RoadVitals

2005 Volvo S40 Engine Problems

Owner-reported complaints naming the engine system, filed with NHTSA

Data refreshed

Engine reportsComplaints are reports submitted to NHTSA by owners and drivers. NHTSA does not verify most reports before publishing them, and a complaint does not establish that a defect exists. Volume is influenced by how many of a vehicle were sold, how long it has been on the road, and how much attention an issue has received.
16
Latest Aug 23, 2019
Share of all reportsThis category as a share of every owner report on file for this model year. One report can name more than one component, so the categories overlap.
23%
of 69 total
Crash or fire reportedReports in this category whose submitter recorded that a crash or a fire occurred. The reporter's own answer on the NHTSA form, not a verified finding.
0
Injuries or deaths reportedTotals the submitters entered on their own reports in this category. Not verified by NHTSA and not a casualty statistic.
0

What this page shows

Reports naming the engine itself — including stalling, misfires, oil consumption, cooling and internal engine components. Every record below is an owner-reported complaint about the 2005 Volvo S40 submitted to NHTSA — not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. 16 reports on file name it.

Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.

Owner reports naming engine

Shown in the owner’s own words, exactly as filed

Engine
Filed Aug 23, 2019

2005 VOLVO S40 ENGINE AIR CONDITIONING MALFUNCTIONED. WHEN THE PROBLEM FIRST BEGUN THE CAR WOULD BE COOL AT START THEN GET WARM UNTIL ONE DAY THE AIR CONDITIONING JUST QUIT WORKING. I READ ON THIS FORUM AUTHORIZED VOLVO DEALERSHIP ADMITS THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM IN THIS YEAR/MAKE/MODEL. THE COMPRESSOR CLUTCH OR COMPRESSOR OR BOTH REQUIRED REPLACING. IN A CLASS ACTION LAWSUIT [FILED 2018] HTTP://WWW.AUTOPARTSCLASS.COM/INDEX.PHP INCLUDES THE 2005 VOLVO S40 AIR CONDITIONING UNIT: [SEE BELOW] CONGRATULATIONS! YOUR 2005 VOLVO S40 IS INCLUDED IN THE FOLLOWING AUTO PARTS CASES: IN RE: INSTRUMENT PANEL CLUSTERS IN RE: AIR CONDITIONING SYSTEMS IN RE: ALTERNATORS IN RE: WINDSHIELD WIPER SYSTEMS

NHTSA ID
11246021
Incident
Jun 1, 2017
Mileage
86,000 mi
Engine
Filed Jan 2, 2018

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 VOLVO S40. WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS STARTED, THERE WAS AN ABNORMAL VIBRATION COMING FROM THE VEHICLE. UPON OPENING THE HOOD AND CHECKING THE ENGINE, THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THE PASSENGER SIDE OF THE ENGINE WAS FRACTURED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FRACTURE WAS ALONG THE TOP SIDE OF THE ENGINE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO BE DIAGNOSED. A DEALER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 43,000.

NHTSA ID
11057910
Incident
Dec 31, 2017
Mileage
43,000 mi
Engine
Filed Dec 11, 2017

CAR LOOSING POWER AND ENGINE MISSING AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS. ENGINE LIGHT WENT ON. FAILURE OF FUEL PRESSURE MONITOR.

NHTSA ID
11054027
Incident
Oct 6, 2013
Mileage
62,000 mi
Engine
Filed Nov 1, 2017

CAR IS ALL OF A SUDDEN ACCELERATING ON ITS OWN. IT HAS HAPPENED A HANDFUL OF TIMES WITHIN THE LAST MONTH. I WILL MAKE A TURN, LET OFF THE GAS PEDDLE AND THEN THE CAR WILL JUST JERK FORWARD REVVING UP THE RPMS AND ACCELERATING ON ITS OWN.

