NHTSA Safety Recalls
Volvo S40 Recalls by Year
NHTSA's files hold 12 recall campaigns for the Volvo S40, across 12 model years from 2000 to 2011. The 2004 has the most (6); the fewest among years with a recall is 2002 (1).
Volvo S40 years to avoid by our method: 2000 (2.4× the median year).
- Model years
- 12
- Recall campaigns
- 12
- Most recalls
- 2004
- Owner complaints
- 491
2000–2011, with a recall
6 recalls
all model years, NHTSA
Owners have filed 491 complaints with NHTSA about the Volvo S40 across 12 model years; the most, 122, concern the 2000.
Owners marked a crash on 45 of the Volvo S40 complaints (9%) and a fire on 12.
Across all Volvo S40 model years, owners name the electrical system most often (at least 100 complaints), then the service brakes, hydraulic (92).
NHTSA received the most complaints about the Volvo S40 in 2003: 39, across all model years.
The component recalled most often on the Volvo S40 is equipment: electrical: navigational system(global positioning system), in 7 model-year listings.
The newest Volvo S40 recall, 11V186000, was reported on March 18, 2011 and concerns the structure: frame and members.
Volvo S40 years to avoid
The 2000 Volvo S40 stands out most: 63 complaints between 1999 and 2003, 40% of them naming the service brakes, hydraulic.
The best-measured Volvo S40 years are 2004 (0.7×), 2002 (0.7×) and 2005 (1.0×).
The ranking uses owner complaints in each model year's first years on the road, adjusted for NHTSA's complaint volume for that model year. It is not adjusted for sales and is not a reliability rating. Method
Recalls and complaints by model year
| Year | Recalls | Complaints | First years | vs median year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2011 | 2 | 5 | 1 | not ranked |
| 2010 | 2 | 9 | 0 | not ranked |
| 2009 | 3 | 10 | 1 | not ranked |
| 2008 | 2 | 16 | 2 | not ranked |
| 2007 | 2 | 25 | 7 | not ranked |
| 2006 | 3 | 58 | 17 | 1.0× |
| 2005 | 3 | 69 | 15 | 1.0× |
| 2004 | 6 | 48 | 12 | 0.7× |
| 2003 | 2 | 18 | 9 | not ranked |
| 2002 | 1 | 27 | 16 | 0.7× |
| 2001 | 2 | 84 | 40 | 1.7× |
| 2000avoid | 1 | 122 | 63 | 2.4× |
First years: complaints received from the year before the model year to three years after it.Volvo S40 years without a link have no recall page on this site.
What gets recalled most on the Volvo S40
- EQUIPMENT:ELECTRICAL:NAVIGATIONAL SYSTEM(GLOBAL POSITIONING SYSTEM)7
- FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE5
- EQUIPMENT:OTHER:LABELS4
- FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY:FUEL PUMP3
- SEATS3
- STEERING:HYDRAULIC POWER ASSIST:HOSE, PIPING, AND CONNECTIONS2
- STRUCTURE:FRAME AND MEMBERS1
- SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:MASTER CYLINDER1
- SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:POWER ASSIST:VACUUM1
- SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:POWER ASSIST:VACUUM:HOSES, LINES/PIPING, AND FITTINGS1
Volvo S40 model-year listings per recall component; one campaign can cover several years.
Every Volvo S40 recall campaign (12)
| Campaign | Component | Years | Risk named | Vehicles |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 11V186000March 18, 2011 | structure: frame and members | 2011 | crash | 7 |
| 10V591000November 22, 2010 | seats | 2009–2011 | crash and injury | 7,420 |
| 10V566000November 8, 2010 | equipment: electrical: navigational system(global positioning system) | 2004–2010 | fire | 416 |
| 08V329000July 23, 2008 | steering: hydraulic power assist: hose, piping, and connections | 2008–2009 | crash | 1,020 |
| 08V101000March 5, 2008 | service brakes, hydraulic: foundation components: master cylinder | 2007 | crash | 1,114 |
| 08V033000January 28, 2008 | fuel system, gasoline: delivery: fuel pump | 2004–2006 | crash | 23,000 |
| 06V137000April 24, 2006 | fuel system, gasoline | 2004–2006 | fire | 16,175 |
| 04V493000October 14, 2004 | service brakes, hydraulic: power assist: vacuum: hoses, lines/piping, and fittings | 2004 | crash | 1,719 |
| 03V474000November 17, 2003 | service brakes, hydraulic: power assist: vacuum | 2000 | crash | 36,000 |
| 03V424000October 24, 2003 | fuel system, gasoline | 2003–2004 | fire | 15,067 |
| 03V284000August 1, 2003 | equipment: other: labels | 2001–2004 | — | 220,407 |
| 01V169000May 21, 2001 | equipment: appliance: air conditioner | 2001 | — | 19,000 |
Vehicles: NHTSA's count of potentially affected vehicles in the whole campaign, not only the Volvo S40. Each campaign page has the defect, risk and fix in NHTSA's words.
Newest record on this page: November 13, 2025. Data: NHTSA recall and owner-complaint files. How these figures are counted