Volvo S40 problems, recalls & best years
The deets on every S40 from 2000 to 2011: 491 owner complaints and 29 recalls across 12 model years.
The model years with the most owner complaints are 2000 (122), 2001 (84), 2005 (69). Best fuel economy: 24 mpg combined (2011).
Problem areas across all years
Year by year
| Year | Recalls | Complaints | Best mpg | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000 | 1 | 122 | 21 | |
| 2001 | 2 | 84 | 23 | |
| 2002 | 1 | 27 | 22 | |
| 2003 | 2 | 18 | 22 | |
| 2004 | 6 | 48 | 23 | |
| 2005 | 3 | 69 | 22 | |
| 2006 | 3 | 58 | 23 | |
| 2007 | 2 | 25 | 23 | |
| 2008 | 2 | 16 | 23 | |
| 2009 | 3 | 10 | 24 | |
| 2010 | 2 | 9 | 24 | |
| 2011 | 2 | 5 | 24 |
Want the full repair deets? Get the factory manual.
Recall and complaint data tells you what goes wrong. A service manual tells you how to fix it: torque specs, wiring diagrams, fluid capacities and step-by-step procedures for the Volvo S40.
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FAQ
What is the worst year for the Volvo S40?
The model years with the most owner complaints are 2000 (122), 2001 (84), 2005 (69).
How many recalls has the Volvo S40 had?
Across 2000–2011, NHTSA lists 29 vehicle recall campaigns by model year (a campaign that covers several years counts once per year).