Volvo S40N problems and owner complaints
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
15 owner complaints analyzed
1 distinct recall campaigns
9,050 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 2004 to 2010 model years. Data snapshot: . 6 complaints include usable failure mileage.
This selection has limited data. It remains available for lookup but is excluded from search indexing.
Most common problems
Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Pedals And Linkages is the most frequently named component, appearing in 5 of 15 complaints (33.3%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Braking behavior | 7 | 46.7% |
| Transmission and shifting | 2 | 13.3% |
| Engine operation | 1 | 6.7% |
| Steering behavior | 1 | 6.7% |
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 |
|---|---|
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Pedals And Linkages | 5 |
| Vehicle Speed Control:Accelerator Pedal | 4 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling | 2 |
| Air Bags:Frontal | 1 |
| Electrical System:Starter Assembly | 1 |
| Fuel System, Gasoline:Fuel Injection System:Injectors | 1 |
| Power Train:Automatic Transmission | 1 |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic | 1 |
Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Pedals And Linkages: 5; Vehicle Speed Control:Accelerator Pedal: 4; Engine And Engine Cooling: 2; Air Bags:Frontal: 1; Electrical System:Starter Assembly: 1; Fuel System, Gasoline:Fuel Injection System:Injectors: 1; Power Train:Automatic Transmission: 1; Service Brakes, Hydraulic: 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 | 1 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 1 |
| 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: 1; 100,000 to 149,999: 1; 150,000 and above: 0
Under 25,000 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (4). 9 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 | 10 |
| 2006 | 2 |
| 2011 | 2 |
2004: 1; 2005: 10; 2006: 2; 2011: 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.
Complaint evidence
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 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 ↗
Owner report 10133838 · 2005-08-22 (August 22, 2005)
TWO ISSUES: 1) CAR STALLED ON THE 495 BELTWAY AND CHECK ENGINE LIGHT LIT AND CAR WOULD NOT START. A VOLVO TEMPORARY SW FIX WAS APPLIED TO THE COMPUTER TO FIX 2) OEM LICENSE PLATE BOLTS ON THE FRONT OF CAR A VERY SHARP AND CAN CAUSE HARM TO PERSONS AND PROPERTY
Owner-reported narrative. 4,800 miles reported. Look up ODI 10133838 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10411674 · 2011-07-10 (July 10, 2011)
THE STEERING LOCKED ON OUR 2004.5 VOLVO S40 T5 AS MY WIFE AND 6 WEEK OLD DAUGHTER WERE BACKING OUT OF OUR DRIVEWAY UNDER POWER. NO ERRORS WERE REPORTED WHEN THE CAR STARTED, BUT THE WHEEL LOCKED (AND AN ERROR WAS DISPLAYED) AFTER THE CAR WAS IN MOTION. SHE STOPPED THE VEHICLE WHEN SHE WAS UNABLE TO TURN THE WHEEL. SHE WAS THEN ABLE TO PUT THE CAR INTO DRIVE AND MOVE BACK TO HER PREVIOUS POSITION. CLEARLY A SAFETY SENSOR DID NOT DO ITS JOB. LEADING UP TO THIS EVENT WE HAVE HAD OCCASIONAL INCIDENTS WHERE THE STEERING WHEEL WOULD NOT UNLOCK…
Owner-reported narrative. 102,929 miles reported. Look up ODI 10411674 at NHTSA ↗
Recalls by model year
All campaigns in the snapshot affecting each model year, including recalls announced years later.
Recall campaigns
Shared campaigns appear once in each affected model year.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| 2004 | 0 |
| 2005 | 0 |
| 2006 | 0 |
| 2010 | 1 |
2004: 0; 2005: 0; 2006: 0; 2010: 1