NHTSA ID
11041947
Incident
Oct 28, 2017
Mileage
122,115 mi
Body & structureBrakesEngine+2 more
Filed May 18, 2014

CAR STALLS WITH OUT WARNING WHEN TRAVEL AT SPEEDS OF 0-65 MPH VERY DANGEROUS!! THERE ARE RECALLS RE: FUEL PRESSURE SENSORS FOR NEARLY ALL VOLVO MAKES EXCEPT THE S40 2005 THIS PART IS TRULY A DEFECTIVE ITEM AND NEEDS TO BE RECALLED BEFORE A DEATH OCCURS ON THE HIGHWAY!! I THOUGHT VOLVO WAS A SAFE RELIABLE CAR BUT I CAN HONESTLY SAY THIS CAR IS THE BIGGEST PIECE OF JUNK I HAVE EVER SPENT A LOT OF MONEY ON. THE TIRES BLEW OUT ON THE SIDES WHICH ALSO PUT ME IN DANGER THE INTERIOR HEADLINER FELL OFF AS WELL AS ALL OTHER MATERIAL ON THE DOORS ALL LEATHER IS LOOSE GEAR SHIFTER COVER FELL APART. GAS CAP BROKE GAS BUILDS TOO MUCH PRESSURE LOOSENING THE GAS CAP FREQUENTLY THESE ARE JUST SOME OF THE ISSUES I HAVE. VERY DISAPPOINTED IN THIS VEHICLE I KEEP MY CAR IN THE GARAGE. ONLY DRIVE TO AND FROM GROCERY SHOPPING AND DR APPTS PLEASE CONSIDER RECALLS ON THE IMPORTANT PARTS OF THE VEHICLE THAT CAN SAVE LIVES! *JS

NHTSA ID
10592271
Incident
Dec 6, 2012
Mileage
20,500 mi
EngineFuel system
Filed Jul 30, 2013

MY CAR WAS MAKING A PUMPING NOISE FROM THE REAR OF THE CAR AND THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT WOULD COME ON. I TOOK IT TO A LOCAL MECHANIC AND THEY INFORMED ME OF THE PEM RECALL/EXTENDED WARRANTY. I TOOK THE CAR TO THE VOLVO DEALERSHIP TO HAVE REPAIRED AND THEY SAID THE PEM WAS NOT THE PROBLEM AND THAT IT WAS A FUEL PRESSURE SENSOR AND POSSIBLY THE FUEL PUMP ITSELF. I DECLINED THE REPAIR AND EXACTLY 2 WEEKS LATER THE CAR FAILED TO START. I HAD IT TOWED TO MY LOCAL MECHANIC SINCE I LIVE 70 MILES FROM THE VOLVO DEALERSHIP. MY MECHANIC REPLACED AND MOVED THE PEM TO A NEW LOCATION, WHICH WAS EXACTLY WHAT THE RECALL/EXTENDED WARRANTY WAS FOR! THE DEALERSHIP GAVE ME A FORM FOR REIMBURSEMENT FROM VOLVO, BUT VOLVO REFUSED TO PAY THE $634 THAT I PAID FOR THE REPAIR. THEY FIRST TRIED TO SAY IT WAS NOT A "GENUINE VOLVO PART" BUT I VERIFIED IT WAS. THEN THEY SAID SINCE I DECLINED THE REPAIR FOR THE FUEL PRESSURE SENSOR, THEY COULD NOT PAY! THE REIMBURSEMENT FORM IS FOR THE PEM AND HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH THE FUEL PRESSURE SENSOR. SO THIS PEM BECAME FAULTY IN A 2 WEEK PERIOD? I THINK NOT! OBVIOUSLY VOLVO DOES NOT STAND BEHIND THEIR CARS AND I FEEL LIKE THEY LIED TO ME. *TR

NHTSA ID
10532656
Incident
Jun 11, 2013
Mileage
93,000 mi
Engine
Filed Apr 11, 2012

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 VOLVO S40. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE ENGINE TRAP FLAME BOX WAS LEAKING OIL AND EXHIBITED A WHISTLING NOISE WHEN THE ENGINE WAS STARTED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND ADVISED THE CONTACT THAT THE ENGINE FLAME TRAP BOX WAS PREVIOUSLY REPLACED UNDER THE WARRANTY AND WOULD NOT BE REPLACED AGAIN. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 100,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 121,000.

