RoadVitals

2005 Volvo V50 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.
18
Latest Feb 9, 2018
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.
0
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 Sep 9, 2005

What this page shows

Our database holds 18 NHTSA owner-reported complaints for the 2005 Volvo V50. 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 1–18 of 18

Fuel system
Filed Feb 9, 2018

2005 VOLVO V50 HAS INTERMITTENT STARTING ISSUES. THE ENGINE CRANKS AND FUEL PUMP CAN BE HEARD WHEN KEY IS TURNED IN IGNITION BUT THE ENGINE DOES NOT TURN OVER/START. AFTER 10-15 (SOMETIMES MORE) ATTEMPTS AT STARTING THE VEHICLE, FUEL PRESSURE APPEARS TO BUILD SLOWLY WITH EACH ATTEMPT AND THE ENGINE WILL SOMETIMES START. IF THE VEHICLE DOES START IT IS OPERABLE WITHOUT ADDITIONAL PROBLEMS AND CAN BE DRIVEN NORMALLY. THE CAR WILL RE-START WITHOUT ISSUE IF THE ENGINE HAS RUN WITHIN A FEW HOURS OF THE ATTEMPT. AFTER 24-36 HOURS OF BEING OFF THE VEHICLE WILL HAVE DIFFICULTY STARTING AGAIN. I BELIEVE THE PEM (PUMP ELECTRONICS MODULE) IS FAULTY IN MY VEHICLE - VOLVO ISSUED RECALL 190 TO ADDRESS THIS BUT NOW REFUSES TO REPAIR MY VEHICLE OR PROVIDE ME WITH DOCUMENTATION SUFFICIENT TO ENSURE ME THAT MY VEHICLE IS NOT COVERED BY THIS RECALL CAMPAIGN.

NHTSA ID
11071932
Incident
Oct 1, 2017
Mileage
146,000 mi
Fuel system
Filed Oct 21, 2017

VEHICLE STALLED ON HIGHWAY AT HIGHWAY SPEED AND RAPIDLY LOST SPEED AND POWER STEERING. RESTARTING WAS VERY DIFFICULT AND RESULTED IN SEVERAL FAILED STARTS AND STALLS. TRYING TO NAVIGATE TO SAFETY RESULTED IN MORE STALLING. SYMPTOMS INDICATE A PROBLEM WITH THE FUEL PUMP. CHECKED WITH VOLVO AND THERE IS A SAFETY RECALL FOR THIS MODEL FOR THE FUEL PUMP ELECTRONIC MODULE, BUT THAT VOLVO LIMITED THE RECALL TO ONLY CERTAIN STATES WHILE STATING THAT THE PROBLEM IS DUE TO SALTY WET CONDITIONS, WHICH ARE PRESENT MOST EVERY WHERE ON THE EAST COAST. VOLVO EXCLUDED SEVERAL EAST COAST STATES.

NHTSA ID
11035452
Incident
Oct 21, 2017
Mileage
104,000 mi
EngineSteeringSuspension
Filed Aug 30, 2016

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 VOLVO V50. WHILE PULLING OUT OF THE DRIVEWAY AND MAKING A RIGHT TURN, THERE WAS AN ABNORMAL NOISE COMING FROM THE FRONT OF THE VEHICLE. THE NOISE RECURRED PERIODICALLY. IN ADDITION, WHEN DRIVING OVER A SLIGHT BUMP, THE VEHICLE FELT AS IF THE BOTTOM WOULD DETACH. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE THE TECHNICIAN COULD NOT FIND A FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 82,000. UPDATED 10/06/16*LJ THE CONSUMER STATED THE PROBLEM WAS THE RIGHT FRONT ENGINE MOUNT. *TR

NHTSA ID
10899495
Incident
Jun 2, 2016
Mileage
82,000 mi
Suspension
Filed Oct 11, 2015

CAR HAS HAD POOR STEERING AND NOISE COMING FROM THE FRONT END - REPAIRS MADE TO LEFT FRONT AND RIGHT FRONT - NOISE CONTINUES RIGHT FRONT - REPAIRED AGAIN AND NOW IN VOLVO OF SANTA MONICA FOR 3RD REPAIR TO RIGHT FRONT; ALL REPAIRS INVOLVE SUSPENSION ISSUES AND PART SUCH AS JOINTS AND WHEEL AXEL. NOISES ARE WHEN CAR IS BEING DRIVEN ESPECIALLY TURNING RIGHT.

