← New search

2004 Volvo S40

Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations

Similar to other model years

Owner complaints for the 2004 Volvo S40 do not stand out strongly from the model-year median of 26.

About this comparison →

When problems were reported

Mileage at the reported incident

35 reports with mileage · 13 unknown

NHTSA’s mileage field refers to the reported incident, not necessarily the filing date. This shows report counts, not the likelihood of a failure.

What to inspect

Issues worth paying extra attention to based on owner reports.

  • Air Bags. Review the 11 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Electrical System. Review the 11 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Service Brakes, Hydraulic. Review the 8 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

5 crash reports1 fire reports4 injury reports

Steering complaints

4 reports
Clear category filter
53,800 miles · Feb 25, 2009
Steering

DEAR SIR OR MADAM, I BOUGHT THE VOLVO S40 FOR ITS SAFETY RECORD. THIS ONE IS A 2004 VOLVO S40. AT THAT TIME, IT HAD ABOUT 43K MILES ON IT. NOW, IT HAS 53K MILES ON IT. ON 23RD FEBRUARY 2009, THE STEERING WHEEL COMPLETELY FROZE UP ON THE INTERSTATE MAKING IT VERY DIFFICULT TO CHANGE LANES, ETC. WITH GREAT DIFFICULTY, WE MA…

Read full complaint

DEAR SIR OR MADAM, I BOUGHT THE VOLVO S40 FOR ITS SAFETY RECORD. THIS ONE IS A 2004 VOLVO S40. AT THAT TIME, IT HAD ABOUT 43K MILES ON IT. NOW, IT HAS 53K MILES ON IT. ON 23RD FEBRUARY 2009, THE STEERING WHEEL COMPLETELY FROZE UP ON THE INTERSTATE MAKING IT VERY DIFFICULT TO CHANGE LANES, ETC. WITH GREAT DIFFICULTY, WE MANAGED TO BRING IT HOME. THE NEXT DAY, IT WAS STILL FROZEN AND WE COULD NOT TURN THE STEERING WHEEL AT ALL. I BELIEVE THIS MAY BE A SAFETY ISSUE SINCE I TRAVEL WITH MY KIDS IN THIS CAR. I WANT TO BRING THIS TO YOUR ATTENTION TO SEE IF: 1. VOLVO SHOULD BE ASKED TO RECALL AND FIX THIS PROBLEM IF IT PERTAINS TO ALL THEIR CARS. 2. A SAFETY WARNING SHOULD BE ISSUED TO ALERT THE PUBLIC. I HAVE HAD THE CAR TOWED TO A REPAIR SHOP AND THEY DON'T SEEM TO UNDERSTAND HOW OR WHY IT HAPPENED. I SEARCHED ONLINE BUT FOUND VERY LIMITED REFERENCES TO THIS TYPE OF PROBLEM. I AM REQUESTING YOU TO KINDLY TAKE THE NECESSARY ACTION AT YOUR EARLIEST CONVENIENCE IN ORDER TO PREVENT ANY UNTOWARD INCIDENT FROM OCCURRING BECAUSE OF THIS PROBLEM. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10259980

18,971 miles · Apr 9, 2008
Steering

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 VOLVO S40. WHILE DRIVING 60 MPH, THE CONTACT EXPERIENCED EXTREME DIFFICULTY STEERING THE VEHICLE. THE FIRST TIME HE TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER, THEY STATED THAT HARD STEERING WAS A COMMON CHARACTERISTIC OF THAT MODEL VEHICLE. HE TOOK THE VEHICLE BACK TO THE DEALER AND WAS INFORMED THAT THE STEER…

Read full complaint

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 VOLVO S40. WHILE DRIVING 60 MPH, THE CONTACT EXPERIENCED EXTREME DIFFICULTY STEERING THE VEHICLE. THE FIRST TIME HE TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER, THEY STATED THAT HARD STEERING WAS A COMMON CHARACTERISTIC OF THAT MODEL VEHICLE. HE TOOK THE VEHICLE BACK TO THE DEALER AND WAS INFORMED THAT THE STEERING RACK AND PINION WOULD HAVE TO BE REPLACED AT HIS OWN EXPENSE BECAUSE THE WARRANTY EXPIRED. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE ENGINE SIZE WAS UNKNOWN. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 18,971 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 41,602. REMAILED 04/24/08. *LJ

