RoadVitals

2009 Volvo S40 Owner Complaints

Reports submitted to NHTSA by owners and drivers, shown in full

Data refreshed

Complaints on fileComplaints 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.
10
Latest Oct 22, 2021
Crash or fire reportedComplaints whose submitter recorded that a crash or a fire occurred. These are the reporter's own answers on the NHTSA form, not verified findings.
3
Filed in the last 12 monthsReports filed with NHTSA in the trailing 365 days. Recent volume reflects attention and vehicle age as much as anything else.
0
Reports on file since Nov 5, 2009

What this page shows

Our database holds 10 NHTSA owner-reported complaints for the 2009 Volvo S40. Each one is a report filed by an owner or driver and published by NHTSA without most of them being verified. A complaint is not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. Narratives are shown exactly as filed.

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

Complaints, most recent first

Showing 1–10 of 10

Filed Oct 22, 2021

I purchased the 2009 Volvo on 10/5 at M&M Auto Sales LLC and on 10/9 at 6:20 am my vehicles check engine light turned on and a transmission service urgent light turned on. On 10/11 I went to AAMCO and they informed me that the transmission needed repairs costing up to 4k. When I purchased the car the dealership disclosed to me that the vehicle is in perfect condition. As of 10/21 I went to a Mechanic Shop called Pegoraro and ran a full auto diagnostic on the vehicle. With repairs on the vehicle costing $12,433.03 which involve fixes to the Timing Belt, Cooling System Fluid Exchange, Drive Belt Tensioner/Idle Assembly, Automatic Transmission Assembly, Remove and Install, Brake Fluid Exchange, and Lastly Disc Brake Pads, Rotors and Calipers (Rear). Obviously the vehicle isn't in "perfect condition". After getting this diagnostic I was informed that the vehicles Odometer has been tampered with as well as a bunch of other codes have been turned off before I purchased this vehicle. I just want a refund for this vehicle and to take my business elsewhere.

NHTSA ID
11437843
Incident
Oct 10, 2021
Powertrain (other)
Filed Dec 4, 2018

REPLACEMENT OF CV JOINTS- OCTOBER 2018 MY VEHICLE WAS DIAGNOSED WITH LEAKAGE FROM THE CV JOINTS WHICH SPLATTERED ALL UNDERNEATH MY VEHICLE. MY VEHICLE ONLY HAD 69,000 MILES. THE TECHNICIAN STATED THAT THEY SHOULD NOT HAVE BEEN A PROBLEMS WITH SO FEW MILES. HE STATED THAT MY VEHICLE'S STEERING WOULD HAVE BEEN COMPROMISED IF THEY HAD FAILED AND CAUSE DAMAGE TO MY ENGINE. I TRAVEL 1 HOUR ONE DAILY TO WORK. IT COULD HAVE CAUSED A POTENTIAL ACCIDENT IF IT HADN'T BEEN DIAGNOSED IN TIME. IT HAS BEEN SINCE THEN REPAIRED.

NHTSA ID
11156048
Incident
Oct 27, 2018
Mileage
69,400 mi
ElectricalExterior lighting
Filed Dec 4, 2018

HEADLIGHT WIRING- MADE AN ATTEMPT TO CHANGE LIGHT BULBS FOR HEADLAMPS. COVERING AROUND ELECTRICAL WIRING HARNESS WHICH CONNECT TO HEADLIGHT CRUMBLED IN MY HANDS AND ELECTRICAL WIRING IS EXPOSED. WORRIES THAT THIS MAY BE POTENTIAL FIRE HAZARD TO MY VEHICLE AND MYSELF. MY VEHICLE WAS STATIONARY IN MY DRIVEWAY.

NHTSA ID
11156046
Incident
Dec 3, 2018
Fuel systemPowertrain (other)
Filed May 8, 2017

IMPROPER DRAINING ROUTE WHICH IN RESULT CAUSES MOLD AND DAMAGE TO FLOOR MATS AND SEAT CUSHIONS IN RAINY WEATHER. TRANSMISSION FLUID HAS HIGHER ACIDITY LEVELS. COOLANT REGULARLY FALLS BELOW MINIMUM LEVEL REQUIRED.

NHTSA ID
10984381
Incident
May 7, 2017
Mileage
80,000 mi
Suspension
Filed Oct 22, 2016

BOTH FRONT WHEEL BEARINGS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED WITHIN 1 YEAR OF EACH OTHER. VEHICLE IS NOT DRIVEN OVER ROUGH TERRAIN OR POT HOLES.

