2006 Volvo S40
The Verdict
The 2006 Volvo S40 has 59 owner complaints filed with NHTSA. The most reported issues are electrical (26 complaints) and engine (18 complaints). With a Klunk Score of 85/100, it earns a "Smooth Ride" rating. If you're shopping for a Volvo S40, consider the 2011 model year which has 91% fewer complaints.
Safe Bet
The 2011 has 91% fewer complaints
View the 2011 Volvo S40 dashboard →
Klunk Score: Smooth Ride
This vehicle year has significantly fewer complaints than average. A reliable choice.
How is this calculated?
The Klunk Score ranks this vehicle year against all others in our database based on total owner complaints filed with NHTSA. 100 = fewest complaints (top tier), 0 = most complained-about. Scores above 60 are better than average; below 40 means more problems than most.
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Under the Hood
Each number is a complaint. Darker = bigger problem.
By Category
By Severity
Worst Problems
Complaints
Check engine light came on and stays in. Vehicle always sputters to start, acceleration is sometimes slow to respond, has stalled out on a rare occasion usual on hills. I’m afraid someday I might be involved in a crash because of a lack of acceleration.
Check engine light came on and has stayed on. Stalled out in traffic, turned the car off and it restarted and I continued. Happens two more times. Initial start up has a delay in the engine turning over. Gas pedal is slow to respond to acceleration. Verified at a garage with code reader. Suspect faulty wiring (corrosion) to fuel pump needing PEM replacement. No warning prior to first incident around 02/2022. I have had the check engine light reset on multiple occasions and each time the light comes back on within 2 days. Safety has been a concern at multiple times. Entered VIN number with Volvo, a Volvo dealer, and nhtsa.gov with no help in resolving issue.
IN SOME OCCASIONS CAR WON'T START AND WHILE DRIVING THE CAR IT WOULD SHUT OFF UNEXPECTEDLY CAUSING A DANGEROUS SITUATION. I BELIEVE IT'S THE PUMP ELECTRONIC MODULE WHICH IS ALREADY RECALLED IN SOME CARS. ACCORDING TO YOUR RECALL I HAVE THE EXACT SAME SYMPTOMS BUT MY VIN NUMBER IS NOT PART OF THE RECALL.
AFTER A LONG PERIOD OF RAIN, WATER POOLED ON REAR DRIVER AND PASSENGER FLOOR. WINDOWS WOULD NOT FUNCTION, DOOR LOCKS WOULD NOT FUNCTION, TURN SIGNALS DIDN'T WORK. INSTRUMENT PANEL FLASHED WARNINGS OF ENGINE PROBLEMS, BRAKE FAILURE, AIRBAG PROBLEMS. OFTEN LOST ENTIRE PANEL WHILE VEHICLE WAS BEING DRIVEN ON HIGHWAY, MEASUREMENTS GOING DEAD. THIS HAS BEEN GOING ON FOR MONTHS AND IS GETTING WORSE. *TR
I WENT OUT TO START MY CAR FOR WORK AND IT WOULD NOT START LIKE IT WAS OUT OF BUT I HAVE A HALF TANK OF GAS IN IT BUT FOR SOME REASON IT SOUNDS LIKE THE FUEL PUMP/MODULE IS NOT WORKING.
IVE HAD CAR 3 YRS AND WITHIN LAST FEW MONTHE NOTICE LARGE WATER PUDDLES ON REAR FLOORS WINDOWS WERE ALL CLOSED TOOK IT TO MY MECHANIC AND STATES CHANNELS FOR SUNROOF WERE FLAWED AS I LATER FOUND OUT UNDER COMPUTER CAR COMPLAINTS VOLVO HAD CLASS ACTION ON THIS FEW YRS BACK BUT I DID NOT OWN CAR THEN THERE WERE MANY COMPLAINTS FROM CAR OWNERS RE THIS ISSUE AND VOLVO WILL DO NOTHING IM HAVING NEW CHANNELS PUT IN TO DRAIN WATER BUT ITS ONLY TEMP AS ITS A FLAW THAT WILL CONTINUE TO HAPPEN MY ELECTRIS IS STARTING TO SHORT OUT CAR SMELLS MOLDY/MUSTY AND WILL BE WORTH VERY LITTLE I NEED SOME FEEDBACK ON THIS ISSUE AS CAR IS BECOMING TOTALLY WORTHLESS
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 VOLVO S40. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING AT 20 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO RESTART THE VEHICLE AFTER SEVERAL MINUTES AND SEVERAL ATTEMPTS. THE VEHICLE WAS DRIVEN TO THE RESIDENCE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC BUT WAS NOT DIAGNOSED NOR REPAIRED. THE FAILURE RECURRED INTERMITTENTLY. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 114,000.
