← 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
Mileage unknown · Oct 29, 2007
Structure

THE BRAKE PEDAL AND GAS PEDAL ON MY 2006 VOLVO S40 ARE TOO CLOSE TOGETHER. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10207369

33,800 miles · Oct 29, 2007
Service Brakes, Hydraulic

NOTICED REDUCED BRAKING POWER AND BRAKES SQUEALING. TOOK VEHICLE TO DEALERSHIP REPAIR FACILITY FOR INSPECTION. BRAKES WERE FOUND TO BE "DISENGAGED" ON THE PASSENGERS SIDE FRONT AND "PARTIALLY FUNCTIONAL" ON DRIVERS SIDE FRONT. NO BRAKE WARNING LIGHT WAS DISPLAYED ON DASH. BRAKE PADS AND ASSEMBLY REPLACED BY DEALERSHIP WITH "…

Read full complaint

NOTICED REDUCED BRAKING POWER AND BRAKES SQUEALING. TOOK VEHICLE TO DEALERSHIP REPAIR FACILITY FOR INSPECTION. BRAKES WERE FOUND TO BE "DISENGAGED" ON THE PASSENGERS SIDE FRONT AND "PARTIALLY FUNCTIONAL" ON DRIVERS SIDE FRONT. NO BRAKE WARNING LIGHT WAS DISPLAYED ON DASH. BRAKE PADS AND ASSEMBLY REPLACED BY DEALERSHIP WITH "UPGRADED" PARTS AND COVERED UNDER WARRANTY FOR NO CHARGE. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10207310

23,000 miles · Aug 7, 2007
Electrical System

1. SEVERE SUMMER THUNDERSTORMS AND RAIN. 2. DROVE APPROXIMATELY 1 MILE AND RIGHT BLINKER STAYED SOLID GREEN AFTER TURNING. DROVE ABOUT A MILE FURTHER ONTO HIGHWAY ENTRANCE RAMP AND CAR INDICATOR LIGHTS FLASHED ABS BRAKE FAILURE AND AIR BAG FAILURE, THEN ALL CAR INSTRUMENTS (GAS GAUGE, SPEEDOMETER, TACHOMETER, ETC) FAILED FOR AB…

Read full complaint

1. SEVERE SUMMER THUNDERSTORMS AND RAIN. 2. DROVE APPROXIMATELY 1 MILE AND RIGHT BLINKER STAYED SOLID GREEN AFTER TURNING. DROVE ABOUT A MILE FURTHER ONTO HIGHWAY ENTRANCE RAMP AND CAR INDICATOR LIGHTS FLASHED ABS BRAKE FAILURE AND AIR BAG FAILURE, THEN ALL CAR INSTRUMENTS (GAS GAUGE, SPEEDOMETER, TACHOMETER, ETC) FAILED FOR ABOUT FIVE MINUTES. INSTRUMENTS CAME BACK ON BUT ABS BRAKE AND AIR BAG FAILURE CONTINUED TO FLASH FOR ABOUT 1 MORE MINUTE. DROVE DIRECTLY TO DEALERSHIP. 3. SERVICE DEPARTMENT TOOK THE CAR RIGHT IN AND APPLIED GREASE TO THE HARNESS CONNECTOR WHICH SHOULD ALLEVIATE PROBLEMS AS THEY ARE KNOWN TO GET WET AND CORRODE. PLEASE NOTE THIS IS A 2006 MODEL AS I HAVE READ ON THE WEBSITE THAT THE 2004 MODEL HAS THE EXACT SAME PROBLEM. ADDITIONALLY, DRIVER SIDE DOOR LOCKS AND POWER WINDOWS INTERMITTENTLY INOPERABLE LEADING UP TO THIS FAILURE. HAD A SCHEDULED APPOINTMENT TO REMEDY THIS SITUATION BUT BROUGHT THE CAR IN EARLY AS THE CAR WAS INOPERABLE WITHOUT INSTRUMENTS. *JB

NHTSA ODI #10198733

500 miles · Jul 26, 2007
Engine And Engine Cooling

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 VOLVO S40. WHILE DRIVING AT ANY SPEED, THE AIR CONDITION EMITS HOT AIR. THE FAILURE OCCURS WHILE THE AIR CONDITIONER IS SET AT 65 DEGREES. THE OUTSIDE TEMPERATURE GAUGE WAS REPLACED, BUT THAT DID NOT REMEDY THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN TAKEN TO TWO DEALERS ON APPROXIMATELY TWELVE OCCASIONS. T…

Read full complaint

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 VOLVO S40. WHILE DRIVING AT ANY SPEED, THE AIR CONDITION EMITS HOT AIR. THE FAILURE OCCURS WHILE THE AIR CONDITIONER IS SET AT 65 DEGREES. THE OUTSIDE TEMPERATURE GAUGE WAS REPLACED, BUT THAT DID NOT REMEDY THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN TAKEN TO TWO DEALERS ON APPROXIMATELY TWELVE OCCASIONS. THE VEHICLE STILL HAS NOT BEEN PROPERLY REPAIRED. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 3,100 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 500.