NHTSA ODI #10223793

25,000 miles · Jul 6, 2007
Electrical SystemSteeringVehicle Speed Control

DASHBOARD WENT CRAZY, FADING IN AND OUT. ALL PANELS WERE UNREADABLE, SPEEDOMETER, RADIO, TEMPERATURE GAUGE. CAR ACCELERATED ON ITS OWN, WITHOUT MY FOOT ON THE PEDAL. CD WAS SHOT INTO THE BACKSEAT LANDING IN MY CHILD SAFETY SEAT. ALL OF THIS OCCURRED WHILE DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY. IN ALL 3 INSTANCES THE MESSAGE INDICATOR STAT…

Read full complaint

DASHBOARD WENT CRAZY, FADING IN AND OUT. ALL PANELS WERE UNREADABLE, SPEEDOMETER, RADIO, TEMPERATURE GAUGE. CAR ACCELERATED ON ITS OWN, WITHOUT MY FOOT ON THE PEDAL. CD WAS SHOT INTO THE BACKSEAT LANDING IN MY CHILD SAFETY SEAT. ALL OF THIS OCCURRED WHILE DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY. IN ALL 3 INSTANCES THE MESSAGE INDICATOR STATED TO NOT DRIVE THE CAR. I HAD THE CAR TOWED TO 2 DIFFERENT DEALERS. THE FIRST TIME THEY SAID IT WAS THE SOFTWARE AND REINSTALLED. THE SECOND TIME, THEY REPLACED THE ALTERNATOR AND THE CAR WAS IN THE SHOP FOR OVER A WEEK, THE THIRD TIME, THE REPLACE THE CEM MODULE AND RADIO. THE THE FOURTH TIME THE CAR WOULDN'T READ THE KEY AND HAD TO BE TOWED AND THEY REPLACED THE STEERING MODULE. THIS CAR HAS BEEN IN THE SHOP 3 TIMES IN LESS THAN 6 MONTHS FOR 3 ELECTRICAL RELATED ISSUES THE CAR ONLY HAS 42,000 MILE. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10195469

Mileage unknown · Oct 19, 2004
Air BagsEngine And Engine CoolingEquipment

MULTIPLE FAILURES. AIR BAG SYSTEM, PROBLEM STARTING AND NOISE IN STEERING. *BF THE VEHICLE ALSO HAD AN AIR CONDITION PROBLEM. THE AIR BAG LIGHT ILLUMINATED ON 3 OCCASIONS. THE CONSUMER STATED THE PASSENGER SEAT WAS EQUIPPED WITH A DEVICE THAT WEIGHED PASSENGERS TO DETERMINE IF THE AIR BAG SHOULD BE ACTIVATED. *JB

NHTSA ODI #10097709

Official recalls

6

10V566000 · Equipment:electrical:navigational System(global Positioning System)

Nov 8, 2010

VOLVO IS RECALLING CERTAIN VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH GARMIN 760 PORTABLE GLOBAL POSITIONING SYSTEM (GPS) UNITS BECAUSE THE BATTERIES ON THOSE UNITS MAY OVERHEAT.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: AN OVERHEATED BATTERY COULD LEAD TO A FIRE.

Remedy: VOLVO ADVISES OWNERS TO PLEASE STOP USING THE GARMIN PORTABLE GPS DEVICE IMMEDIATELY, AND VISIT THE GARMIN WEBSITE TO DETERMINE IF THEIR UNIT IS AFFECTED. THE UNIT'S BATTERY WILL BE REPLACED WITH A NEW BATTERY AND A SPACER WILL BE INSERTED ON TOP OF THE BATTERY NEXT TO THE PCB. THIS SERVICE WILL BE PERFORMED FREE OF CHARGE. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN ON NOVEMBER 18, 2010. OWNERS MAY CONTACT GARMIN AT 866-957-1981 OR VISIT GARMIN'S WEBSITE AT WWW.GARMIN.COM/NUVIBATTERYPCBRECALL.

