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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
133,000 miles · Aug 29, 2014
Fuel/propulsion System

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 VOLVO S40. THE CONTACT STATED THAT FUEL FUMES WERE PRESENT AROUND THE VEHICLE, BUT NO FUEL LEAKS COULD BE FOUND. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 133,000.

NHTSA ODI #10629486

70,000 miles · Aug 29, 2014
Electrical System

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 VOLVO S40. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE FAILED TO ACCELERATE MORE THAN 20 MPH AND SEVERAL WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC. THE TECHNICIAN STATED THAT THE COMPUTER NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MA…

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 VOLVO S40. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE FAILED TO ACCELERATE MORE THAN 20 MPH AND SEVERAL WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC. THE TECHNICIAN STATED THAT THE COMPUTER NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 70,000.

NHTSA ODI #10629294

74,000 miles · Aug 26, 2014
Air BagsElectrical SystemSeats

A DESIGN FLAW CAUSED FLOODING WITHIN THE CABIN OF THIS VEHICLE. THE SUNROOF DRAINAGE SYSTEM IS FAULTY AND OVER TIME LEAKS WATER INTO THE FLOOR PAN OF THE CAR, SOMETIMES ENOUGH WHERE FLOODING OCCURS. MY CAR FLOODED A FEW MONTHS BACK SO BADLY UP TO 10 GALLONS OF WATER WAS VACUUMED OUT. THE FLOODING CAUSED DAMAGE TO THE ELECTRICAL …

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A DESIGN FLAW CAUSED FLOODING WITHIN THE CABIN OF THIS VEHICLE. THE SUNROOF DRAINAGE SYSTEM IS FAULTY AND OVER TIME LEAKS WATER INTO THE FLOOR PAN OF THE CAR, SOMETIMES ENOUGH WHERE FLOODING OCCURS. MY CAR FLOODED A FEW MONTHS BACK SO BADLY UP TO 10 GALLONS OF WATER WAS VACUUMED OUT. THE FLOODING CAUSED DAMAGE TO THE ELECTRICAL HARNESS/CONNECTIONS UNDER THE DRIVER'S/PASSENGER'S SEAT. CURRENTLY THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT IS ON, THE PASSENGER SEAT AIR BAG IS DEACTIVATED AND IT IS UNSAFE TO SIT IN THE PASSENGER SEAT AS THE AIR BAG COULD MALFUNCTION AT ANY TIME, ALL DUE TO THIS FLOODING AND THE ROOT CAUSE BEING THE FAULTY DRAINAGE SYSTEM THAT RUNS FROM THE SUNROOF THROUGH THE DASH OUT OF THE BOTTOM OF THE CAR. THERE IS A CLASS ACTION LAW SUIT, NO. 2:10-CV-04407-DMC-MF, AGAINST VOLVO FOR THIS SPECIFIC ISSUE, I BELIEVE THIS ISSUE IS LEADING TO MORE AND MORE PROBLEMS OVER TIME, MY VEHICLE CURRENTLY WON'T START AND THERE ARE ONLY $75K MILES ON IT, I BELIEVE WATER DAMAGE IS THE ROOT CAUSE FOR ALL ISSUES WITH THE VEHICLE AT THIS TIME, THERE SHOULD BE A RECALL ON ALL VEHICLES EFFECTED OR COMPENSATION TO KEEP DRIVERS SAFE IN THIS SPECIFIC VEHICLE. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10628541

114,000 miles · Jul 9, 2014
Electrical SystemEquipment Adaptive/mobilityStructure

THE SUNROOF LEAKS AND CAUSES PUDDLES IN FRONT DRIVER SIDE AND DRIVER SIDE PASSENGER SIDE, RUST AND MILL-DEW SMELL ALSO ELECTRICAL ISSUES IN THE VEHICLE WHY? EVEN AFTER SHORT TIME OF PURCHASING A CAR. VOLVO SHOULDN'T MAKE CUSTOMERS PAY FOR THIS EXPENSE COST SINCE MOST OF THESE ISSUES SEEM TO PLAGUE MANY VOLVO CUSTOMERS. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10609143

