NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
What owners actually said
25 reports99,000 miles · Sep 22, 2020
Electrical SystemUnknown Or OtherVisibility/wiper
ON OR ABOUT 12/04/2019 DURING A FLASH RAIN STORM LAST WINTER, MY HUSBAND AND I WAS HEADED HOME ON THE 215 FWY NORTHBOUND IN SAN BERNARDINO, CA WHEN THE CENTER DOME AREA AND THE ELECTRIC SUNROOF INSIDE OUR CAR BEGIN POURING IN HUGE AMOUNTS OF VERY COLD RAIN WATER ON US AND ON THE DASHBOARD, STEREO CONSOLE, GEAR SHIFTER, FLOOR AND…
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ON OR ABOUT 12/04/2019 DURING A FLASH RAIN STORM LAST WINTER, MY HUSBAND AND I WAS HEADED HOME ON THE 215 FWY NORTHBOUND IN SAN BERNARDINO, CA WHEN THE CENTER DOME AREA AND THE ELECTRIC SUNROOF INSIDE OUR CAR BEGIN POURING IN HUGE AMOUNTS OF VERY COLD RAIN WATER ON US AND ON THE DASHBOARD, STEREO CONSOLE, GEAR SHIFTER, FLOOR AND SEATS. UNTIL IT WAS SAFE TO EXIT THE FREEWAY, MY HUSBAND TRIED TO SOAK UP AS MUCH OF THE LEAKING RAINWATER AS HE COULD WITH HIS COAT BUT THE WATER CONTINUED TO POURING INTO THE CAR. ONCE IT WAS SAFE TO EXIT THE FREEWAY, WE PULLED INTO A GAS STATION AND EXAMINE THE SUNROOF TO MAKE SURE IT WAS SHUT PROPERLY, WHICH IT WAS, NOT UNDERSTANDING WHY THIS WAS HAPPENING, HE AND I USED AS MANY PIECES OF NAPKINS AND CLOTH THAT WE COULD FIND TO SOP UP AS MUCH WATER AS WE COULD AND AS BEST AS WE COULD. WE DROVE ON THE STREETS THE REMAINING FEW MILES TO GET HOME BECAUSE IT WAS MUCH SAFER TO DO SO AT THIS POINT. LATER, WE RESEARCHED AS MUCH AS WE COULD FIND OUT ABOUT THE PROBLEM VIA ONLINE COMPLAINTS AND REVIEWS FROM OTHER VOLVO OWNERS. WE THEN TRIED ONE OF THE FIXES OFFERED: CLEARING POTENTIAL DEBRIS FROM THE SUNROOF DRAIN HOSES. HOWEVER, WHEN WE TOOK THE CAR TO A DRIVE-THRU CARWASH SHORTLY AFTERWARDS, THE EXACT SAME THING HAPPEN. WE ARE LOOKING FORWARD TO SELLING THE VOLVO, BUT DUE TO THE LEAKY CENTER DOME AND SUNROOF, THERE IS NO WAY WE WILL CONSIDER SELLING THE CAR WITHOUT DISCLOSING THIS SAFETY ISSUE TO THE NEXT BUYER, EVEN THOUGH WHEN WE PURCHASED THE CAR IN 2013, THE DEALER WHO SOLD IT TO US DID NOT TELL US ABOUT THE SAFETY DEFECT. UNDOUBTEDLY, IF CAUGHT OFF GUARD WHILE DRIVING (I.E. WITHOUT A PASSENGER'S HELPING HAND), NOT KNOWING ABOUT THE DEFECT MAY RESULT IN A MAJOR ACCIDENT OR FATALITY. PLEASE HELP!!!
