2008 Volvo S40 problems and owner complaints
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
16 owner complaints analyzed
2 distinct recall campaigns
75,265 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 2008 model year. Data snapshot: . 13 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Electrical System is the most frequently named component, appearing in 4 of 16 complaints (25.0%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Steering behavior | 4 | 25.0% |
| Engine operation | 2 | 12.5% |
| Braking behavior | 2 | 12.5% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 2 | 12.5% |
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 |
| Engine | 4 |
| Steering | 4 |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 3 |
| Air Bags | 2 |
| Suspension | 2 |
| Visibility:Sun/Moon Roof Assembly | 2 |
| Electronic Stability Control (Esc) | 1 |
Electrical System: 4; Engine: 4; Steering: 4; Vehicle Speed Control: 3; Air Bags: 2; Suspension: 2; Visibility:Sun/Moon Roof Assembly: 2; Electronic Stability Control (Esc): 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 | 1 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 0 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 5 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 3 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 3 |
| 150,000 and above | 1 |
Under 25,000: 1; 25,000 to 49,999: 0; 50,000 to 74,999: 5; 75,000 to 99,999: 3; 100,000 to 149,999: 3; 150,000 and above: 1
50,000 to 74,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (5). 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 |
|---|---|
| 2010 | 1 |
| 2011 | 1 |
| 2013 | 1 |
| 2014 | 2 |
| 2015 | 5 |
| 2016 | 1 |
| 2017 | 1 |
| 2018 | 1 |
| 2020 | 1 |
| 2021 | 1 |
| 2022 | 1 |
2010: 1; 2011: 1; 2013: 1; 2014: 2; 2015: 5; 2016: 1; 2017: 1; 2018: 1; 2020: 1; 2021: 1; 2022: 1
Pattern summary
Electrical System leads the component reports. Steering behavior appears in 4 complaint narratives. Engine operation appears in 2 complaint narratives. Braking behavior 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 10678956 · 2015-01-26 (January 26, 2015)
I WAS DRIVING ON A MAIN ROUTE AT NIGHT AROUND 730 AND A CAR WAS TRYING TO GET IN MY LINE AND I ASSUME THEY DID NOT SEE ME. I TRIED TO MOVE TO THE LEFT TO GET OUT OF THE WAY BUT MY STEERING WHEEL WAS SO TIGHT I COULD NOT VEER AWAY FROM THE CURB. DUE TO THIS I HAVE NUMEROUS REPAIRS THAT NEED TO BE PAID AND MY POWER STEERING WAS TIGHT FOR SEVERAL WEEKS, IT WAS ALMOST HARD FOR A STRONG MAN TO TURN THE WHEEL. I TRIED POWER STEERING FLUID WHEN I STARTED TO NOTICE THE PROBLEM AND IT DID NOT HELP. *TR
Owner-reported narrative. 79,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10678956 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10746988 · 2015-08-07 (August 7, 2015)
I WAS GETTING IN MY CAR WITH MY TWO YOUNG CHILDREN AND THE CAR WOULD NOT START (TURN STEERING WHEEL AND TRY TO START AGAIN). I TRIED MULTIPLE TIMES, BUT IT WOULD NOT START. AFTER 15 MINUTES, I DECIDED IT WAS TOO HOT WITH MY CHILDREN OUTSIDE SO I WENT INSIDE. I CHECKED AN HOUR LATER, THE CAR WOULD NOT START. MY HUSBAND WAS ABLE TO START THE CAR HOURS LATER AFTER MOVING THE STEERING COLUMN UP AND DOWN QUICKLY AND HARSHLY. THIS MORNING, I WAS GETTING IN THE CAR WITH MY TWO YOUNG CHILDREN, THE CAR WOULD NOT START (TURN STEERING WHEEL AND TRY T…
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10746988 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10605931 · 2014-06-25 (June 25, 2014)
MY SERPENTINE BELT BROKE ON 6/6/2014 AND WAS REPLACED. ON 6/20/2014 I WAS DRIVING ABOUT 60MPH ON THE INTERSTATE IN CHICAGO, IL WHEN MY VEHICLE STOPPED ACCELERATING AND EVENTUALLY STOPPED. THIS NEARLY CAUSED AN ACCIDENT ON THE INTERSTATE, BUT I WAS ABLE TO PULL TO THE LEFT SHOULDER BEFORE BEING STRUCK. I HAD TO HAVE THE VEHICLE TOWED TO A SHOP WHERE IT WAS DETERMINED THAT WHEN THE SERPENTINE BELT BROKE, SHARDS OF THAT BELT WENT IN TO THE TIMING BELT AREA. THIS IS DUE TO A FLAWED DESIGN ON MY MAKE OF VOLVO. THE TIMING COVER IS NOT SEALED, AL…
Owner-reported narrative. 69,900 miles reported. Look up ODI 10605931 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11118496 · 2018-08-08 (August 8, 2018)
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 VOLVO S40. WHILE DRIVING 60 MPH, THE VEHICLE OVERHEATED AND STALLED. IN ADDITION, THE CHECK ENGINE WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE CONTACT'S RESIDENCE. THE DEALER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT INFORMED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 191,000.
