2005 Volvo S40: complaints, problems and recalls

NOVEMBER 15, 2005 MY VOLVO S40'S PARKING BRAKE FAILED TO WORK PROPERLY. AFTER PARKING MY CAR AND LEAVING THE GARAGE THE BRAKE "SLIPPED" AND ROLLED OUT OF THE SPOT HITTING ANOTHER CAR. MY CAR HAD 2,899 MILES ON IT. WHEN RETURNING TO MY CAR THAT NIGHT I FOUND THAT MY PARKING BRAKE HAD "SLIPPED" AND MY VOLVO HAD DRIFTED DOWN THE RAMP OF MY PARKING GARAGE AND STRUCK ANOTHER CAR. THE MORNING OF THE ACCIDENT, I PULLED INTO MY PARKING SPOT, SET MY PARKING BRAKE, SAT IN MY CAR A FEW MINUTES COLLECTING MY PERSONAL ITEMS FROM MY FRONT SEAT, AND BACK…

Owner-reported narrative. 2,899 miles reported. Look up ODI 10156682 at NHTSA ↗

THE S-40 WAS ON THE HIGHWAY AND THE MESSAGE CAME ON STATING ENGINE FAILURE. I PULLED OVER IN THE BREAKDOWN LANE AND SHUT THE CAR OFF. I RESTARTED THE CAR AND WAS ABLE TO DRIVE HOME. I MADE AN APPOINTMENT WITH THE DEALER TO LOOK INTO THE PROBLEM WHICH OCCURRED AT THAT TIME, TODAY I EXPERIENCED THE SAME AND NOW THE CD DOES NOT WORK PROPERLY. I MADE AN APPOINTMENT TO BRING THE S 40 T5 IN FOR SERVICE TO CHECK THE PROBLEM AGAIN. *JB

Owner-reported narrative. 2,877 miles reported. Look up ODI 10162241 at NHTSA ↗

1) I HAD TO CHANGE A FLAT TIRE AND USED THE VEHICLE SUPPLIED SCISSOR JACK. I NOTICED THAT IT GOT INCREASINGLY DIFFICULT TO TURN THE JACK TO RAISE THE CAR. EVENTUALLY IT GOT SO STIFF THAT IT REQUIRED BOTH ARMS TO TURN THE LEVER. 2) THE JACK SUDDENLY FAILED AND THE CAR CAME CRASHING DOWN ONTO THE PAVEMENT. NO DAMAGE TO THE VEHICLE AS THE TIRE WAS STILL ON THE AXLE. NO PERSONAL INJURY AS BOTH ARMS WERE ON THE JACK'S LEVER ARM. UPON CLOSER INSPECTION, I NOTICED THE WORM SCREW WAS SOMEHOW STRIPPED. 3) REPORTED TO VOLVO CUSTOMER SERVICE AND WAS…

Owner-reported narrative. 19,400 miles reported. Look up ODI 10183110 at NHTSA ↗

2005 VOLVO S40 T5 : MULTIPLE FAILURES OF OIL TRAP HOUSING AT 22,500 AND 68,330 MILES. FIRST FAILURE OCCURRED 10 MONTHS AFTER PURCHASE. VOLVO CHECKED VALVE (30677524), AND REPLACED OIL HOUSING (30684381), HOSE CLAMP (976561) UPGRADED ECM PETROL (30668282)...ALL UNDER WARRANTY. SECOND FAILURE OCCURRED AT 68,330 MILES, VOLVO AGAIN UPGRADED ECM (30668282), REPLACED HOSE CLAMP (976561), HOSE (8670008), AND AGAIN REPLACED OIL TRAP HOUSING (30684381) DUE TO CLOGGED LINES RELEASING AIR PRESSURE. COST OF REPAIR: $505 LABOR + $242 PARTS= $747.17, NO LONG…

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10198190 at NHTSA ↗

THE FUEL CONTROL MODULE FAILED, CAUSING AN IMMEDIATE STALL. THERE IS A TSB CONCERNING THE PLACEMENT OF THIS MODULE. IT IS TO BE MOVED FROM THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT TO BEHIND THE BACK SEAT. WATER GOT INTO THE MODULE CAUSING IT TO MELT DOWN!!! *TR

Owner-reported narrative. 78,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10214096 at NHTSA ↗

WINDSHIELD WIPERS ARE INEFFECTIVE. DEALER TRIED POLISHING THE WINDSHIELD, REPLACING THE BLADES, AND EVENTUALLY REPLACED THE WINDSHIELD. WE TRIED TO INCREASE THE FREQUENCY OF CLEANING THE BLADES. THERE WAS NO IMPROVEMENT. HERE IS A LINK TO A FORUM FOR THE VOLVO S40 T5 THAT SHOWS THAT OTHERS ARE HAVING THE SAME PROBLEM. HTTP://FORUMS.SWEDESPEED.COM/ZEROTHREAD?ID=49251. *TR

Owner-reported narrative. 60,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10216664 at NHTSA ↗

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 VOLVO S40. THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 08V033000 (FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY:FUEL PUMP). THE CONTACT WAS CONCERNED OF A FAILURE OCCURRING SINCE THE STATE OF KENTUCKY USES SALT. THERE HAD BEEN NO FAILURE TO DATE. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 43,000. UPDATED 02-19-08 *BF UPDATED 02/19/08 *TR

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10216892 at NHTSA ↗

VOLVO S40 YEAR 2004.5 PROBLEMS WITH ENGINE START AND ENGINE CHECK LIGHT COMING ON DUE TO POSSIBLE PROBLEM WITH FUEL PUMP ELECTRONICS. RECALLS ARE ONLY IMPACTING CERTAIN U.S. STATES TO HAVE THE PART REPLACED. WHAT ABOUT RECALLS FOR OWNERS RESIDING OVERSEAS UNDER GOVERNMENT ORDERS? *TR

Owner-reported narrative. 15,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10217317 at NHTSA ↗

Reported: 2006-04-24 (April 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: 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.

Reported: 2008-01-28 (January 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: 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.

Reported: 2010-11-08 (November 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: 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.