NHTSA ODI #11360366
124,000 miles · May 6, 2019
Steering
I WAS DRIVING AND THE ENGINE SHUT OFF CAUSING ME TO LOSE CONTROL OF MY VEHICLE AS THE POWER STEERING SHUT DOWN. I WAS ABLE TO STEER MY VEHICLE WITH DIFFICULTY TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD WHERE IT STOPPED. ABOUT ONE WEEK LATER THIS HAPPENED AGAIN. THIS TIME I WAS COMING OUT OF A PARKING LOT AND HAD TO AIM MY VEHICLE IN A WAY TO AVOI…
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I WAS DRIVING AND THE ENGINE SHUT OFF CAUSING ME TO LOSE CONTROL OF MY VEHICLE AS THE POWER STEERING SHUT DOWN. I WAS ABLE TO STEER MY VEHICLE WITH DIFFICULTY TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD WHERE IT STOPPED. ABOUT ONE WEEK LATER THIS HAPPENED AGAIN. THIS TIME I WAS COMING OUT OF A PARKING LOT AND HAD TO AIM MY VEHICLE IN A WAY TO AVOID HITTING OTHER VEHICLES. BOTH TIME, AFTER A FEW MINUTES THE CAR STARTED RIGHT UP AND I WAS ABLE TO DRIVE AGAIN. LAST FRIDAY, MAY 3, I PULLED MY VEHICLE OVER AND WHEN I STOPPED THE VEHICLE SHUT DOWN. THIS TIME IT DID NOT RESTART. THE ERROR MESSAGE DISPLAYED ON THE DASH WAS THAT THE "STEERING WAS LOCKED, TRY AGAIN." AFTER SEVERAL ATTEMPTS INCLUDING JUMP STARTING THE VEHICLE, WHICH WAS UNNECESSARY, THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT START. I HAD MY VEHICLE TOWED TO THE NEAREST VOLVO DEALERSHIP AND WAS TOLD THAT THE "STEERING COLUMN LOCK" HAD FAILED. THE PART NEEDED TO BE REPLACED AT A COST OF OVER $830.
NHTSA ODI #11205749
60,000 miles · Oct 19, 2018
Air BagsSeat BeltsCrashInjury
TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2007 VOLVO S40. THE CONTACT CALLED ON BEHALF OF THE DRIVER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS STRUCK ON THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE BY ANOTHER VEHICLE. THE SPEED WAS UNKNOWN. THE AIR BAG FAILED TO DEPLOY AND THE SEAT BELT DETACHED. THE DRIVER SUSTAINED LEG, BACK, AND SHOULDER INJURIES THAT REQUIRED MED…
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TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2007 VOLVO S40. THE CONTACT CALLED ON BEHALF OF THE DRIVER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS STRUCK ON THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE BY ANOTHER VEHICLE. THE SPEED WAS UNKNOWN. THE AIR BAG FAILED TO DEPLOY AND THE SEAT BELT DETACHED. THE DRIVER SUSTAINED LEG, BACK, AND SHOULDER INJURIES THAT REQUIRED MEDICAL ATTENTION. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED AND TOWED TO A TOW LOT. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO A DEALER OR AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 60,000.
NHTSA ODI #11141465
104,000 miles · May 31, 2018
Electrical SystemElectronic Stability Control (esc)Unknown Or Other
AFTER PARKING CAR AND TURNING CAR OFF, AIRBAG, BRAKE, AND INFORMATION WARNING LIGHTS STAY ON, AS DOES VENTILATION SYSTEM. PASSENGER SEAT HAS EXCESS WATER UNDERNEATH. NOW CAR WILL NOT START.
NHTSA ODI #11098954
10 miles · Feb 2, 2017
Vehicle Speed Control
VEHICLE LOSES POWER DUE TO ACCELERATOR PEDAL LOW VOLTAGE/SIGNAL. THIS OCCURS IN MULTIPLE SITUATIONS. SAFEST IS SHORTLY AFTER STARTING THE CAR AN ENGINE LIGHT STATING 'ENGINE SYSTEM URGENT' APPEARS. UNSAFE OCCURRENCE INCLUDES POWER LOSS WHILE PEDAL IS DEPRESSES SUCH AS ON THE HIGHWAY WITH CONSTANT PRESSURE OR MOST SEVERE WHEN …
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VEHICLE LOSES POWER DUE TO ACCELERATOR PEDAL LOW VOLTAGE/SIGNAL. THIS OCCURS IN MULTIPLE SITUATIONS. SAFEST IS SHORTLY AFTER STARTING THE CAR AN ENGINE LIGHT STATING 'ENGINE SYSTEM URGENT' APPEARS. UNSAFE OCCURRENCE INCLUDES POWER LOSS WHILE PEDAL IS DEPRESSES SUCH AS ON THE HIGHWAY WITH CONSTANT PRESSURE OR MOST SEVERE WHEN TURNING LEFT THROUGH AN INTERSECTION POWER IS REDUCED TO IDLE. IF THE VENT OCCURS WITH THE PEDAL REPRESSED, POWER IS REDUCED TO IDLE MOMENTARILY (2-3 SECONDS) AND AFTER 'PUMPING' THE PEDAL SEVERAL TIMES IT RETURNS TO NORMAL. I HAVE BROUGHT THIS VEHICLE SEVERAL TIMES TO REPAIR. DEAL CHANGED PEDAL, CHANGED WIRING CONNECTORS (ALSO CLEANED SEVERAL TIMES) AND ULTIMATELY REPLACED ENGINE COMPUTER. PROBLEM STILL OCCURS AND DEALER DOES NOT KNOW WHAT ELSE TO DO. MOST RECENT OCCURRENCE WAS 27 JAN BUT THIS ISSUES APPEARS ABOUT EVERY TWO MONTHS AFTER REPAIR AND OCCURS DAILY ONCE TO PROBLEM RETURNS.
