2005 Volvo S40N: complaints, problems and recalls
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
12 owner complaints analyzed
0 distinct recall campaigns
5,200 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 2005 model year. Data snapshot: . 4 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Pedals And Linkages is the most frequently named component, appearing in 5 of 12 complaints (41.7%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Braking behavior | 7 | 58.3% |
| Transmission and shifting | 2 | 16.7% |
| Engine operation | 1 | 8.3% |
Topic matches use published keyword rules. They describe mentions, including negations or comparisons, and do not confirm a diagnosis. Read the matching rules.
Component breakdown
Number of unique complaints naming each component. Top eight shown.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Pedals And Linkages | 5 |
| Vehicle Speed Control:Accelerator Pedal | 4 |
| Electrical System:Starter Assembly | 1 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling | 1 |
| Fuel System, Gasoline:Fuel Injection System:Injectors | 1 |
| Power Train:Automatic Transmission | 1 |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic | 1 |
| Structure | 1 |
Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Pedals And Linkages: 5; Vehicle Speed Control:Accelerator Pedal: 4; Electrical System:Starter Assembly: 1; Engine And Engine Cooling: 1; Fuel System, Gasoline:Fuel Injection System:Injectors: 1; Power Train:Automatic Transmission: 1; Service Brakes, Hydraulic: 1; Structure: 1
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 4 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 0 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 0 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 0 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 0 |
| 150,000 and above | 0 |
Under 25,000: 4; 25,000 to 49,999: 0; 50,000 to 74,999: 0; 75,000 to 99,999: 0; 100,000 to 149,999: 0; 150,000 and above: 0
Under 25,000 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (4). 8 complaints have missing, zero or invalid mileage.
Complaints over time
Year the complaint was filed, not the vehicle model year or incident year. The snapshot year is partial.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| 2004 | 1 |
| 2005 | 9 |
| 2006 | 2 |
2004: 1; 2005: 9; 2006: 2
Pattern summary
Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Pedals And Linkages leads the component reports. Braking behavior appears in 7 complaint narratives. Transmission and shifting appears in 2 complaint narratives. Engine operation appears in 1 complaint narratives. Use these patterns to inspect individual reports and prepare questions for a mechanic.
Calculated from recorded counts. An AI narrative has not been published for this selection.
Examples from the source records
Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.
Owner report 10102071 · 2004-12-22 (December 22, 2004)
THE CONSUMER STATED THAT THE DISTANCE BETWEEN THE BRAKE PEDAL AND THE TUNNEL WAS 5.1 INCHES WHICH DID NOT LEAVE ENOUGH ROOM FOR HIS FOOT TO MANEUVER. THE CONSUMER FELT THAT THIS WAS A DESIGN DEFECT. *AK (VOLVO S40 2005) *SC *JB
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10102071 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10118100 · 2005-04-19 (April 19, 2005)
I OWN A 2005 VOLVO S40 AND THE GAS PEDAL AND BRAKE PEDAL ARE TOO CLOSE TOGETHER. THIS HAS CAUSED AN ISSUE WITH MY FOOT CATCHING THE BRAKE FROM BEHIND AS I MOVE MY FOOT FROM THE GAS TO THE BRAKE. AND IF I NEED TO BRAKE IMMEDIATELY AND MY FOOT HANGS UP THIS COULD CAUSE A MAJOR ACCIDENT.*AK
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10118100 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10118162 · 2005-04-20 (April 20, 2005)
I OWN A 2005 VOLVO S40 2.4I THAT WAS PURCHASED IN DECEMBER 2004. THE ISSUE IS THE SEPARATION OF THE ACCELERATOR AND BRAKE PEDALS AS WELL AS THE SEPARATION OF THE BRAKE PEDAL/ARM AND THE TRANSMISSION TUNNEL, WHICH PROVIDES OVERALL CLEARANCE FOR THE RIGHT FOOT. THEY ARE TOO CLOSE TOGETHER AND WHILE DRIVING, MY FOOT TENDS TO HIT THE BRAKE PEDAL SLIGHTY WHEN I WANT TO PUSH ON THE ACCELERATOR. IN ADDITION TO THIS, THE WINDSHIELD IS QUITE EASILY CHIPPED. I HAVE 4000 MILES ON MY CAR AND THERE ARE ALREADY 9 CHIPS IN THE WINDSHIELD. MY PARENTS HAVE M…
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10118162 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10118170 · 2005-04-20 (April 20, 2005)
SEPERATION BETWEEN ACCELERATOR PEDAL AND BRAKE PEDAL IS TOO CLOSE. I CONSTANTLY TOUCH THE BRAKE PEDAL AS I ACCELERATE.*AK
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10118170 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10118246 · 2005-04-21 (April 21, 2005)
ACCELERATOR PEDAL IS TOO CLOSE TO BRAKE PEDAL; POSSIBLE INTERFERNCE WHEN WEARING CERTAIN SHOES. *NM
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10118246 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10126866 · 2005-06-20 (June 20, 2005)
2005 VOLVO S40 HAS A WIDE METAL JOINT/BAND ABUTTING THE REAR GLASS PANE AND THE ROOF ON EITHER SIDE OF THE CAR. THIS OBSTRUCTS THE DRIVER'S VIEW OF APPROACHING REAR TRAFFIC.*MR *NM
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10126866 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10129562 · 2005-07-21 (July 21, 2005)
WHEN ATTEMPTING TO START VEHICLE IN THE MORNING THE FIRST TRY RESULTS IN LOUD SHAKING AND SHUTTERING. SOUNDS LIKE CAR IS NOT RUNNING ON ALL CYLINDERS, OR HAS BAD TIMING. INITAL PROBLEM IS THAT HOOD INSULATOR FASTENERS ARE COMMING OFF WHICH COULD COME IN CONTACT WITH ACCESSORY DRIVE BELT AND CASUE ENGINE FAILURE. VEHICLE HAS BEEN BROUGHT TO DEALER TWO TIMES. DEALER SAID THAT THE PROBLEM COULD NOT BE DUPLICATED. PROBLEM OCCURS AT LEAST ONCE EVERY TWO DAYS.
Owner-reported narrative. 5,600 miles reported. Look up ODI 10129562 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10132017 · 2005-08-09 (August 9, 2005)
ON THE 2005 VOLVO S40 T5 AUTOMATIC ONLY, THE BRAKE PEDAL IS DANGEROUSLY CLOSE TO THE GAS PEDAL. IN FACT, A SIZE 9 SHOE OF MEDIUM WIDTH WILL BARELY FIT ON THE GAS PEDAL WHILE TOUCHING THE BRAKE PEDAL. IN ADDITION, THE BRAKE PEDAL IS ABOUT 1.5 INCHES HIGHER THAN THE GAS PEDAL SO MANY TIMES THE FOOT WILL BE CAUGHT UNDER THE PEDAL. THIS IS A HIGHLY DANGEROUS DESIGN AND IS A SAFETY ISSUE. OTHER DRIVERS HAVE REPORTED THIS BUT VOLVO IS NOT WILLING TO RETROFIT THE PEDALS. PLEASE NOTE THAT THE NON-T5 VERSION DOES NOT SUFFER FROM THIS BAD DESIGN NOR…
Owner-reported narrative. 600 miles reported. Look up ODI 10132017 at NHTSA ↗
Recall history
0 distinct campaigns affect this selection. Announcement dates below are different from vehicle model years. A campaign may cover multiple years.
No recall campaigns are recorded in this snapshot.