NHTSA ID
10918075
Incident
May 20, 2014
Mileage
95,000 mi
Powertrain (other)
Filed Nov 6, 2015

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 VOLVO S40. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 25 MPH, THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED, BUT THE VEHICLE FAILED TO ACCELERATE. THE VEHICLE INDEPENDENTLY DECELERATED AND STALLED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE TRANSMISSION FUEL LINE WAS FRACTURED. THE TRANSMISSION FUEL LINE AND THE TRANSMISSION FLUID WERE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 65,000.

NHTSA ID
10788898
Incident
Feb 24, 2015
Mileage
65,000 mi
Other / unspecifiedTires & wheels
Filed Mar 19, 2014

TIRE PRESSURE MONITORING SYSTEM (TPMS) FAILURE WHICH ALMOST RESULTED IN A CRASH AT HIGH SPEED. TPMS AIR STEM BROKE WHILE DRIVING. THE TPMS THEN FELL INTO THE TIRE, LEAVING THE AIR STEM HOLE WIDE OPEN, WHICH RESULTED IN RAPID DEFLATION OF THE TIRE. OPERATOR OF THE VEHICLE WAS ABLE TO BARELY KEEP CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE AND BRING IT SAFELY TO A STOP; TIRE WAS COMPLETELY DESTROYED - NOTHING BUT THE WHEEL RIM WAS LEFT. MECHANIC / RECOVERY PERSONNEL WITH TOW TRUCK SAID IT WAS A MINOR MIRACLE THAT AN ACCIDENT/ CRASH WAS AVOIDED. WHEN REPORTED TO VOLVO, NO SUPPORT OR ACTION TAKEN ON THEIR PART. THEN EXPERIENCED A SECOND TPMS FAILURE APPROXIMATELY 7 MONTHS LATER, WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE AT 30 MPH ON THE WAY HOME; TIRE WAS FLAT AND MECHANIC SAID TIRE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED AS IT WAS DRIVEN WHILE DEFLATED. AGAIN REPORTED FAILURE TO VOLVO DEALER, AND THIS TIME THEY DID LISTEN TO MY COMPLAINT AS ANOTHER OWNER REPORTED SAME PROBLEM. VOLVO DETERMINED THAT THE TPMS AIR STEM WAS UNABLE TO WITHSTAND NORMAL DRIVING CONDITIONS, AND BECOMING BRITTLE AND BREAKING, AND SUBSEQUENTLY CAUSING RAPID LOSS OF AIR IN THE TIRE, AND DANGEROUS SITUATION IF FAILURE OCCURRED WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE. VOLVO REPLACED ALL FOUR TPMS ON VEHICLE AND REIMBURSED ME FOR THE TIRES THAT WERE DESTROYED BECAUSE OF THE TPMS FAILURES. VOLVO DEALER SENT OUT EMAIL NOTIFYING OWNERS OF ALL US SPEC VOLVO MODEL YEARS 2004 THROUGH MODEL YEAR 2011 (PRODUCTION WEEK 40 CALENDAR YEAR 2010), EXCEPT THE XC90 MODEL, ABOUT THE TPMS PROBLEM AND RECOMMENDED THEY BE CHECKED. I AM SURPRISED AND DISAPPOINTED WITH VOLVO, BECAUSE A TPMS FAILURE AT HIGH SPEED IS VERY LIKELY TO CAUSE AN ACCIDENT AND DEATH. A SAFETY RECALL SHOULD HAVE BEEN DONE BY NOW. *TR

NHTSA ID
10573317
Incident
Jul 1, 2012
Mileage
30,000 mi
Engine
Filed Feb 27, 2014
Fire reported