Owner-reported narrative. 191,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 11118496 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10313793 · 2010-02-24 (February 24, 2010)
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 VOLVO S40. SHE STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 2 MPH AND PARKING THE VEHICLE WITH HER FOOT ON THE BRAKE PEDAL, THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED ON ITS OWN AND CRASHED INTO A STORE WINDOW. THERE WERE FRONTAL DAMAGES TO THE VEHICLE. SHE SUFFERED CHEST INJURIES. A POLICE REPORT IS AVAILABLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER AND THEY ARE WAITING FOR THE DIAGNOSTIC TEST RESULTS. THERE HAVE BEEN NO REPAIRS DONE TO THE VEHICLE. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WERE 10000.
Owner-reported narrative. 10,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10313793 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10505181 · 2013-04-01 (April 1, 2013)
WHILE DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY I SET CRUISE CONTROL TO 65. WITHIN SECONDS I FELT AS IF I WERE GOING VERY FAST AND I HAD ACCELERATED TO NEAR 90 MPH. I TURNED CRUISE CONTROL OFF, STEPPED ON THE BRAKE AND WHEN I LET OFF THE BRAKE THE CAR BEGAN TO ACCELERATE AGAIN. AFTER THE SECOND TIME STEPPING ON THE BRAKE THE PROBLEM CEASED. THE SAME TYPE OF INCIDENT OCCURRED AGAIN, ONLY THIS TIME CRUISE CONTROL WAS NOT INVOLVED. STOPPED AT A RED LIGHT, I STEPPED ON THE ACCELERATOR TO MAKE A RIGHT HAND TURN, THE RPMS IMMEDIATELY JUMPED AND MY CAR ACCELERATED VERY …
Owner-reported narrative. 61,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10505181 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11310426 · 2020-02-20 (February 20, 2020)
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 VOLVO S40. THE CONTACT STATED THAT AFTER EXITING A STORE AND ENTERING THE VEHICLE, THE CONTACT WAS UNABLE TO RESTART THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THERE WERE SEVERAL UNKNOWN WARNING LIGHTS ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT A MESSAGE DISPLAYED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL STATED TO TURN THE STEERING WHEEL AND TRY AGAIN. THE VEHICLE WAS FIRST TOWED TO THE RESIDENCE AND THEN TO AUTOBAHN VOLVO FORT WORTH (2910 WHITE SETTLEMENT RD, FORT WORTH, TX 76107) WHERE THE VEHICLE WAS DIAGNOSED WITH A STEERING COLUMN LOCK MODU…
Owner-reported narrative. 100,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 11310426 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11428519 · 2021-08-10 (August 10, 2021)
After buying the vehicle on 7/9/21, the car started having problems with the cooling system. I took it to a repair shop and they said the cooling system was overfilled. The air problem continued. I took it back to the dealership who said they fixed it but it continued. I contacted the prior Manufactuer service center who informed me the computer chip was recommended to be replaced when the dealer had it serviced but they declined, causing all the electrical and cooling issues. I called the dealer and they said they had the alarm disconnected al…
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 11428519 at NHTSA ↗