FOUND COMPLAINTS ON MULTIPLE SITES ABOUT ISSUE FOUND ON MY VEHICLE . THE OIL FILTER HOUSING CORRUGATED BREATHING HOSE WAS SO BADLY ROTTED WAS ONLY LITTLE PIECE LEFT REST FELL OFF SOMEWHERE WHILE OPERATING VEHICLE. ON TOP OF THAT ISSUE IM SSUMING DUE TO THISS PROBLEM AND IT ON GOING UNTIL I GOT CHECK ENGINE LIGHT IT HAS CAUSED OIL FILTER HOUSING ITSELF TO GO BAD IM ASSUMING IN PART TO ALL OIL BUILD UP FROM HOSE MISSING CAUSING VACUUM ISSUES' WHY ISNT HIS CAR THAT HAS SAME ISSUE AS OTHERS THAT WERE RECALLED WITH SAME EXACT OPERATING AND LOOKING PART WITH SAME EXACT HOSE ROTTING ISSUE CAUSING OIL FILTER HOUSING TO BECOME BUILT UP WITH GUNK CAUSING LEAKS BOTH AIR AND OIL.. .. PLEAE ANSWER THESE ISSUES FOR IT SHOWS HOW MUCH VOLVO CARES ABOUT QUALITY OF THERE PRODUCTS
RECALL ON- FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE: DELIVERY: FUEL PUMP VOVLVO RECALL NO. 190
EGR OR AKA. OIL TRAP HOUSING, TUBING IS BROKEN AND SUCKING IN AIR. IMPROPER VENTILATION IS TRIPPING OFF EMISSION CODE ON DASH. BRITTLE BLACK PLASTIC HOUSING, DEFECTIVE IN NATURE AND BY DESIGN. POTENTIAL OTHER ISSUES IS THE UNWANTED PRESSURE BUILD UP IN ENGINE WHICH CAN CAUSE PREMATURE FAILURE OF OIL CAM SEALS WHICH I ALSO EXPERIENCED.
WHILE DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD AT APPROXIMATELY 50 MPH I NOTICED MY DIM ( DRIVER INFORMATION MODULE) HAD COMPLETELY STOPPED WORKING. I WAS UNABLE TO READ MY SPEEDOMETER, RPM, FUEL LEVEL, AND ENGINE TEMPERATURE WHILE THE CAR WAS STILL RUNNING . AFTER RESEARCHING THIS ONLINE, IT APPEARS THAT THIS SEEMS TO BE A COMMON PROBLEM.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 VOLVO S40. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT 65 MPH, THE ENGINE STALLED WHILE THE CHECK ENGINE WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS ABLE TO RESTART. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER WHERE THE FAILURE WAS NOT DETERMINED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 08V033000 (FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE). THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 78,000.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 VOLVO S40. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 40 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED AND FAILED TO RESTART. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC, WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE SUN ROOF DRAINAGE SYSTEM WAS CLOGGED AND WATER ENTERED INTO THE VEHICLE WHICH CAUSED DAMAGE TO THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 65,000.
PRIOR TO THIS INCIDENT, MY CAR IDLED DOWN AND PRESSING THE GAS DID NOT PREVENT IT FROM COMING TO A COMPLETE STOP. THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ILLUMINATED AND ALL OF THE LIGHTS CAME ON TO INCLUDE, WARNING LIGHTS, AIRBAG, STABILITY CONTROL, AND OTHERS INCLUDING ABS. FORTUNATELY WE HAD JUST EXITED THE HIGHWAY TO PURCHASE FUEL AND WAS IN NO IMMEDIATE DANGER. BECAUSE OF THE VEHICLES AGE IT WAS RECOMMENDED WE HAVE THE STARTER, OXYGEN SENSOR, SPARK PLUGS, 1 COIL PACK, AND BATTERY REPLACED; AND THE FUSES, FUEL PUMP, FUEL FILTER, ALTERNATOR AND WIRING EXAMINED, BUT THEY DID NOT NEED TO BE REPLACED. AFTER READING OTHER COMPLAINTS ABOUT THE ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS OF THIS VEHICLE, I AM SERIOUSLY WONDERING IF THIS CAR IS SAFE. I DON'T WANT TO SPEND MORE MONEY AND STILL HAVE TO BE CONCERNED ABOUT MY FAMILY AND I BEING INVOLVED IN A COLLISION BECAUSE THE REPLACEMENT OF PARTS WON'T FIX AN UNDERLYING PROBLEM THAT MAY BE MUCH MORE SERIOUS.
