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When problems were reported
Mileage at the reported incident
Limited mileage data: 2 of 2 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.
Air Bags. Review the 1 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
Steering. Review the 1 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
0 crash reports0 fire reports0 injury reports
What owners actually said
2 reports
102,929 miles · Jul 10, 2011
Steering
THE STEERING LOCKED ON OUR 2004.5 VOLVO S40 T5 AS MY WIFE AND 6 WEEK OLD DAUGHTER WERE BACKING OUT OF OUR DRIVEWAY UNDER POWER. NO ERRORS WERE REPORTED WHEN THE CAR STARTED, BUT THE WHEEL LOCKED (AND AN ERROR WAS DISPLAYED) AFTER THE CAR WAS IN MOTION. SHE STOPPED THE VEHICLE WHEN SHE WAS UNABLE TO TURN THE WHEEL. SHE WAS THE…
Read full complaint
THE STEERING LOCKED ON OUR 2004.5 VOLVO S40 T5 AS MY WIFE AND 6 WEEK OLD DAUGHTER WERE BACKING OUT OF OUR DRIVEWAY UNDER POWER. NO ERRORS WERE REPORTED WHEN THE CAR STARTED, BUT THE WHEEL LOCKED (AND AN ERROR WAS DISPLAYED) AFTER THE CAR WAS IN MOTION. SHE STOPPED THE VEHICLE WHEN SHE WAS UNABLE TO TURN THE WHEEL. SHE WAS THEN ABLE TO PUT THE CAR INTO DRIVE AND MOVE BACK TO HER PREVIOUS POSITION. CLEARLY A SAFETY SENSOR DID NOT DO ITS JOB. LEADING UP TO THIS EVENT WE HAVE HAD OCCASIONAL INCIDENTS WHERE THE STEERING WHEEL WOULD NOT UNLOCK AFTER ENTERING THE KEY. LIGHTLY MOVING THE WHEEL SIDE TO SIDE AND REPEATED KEY ENTRIES WOULD RESOLVE THE ISSUE. A MOTOR NOW RUNS IN THE STEERING COLUMN WHEN TRYING TO UNLOCK THE WHEEL. THIS IS A DIFFERENT SOUND THEN WE EXPERIENCED WHEN THE ISSUE COULD BE RESOLVED. I AM VERY CONCERNED ABOUT THIS INCIDENT BECAUSE THE LOCKUP OCCURRED WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS IN MOTION. THIS COULD HAVE RESULTED IN A POTENTIALLY FATAL CRASH HAD IT OCCURRED ON A SHARP TURN OR ON THE FREEWAY. PLEASE INVESTIGATE THIS CRITICAL SAFETY ISSUE. I HAVE A VIDEO OF THE ISSUE AVAILABLE IF THIS WILL ASSIST YOUR INVESTIGATION. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10411674
79,000 miles · Feb 3, 2011
Air Bags
SRS WARNING LIGHT ON DEFECTIVE OCCUPANT WEIGHT SENSOR. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10380126
Official recalls
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No recalls in this snapshot.
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.
2004 Volvo S40N Problems, Complaints & Recalls | Skip That Year