79 of the 677 complaints filed about the Volvo S40 are about the engine — 12% of everything owners reported. The worst model year for it is 2001.
79
Complaints
12%
Share of all complaints
2
Crashes
8
Fires
ENGINE
Engine light stays on. I have had 2 mechanics check it out. They don't know why the light is on. I am very concerned about the fuel line problem.
NHTSA complaint #11439636 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ENGINE
After buying the vehicle on 7/9/21, the car started having problems with the cooling system. I took it to a repair shop and they said the cooling system was overfilled. The air problem continued. I took it back to the dealership who said they fixed it but it continued. I contacted the prior Manufactuer service center who informed me the computer chip was recommended to be replaced when the dealer had it serviced but they declined, causing all the electrical and cooling issues. I called the dealer and they said they had the alarm disconnected also which was why the computer system wasn't working. The alarm system doesn't work and I have had to replace the key fob 3 times. I took it to another repair shop who diagnosed the following as permanent failure codes: 6 CEM codes, 1 ECM code, 6 SRS codes, 2 DIM codes, 11 CEM-HS codes, passenger and driver door codes, 4 climate control codes, 1EPS code, 4 SWM codes, DD11, all of which are safety hazards.
NHTSA complaint #11428519 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ENGINE
ME AN MY HUSBAND WAS DRIVING THE CAR AN IT STARTED TO RUN HOT SO WE WENT AN GOT THE PART TO GO ON THE CAR AN WHEN WHEN WE GOT BACK TO MY FATHER IN LAW HOUSE THE CAR CUT OFF AN STARTED TO SMOKE REAL BAD THEN WENT INTO FLAMES AN WHEN WE FIRST GOT THE CAR WE GOT EVERYTHING FIX ON IT AN THEN WHEN YOU PLUG THE MONTIOR TO THE THE CAR IT SAID WE HAD TEN CODES UP THERE AN THEY WAS THE SAME CODES THAT WAS ON THE CAR AN WE KNOW WE HAD GOT EVERYTHING FIX ON THE CAR AN WE WAS STILL HAVING PROBLEMS WITH THE CAR NO WE OUT OF A CAR CAUSE IT WENT INTO FLAMES.
NHTSA complaint #11339721 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ENGINE
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 VOLVO S40. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING AT 20 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO RESTART THE VEHICLE AFTER SEVERAL MINUTES AND SEVERAL ATTEMPTS. THE VEHICLE WAS DRIVEN TO THE RESIDENCE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC BUT WAS NOT DIAGNOSED NOR REPAIRED. THE FAILURE RECURRED INTERMITTENTLY. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 114,000.
NHTSA complaint #11318613 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ENGINE
2005 VOLVO S40 ENGINE AIR CONDITIONING MALFUNCTIONED. WHEN THE PROBLEM FIRST BEGUN THE CAR WOULD BE COOL AT START THEN GET WARM UNTIL ONE DAY THE AIR CONDITIONING JUST QUIT WORKING. I READ ON THIS FORUM AUTHORIZED VOLVO DEALERSHIP ADMITS THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM IN THIS YEAR/MAKE/MODEL. THE COMPRESSOR CLUTCH OR COMPRESSOR OR BOTH REQUIRED REPLACING. IN A CLASS ACTION LAWSUIT [FILED 2018] HTTP://WWW.AUTOPARTSCLASS.COM/INDEX.PHP INCLUDES THE 2005 VOLVO S40 AIR CONDITIONING UNIT: [SEE BELOW] CONGRATULATIONS! YOUR 2005 VOLVO S40 IS INCLUDED IN THE FOLLOWING AUTO PARTS CASES: IN RE: INSTRUMENT PANEL CLUSTERS IN RE: AIR CONDITIONING SYSTEMS IN RE: ALTERNATORS IN RE: WINDSHIELD WIPER SYSTEMS
NHTSA complaint #11246021 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ENGINE
FOUND COMPLAINTS ON MULTIPLE SITES ABOUT ISSUE FOUND ON MY VEHICLE . THE OIL FILTER HOUSING CORRUGATED BREATHING HOSE WAS SO BADLY ROTTED WAS ONLY LITTLE PIECE LEFT REST FELL OFF SOMEWHERE WHILE OPERATING VEHICLE. ON TOP OF THAT ISSUE IM SSUMING DUE TO THISS PROBLEM AND IT ON GOING UNTIL I GOT CHECK ENGINE LIGHT IT HAS CAUSED OIL FILTER HOUSING ITSELF TO GO BAD IM ASSUMING IN PART TO ALL OIL BUILD UP FROM HOSE MISSING CAUSING VACUUM ISSUES' WHY ISNT HIS CAR THAT HAS SAME ISSUE AS OTHERS THAT WERE RECALLED WITH SAME EXACT OPERATING AND LOOKING PART WITH SAME EXACT HOSE ROTTING ISSUE CAUSING OIL FILTER HOUSING TO BECOME BUILT UP WITH GUNK CAUSING LEAKS BOTH AIR AND OIL.. .. PLEAE ANSWER THESE ISSUES FOR IT SHOWS HOW MUCH VOLVO CARES ABOUT QUALITY OF THERE PRODUCTS
NHTSA complaint #11241342 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ENGINE
IGNITION KEY WILL NOT TURN PAST POSITION 2 ALLOWING FOR ENGINE STARTING. THE VEHICLE WITH STATIONARY IN PARK.