NHTSA ODI #10949021
129,401 miles · Jan 25, 2017
EngineUnknown Or OtherVehicle Speed Control
SAFETY CONCERN: 2007 VOLVO S40 ELECTRONIC THROTTLE MODULE FAILURE - CAUSING "REDUCED ENGINE PERFORMANCE" MESSAGE AND VEHICLE (2007 VOLVO S40) SUDDENLY SLOWS DOWN WHILE IN MOTION, LIMPS AND CANNOT GO HIGHER SPEED. HAD BARELY EXITED THE FREEWAY ON 1/24/2017 AND THIS HAPPENED AS I WAS ON RAMP. COULD BE EXTREMELY DANGEROUS IF IT HAP…
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SAFETY CONCERN: 2007 VOLVO S40 ELECTRONIC THROTTLE MODULE FAILURE - CAUSING "REDUCED ENGINE PERFORMANCE" MESSAGE AND VEHICLE (2007 VOLVO S40) SUDDENLY SLOWS DOWN WHILE IN MOTION, LIMPS AND CANNOT GO HIGHER SPEED. HAD BARELY EXITED THE FREEWAY ON 1/24/2017 AND THIS HAPPENED AS I WAS ON RAMP. COULD BE EXTREMELY DANGEROUS IF IT HAPPENED 1 MINUTE BEFORE WHEN ON FREEWAY. TURNED VEHICLE IN RIGHT AWAY TO LOCAL VOLVO DEALERSHIP (WHICH WAS LUCKILY WITHIN 15 MINUTES) AND THEY DIAGNOSED IT TO BE FAULTY ELECTRONIC THROTTLE MODULE NEEDING REPLACEMENT. MILEAGE ON CAR 129,000 MILES. WANTED TO REPORT SO THIS ISSUE CAN BE LOOKED INTO FOR SAFETY CONCERN AND IF THE HUGE COST OF REPLACEMENT CAN BE OFFSET SO OWNERS CAN HAVE PEACE OF MIND REPLACING IT TIMELY IF THERE IS A RECOMMENDATION OR BULLETIN (SIMILAR TO TIMING BELTS ETC. - WHICH I DON'T BELIEVE THERE IS CURRENTLY FOR ELECTRONIC THROTTLE MODULE).
NHTSA ODI #10947597
Mileage unknown · Jul 23, 2016
Air Bags
TAKATA RECALL SOMETHING IS WRONG WITH THE AIRBAGS. I T IS SHOWING ME THAT IT NEEDS TO BE REPAIRED.
NHTSA ODI #10887948
117,000 miles · Aug 24, 2015
Engine
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 VOLVO S40. WHILE DRIVING, THERE WAS AN ABNORMAL NOISE COMING FROM THE ENGINE AND THE CHECK ENGINE WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE PVC VALVE FAILED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE…
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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 VOLVO S40. WHILE DRIVING, THERE WAS AN ABNORMAL NOISE COMING FROM THE ENGINE AND THE CHECK ENGINE WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE PVC VALVE FAILED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 117,000.
NHTSA ODI #10758733
51,104 miles · Jul 30, 2015
Steering
MY CAR WOULD NOT START BECAUSE THERE WAS A MESSAGE INDICATING THE STEERING WHEEL WAS LOCKED, BUT, IT WAS NOT LOCKED. I HAD TO TOW THE CAR TO THE SHOP. THEY REPORTED A DEFECTIVE STEERING COLUMN LOCK MODULE. I FOUND THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM FOR THIS CARS WHICH IS TOTALLY UNSAFE AND UNACCEPTABLE.
NHTSA ODI #10745158
Mileage unknown · Dec 5, 2014
Engine And Engine CoolingVisibility
THE COOLING SYSTEM AND DEFROST SHUT DOWN AFTER DRIVING FOR A WHILE. TURNS OUT THE CLUTCH WENT BAD ON THE COMPRESSOR. AFTER RESEARCHING FURTHER ONLINE, THERE ARE MANY COMPLAINTS ABOUT THIS FAILURE. UNFORTUNATELY, THIS IS A VERY EXPENSIVE REPAIR THAT I CANNOT AFFORD. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10662337