Volvo S40 years to avoid
More than twice the S40's typical complaint count for a model year.
Best Volvo S40 years
Not enough model years on the road yet to compare.
Volvo S40 complaints by model year
Owner complaints by model year. Newer years have had less time on the road, so expect them to grow.
Most common Volvo S40 problems
All model years combined.
- Brakes114
- Electrical100
- Engine77
- Fuel system50
- Acceleration42
- Airbags38
- Visibility34
- Transmission25
- Lights25
- Suspension24
- Body24
- Steering16
Most reported problems on the Volvo S40
Volvo S40 problems year by year
Tap a year to see its problems, recalls and what owners say.
| Year | Score | Complaints | Top problem | Typical mileage | Recalls | Crashes | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2011 | 93 | 5 | Electrical | 2 | 0 | ||
| 2010 | 89 | 9 | Airbags | 2 | 1 | ||
| 2009 | 84 | 10 | Transmission | 65,000 | 3 | 0 | |
| 2008 | 75 | 16 | Electrical | 75,265 | 2 | 5 | |
| 2007 | 68 | 25 | Brakes | 60,000 | 2 | 4 | |
| 2006 | 44 | 58 | Electrical | 75,000 | 3 | 1 | Avoid |
| 2005 | 37 | 69 | Fuel system | 78,000 | 3 | 2 | Avoid |
| 2004 | 46 | 48 | Brakes | 64,000 | 6 | 5 | |
| 2003 | 81 | 18 | Transmission | 85,106 | 2 | 0 | |
| 2002 | 71 | 27 | Brakes | 48,000 | 1 | 4 | |
| 2001 | 29 | 84 | Brakes | 67,000 | 2 | 11 | Avoid |
| 2000 | - | 122 | Brakes | 73,458 | 1 | 12 |
Recalls 12
Questions about the Volvo S40
What years of the Volvo S40 should you avoid?
2001, 2005 and 2006. Each has more than twice the Volvo S40's typical number of owner complaints for a model year; 2001 alone has 84, mostly about brakes and engine.
What is the best year for a used Volvo S40?
There are not enough model years on the road yet to compare.
What is the most common problem with the Volvo S40?
Brakes, with 114 complaints across all years, followed by electrical (100) and engine (77).
How many recalls does the Volvo S40 have?
12 recalls between 2000 and 2011. The 2004 model year has the most, with 6.
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