO WORK THE VOLVO TWICE HAD ALL THE LIGHTS ON THE DASH BOARD LIGHT UP BUT THE CAR DID NOT STALL. I WAS AFRAID THE AIR BAG MIGHT DEPLOY. AS SOON AS I GOT HOME I HAD MY HUSBAND CHECK TO SEE IF HE COULD LOCATE THE PROBLEM. HE FOUND WAS THAT THE CARPET WAS SOAKED ON THE DRIVERS SID…

Read full complaint

WE HAD BEEN EXPERIENCING RAIN SHOWERS ON THE WAY TO WORK THE VOLVO TWICE HAD ALL THE LIGHTS ON THE DASH BOARD LIGHT UP BUT THE CAR DID NOT STALL. I WAS AFRAID THE AIR BAG MIGHT DEPLOY. AS SOON AS I GOT HOME I HAD MY HUSBAND CHECK TO SEE IF HE COULD LOCATE THE PROBLEM. HE FOUND WAS THAT THE CARPET WAS SOAKED ON THE DRIVERS SIDE .AND THE. WIRING RUNNING UNDER THE CARPET WAS ALSO WET. WE HAVE NOT MOVED THE CAR AND ARE TRYING TO DRY EVERYTHING. IT HAS ALSO CONTINUED TO RAIN OFF AND ON. MY HUSBAND HAS FOUND SOME INFORMATION ON THE INTERNET WHICH COULD BE RELATED TO THIS PROBLEM AND WILL TRY TO SEE IF THIS MIGHT BE THE SOLUTION TO OUR PROBLEM. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10706210

90,000 miles · Feb 4, 2015
Electrical SystemElectronic Stability Control (esc)Structure

WATER LEAKED INTO MY VEHICLE THROUGH THE SUNROOF, DESTROYED THE COMPUTER AND AIR AIRBAG SYSTEM. THE CARPETS ARE SOAKED WITH STANDING WATER SITTING IN THE BODY OF THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE OF THE VEHICLE. I TOOK MY VEHICLE TO THE DEALERSHIP AND WAS TOLD THE SUNROOF DRAINAGE TUBES WHERE CLOGGED. I WAS THEN QUOTED A PRICE FOR REPAIR…

Read full complaint

WATER LEAKED INTO MY VEHICLE THROUGH THE SUNROOF, DESTROYED THE COMPUTER AND AIR AIRBAG SYSTEM. THE CARPETS ARE SOAKED WITH STANDING WATER SITTING IN THE BODY OF THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE OF THE VEHICLE. I TOOK MY VEHICLE TO THE DEALERSHIP AND WAS TOLD THE SUNROOF DRAINAGE TUBES WHERE CLOGGED. I WAS THEN QUOTED A PRICE FOR REPAIRS WHICH TOTALED IN EXCESS OF $2000.00. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10681158

89,000 miles · Jan 20, 2015
Engine And Engine CoolingVisibility

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 VOLVO S40. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE SUNROOF LEAKED WATER CAUSING THE ELECTRICAL FUNCTIONS TO FAIL. THE FAILURE OCCURRED ON NUMEROUS OCCASIONS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE DRAIN HOSE FAILED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF TH…

Read full complaint

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 VOLVO S40. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE SUNROOF LEAKED WATER CAUSING THE ELECTRICAL FUNCTIONS TO FAIL. THE FAILURE OCCURRED ON NUMEROUS OCCASIONS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE DRAIN HOSE FAILED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 89,000. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE.

NHTSA ODI #10676796

125,000 miles · Jan 15, 2015
Electrical SystemStructure

VEHICLE PASSENGER REAR FLOOR FLOODING CONTINUOUSLY. ONE DAY THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS WOULDN'T TURN OFF AND NONE OF THE INTERIOR ELECTRICAL EQUIPMENT WOULD WORK, NO POWER WINDOWS OR LOCKS. DROVE TO VOLVO, THEY STATED CLOGGED SUNROOF DRAIN AND THAT FLOORMAT HAD AFFECTED THE ECM UNDER THE STEERING COLUMN. THEY CLEARED DRAIN AND CLE…

Read full complaint

VEHICLE PASSENGER REAR FLOOR FLOODING CONTINUOUSLY. ONE DAY THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS WOULDN'T TURN OFF AND NONE OF THE INTERIOR ELECTRICAL EQUIPMENT WOULD WORK, NO POWER WINDOWS OR LOCKS. DROVE TO VOLVO, THEY STATED CLOGGED SUNROOF DRAIN AND THAT FLOORMAT HAD AFFECTED THE ECM UNDER THE STEERING COLUMN. THEY CLEARED DRAIN AND CLEANED FLOOR FOR $1K. A YEAR LATER THE FRONT DRIVERS SEAT FLOOR STARTED FLOODING. EXPERIENCED MANY ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS SINCE. INCLUDING AN INSTANCE ENTERING THE HIGHWAY WHEN THE POWER STEERING SEEMED TO GO OUT AND THE CAR STALLED. THE SCREEN TOLD ME TO PULL OVER SAFELY. VERY SCARY. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10672809

100,000 miles · Oct 22, 2014
Air Bags

THERE WAS NO ACCIDENT. PLEASE TELL ME WHETHER THERE IS A RECALL FOR THIS VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE LOOK UP BY VIN IS NOT WORKING ON YOUR WEBSITE. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10649261

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.