2006 Volvo S40 problems and owner complaints
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
58 owner complaints analyzed
3 distinct recall campaigns
75,000 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 2006 model year. Data snapshot: . 43 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Electrical System is the most frequently named component, appearing in 23 of 58 complaints (39.7%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Braking behavior | 15 | 25.9% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 11 | 19.0% |
| Engine operation | 9 | 15.5% |
| Fuel system concerns | 6 | 10.3% |
| Steering behavior | 3 | 5.2% |
| Transmission and shifting | 1 | 1.7% |
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 | 23 |
| Fuel/Propulsion System | 7 |
| Structure | 6 |
| Engine | 5 |
| Visibility:Sun/Moon Roof Assembly | 4 |
| Air Bags | 3 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling | 3 |
| Electronic Stability Control (Esc) | 2 |
Electrical System: 23; Fuel/Propulsion System: 7; Structure: 6; Engine: 5; Visibility:Sun/Moon Roof Assembly: 4; Air Bags: 3; Engine And Engine Cooling: 3; Electronic Stability Control (Esc): 2
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 8 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 3 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 10 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 10 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 10 |
| 150,000 and above | 2 |
Under 25,000: 8; 25,000 to 49,999: 3; 50,000 to 74,999: 10; 75,000 to 99,999: 10; 100,000 to 149,999: 10; 150,000 and above: 2
50,000 to 74,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (10). 15 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 | 6 |
| 2008 | 6 |
| 2009 | 3 |
| 2010 | 5 |
| 2011 | 2 |
| 2012 | 4 |
| 2013 | 3 |
| 2014 | 8 |
| 2015 | 8 |
| 2016 | 2 |
| 2019 | 2 |
| 2020 | 5 |
| 2022 | 2 |
2006: 2; 2007: 6; 2008: 6; 2009: 3; 2010: 5; 2011: 2; 2012: 4; 2013: 3; 2014: 8; 2015: 8; 2016: 2; 2019: 2; 2020: 5; 2022: 2
Pattern summary
Electrical System leads the component reports. Braking behavior appears in 15 complaint narratives. Electrical and battery issues appears in 11 complaint narratives. Engine operation appears in 9 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 10158706 · 2006-05-31 (May 31, 2006)
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THE ACCELERATOR AND BRAKE PEDAL ARE TOO CLOSE TOGETHER. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN INSPECTED BY THE DEALERSHIP.
Owner-reported narrative. 650 miles reported. Look up ODI 10158706 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10171109 · 2006-10-17 (October 17, 2006)
PROBLEM WITH BRAKES ON 2006 VOLVO S40 T5. SEVERE SCREACHING NOISE COMES FROM BRAKES WHEN IN REVERSE. VOLVO IS AWARE OF THE PROBLEM YET THEY HAVE NOT BEEN ABLE TO RESOLVE THE ISSUE. MY VOLVO S40 HAS HAD BRAKE PARTS REPLACED 4 TIMES. EACH TIME I WAS TOLD THE PROBLEM WAS FIXED. ONE MONTH LATER, THE NOISE IS BACK. THE NOISE IS NOW BACK FOR THE FIFTH (5) TIME.
Owner-reported narrative. 5,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10171109 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10369485 · 2010-12-07 (December 7, 2010)
MY 2006 VOLVO S40 HAS HAD NUMEROUS AND INTERMITTENT ELECTRICAL ISSUES INCLUDING GAUGES THAT GO HAYWIRE, FALSE AIRBAG FAILURE OR BRAKE FAILURE MESSAGES, LOCKS THAT DON'T ENGAGE OR DISENGAGE AND TRACTION CONTROL THAT SEEMS TO STICK OR MALFUNCTION. ON A FEW OCCASIONS THE SPEEDOMETER AND RPM READOUT GO COMPLETELY DEAD WHILE I'M GOING 70 MILES PER HOUR ON THE HIGHWAY. THESE ISSUES ARE INTERMITTENT BUT THEY TEND TO BE MORE PERTINENT DURING THE WINTER MONTHS, AND ON DECEMBER 6, 2010 ALL THESE FALSE READOUTS WERE HAPPENING ONE AFTER ANOTHER, FOLLOWED B…
Owner-reported narrative. 71,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10369485 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10390378 · 2011-03-16 (March 16, 2011)