123,000 miles · Jun 4, 2014
Engine

I WAS ON HIGHWAY 410 HEADED TO I35 IN RUSH HOUR TRAFFIC AND THE POWER TO THE ENGINE SHUT OFF WHILE I WAS DRIVING.. I HAD TO GLIDE THE CAR TO SAFETY. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10596022

115,000 miles · Apr 11, 2014
Electrical System

AT LEAST 5 TIMES I HAVE HAD THE CAR IN THE VOLVO DEALERSHIP. THE CAR WITHOUT WARNING, POWERS DOWN TO 50%, THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS START UP, ALL THE GAUGES DROP TO ZERO POSITION AND ABS BRAKE MALFUNCTION LIGHTS LIGHT UP. IF YOU PULL OVER AND STOP, THE CAR SHUTS DOWN AND YOU CAN NOT PULL OUT THE KEY. IF I WAIT 15 MINUTES, THE KEY …

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AT LEAST 5 TIMES I HAVE HAD THE CAR IN THE VOLVO DEALERSHIP. THE CAR WITHOUT WARNING, POWERS DOWN TO 50%, THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS START UP, ALL THE GAUGES DROP TO ZERO POSITION AND ABS BRAKE MALFUNCTION LIGHTS LIGHT UP. IF YOU PULL OVER AND STOP, THE CAR SHUTS DOWN AND YOU CAN NOT PULL OUT THE KEY. IF I WAIT 15 MINUTES, THE KEY CAN BE TURNED OFF AND YOU CAN RESTART THE CAR. WHILE THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT STAYS ON, EVERYTHING ELSE IS NORMAL TILL THE NEXT TIME. IT HAD DONE THIS 6 TIMES IN THE LAST 6 MONTHS. DEALER CAN NOT FIGURE IT OUT OTHER THEM A ELECTRICAL MALFUNCTION FROM SOMEWHERE IN THE COMPUTER. IF IT HAPPENS GOING UP A GRADE OR HILL, THE POWER DOWN SLOWS THE CAR IN WHICH IS IS SOMETIMES IMPOSSIBLE TO POWER UP OVER THE HILL. EVERY TIME WE TAKE IT TO THE DEALER, IT THEN RUNS WITH NO PROBLEM, BUT LASTS 2 OR 3 WEEKS BEFORE ACTING UP AGAIN. THEY HAVE CHANGED THE BATTER, ALTERNATOR, UNPLUGGED AND REPLUGGED THE COMPUTER TERMINAL. THIS CAR IS UNSAFE AND UNRELIABLE TO TAKE ON LONG TRIPS. DO YOU KNOW OF A RECALL TO GET THIS PROBLEM FIXED ? *JS

NHTSA ODI #10579076

50,000 miles · Jan 16, 2014
Electrical SystemExterior Lighting

WHILE DRIVING AT NIGHT WITHOUT WARNING: ?INTERIOR LIGHTS, WIPERS ON ?ALL GAUGES WENT TO ZERO ?ALL WARNING LIGHTS, AIRBAG, STABILITY CTRL, ABS, OTHERS-ON ?NO TURN SIGNALS OR HAZARD LIGHTS ?NO DOOR LOCKS ?NO WINDOW OPERATION ?RANDOM MESSAGES SUCH AS TRUNK OPEN ?ALL PROBLEMS CONTINUING CANNOT DRIVE CAR DURING PREVIOUS I…

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WHILE DRIVING AT NIGHT WITHOUT WARNING: ?INTERIOR LIGHTS, WIPERS ON ?ALL GAUGES WENT TO ZERO ?ALL WARNING LIGHTS, AIRBAG, STABILITY CTRL, ABS, OTHERS-ON ?NO TURN SIGNALS OR HAZARD LIGHTS ?NO DOOR LOCKS ?NO WINDOW OPERATION ?RANDOM MESSAGES SUCH AS TRUNK OPEN ?ALL PROBLEMS CONTINUING CANNOT DRIVE CAR DURING PREVIOUS INCIDENTS GAUGES STARTED JUMPING, LIGHTS BLINKING, WARNINGS FLASHING, CAR HAS COMPLETELY SHUT DOWN WHILE DRIVING. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10560187

