2007 Volvo S40 problems and owner complaints
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
25 owner complaints analyzed
2 distinct recall campaigns
57,500 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 2007 model year. Data snapshot: . 22 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Electrical System is the most frequently named component, appearing in 4 of 25 complaints (16.0%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Braking behavior | 7 | 28.0% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 3 | 12.0% |
| Transmission and shifting | 2 | 8.0% |
| Steering behavior | 2 | 8.0% |
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 | 4 |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic | 3 |
| Unknown Or Other | 3 |
| Air Bags | 2 |
| Engine | 2 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling | 2 |
| Steering | 2 |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 2 |
Electrical System: 4; Service Brakes, Hydraulic: 3; Unknown Or Other: 3; Air Bags: 2; Engine: 2; Engine And Engine Cooling: 2; Steering: 2; Vehicle Speed Control: 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 | 7 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 1 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 7 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 3 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 4 |
| 150,000 and above | 0 |
Under 25,000: 7; 25,000 to 49,999: 1; 50,000 to 74,999: 7; 75,000 to 99,999: 3; 100,000 to 149,999: 4; 150,000 and above: 0
Under 25,000 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (7). 3 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 |
|---|---|
| 2007 | 3 |
| 2008 | 2 |
| 2010 | 2 |
| 2011 | 5 |
| 2013 | 1 |
| 2014 | 3 |
| 2015 | 2 |
| 2016 | 1 |
| 2017 | 2 |
| 2018 | 2 |
| 2019 | 1 |
| 2020 | 1 |
2007: 3; 2008: 2; 2010: 2; 2011: 5; 2013: 1; 2014: 3; 2015: 2; 2016: 1; 2017: 2; 2018: 2; 2019: 1; 2020: 1
Pattern summary
Electrical System leads the component reports. Braking behavior appears in 7 complaint narratives. Electrical and battery issues appears in 3 complaint narratives. Transmission and shifting appears in 2 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 10208681 · 2007-11-12 (November 12, 2007)
THE REAR BRAKES ON THIS VEHICLE CAUGHT ON FIRE AFTER A SHORT DRIVE (1 MILE) HAVING TO BE EXTINGUISHED WITH A FIRE EXTINGUISHER. THE REAR BRAKE ASSEMBLY (LEFT REAR) COMPLETELY FAILED AND OVERHEATED TO THE POINT OF CAUSING FLAMES TO APPEAR NEEDING TO BE EXTINGUISHED. THIS CAR HAD 2939 MILES ON IT AS A NEW VOLVO S40. THIS CATASTROPHIC FAILURE WAS UNEXPLAINED AND WITHOUT AN APPARENT ERROR BY DRIVER AS THIS VEHICLE IS USED BY A COLLEGE STUDENT FOR VERY SHORT DISTANCES. THE EMERGENCY BRAKE WAS NOT LEFT ON. *TR
Owner-reported narrative. 2,939 miles reported. Look up ODI 10208681 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10312587 · 2010-02-22 (February 22, 2010)
I PARKED THE 2007 S40 VOLVO AND CAN'T REMOVE THE KEY FROM THE IGNITION SWITCH. THE CAR IS IN PARK, BRAKE ON, ALL NECESSARY CHECKS ARE CHECKED. STILL CAN'T GET THE KEY TO RELEASE, HAD TO TURN IT SEVERAL TIMES (30 MINUTES) RIGHT TO LEFT UNTIL I HEARD A CLICK AND THE KEY CAME OUT. I HAVE SEEM POST ON THE INTERNET ABOUT THIS AND THAT IS HOW I FIGURED OUT HOW TO GET MY KEY AND LOCK THE DOORS. I CALLED VOLVO AND THE RESPONSE WAS GO TO THE DEALER AND YOU ARE OUT OF WARRANTY?! THE KEY WILL NOT GO PAST THE I POSITION. I DON'T MIND PAYING TO GET IT FIXE…
Owner-reported narrative. 70,004 miles reported. Look up ODI 10312587 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10233973 · 2008-07-11 (July 11, 2008)
ON JUNE 28, 2008, MY GARAGE DOOR CAME DOWN ON MY 2007 VOLVO S40 SEDAN, WITHOUT WARNING, CAUSING DAMAGE TO THE ROOF OF THE CAR (EST. $2000.00) AS WELL AS IRREPARABLE DAMAGE TO THE GARAGE DOOR (REPLACED AT A COST OF $1150.00). A TECHNICIAN FROM GENIE (MFG OF GARAGE DOOR OPENER) THOROUGHLY INSPECTED AND TESTED THE OPENER ON JUNE 30, 2008, AND FOUND THE UNIT TO BE WORKING PROPERLY. IT WAS DISCOVERED THAT THE ACTION OF UNLOCKING AND LOCKING THE CAR DOORS WITH THE REMOTE AS WELL AS STARTING THE IGNITION OF THE CAR CAUSED THE GARAGE DOOR TO OPEN AND…