2006 VOLVO S40, FWD T5: MY WIFE WAS DRIVING ON THE INTERSTATE AROUND MIDNIGHT GOING APPROX. 75-80 MPH WHEN ALL OF A SUDDEN HER CAR SHUT OFF. WHEN I SAY SHUT OFF I MEAN THE HEADLIGHTS, DOME LIGHTS, ENGINE....ANYTHING THAT WAS ELECTRICAL COMPLETELY SHUT OFF. THIS WOULD INCLUDE THE STEERING WHEEL LOCKING UP. SO IMAGINE DRIVING IN THE MIDDLE OF THE NIGHT AT 80 MPH WITH TRAFFIC AROUND YOU AND YOU'RE LIGHTS GOING OUT, STEERING WHEEL LOCKING AND HAVING NO WAY TO CONTROL THE VEHICLE. TO ME THIS SOUNDS LIKE A 80 MPH INVISIBLE TORPEDO THAT COULD HAVE KI…
Owner-reported narrative. 75,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10390378 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10244338 · 2008-10-03 (October 3, 2008)
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 VOLVO S40. WHILE IDLING AT A TRAFFIC LIGHT AND ATTEMPTING TO ACCELERATE, THE VEHICLE STALLED. SECONDLY, THE DOORS AUTOMATICALLY LOCKED THE CONTACT INSIDE THE PASSENGER COMPARTMENT, THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS BEGAN MOVING, AND ALL THE LIGHTING WAS INOPERATIVE. SHE WAS UNABLE TO RESTART THE VEHICLE AND HAD IT TOWED. THE CONTACT IS IN THE PROCESS OF HAVING THE VEHICLE INSPECTED TO DETERMINE THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 57,000.
Owner-reported narrative. 57,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10244338 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10352696 · 2010-08-30 (August 30, 2010)
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 VOLVO S40. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING UP AN INCLINE AT APPROXIMATELY 35 MPH, THE ENGINE REVVED EXCESSIVELY AND BEGAN TO BUCK. SUDDENLY THE ENGINE STALLED AND RESTARTED. THE VEHICLE RESUMED FOR FIFTEEN SECONDS BEFORE THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE FAILURE WOULD OCCUR EVERY 100 TO 200 MILES. THE VEHICLE WAS DIAGNOSED AT AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE THEY INFORMED THAT THE FAILURE WAS CONTRIBUTED TO THE FUEL PUMP. THE RECENT FAILURE REQUIRED THE VEHICLE TO BE TOWED TO A DEALER. THE TECHNICIAN ADVISED THE FUEL PULP WOULD NEED TO …
Owner-reported narrative. 80,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10352696 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10538515 · 2013-09-03 (September 3, 2013)
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 VOLVO S40. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE FAILED TO START. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSIS WHERE IT WAS STATED THAT THE FUEL PUMP AND PUMP ELECTRONIC MODULE (PEM) NEEDED TO BE REPAIRED. THE DEALER ALSO INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT HER VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 08V033000 (FUEL SYSTEM). THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED AND THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 56,000. ...UPDATED 11-12-13 *BF THE CONSUMER STATED IN THE PAST MONTH THE ALTERNATOR, DEFE…
Owner-reported narrative. 56,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10538515 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10272563 · 2009-06-01 (June 1, 2009)
SEVERAL TIMES I TOOK MY VOLVO S40 TO THE DEALERSHIP BEFORE MY WARRANTY EXPIRED ON THE PROBLEM WITH STARTING MY CAR. WHEN INSERTING THE KEY IN THE IGNITION NOTHING WORKED. NOW THE WARRANTY IS EXPIRED (59,000 MILES) AND NO ONE AT THE VOLVO DEALERSHIP "RECALLS" OUR MANY CONVERSATIONS! AFTER TRYING TO START IT SEVERAL TIMES AND CALLING A TOW TRUCK FOR A JUMP, STILL NOTHING. IT DISPLAYED THE MESSAGE "BRAKE FAILURE STOP CAR SAFELY", "ANTI-SKID SYSTEM FAILURE", "REDUCED ENGINE PERFORMANCE", "POWER STEERING FAILURE", SBS AIRBAG FAILURE". THE CAR STOPP…
Owner-reported narrative. 59,121 miles reported. Look up ODI 10272563 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10449212 · 2012-02-24 (February 24, 2012)
VOLVO S-40 MAIN CLUTCH RETURN SPRING BREAKS WHILE DEPRESSING THE CLUTCH PEDAL. THE DEFECTIVE SPRING HITS DRIVER IN THE FOOT, POTENTIALLY CAUSING INJURY TO DRIVER AND A MAJOR DRIVING DISTRACTION WHILE SHIFTING GEARS. *TR
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10449212 at NHTSA ↗