NHTSA ID
10454823
Incident
Apr 4, 2012
Mileage
100,000 mi
EngineFuel system
Filed Nov 9, 2010

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 VOLVO S40. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ILLUMINATED AND THE VEHICLE STALLED WHILE SHE WAS DRIVING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER WHERE IT WAS REPAIRED ACCORDING TO RECALL 08V033000 (FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE: DELIVERY:FUEL PUMP) BUT THE CONTACT STILL EXPERIENCED THE SAME FAILURE AFTER THE REPAIR. THE DEALER ALSO INFORMED HER THAT SHE NEEDED TO HAVE A FUEL PUMP SENSOR NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN REPAIRED AGAIN. THE MANUFACTURER HAD NOT BEEN NOTIFIED. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 69,000. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 68,000. UPDATED 03/15/11*LJ ALSO, THERE WAS AN INTERNAL FAULT WITH THE IGNITION WHICH CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO SHUT DOWN. UPDATED 04/28/11

NHTSA ID
10365081
Incident
Oct 20, 2010
Mileage
68,000 mi
Engine
Filed Nov 1, 2010

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 VOLVO S40. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 55 MPH WHEN THE VEHICLE COMPLETELY STALLED. THERE WERE NO WARNING LIGHTS PRIOR TO THE FAILURE. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO COAST TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. SHE RESTARTED THE VEHICLE AND WAS ABLE TO DRIVE TO HER DESTINATION WHERE THE VEHICLE STALLED AGAIN. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER WHERE THE BATTERY CABLES WERE REPLACED FOR A SECOND TIME IN FOURTEEN MONTHS. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING WHEN THE FAILURE OCCURRED. THE VEHICLE WAS AT THE DEALER AT THE TIME OF THE COMPLAINT; THE DEALER COULD NOT DIAGNOSE THE PROBLEM. THE CONTACT CALLED THE MANUFACTURER WHO ADVISED HER TO TAKE THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 40,000. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 39,000.

NHTSA ID
10363512
Incident
Oct 17, 2010
Mileage
39,000 mi
Engine
Filed Sep 18, 2010