NHTSA ID
10781310
Incident
Aug 20, 2015
Mileage
79,000 mi
Filed Jul 2, 2013

DRIVING ON HIGHWAY 880 'URGENT ELECTRICAL SERVICE ! WITH BATTERY EMBLEM LIGHT IN RED' CAME ON IN THE CENTER OF THE DRIVER SIDE DASH GAGES; THIS BLOCKED OUT THE MILEAGE LEFT FOR GAS... CAR TOWED TO DEALER AND TO DATE THIS HAS NOT BEEN PROPERLY REPAIRED BY SELLING DEALER- THIS APPEARED AGAIN AFTER NEGATIVE BATTERY CABLE REPLACED ON 7/1/2013! PRIOR INCIDENT WITH WATER LEAKING IN THE CAR PASSENGER SIDE FROM UNDER THE GLOVE BOX ON TO THE PASSENGER FLOOR.

NHTSA ID
10523390
Incident
Jun 27, 2013
Mileage
61,000 mi
Fuel system
Filed May 20, 2013

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 VOLVO V50. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 5 MPH, SHE ATTEMPTED TO ACCELERATE BUT THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT RESPOND. THE CONTACT STATED THAT SHE DEPRESSED THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL HARDER AND THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED TO 40 MPH. THE CONTACT REGAINED CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE AND TOOK IT TO A LOCAL MECHANIC FOR INSPECTION. THE MECHANIC STATED THAT THE ELECTRONIC MODULE PUMP NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED AND THEY STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 08V033000 (FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE). THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 155,000.

NHTSA ID
10512860
Incident
May 1, 2013
Mileage
155,000 mi
ElectricalFuel system
Filed Nov 7, 2011

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 VOLVO V50. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE EXITING A PARKING SPACE THE VEHICLE STALLED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE FUEL PUMP AND THE CENTRAL ELECTRICAL MODULE WERE DEFECTIVE AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE WHO DID NOT OFFER ANY ASSISTANCE SINCE THE VEHICLE WAS NO LONGER UNDER WARRANTY. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 93,000.

NHTSA ID
10434809
Incident
Oct 1, 2011
Mileage
93,000 mi
Engine
Filed Sep 9, 2011

THE CAR HESITATED ON ACCELERATION WHEN I WAS GETTING ON THE HIGHWAY AND BRIEFLY STALLED AND THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME. THIS HAS HAPPENED SEVERAL TIMES. I RESEARCHED THE ISSUE AND FOUND A DEFECTIVE FUEL PRESSURE SENSOR IS THE CAUSE. THERE ARE NUMEROUS REPORTS OF THIS ON VOLVO RELATED WEBSITES. THE PART IN QUESTION IS BOSCH #8699449 THAT WAS RECALLED FOR SIMILAR FAILURES ON VOLVO 60 SERIES VEHICLES. AFTER REPLACING THE PART WITH A NEW BOSH PART #31272732 THE PROBLEM DID NOT REOCCUR. THIS OLD PART SHOULD BE RECALLED ON ALL VOLVOS AS IT CREATES A REAL SAFETY ISSUE AS THE PROBLEM OCCURS DURING ACCELERATION AND COULD RESULT IN AN ACCIDENT. *TR

NHTSA ID
10424498
Incident
Aug 17, 2011
Mileage
69,000 mi
EngineFuel system
Filed Aug 18, 2011

1. THE CAR, VOLVO V50 2005, WAS DRIVEN IN A BUSY HIGHWAY AT 65 MPH SUDDENLY THE SPEED DROPPED TO 25 MPH QUICKLY. THE DASHBOARD STARTED SHOWING WARNING REDUCED ENGINE PERFORMANCE. THIS WAS VERY DANGEROUS WHEN I HAD MY CHILDREN IN THE CAR IN A BUSY HIGHWAY. I SEARCHED IN THE WEB, REDUCED ENGINE PERFORMANCE HAPPENS A LOT IN VOLVO VEHICLES. 2. SECOND INSTANCE, THE CAR STALLED OUT WHEN THE CAR WAS AT 25 MPH. 3. ALL THE PROBLEMS WERE RELATED TO MALFUNCTION ENGINE CONTROL MODULE (EMC) SENSOR AND FUEL PRESSURE REGULATOR. *KB

NHTSA ID
10420013
Incident
Jun 20, 2011
Mileage
48,000 mi
Body & structure
Filed May 5, 2011