08V033000 · Fuel System, Gasoline:delivery:fuel Pump

Jan 28, 2008

ON CERTAIN VEHICLES SOLD IN OR CURRENTLY REGISTERED IN THE STATES OF CONNECTICUT, DELAWARE, ILLINOIS, INDIANA, IOWA, MAINE, MARYLAND, MASSACHUSETTS, MICHIGAN, MINNESOTA, MISSOURI, NEW HAMPSHIRE, NEW JERSEY, NEW YORK, OHIO, PENNSYLVANIA, RHODE ISLAND, VERMONT, WEST VIRGINIA, WISCONSIN, AND THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA, REOCCURRING, LONG-TERM EXPOSURE TO CERTAIN ENVIRONMENTAL CONDITIONS SUCH AS SALTY-WET CONDITIONS, IT IS POSSIBLE FOR THE PUMP ELECTRONIC MODULE (PEM) TO BECOME CORRODED INTERNALLY. THIS CAN CAUSE A FAULTY SIGNAL TO THE FUEL PUMP, RESULTING IN LOW OR NO FUEL PRESSURE TO THE ENGINE.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: IF THIS OCCURS, THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT MAY ILLUMINATE. IN SOME CASES, THE VEHICLE MAY FAIL TO START OR MAY STALL, INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE PEM AND INSTALL IT IN A NEW LOCATION TO PREVENT CORROSION. THE RECALL BEGAN ON FEBRUARY 20, 2008. OWNERS MAY CONTACT VOLVO AT 1-800-458-1552.

06V137000 · Fuel System, Gasoline

Apr 24, 2006

ON CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH T5 TURBO ENGINES, THE POLYAMIDE TUBE IN THE FUEL LINE IS SENSITIVE TO THE EXTREME TEMPERATURES THAT MAY OCCUR IN THE AREA WHERE THE TURBO/EXHAUST MANIFOLD IS LOCATED.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: THIS MAY POTENTIALLY RESULT IN FUEL LINE LEAKAGE. FUEL LEAKAGE, IN THE PRESENCE OF AN IGNITION SOURCE, COULD RESULT IN A FIRE.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL CHANGE THE FUEL LINE MATERIAL TO TEFLON FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON JUNE 5, 2006. OWNERS MAY CONTACT VOLVO CARS AT 1-800-458-1552.

04V493000 · Service Brakes, Hydraulic:power Assist:vacuum:hoses, Lines/piping, And Fittings

Oct 14, 2004

ON CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES, THE NON-RETURN VALVE MAY CRACK DUE TO A POOR WELD CAUSING A VACUUM LEAK.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: IF THIS OCCURS, MORE BRAKE PEDAL FORCE MAY BE REQUIRED TO STOP THE VEHICLE AND/OR MAY EXPERIENCE A ROUGH ENGINE IDLE, WHICH COULD RESULT IN A CRASH.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSPECT, AND IF NECESSARY, REPLACE THE VACUUM HOSE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON NOVEMBER 29, 2004. OWNERS SHOULD CONTACT VOLVO CARS AT 1-800-458-1552.

03V424000 · Fuel System, Gasoline

Oct 24, 2003

ON CERTAIN SEDANS AND STATION WAGONS, THERE MAY BE A FUEL LEAK FROM THE FUEL RAIL DUE TO INADEQUATE WELDING.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: FUEL LEAKAGE IN THE PRESENCE OF AN IGNITION SOURCE COULD RESULT IN A FIRE.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSTALL A V-CLAMP TO THE FUEL RAIL. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN ON JANUARY 28, 2004. OWNERS SHOULD CONTACT VOLVO AT 1-800-458-1552.

03V284000 · Equipment:other:labels

Aug 1, 2003

CERTAIN PASSENGER CARS FAIL TO COMPLY WITH THE REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 225, "CHILD RESTRAINT ANCHORAGE SYSTEMS." THE SECOND ISOFIX GUIDE WAS NOT INSTALLED IN THESE VEHICLES AND, IN CERTAIN CASES, THE OWNER'S MANUAL ISOFIX INFORMATION IS INCORRECT.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: THIS DOES NOT MEET THE REQUIREMENTS OF THE STANDARD.

Remedy: OWNERS WILL RECEIVE A LETTER/PACKAGE CONSISTING OF THE SECOND ISOFIX GUIDE WITH INSTALLATION INSTRUCTIONS, AND IN CERTAIN CASES, THE CORRECTED OWNER'S MANUAL MAY BE PROVIDED. IF THE OWNER WANTS TO TAKE THEIR VEHICLE TO A VOLVO DEALER FOR INSTALLATION OF THE GUIDE, IT WILL BE PERFORMED AT NO CHARGE TO THE OWNER. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN ON DECEMBER 19, 2003. OWNERS SHOULD CONTACT VOLVO AT 1-800-458-1552.

Model-level recall history does not show whether a particular VIN is affected or has received a repair. Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗

NHTSA investigations

0

No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.