NHTSA ODI #10197539

Mileage unknown · Jul 12, 2007
Tires

I EXPERIENCED A TIRE SIDEWALL BLOWOUT ON A MICHELIN ENERGY MXV4 PLUS V RATED TIRE SIZE 205 55 16 WITH 9000 MILES AT APPROXIMATELY 70 MPH. THIS CAUSED CAR TO BECOME EXTREMELY HARD TO CONTROL SWERVING ACROSS SEVERAL LANES OF TRAFFIC, AND THEN SPINNING OFF THE HIGHWAY, ENDING UP NEXT TO A CANAL FACING TRAFFIC. I WAS EXTREMELY F…

Read full complaint

I EXPERIENCED A TIRE SIDEWALL BLOWOUT ON A MICHELIN ENERGY MXV4 PLUS V RATED TIRE SIZE 205 55 16 WITH 9000 MILES AT APPROXIMATELY 70 MPH. THIS CAUSED CAR TO BECOME EXTREMELY HARD TO CONTROL SWERVING ACROSS SEVERAL LANES OF TRAFFIC, AND THEN SPINNING OFF THE HIGHWAY, ENDING UP NEXT TO A CANAL FACING TRAFFIC. I WAS EXTREMELY FORTUNATE NOT TO HIT ANOTHER VEHICLE OR END UP IN THE CANAL. THE BLOWOUT DAMAGED THE FACTORY RIMS. I HAVE NOT YET DETERMINED IF THERE WAS ADDITIONAL DAMAGE TO THE UNDER CARRIAGE TIRE DEALER DETERMINED BLOWOUT WAS A RESULT OF MANUFACTURING DEFECT AND REPLACED TIRE PRO-RATA , BUT MICHELIN REFUSED TO PROCESS CLAIM FOR DAMAGES TO VEHICLE OR DO ANYTHING ELSE CONCERNING THE REMAINING TIRES THAT THE 2006 VOLVO S40 CAME EQUIPPED WITH AND MAY HAVE THE SAME DEFECT. *AK

NHTSA ODI #10196186

3,200 miles · Jan 3, 2007
Air Bags

TL* - THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE AIR BAG OFF LIGHT STAYED ON WHEN THEREWAS A PASSENGER IN THE SEAT. THIS HAPPENSEDINTERMITTENTLY, AND HAS BEEN HAPPENING SINCE SEPT 1, 2006. THE VEHICLE CURRENTLY HAS 9000 MILES. THE FAILURE DID NOT HAPPEN AT ANY PARTICULAR SPEED, IT NORMALLY OCCURRED WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS FIRST STARTED. THE C…

Read full complaint

TL* - THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE AIR BAG OFF LIGHT STAYED ON WHEN THEREWAS A PASSENGER IN THE SEAT. THIS HAPPENSEDINTERMITTENTLY, AND HAS BEEN HAPPENING SINCE SEPT 1, 2006. THE VEHICLE CURRENTLY HAS 9000 MILES. THE FAILURE DID NOT HAPPEN AT ANY PARTICULAR SPEED, IT NORMALLY OCCURRED WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS FIRST STARTED. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER ON 1/3/07, AND THEY WERE IN THE PROCESS OF DIAGNOSING THE PROBLEM.*AK

NHTSA ODI #10177666

5,000 miles · Oct 17, 2006
Service Brakes, Hydraulic

PROBLEM WITH BRAKES ON 2006 VOLVO S40 T5. SEVERE SCREACHING NOISE COMES FROM BRAKES WHEN IN REVERSE. VOLVO IS AWARE OF THE PROBLEM YET THEY HAVE NOT BEEN ABLE TO RESOLVE THE ISSUE. MY VOLVO S40 HAS HAD BRAKE PARTS REPLACED 4 TIMES. EACH TIME I WAS TOLD THE PROBLEM WAS FIXED. ONE MONTH LATER, THE NOISE IS BACK. THE NOISE IS…

Read full complaint

PROBLEM WITH BRAKES ON 2006 VOLVO S40 T5. SEVERE SCREACHING NOISE COMES FROM BRAKES WHEN IN REVERSE. VOLVO IS AWARE OF THE PROBLEM YET THEY HAVE NOT BEEN ABLE TO RESOLVE THE ISSUE. MY VOLVO S40 HAS HAD BRAKE PARTS REPLACED 4 TIMES. EACH TIME I WAS TOLD THE PROBLEM WAS FIXED. ONE MONTH LATER, THE NOISE IS BACK. THE NOISE IS NOW BACK FOR THE FIFTH (5) TIME.

NHTSA ODI #10171109

650 miles · May 31, 2006
Service Brakes, HydraulicVehicle Speed Control

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THE ACCELERATOR AND BRAKE PEDAL ARE TOO CLOSE TOGETHER. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN INSPECTED BY THE DEALERSHIP.

NHTSA ODI #10158706

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.