SUN ROOF DRAINS DISCONNECT RESULTING IN WATER BEING BLOWN INTO CAR UNDER DRIVERS AND PASSENGER SEATS. *TR

NHTSA ID
10399221
Incident
Feb 8, 2011
ElectricalFuel system
Filed Mar 5, 2010

CAR BREAKDOWN REQUIRED THE FOLLOWING PARTS TO BE REPLACED - START CONTROL MODULE, PUMP CONTROL MODULE, FUEL PRESSURE SENSOR. *TR

NHTSA ID
10316990
Incident
Feb 1, 2010
Mileage
55,000 mi
Engine
Filed Nov 1, 2009

AT HIGHWAY SPEED AND WITHOUT WARNING, ENGINE STOPPED AND THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON. WE WERE ON A HIGHWAY WITH NARROW BREAK-DOWN LANES AND WERE IN SIGNIFICANT PERIL, SURROUNDING BY SINGLE AND DOUBLE TRACTOR-TRAILERS IN MOUNTAINOUS AREA ON INTERSTATE-90 IN WESTERN MASSACHUSETTS. THIS EVENT WAS TRULY TERRIFYING. THAT THERE WAS NO LOSS OF LIFE IS SHEER LUCK AND IMMATERIAL. *TR

NHTSA ID
10290498
Incident
Oct 29, 2009
Mileage
61,400 mi
Transmission
Filed Jul 30, 2009
1 injury reported

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 VOLVO V50. WHILE ATTEMPTING TO PARK THE VEHICLE, THE CONTACT REMOVED HIS FOOT FROM THE BRAKE PEDAL AND THE VEHICLE PROCEEDED TO MOVE FORWARD. THE CONTACT APPLIED THE EMERGENCY BRAKE AND THE KEY WOULD NOT RELEASE FROM THE IGNITION. IN ADDITION, THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT DRIVE IN REVERSE. WHILE WALKING HOME IN THE RAIN, THE CONTACT SLIPPED AND FELL AND BROKE HER RIGHT WRIST IN THREE PLACES. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER AND THEY STATED THAT THE TRANSMISSION SHIFTER CABLE CLIP FAILED, WHICH CAUSED THE CABLE TO SPLIT IN HALF. THE SHIFTER CABLE WILL BE REPLACED AT THE ESTIMATED COST OF $450. THE DEALER WILL ASSIST WITH 50% OF THE REPAIR COST. A REPORT WAS FILED WITH THE MANUFACTURER. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 50,000.

NHTSA ID
10278806
Incident
Jul 23, 2009
Mileage
50,000 mi
Engine
Filed Nov 12, 2008

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 VOLVO V50. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE OIL PAN UNDERNEATH HIS VEHICLE RUPTURED TWICE. WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE FIRST FAILURE OCCURRED AFTER DRIVING OVER A BUMP IN THE ROAD. THE FAILURE WAS NOTICED THE SECOND TIME WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED IN THE GARAGE. THE CONTACT NOTICED OIL LEAKING ONTO THE GARAGE FLOOR. HE STATED THAT THE FAILURE WAS DUE TO POOR DESIGN. THE OIL PAN LACKS PROTECTION AND IS PLACED LOW ON THE VEHICLE, WHICH CAUSES SCRAPES AND PUNCTURES ON UNEVEN PAYMENTS, POTHOLES, DIPS, AND SPEED BUMPS. THE LARGER VOLVO MODELS HAVE HORIZONTAL FRAME MEMBERS, WHICH PROTECT THE OIL PAN FROM ROAD HAZARDS. THE FAILURE OCCURS IN THE S40, V50, AND C70 MODELS. THE CONTACT HAD TO HAVE THE OIL PAN REPLACED TWICE WITHIN TWO MONTHS. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE REPAIR WOULD COST $1,200 EACH TIME. THE CONTACT HAS PAID A TOTAL OF $2,400 FOR THE TWO REPAIRS. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 32,000.