NHTSA complaint #11218386 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ENGINE
THE CAR HAS PROBLEMS STARTING AND TAKES A FEW TRIES BEFORE STARTING UP. HAVE ALSO HAD A PROBLEM WHERE THE CAR WAS IN PARK WITH THE PARKING BRAKE ENGAGED AND THE CAR WAS REVVING ON ITS OWN. THERE HAVE ALSO BEEN PROBLEMS WHILE THE CAR HAS BEEN SLOWING DOWN ON THE FREEWAY, SPECIFICALLY WHEN THE BRAKES ARE BEING ENGAGED THE CAR WILL ATTEMPT TO MOVE FORWARD AS THOUGH IT IS TRYING TO PUSH PASS THE FACT THAT THE BRAKES ARE BEING ENGAGED. AS WELL AS THE CAR WILL ACCELERATE FASTER THAN THE GAS PEDAL IS BEING PUSHED E.G WHEN THE GAS PEDAL IS SLIGHTLY PUSHED THE CAR WILL ACCELERATE QUICKLY AS THOUGH THE GAS PEDAL WAS BEING PUSHED UPON FIRMLY.
NHTSA complaint #11118565 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ENGINE
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 VOLVO S40. WHILE DRIVING 60 MPH, THE VEHICLE OVERHEATED AND STALLED. IN ADDITION, THE CHECK ENGINE WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE CONTACT'S RESIDENCE. THE DEALER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT INFORMED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 191,000.
NHTSA complaint #11118496 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ENGINE
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 VOLVO S40. WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS STARTED, THERE WAS AN ABNORMAL VIBRATION COMING FROM THE VEHICLE. UPON OPENING THE HOOD AND CHECKING THE ENGINE, THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THE PASSENGER SIDE OF THE ENGINE WAS FRACTURED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FRACTURE WAS ALONG THE TOP SIDE OF THE ENGINE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO BE DIAGNOSED. A DEALER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 43,000.
NHTSA complaint #11057910 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ENGINE
CAR LOOSING POWER AND ENGINE MISSING AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS. ENGINE LIGHT WENT ON. FAILURE OF FUEL PRESSURE MONITOR.
NHTSA complaint #11054027 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ENGINE
CAR IS ALL OF A SUDDEN ACCELERATING ON ITS OWN. IT HAS HAPPENED A HANDFUL OF TIMES WITHIN THE LAST MONTH. I WILL MAKE A TURN, LET OFF THE GAS PEDDLE AND THEN THE CAR WILL JUST JERK FORWARD REVVING UP THE RPMS AND ACCELERATING ON ITS OWN.
NHTSA complaint #11041947 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ENGINE
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 complaint #10947597 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ENGINE
EGR OR AKA. OIL TRAP HOUSING, TUBING IS BROKEN AND SUCKING IN AIR. IMPROPER VENTILATION IS TRIPPING OFF EMISSION CODE ON DASH. BRITTLE BLACK PLASTIC HOUSING, DEFECTIVE IN NATURE AND BY DESIGN. POTENTIAL OTHER ISSUES IS THE UNWANTED PRESSURE BUILD UP IN ENGINE WHICH CAN CAUSE PREMATURE FAILURE OF OIL CAM SEALS WHICH I ALSO EXPERIENCED.
NHTSA complaint #10850393 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ENGINE
CAR CAUGHT FIRE WITHOUT WARNING AS I WAS DRIVING IT. CAR HAD 93,000 AND HAD PASSED VA INSPECTION IN AUGUST. I PULLED OVER AND CALLED 911. BY THE TIME THE FIRE DEPARTMENT ARRIVED 3 MINUTES LATER, ENTIRE ENGINE WAS ENGULFED IN LARGE FLAMES. THE TEMPERATURE GAUGE NEVER INDICATED THE ENGINE WAS RUNNING HOT. USAA REMOVED THE VEHICLE, AND I DON'T KNOW WHETHER THEY WILL INSPECT IT FOR CAUSE, BUT I SUSPECT AN ELECTRICAL MALFUNCTION.
NHTSA complaint #10819591 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ENGINE
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 complaint #10816446 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
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 MILEAGE WAS 117,000.
NHTSA complaint #10758733 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ENGINE
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 VOLVO S40. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE OIL TRAP AND VENTILATION HOSE WERE DAMAGED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE CHECK ENGINE WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED, THE VEHICLE MADE AN ABNORMAL NOISE, AND THERE WAS AN OIL LEAK IN THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC AND IT WAS CONFIRMED THE FAILURE WAS IN THE OIL TRAP AND VENTILATION HOSE IN THE ENGINE THAT NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THERE WAS A TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN RTJ-19745 (ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING), WHICH EXTENDED THE WARRANTY FOR AFFECTED VEHICLES; HOWEVER, THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 77,800.
NHTSA complaint #10743990 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ENGINE
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 VOLVO S40. WHILE DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 10 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE DID NOT RESTART. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE PEM WAS FAULTY. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 100,625. UPDATED 04/07/15*LJ UPDATED 11/3/2015
NHTSA complaint #10681175 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:COOLING SYSTEM:HOSES/LINES/PIPING/FITTINGS
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 complaint #10676796 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.