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2008 Volvo S40

Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations

Limited comparison data

There is not enough comparable history to draw a useful model-year comparison.

About this comparison →
16Owner complaints

Model-year median: 26

2Recall campaigns

View recall details →

0Investigations

View investigation details →

How this year compares

Owner complaints by model year

Other model years Selected year
69
200558
200625
200716
200810
20099
20105
2011
Compare all S40 years →

Counts vary with age, sales and reporting. They are not failure rates.

What owners reported most

Electrical System
4Engine
4Steering
4Vehicle Speed Control
3Visibility
3
All reported categories
Air Bags
2Suspension
2Electronic Stability Control (esc)
1Seats
1Tires
1Unknown Or Other
1Wheels
1

Tap a category to read its complaints. One report may name several components.

When problems were reported

Mileage at the reported incident

Limited mileage data: 13 of 16 reports include usable mileage. There isn’t enough coverage to show a useful chart.

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.

  • Electrical System. Review the 4 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Engine. Review the 4 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Steering. Review the 4 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 reports0 fire reports2 injury reports

Wheels complaints

1 reports
Clear category filter
79,000 miles · Jan 26, 2015
SteeringWheelsCrash

I WAS DRIVING ON A MAIN ROUTE AT NIGHT AROUND 730 AND A CAR WAS TRYING TO GET IN MY LINE AND I ASSUME THEY DID NOT SEE ME. I TRIED TO MOVE TO THE LEFT TO GET OUT OF THE WAY BUT MY STEERING WHEEL WAS SO TIGHT I COULD NOT VEER AWAY FROM THE CURB. DUE TO THIS I HAVE NUMEROUS REPAIRS THAT NEED TO BE PAID AND MY POWER STEERING WAS T…

Read full complaint

I WAS DRIVING ON A MAIN ROUTE AT NIGHT AROUND 730 AND A CAR WAS TRYING TO GET IN MY LINE AND I ASSUME THEY DID NOT SEE ME. I TRIED TO MOVE TO THE LEFT TO GET OUT OF THE WAY BUT MY STEERING WHEEL WAS SO TIGHT I COULD NOT VEER AWAY FROM THE CURB. DUE TO THIS I HAVE NUMEROUS REPAIRS THAT NEED TO BE PAID AND MY POWER STEERING WAS TIGHT FOR SEVERAL WEEKS, IT WAS ALMOST HARD FOR A STRONG MAN TO TURN THE WHEEL. I TRIED POWER STEERING FLUID WHEN I STARTED TO NOTICE THE PROBLEM AND IT DID NOT HELP. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10678956

Official recalls

2

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.

08V329000 · Steering:hydraulic Power Assist:hose, Piping, And Connections

Jul 23, 2008

VOLVO IS RECALLING MY 2008-2009 VEHICLES. A SECTION OF THE POWER STEERING RETURN LINE HOSE WAS NOT PROPERLY VULCANIZED (CURED) AND DOES NOT MEET SPECIFICATIONS. IF THE POWER STEERING RETURN HOSE FAILS, A SUDDEN RUPTURE OF THE HOSE CAN OCCUR.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: THIS CAN RESULT IN A RAPID DRAINAGE OF THE POWER STEERING FLUID IN THE SYSTEM AND A COMPLETE LOSS OF POWER ASSISTANCE, INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSPECT AND REPLACE THE STEERING RETURN LINE HOSE ASSEMBLY FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON AUGUST 13, 2008. OWNERS MAY 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.