2005 Volvo S40 problems and owner complaints
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
69 owner complaints analyzed
3 distinct recall campaigns
76,500 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 2005 model year. Data snapshot: . 56 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Electrical System is the most frequently named component, appearing in 19 of 69 complaints (27.5%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Engine operation | 17 | 24.6% |
| Braking behavior | 10 | 14.5% |
| Fuel system concerns | 10 | 14.5% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 8 | 11.6% |
| Steering behavior | 6 | 8.7% |
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 |
|---|---|
| Electrical System | 19 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling | 8 |
| Fuel System, Gasoline | 8 |
| Fuel/Propulsion System | 8 |
| Engine | 5 |
| Air Bags | 4 |
| Fuel System, Gasoline:Delivery:Fuel Pump | 4 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine | 3 |
Electrical System: 19; Engine And Engine Cooling: 8; Fuel System, Gasoline: 8; Fuel/Propulsion System: 8; Engine: 5; Air Bags: 4; Fuel System, Gasoline:Delivery:Fuel Pump: 4; Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine: 3
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 5 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 10 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 11 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 16 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 8 |
| 150,000 and above | 6 |
Under 25,000: 5; 25,000 to 49,999: 10; 50,000 to 74,999: 11; 75,000 to 99,999: 16; 100,000 to 149,999: 8; 150,000 and above: 6
75,000 to 99,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (16). 13 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 |
|---|---|
| 2006 | 2 |
| 2007 | 2 |
| 2008 | 11 |
| 2009 | 3 |
| 2010 | 8 |
| 2011 | 7 |
| 2012 | 4 |
| 2013 | 6 |
| 2014 | 5 |
| 2015 | 3 |
| 2016 | 2 |
| 2017 | 6 |
| 2018 | 3 |
| 2019 | 2 |
| 2020 | 2 |
| 2021 | 1 |
| 2023 | 1 |
| 2024 | 1 |
2006: 2; 2007: 2; 2008: 11; 2009: 3; 2010: 8; 2011: 7; 2012: 4; 2013: 6; 2014: 5; 2015: 3; 2016: 2; 2017: 6; 2018: 3; 2019: 2; 2020: 2; 2021: 1; 2023: 1; 2024: 1
Pattern summary
Electrical System leads the component reports. Engine operation appears in 17 complaint narratives. Braking behavior appears in 10 complaint narratives. Fuel system concerns appears in 10 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.
Complaint evidence
Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.
Owner report 10214096 · 2008-01-07 (January 7, 2008)
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 ↗
Owner report 10232117 · 2008-06-24 (June 24, 2008)
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 VOLVO S40. WHILE ACCELERATING FROM A STOP, THE VEHICLE STALLS AND HESITATES. THE FAILURE ALSO OCCURS AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS AND HAS OCCURRED FOR APPROXIMATELY 8 MONTHS TO A YEAR. THE FAILURE GRADUALLY WORSENS WHENEVER THE VEHICLE IS DRIVEN. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 08V033000 (FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY:FUEL PUMP). THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 75,000.
Owner-reported narrative. 75,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10232117 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10156682 · 2006-05-03 (May 3, 2006)
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 ↗
Owner report 10264197 · 2009-04-05 (April 5, 2009)
AFTER LETTING THE VEHICLE SIT OVER NIGHT...WHEN STARTING THE VEHICLE IN THE MORNING THERE IS NO BRAKE PRESSURE AFTER A HALF MILE OF DRIVING. THIS HAPPENS EVERYDAY AND THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH VOLVOS. THIS PROBLEM COULD RESULT IN VERY SERIOUS PROBLEMS AND MAYBE EVEN FATAL TO OTHER VOLVO OWNERS WHO ARE NOT AWARE OF THIS COMMON PROBLEM......I DO KNOW THAT ON THE VOLVO S40 2000 MODEL THIS WAS A RECALL AND IT SHOULD ALSO BE ON THE VOLVO S40 2005 MODEL. *TR
Owner-reported narrative. 47,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10264197 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10216892 · 2008-02-04 (February 4, 2008)
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 ↗
Owner report 10217317 · 2008-02-06 (February 6, 2008)
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 ↗
Owner report 10363512 · 2010-11-01 (November 1, 2010)
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 VOLVO S40. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 55 MPH WHEN THE VEHICLE COMPLETELY STALLED. THERE WERE NO WARNING LIGHTS PRIOR TO THE FAILURE. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO COAST TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. SHE RESTARTED THE VEHICLE AND WAS ABLE TO DRIVE TO HER DESTINATION WHERE THE VEHICLE STALLED AGAIN. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER WHERE THE BATTERY CABLES WERE REPLACED FOR A SECOND TIME IN FOURTEEN MONTHS. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING WHEN THE FAILURE OCCURRED. THE VEHICLE WAS AT THE DEALER AT THE…
Owner-reported narrative. 39,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10363512 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10418279 · 2011-08-09 (August 9, 2011)
I OWN A 2005 VOLVO S40 T5 WHICH I HAVE ENJOYED THUS FAR. HOWEVER EVERY ONCE IN A WHILE WHEN YOU INSERT THE KEY, WHICH IS AN ELECTRONIC KEY THE MESSAGE DISPLAY WILL DISPLAY "KEY ERROR TRY AGAIN." WHEN THIS HAPPENS THE CAR WILL NOT START AT ALL, NOTHING INSIDE THE CAR INCLUDING THE RADIO WILL WORK EITHER. AFTER 20 TO 30 TIMES TRYING TO START THE CAR THE KEY WILL EVENTUALLY START THE CAR. THERE ARE 2 KEYS TO MY CAR AND THIS HAPPENS WITH BOTH KEYS, SO I KNOW IT ISN'T THE KEY. I HAVE RESEARCHED THIS ONLINE AND FOUND IT TO BE A COMMON PROBLEM. THIS H…
Owner-reported narrative. 115,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10418279 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10353966 · 2010-09-05 (September 5, 2010)
THE STARTER CONTROL UNIT (SCU) ON MY 2005 VOLVO S40 HAS CEASED TO FUNCTION TWICE IN THE 5 YEARS THAT I'VE HAD IT (50,000 MILES). ESSENTIALLY, THIS MEANS THAT THE SCU DOES NOT READ THE KEY (THE CAR TELLS ME I HAVE A "KEY ERROR"), AND THEREFORE THE CAR SHUTS DOWN COMPLETELY AND DOES NOT TURN ON (THE STEERING LOCKS, THE CAR DOES NOT START, IT IS UNUSABLE). THE FIRST TIME IT HAPPENED, IT WAS UNDER WARRANTY, THEREFORE IT WAS FIXED FREE OF CHARGE. IT HAPPENED AGAIN LAST MONTH, WAS DIAGNOSED BY THE BILL PEARCE (RENO, NV) DEALERSHIP AS THE SAME ISSU…
Owner-reported narrative. 48,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10353966 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10397289 · 2011-04-25 (April 25, 2011)
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 VOLVO S40. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE STEERING WHEEL LOCKED WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED. THE FAILURE RECURRED SPORADICALLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER WHO REPAIRED THE LOCK MECHANISM AND REPROGRAMMED THE VEHICLE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 86,000 AND THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 80,000.
Owner-reported narrative. 80,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10397289 at NHTSA ↗