I HAVE A 2005 VOLVO S40 2.4I WITH ABOUT 47K MILES AND I AM HAVING PROBLEMS WITH THE A/C. I LIVE IN HOUSTON (TX) WHERE IT GETS VERY HOT SO I HAVE TO HAVE THE A/C ON CONSTANTLY. WHEN I FIRST TURN THE CAR ON AND DRIVE OFF, THE A/C STARTS COOLING AND WORKING JUST FINE. HOWEVER, WHEN IT IS 90F OR ABOVE, THE A/C BEGINS TO BLOW WARM AIR AFTER A FEW MINUTES. WHEN THAT HAPPENS I HAVE TO TURN IT OFF AND BACK ON A FEW TIMES TO GET IT WORKING AGAIN BUT IT ONLY WORKS FOR A FEW MINUTES BEFORE I HAVE TO REPEAT "ON/OFF" RITUAL. USUALLY, IF I LEAVE IT OFF FOR A FEW MINUTES IT WORKS FOR A BIT LONGER TIME BEFORE IT STOPS AGAIN. THIS PROBLEM 1ST APPEARED WHEN IT WAS ABOUT A YEAR OLD @ ABOUT 9-10K MILES BUT IT ONLY HAPPENED ONCE AND WAS FINE AFTER I TURNED OFF AND BACK ON. 2ND TIME HAPPENED ABOUT 1-1/2 YRS AGO WHEN IT WAS AROUND 35K MILES BUT WAS THE SAME AS THE FIRST TIME AND WAS OK AFTER TURNING OFF AND BACK ON. NOW FOR THE PAST YEAR IT IS CONSTANT!! THIS HAPPENS DAILY!! THE CAR IS ONLY NOW 47K. I TOOK IT TO THE CAR DEALERSHIP YESTERDAY AND I BARELY BEGAN EXPLAINING THE PROBLEM AND BEFORE I EVEN FINISHED DESCRIBING IT, THE SERVICE ADVISOR FINISHED BY TELLING ME THE REST. HE TOLD ME HE KNEW THE STORY B/C HE HEARD IT MANY TIMES BEFORE. HE SAID IT WAS MOST LIKELY THE COMPRESSOR CLUTCH, COMPRESSOR, OR BOTH. HE SAID THAT IT IS A CONSTANT PROBLEM WITH THAT VEHICLE AND THAT THEY DO THE SAME REPAIRS REPEATEDLY AND THAT IT SEEMED LIKE A SPECIFIC PROBLEM ON THOSE VEHICLES. TODAY, I BEGAN DOING SOME RESEARCH AND FOUND SEVERAL SITES WHERE PEOPLE ARE ASKING ONLINE ADVISORS WHAT THIS PROBLEM COULD BE. PER MY ONLINE RESEARCH AND THE DEALERSHIP'S SERVICE ADVISOR THIS IS A VERY COMMON PROBLEM WITH THIS CAR. SINCE THIS IS SUCH A COMMON PROBLEM WITH THE CAR CAN YOU PLEASE LOOK INTO DOING A PRODUCT RECALL FOR THESE FAULTY PARTS SO THAT WE'RE NOT STUCK PAYING THE ESTIMATED $1500 AT THE DEALERSHIP! THANK YOU ([XXX]) INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR

NHTSA ID
10356303
Incident
Sep 18, 2010
Engine
Filed Dec 8, 2009

ENGINE FAILURE. CAR STALLED WHILE DRIVING ON HIGHWAY. CAR WAS TOWED TO WYNN VOLVO. WAS TOLD THAT THE BELTS BROKE, LEADING TO THE BREAKAGE OF THE TIMING BELT, LOCATED INSIDE THE ENGINE, RESULTING IN MAJOR DAMAGE TO THE ENGINE. WAS GIVEN A QUOTE OF $5600 TO REPAIR. THE CAR HAS 63000 MILES AND THE MANUAL DOES SAY THAT THE BELTS NEED TO BE REPLACE AT 125 THOUSAND MILES. THE SERVICES SUGGESTED PRIOR TO THIS DOES NOT INCLUDE ANY OF THE BELTS BEING REPLACED. I BELIEVE THAT THIS SHOULD BE A RECALL OR ATLEAST CONSIDERED IN THE SERVICES AND NOW. IF THIS IS CONSIDERED, I WOULD HOPE THAT THIS WOULD WARRANT VOLVO TO REPAIR MY CAR AT NO COST TO MYSELF. *TR

NHTSA ID
10294882
Incident
Dec 1, 2009
Mileage
63,000 mi
Engine
Filed Nov 3, 2008

ENGINE FAILURE. CAR STALLED WHILE ON HIGHWAY. UPON ARRIVAL AT VOLVO SERVICE DEALER, I WAS TOLD THAT A DRIVE BELT BROKE, LEADING TO THE BREAKAGE OF THE TIMING BELT AND SUBSEQUENT EXTREME DAMAGE TO THE ENGINE. ALL BELTS, PISTONS, VALVES AND TOP PART OF ENGINE NEEDED REPLACING. APPROXIMATE DAMAGE WAS $5000. CAR HAS ONLY 85K ON IT, DRIVE BELT AND TIMING BELT HAVE A RECOMMENDED REPLACEMENT IN MANUAL AS 125K. VOLVO DID NOTHING TO ACKNOWLEDGE THIS ISSUE, IN FACT CALLING OUT THE SERVICE RECORD WHICH IS IMPECCABLE MINUS A 50K SERVICE WHICH WOULD'VE COST $1500 AND DID NOT INCLUDE ANY MAINTENANCE TO THE TIMING BELT. IN LOOKING UP THIS ISSUE ON MANY WEBSITES, IT WOULD APPEAR THIS IS NOT ATYPICAL FOR THIS MAKE, MODEL AND YEAR VOLVO. *TR