THIS IS THE 3RD TIME THAT MY CAR HAS COMPLETELY STOPPED AND GONE IDLE WHEN I HAVE CHILDREN IN MY CAR. SINCE MARCH OF 2015 MY CAR STOPS IN THE MIDDLE OF THE BUSY HIGHWAYS IN HOUSTON. IT STARTS SHAKING AND ALSO WON'T LET ME ACCELERATE WHEN I PRESS ON THE GAS AND IT IS SO SCARY FOR ME AND MY KIDS. I HAVE HAD THE THROTTLE BODY REPAIRED AT FIRST AND JUST LAST WEEK I HAD IT COMPLETELY REPLACED. I HAVE PAID OVER 1,000 DOLLARS WITHIN THE LAST MONTH ON THIS ELECTRONIC THROTTLE BODY ISSUE AND I WOULD LIKE FOR IT TO BE KNOWN THAT THIS CAR ISN'T SAFE. IT HAS PUT MY LIFE AT RISK AND MY KIDS AS WELL! WE WERE ALMOST KILLED TONIGHT BECAUSE OUR CAR IDLED AGAIN IN THE MIDDLE OF HIGHWAY 45 AND THE PEOPLE WHO ALMOST RAN INTO US SWERVED INTO ANOTHER LANE AND MISSED US LITERALLY BY MERE INCHES AND WE CAUSED A COLLISION BETWEEN TWO OTHER VEHICLES. I AM TIRED OF DISHING OUT MONEY AND I HAVE RECEIPTS TO SHOW FOR IT. IT HASN'T EVEN BEEN A WEEK SINCE THE THROTTLE BODY WAS REPLACED. SOMETHING NEEDS TO BE DONE ABOUT THIS! I HAVE CHILDREN AND THIS CAR IS NOT SAFE! I WAS TOLD THAT THIS WAS A SAFE CAR AND THE CAR FAX WAS CLEAN. I WANT TO KNOW WHY I AM HAVING SO MANY PROBLEMS AND WHY MY MONEY IS GOING TO WASTE. I SEE WHERE THIS ETM ISSUE ISN'T UNCOMMON IN VOLVO'S AND THAT THERE WAS A RECALL A FEW YEARS AGO. I HAVE RECEIPTS FROM ALL OF THESE REPAIRS I'VE HAD DONE AND I WOULD APPRECIATE IF SOMEONE WOULD REACH OUT TO ME AND LET ME KNOW WHAT CAN BE DONE. I HAVE TO GET TO WORK AND I ALSO HAVE TO GET MY KIDS FROM POINT A TO B SAFELY. I CAN'T AFFORD A BRAND NEW CAR AND I CAN'T AFFORD TO LOSE MY LIFE OR MY KID'S EITHER. SO AN EXPLANATION WOULD BE NICE. *TR
WE HAD BEEN EXPERIENCING RAIN SHOWERS ON THE WAY TO WORK THE VOLVO TWICE HAD ALL THE LIGHTS ON THE DASH BOARD LIGHT UP BUT THE CAR DID NOT STALL. I WAS AFRAID THE AIR BAG MIGHT DEPLOY. AS SOON AS I GOT HOME I HAD MY HUSBAND CHECK TO SEE IF HE COULD LOCATE THE PROBLEM. HE FOUND WAS THAT THE CARPET WAS SOAKED ON THE DRIVERS SIDE .AND THE. WIRING RUNNING UNDER THE CARPET WAS ALSO WET. WE HAVE NOT MOVED THE CAR AND ARE TRYING TO DRY EVERYTHING. IT HAS ALSO CONTINUED TO RAIN OFF AND ON. MY HUSBAND HAS FOUND SOME INFORMATION ON THE INTERNET WHICH COULD BE RELATED TO THIS PROBLEM AND WILL TRY TO SEE IF THIS MIGHT BE THE SOLUTION TO OUR PROBLEM. *TR
WATER LEAKED INTO MY VEHICLE THROUGH THE SUNROOF, DESTROYED THE COMPUTER AND AIR AIRBAG SYSTEM. THE CARPETS ARE SOAKED WITH STANDING WATER SITTING IN THE BODY OF THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE OF THE VEHICLE. I TOOK MY VEHICLE TO THE DEALERSHIP AND WAS TOLD THE SUNROOF DRAINAGE TUBES WHERE CLOGGED. I WAS THEN QUOTED A PRICE FOR REPAIRS WHICH TOTALED IN EXCESS OF $2000.00. *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 VOLVO S40. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE SUNROOF LEAKED WATER CAUSING THE ELECTRICAL FUNCTIONS TO FAIL. THE FAILURE OCCURRED ON NUMEROUS OCCASIONS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE DRAIN HOSE FAILED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 89,000. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE.
VEHICLE PASSENGER REAR FLOOR FLOODING CONTINUOUSLY. ONE DAY THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS WOULDN'T TURN OFF AND NONE OF THE INTERIOR ELECTRICAL EQUIPMENT WOULD WORK, NO POWER WINDOWS OR LOCKS. DROVE TO VOLVO, THEY STATED CLOGGED SUNROOF DRAIN AND THAT FLOORMAT HAD AFFECTED THE ECM UNDER THE STEERING COLUMN. THEY CLEARED DRAIN AND CLEANED FLOOR FOR $1K. A YEAR LATER THE FRONT DRIVERS SEAT FLOOR STARTED FLOODING. EXPERIENCED MANY ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS SINCE. INCLUDING AN INSTANCE ENTERING THE HIGHWAY WHEN THE POWER STEERING SEEMED TO GO OUT AND THE CAR STALLED. THE SCREEN TOLD ME TO PULL OVER SAFELY. VERY SCARY. *TR
THERE WAS NO ACCIDENT. PLEASE TELL ME WHETHER THERE IS A RECALL FOR THIS VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE LOOK UP BY VIN IS NOT WORKING ON YOUR WEBSITE. *TR
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