NHTSA ID
10248628
Incident
Sep 12, 2008
Mileage
32,000 mi
Body & structureEngineSuspension
Filed Mar 23, 2008

OIL PAN FAILURE, LEADING TO OIL LEAK. THIS WAS CAUSED BY OIL PAN IMPACT ON ROAD WHILE TRAVERSING A SLIGHT DIP IN THE ROADWAY. PAN CRACKED DUE TO DEFECTIVE DESIGN OF EITHER THE PAN OR THE VEHICLE SUSPENSION. DEALER AND MANUFACTURER DO NOT ACCEPT ANY RESPONSIBILITY FOR THIS. *TR

NHTSA ID
10222071
Incident
Jan 17, 2008
Brakes
Filed Apr 10, 2007

THE 2005 VOLVO V50 WITH 22,000 MILES DID NOT PERFORM AS I FELT IT SHOULD WHEN I APPLIED THE BRAKES. I FELT SHAKING AND THE WHEEL FELT OUT OF CONTROL WHEN USING THE BRAKES.*AK

NHTSA ID
10187422
Incident
Mar 3, 2007
Mileage
20,000 mi
Exterior lighting
Filed Oct 9, 2006

2005 VOLVO V50 HAS A CHRONIC LIGHT PROBLEM IE THE DIM LIGHT SETTING DOES NOT PROVIDE ENOUGH LIGHT TO DRIVE SAFELY ON RURAL ROADS IN THE "DIM" SETTING. MAXIMUM FORWARD VISIBILITY IN THE DIM SETTING IS BETWEEN 48' AND 55' THIS IS MADE MORE HAZARDOUS BY THE DARK LINE THAT APPEARS AT THE 48' TO 55' LINE THIS EFFECTUALLY BLOCKS VISION PAST THIS POINT. MY VOLVO V-50 HAS SPENT 44 DAYS AT MODESTO EUROPEAN (VOLVO DEALER) TO TRY TO REPAIR THIS DEFECT AFTER THE LAST TWO TRIPS I/WE WERE TOLD THAT THIS IS THE BEST THAT IT CAN BE REPAIRED. IF THIS IS THE BEST IT CAN BE REPAIRED THIS CAR SHOULD BE TAKEN OFF THE ROAD ASAP. THERE IS A STRONG POSSIBILITY THAT ONE COULD HIT A PEDESTRIAN, DISABLED VEHICLE, DEER ,ELK ,ETC AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS OF 55 MPH. WE HAVE A CAR THAT IS NOT SAFE TO DRIVE AFTER DARK WHAT IS VOLVO THINKING. *NM

NHTSA ID
10170297
Incident
Oct 6, 2006
Mileage
5 mi
Electrical
Filed Sep 9, 2005

REMOTE KEY TRANSMITTER ON 2005+ VOLVO V50 IS A PERSONAL SAFETY HAZARD AND POTENTIAL SWINDLE FOR VOLVO ON SELLING REPLACEMENT TRANSMITTERS. THE DESIGN IS SUCH THAT THE KEY WILL INADVERTENTLY FALL OFF THE VALET KEY (WHICH INCIDENTALLY CANNOT BE USED TO START THE CAR). THE LATCHING MECHANISM IS IN CLOSE PROXIMITY (+/- 3MM) TO THE KEY RING IT WOULD NORMALLY SIT ON AND WHEN THE KEY RING BUMPS AGAINST THE LATCH IN YOUR POCKET OR PURSE, IT CAN PARTIALLY DISLODGE KEY AND WHEN YOU PULL IT FROM POCKET, THE KEY GOES FLYING ELSEWHERE UNKNOWN TO THE OWNER. NO THIS COMPLAINT DOESN'T INVOLVE DIRECT PERSONAL INJURY, BUT IMAGINE LOSING YOUR KEY IN AN UNSAFE PLACE OR SITUATION AND HAVING TO CRAWL AROUND AND TRY TO FIND THE THING. DELPHI IS THE MANUFACTURER OF THE KEYFOB. THE USE TESTING OF THIS KEY MUST HAVE BEEN NON-EXISTENT AS I HAVE LOST ONE KEY WITHIN 60 DAYS OF OWNERSHIP (COST ME $60, COULD HAVE BEEN MORE SINCE DEALER NORMALLY CHARGES 2 HOURS LABOR TO PROGRAM KEY). NOW I HAVE MINE HOOKED TOGETHER WITH SAFETY WIRE. VOLVO WILL NOT RESPOND TO REPEATED EMAILS, CALLS. DEALER WON'T ADDRESS ISSUE AT ALL. I CANNOT BE THE ONLY PERSON. MY WIFES KEY DOES THE SAME THING. I HAVE SEARCHED INTERNET FORUMS TO FIND OTHER USES WITH SIMILAR ISSUES ON OTHER VOLVO KEYS. IT'S JUST A SHAME VOLVO WON'T FIX WHAT ISN'T RIGHT. *NM

NHTSA ID
10135944
Incident
Feb 1, 2005
Mileage
3,500 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 .