Owner-reported narrative. 9,500 miles reported. Look up ODI 10233973 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10648861 · 2014-10-20 (October 20, 2014)
SUNROOF DRAIN BECAME CLOGGED. THIS CAUSED THE POORLY DESIGNED DRAINS TO LEAK AT A JUNCTION INSIDE THE VEHICLE ALONG THE DOOR PILLAR AND BEHIND THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. THE WATER COLLECTS ON THE REAR PASSENGER FLOORBOARDS AND AROUND THE DRIVERS SEAT. THE CAR OWNER IS UNAWARE OF THE LEAK UNTIL A LARGE AMOUNT OF WATER HAS ACCUMULATED. I AM VERY CONCERNED ABOUT THE POTENTIAL FOR AN ELECTRICAL FAULT OR SHORT CIRCUIT THAT COULD POTENTIALLY RESULT IN A FIRE, MALFUNCTION OR COULD LEAD TO AN ACCIDENT. VOLVO SHOULD MAKE CHECKING THESE DRAINS A REGULAR P…
Owner-reported narrative. 54,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10648861 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10178369 · 2007-01-10 (January 10, 2007)
ON MY BRAND NEW S-40 VOLVO WITH A MANUAL 5 SPEED TRANSMISSION OPERATING THE CLUTCH PEDAL TO BE FULLY DEPRESSED TO THE FLOOR CAN BE OBSTRUCTED EASILY BY AN ADJACENT PROTRUDING PANEL ON THE FLOOR BOARD. WHEN MY LEFT FOOT IS BLOCKED BY THIS PROTRUDING PANEL, I AM INHIBITED FROM SHIFTING GEARS. THIS CONDITION IS VERY DANGEROUS IN HEAVY TRAFFIC. VOLVO CUSTOMER SERVICE HAS BEEN ADVISED OF THIS PROBLEM AND HAS REFUSED TO ACKNOWLEDGE IT AS A DEFECT. VOLVO HAS REFUSED TO PROVIDE A SIMPLE SOLUTION TO THE PROBLEM BY SUPPLYING A PROPERLY FORMED CLUT…
Owner-reported narrative. 400 miles reported. Look up ODI 10178369 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10226473 · 2008-05-02 (May 2, 2008)
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 VOLVO S40. THE CONTACT STATED THAT HER VEHICLE FEELS AS IF IT WERE DOWNSHIFTING; HOWEVER, IT HAS AN AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION. WHEN SHE BEGINS TO ACCELERATE, THE REDUCED ENGINE PERFORMANCE LIGHT ILLUMINATES WHEN THE DOWNSHIFTING OCCURS. THE DEALER REPLACED THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL AND CLEANED THE COMPUTER AFTER THE FIRST FAILURE. AFTER THE SECOND FAILURE, THEY REPLACED THE COMPUTER. THE FAILURES STILL PERSIST AND THE CONTACT IS SCHEDULED TO TAKE THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER NEXT WEEK. THE SPEED WAS UNKNOWN. THE FAILURE …
Owner-reported narrative. 3,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10226473 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10745158 · 2015-07-30 (July 30, 2015)
MY CAR WOULD NOT START BECAUSE THERE WAS A MESSAGE INDICATING THE STEERING WHEEL WAS LOCKED, BUT, IT WAS NOT LOCKED. I HAD TO TOW THE CAR TO THE SHOP. THEY REPORTED A DEFECTIVE STEERING COLUMN LOCK MODULE. I FOUND THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM FOR THIS CARS WHICH IS TOTALLY UNSAFE AND UNACCEPTABLE.
Owner-reported narrative. 51,104 miles reported. Look up ODI 10745158 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11205749 · 2019-05-06 (May 6, 2019)
I WAS DRIVING AND THE ENGINE SHUT OFF CAUSING ME TO LOSE CONTROL OF MY VEHICLE AS THE POWER STEERING SHUT DOWN. I WAS ABLE TO STEER MY VEHICLE WITH DIFFICULTY TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD WHERE IT STOPPED. ABOUT ONE WEEK LATER THIS HAPPENED AGAIN. THIS TIME I WAS COMING OUT OF A PARKING LOT AND HAD TO AIM MY VEHICLE IN A WAY TO AVOID HITTING OTHER VEHICLES. BOTH TIME, AFTER A FEW MINUTES THE CAR STARTED RIGHT UP AND I WAS ABLE TO DRIVE AGAIN. LAST FRIDAY, MAY 3, I PULLED MY VEHICLE OVER AND WHEN I STOPPED THE VEHICLE SHUT DOWN. THIS TIME IT DID N…
Owner-reported narrative. 124,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 11205749 at NHTSA ↗