87,395 miles · Nov 8, 2013
Visibility

CAR WAS PARKED IN THE DRIVEWAY AT MY HOUSE OVERNIGHT. WHEN I OPENED THE DRIVER'S DOOR TODAY MID-DAY, I SAW GLASS ALL OVER THE FRONT SEATS. THE SUNROOF HAD EXPLODED UPWARD. THE EDGES OF THE GLASS STILL REMAINING IN THE SUNROOF ARE CLEARLY PUSHED UP AND OUTWARD, NOT DOWNWARD INTO THE CAR AS IT WOULD BE IF SOMETHING HAD FALLEN THRO…

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CAR WAS PARKED IN THE DRIVEWAY AT MY HOUSE OVERNIGHT. WHEN I OPENED THE DRIVER'S DOOR TODAY MID-DAY, I SAW GLASS ALL OVER THE FRONT SEATS. THE SUNROOF HAD EXPLODED UPWARD. THE EDGES OF THE GLASS STILL REMAINING IN THE SUNROOF ARE CLEARLY PUSHED UP AND OUTWARD, NOT DOWNWARD INTO THE CAR AS IT WOULD BE IF SOMETHING HAD FALLEN THROUGH THE SUNROOF FROM THE OUTSIDE. OTHER THAN SHATTERED GLASS, THERE WAS NOTHING UNUSUAL (SUCH AS A BRANCH OR ROCK) INSIDE THE CAR. NUMEROUS SIMILAR INCIDENTS ARE POSTED ON CARCOMPLAINTS.COM, INCLUDING ANOTHER VOLVO S40. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10551542

56,000 miles · Sep 3, 2013
Fuel System, Gasoline

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 VOLVO S40. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE FAILED TO START. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSIS WHERE IT WAS STATED THAT THE FUEL PUMP AND PUMP ELECTRONIC MODULE (PEM) NEEDED TO BE REPAIRED. THE DEALER ALSO INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT HER VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: …

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 VOLVO S40. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE FAILED TO START. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSIS WHERE IT WAS STATED THAT THE FUEL PUMP AND PUMP ELECTRONIC MODULE (PEM) NEEDED TO BE REPAIRED. THE DEALER ALSO INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT HER VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 08V033000 (FUEL SYSTEM). THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED AND THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 56,000. ...UPDATED 11-12-13 *BF THE CONSUMER STATED IN THE PAST MONTH THE ALTERNATOR, DEFECTIVE PCV, AND CVVT HUB. THE DEFECTIVE PCV CAUSED THE FRONT SEALS TO BLOW WHICH CAUSED THE CVVT HUB TO NEED TO BE REPLACED. UPDATED 11/25/2013 *JS

NHTSA ODI #10538515

55,000 miles · Apr 22, 2013
Electrical System

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 VOLVO S40. THE CONTACT STATED WHENEVER THE AIR CONDITIONER WAS ACTIVATED, HOT AIR EMITTED THROUGHOUT THE VENTS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER FOR DIAGNOSIS. THE TECHNICIAN STATED THAT THE FAILURE WAS CONTRIBUTED TO THE AIR COMPRESSOR. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER…

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 VOLVO S40. THE CONTACT STATED WHENEVER THE AIR CONDITIONER WAS ACTIVATED, HOT AIR EMITTED THROUGHOUT THE VENTS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER FOR DIAGNOSIS. THE TECHNICIAN STATED THAT THE FAILURE WAS CONTRIBUTED TO THE AIR COMPRESSOR. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE DEFECT. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 55,000.

NHTSA ODI #10509079

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.