NHTSA ID
10247568
Incident
Oct 11, 2008
Mileage
84,995 mi
Engine
Filed Oct 24, 2008

IN AUGUST OF 08 MY 2004.5(NEW BODY STYLE) VOLVO S40 T5'S ENGINE BEGAN TO MAKE A HIGH SCREECHING NOISE AT IDLE AND THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON. IT HAD 61,000MILES AND I BROUGHT IT TO THE DEALERSHIP WHERE THEY DIAGNOSED THAT IT NEEDED A NEW OIL TRAP. THE PROBLEM HAS NOT RECURRED. MY WIFE'S 05 S40 T5 HAS 58,000MILES AND THE SAME PROBLEM HAS OCCURRED IN HER'S. THERE MUST BE AN ISSUE WITH THIS VEHICLE. *TR

NHTSA ID
10246584
Incident
Aug 1, 2008
Mileage
60,000 mi
Engine
Filed Aug 11, 2008

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 VOLVO S40. WHILE DRIVING LOW SPEEDS, THE ENGINE MAKES A HOWLING NOISE. THE NOISE STOPS WHILE DRIVING HIGHER SPEEDS. THE DEALER STATED THAT THERE WAS AN OIL TRAP (PCV SYSTEM) IN THE INTAKE MANIFOLD THAT WAS CLOGGED AND COULD CAUSE THE CRANK CASE TO FAIL. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN.

NHTSA ID
10237701
Incident
Aug 10, 2008
Engine
Filed Jun 24, 2008

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 VOLVO S40. WHILE ACCELERATING FROM A STOP, THE VEHICLE STALLS AND HESITATES. THE FAILURE ALSO OCCURS AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS AND HAS OCCURRED FOR APPROXIMATELY 8 MONTHS TO A YEAR. THE FAILURE GRADUALLY WORSENS WHENEVER THE VEHICLE IS DRIVEN. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 08V033000 (FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY:FUEL PUMP). THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 75,000.

NHTSA ID
10232117
Incident
Jun 23, 2008
Mileage
75,000 mi
Engine
Filed Aug 1, 2007

2005 VOLVO S40 T5 : MULTIPLE FAILURES OF OIL TRAP HOUSING AT 22,500 AND 68,330 MILES. FIRST FAILURE OCCURRED 10 MONTHS AFTER PURCHASE. VOLVO CHECKED VALVE (30677524), AND REPLACED OIL HOUSING (30684381), HOSE CLAMP (976561) UPGRADED ECM PETROL (30668282)...ALL UNDER WARRANTY. SECOND FAILURE OCCURRED AT 68,330 MILES, VOLVO AGAIN UPGRADED ECM (30668282), REPLACED HOSE CLAMP (976561), HOSE (8670008), AND AGAIN REPLACED OIL TRAP HOUSING (30684381) DUE TO CLOGGED LINES RELEASING AIR PRESSURE. COST OF REPAIR: $505 LABOR + $242 PARTS= $747.17, NO LONGER UNDER WARRANTY.*JB

NHTSA ID
10198190
Incident
Jul 31, 2007

Higher-selling and older vehicles accumulate more reports. Counts are not failure rates and are not directly comparable between vehicles that sold in very different numbers.

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Data sources

Data on this page last refreshed .