MY WIFE WAS DRIVING HOME FROM A GROCERY STORE 3 MILES AWAY. A QUARTER MILE FROM THE HOUSE SHE NOTICED A BURNING SMELL. SHE THOUGHT IT WAS FROM THE OUTSIDE SINCE BRUSH FIRES ARE COMMON AROUND SOUTH FL. SHE PARKED ONTO OUR DRIVEWAY AND NOTICED SMOKE RISING FROM AROUND THE HOOD. SHE TOOK THE KEY OFF OF THE IGNITION AND THE ENGINE KEPT RUNNING. SHE CALLED THE FIRE DEPARTMENT WHILE A NEIGHBOR HELPED AND OPENED THE HOOD. IMMEDIATELY SMOKE STARTED BILLOWING AND THEY OBSERVED FIRE IN THE ENGINE.TWO FIRE ENGINES SHOWED UP AND CONTAINED THE FIRE BEFORE DOING ANY FURTHER DAMAGE. MOST OF THE VISIBLE DAMAGE IS BETWEEN THE AIR INTAKE MANIFOLD AND THE AIR FILTER HOUSING. ON THAT DRIVE NO WARNING LIGHTS CAME ON, THE CAR RADIO WAS WORKING MY WIFE SAID IT WAS UNEVENTFUL UNTIL THE SHE NOTICED THE SMOKE. MY WIFE WAS SCARED AND STRESSED BEYOND FROM WHAT SHE HAD TO GO THROUGH. THE CARS WARNING SYSTEM DID NOT WORK, THERE WAS SEVERE FAILURE FOR THIS TO HAPPEN ON A 4 YR OLD CAR. I CALLED THE LOCAL VOLVO DEALER AND THE REP I SPOKE WITH WAS TOTALLY UNHELPFUL AND DID NOT OFFER ANYTHING. I CONTACTED THE VOLVO CUSTOMER SERVICE AND SO FAR I HAVE GOTTEN A COUPLE OF EMAILS .

NHTSA ID
10567209
Incident
Oct 22, 2013
Engine
Filed Oct 28, 2013
Fire reported

MY WIFE WAS DRIVING HOME FROM A GROCERY STORE 3 MILES AWAY. A QUARTER MILE FROM THE HOUSE SHE NOTICED A BURNING SMELL. SHE THOUGHT IT WAS FROM THE OUTSIDE SINCE BRUSH FIRES ARE COMMON AROUND SOUTH FL. SHE PARKED ONTO OUR DRIVEWAY AND NOTICED SMOKE RISING FROM AROUND THE HOOD. SHE TOOK THE KEY OFF OF THE IGNITION AND THE ENGINE KEPT RUNNING. SHE CALLED THE FIRE DEPARTMENT WHILE A NEIGHBOR HELPED AND OPENED THE HOOD. IMMEDIATELY SMOKE STARTED BILLOWING AND THEY OBSERVED FIRE IN THE ENGINE.TWO FIRE ENGINES SHOWED UP AND CONTAINED THE FIRE BEFORE DOING ANY FURTHER DAMAGE. MOST OF THE VISIBLE DAMAGE IS BETWEEN THE AIR INTAKE MANIFOLD AND THE AIR FILTER HOUSING. ON THAT DRIVE NO WARNING LIGHTS CAME ON, THE CAR RADIO WAS WORKING MY WIFE SAID IT WAS UNEVENTFUL UNTIL THE SHE NOTICED THE SMOKE. MY WIFE WAS SCARED AND STRESSED BEYOND ANYTHING FROM WHAT SHE HAD TO GO THROUGH. THE CARS WARNING SYSTEM DID NOT WORK, THERE WAS SEVERE FAILURE FOR THIS TO HAPPEN. A 4 YR OLD CAR SHOULD NOT HAVE FAILED THIS WAY. I CALLED THE LOCAL VOLVO DEALER AND THE REP I SPOKE WITH WAS TOTALLY UNHELPFUL AND DID NOT OFFER ANYTHING. I CONTACTED THE VOLVO CUSTOMER SERVICE AND SO FAR I HAVE GOTTEN A COUPLE OF EMAILS . *TR

NHTSA ID
10549809
Incident
Oct 22, 2013
Mileage
60,000 mi
Brakes
Filed Nov 5, 2009
Fire reported

NEW 2009 VOLVO S40 SEDAN BRAKE FIRE 1. VEHICLE WAS DRIVEN 3 MILES FROM A HIGH SCHOOL PARKING LOT TO THE OWNER'S HOME. 2. THERE WAS A FIRE BETWEEN THE BRAKE PAD AND THE ROTOR IN THE REAR PASSENGER SIDE WHEEL WELL. 3. THE ROTOR, BRAKE CALIPER AND BRAKE PADS WERE REPLACED. *TR

NHTSA ID
10291072
Incident
Sep 7, 2009
Mileage
320 mi

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.

Data sources

Data on this page last refreshed .