Total Complaints
36 filings
VOLVO S40 · model year
36 NHTSA complaints, 5 crash reports, and 2 active recalls for this specific cohort.
NHTSA overall rating
Not crash-tested
New Car Assessment Program
The 2007VOLVOS40 carries 36 consumer safety complaints in NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation database for this specific model-year cohort. Within that volume, owners reported 5 crashes, 1 fire, 6 injuries, and 0 fatalities. No NCAP 5-star crash-test rating is available for this model year in the federal database.
Component-level analysis is where model-year complaints become actionable: the top complaint category for the 2007 S40 is electrical system with 4 filings, followed by service brakes, hydraulic (3) and unknown or other (3). Concentration in one or two component groups is the classic signature of a systemic defect; a flat distribution usually reflects normal aging, warranty complaints, or isolated build-plant variability. This model year has 2 active recall campaigns, which means the manufacturer is obligated to remedy the covered defect at no charge for the life of the vehicle — the full NHTSA campaign numbers are listed below.
NHTSA currently has 28 investigation files overlapping the 2007 S40. Owners comparing this cohort against neighboring years should pair the counters above with the complaint-by-year trend on the parent model page — a spike in a single year often tracks to a platform refresh, a new transmission supplier, or an updated ECU calibration. Use the related-complaint feed below to read raw owner narratives before deciding whether any pattern here affects your specific use case.
Total Complaints
36 filings
Crashes Reported
5 reports
Source
NHTSA ODI
Federal complaints database
At or below the fleet median complaint volume.
| Component | Count |
|---|---|
| ELECTRICAL SYSTEM | 4 |
| SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC | 3 |
| UNKNOWN OR OTHER | 3 |
| ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING | 2 |
| STEERING | 2 |
| ENGINE | 2 |
| AIR BAGS | 2 |
| VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL | 2 |
| POWER TRAIN:CLUTCH ASSEMBLY:PEDAL/HAND LEVER(MOTORCYCLE) | 1 |
| ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:COOLING SYSTEM | 1 |
| SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DISC:CALIPER | 1 |
| POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION | 1 |
| LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES | 1 |
| SERVICE BRAKES, ELECTRIC | 1 |
| ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:SWITCH | 1 |
EQUIPMENT:ELECTRICAL:NAVIGATIONAL SYSTEM(GLOBAL POSITIONING SYSTEM)
VOLVO IS RECALLING CERTAIN VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH GARMIN 760 PORTABLE GLOBAL POSITIONING SYSTEM (GPS) UNITS BECAUSE THE BATTERIES ON THOSE UNITS MAY OVERHEAT.
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:MASTER CYLINDER
VOLVO IS RECALLING 1,114 MY 2007 C30, C70, S40, AND V50 PASSENGER VEHICLES. A SOFT ANODIZED LAYER IN THE MASTER CYLINDER MAY TRIGGER EARLY WEAR ON A RUBBER SEAL THAT CAN RESULT IN INTERNAL LEAKAGE OF BRAKE FLUID. IF AFFECTED, THE DRIVER MAY EXPERIENCE REDUCED BRAKE PERFORMANCE WHEN APPLYING AND MA
ON OR ABOUT 12/04/2019 DURING A FLASH RAIN STORM LAST WINTER, MY HUSBAND AND I WAS HEADED HOME ON THE 215 FWY NORTHBOUND IN SAN BERNARDINO, CA WHEN THE CENTER DOME AREA AND THE ELECTRIC SUNROOF INSIDE OUR CAR BEGIN POURING IN HUGE AMOUNTS OF VERY COLD RAIN WATER ON US AND ON THE DASHBOARD, STEREO CONSOLE, GEAR SHIFTER, FLOOR AND SEATS. UNTIL IT WAS SAFE TO EXIT THE FREEWAY, MY HUSBAND TRIED TO SOAK UP AS MUCH OF THE LEAKING RAINWATER AS HE COULD WITH HIS COAT BUT THE WATER CONTINUED TO POURING INTO THE CAR. ONCE IT WAS SAFE TO EXIT THE FREEWAY, WE PULLED INTO A GAS STATION AND EXAMINE THE SUNROOF TO MAKE SURE IT WAS SHUT PROPERLY, WHICH IT WAS, NOT UNDERSTANDING WHY THIS WAS HAPPENING, HE AND I USED AS MANY PIECES OF NAPKINS AND CLOTH THAT WE COULD FIND TO SOP UP AS MUCH WATER AS WE COULD AND AS BEST AS WE COULD. WE DROVE ON THE STREETS THE REMAINING FEW MILES TO GET HOME BECAUSE IT WAS MUCH SAFER TO DO SO AT THIS POINT. LATER, WE RESEARCHED AS MUCH AS WE COULD FIND OUT ABOUT THE P
Mileage: 99,000
ON OR ABOUT 12/04/2019 DURING A FLASH RAIN STORM LAST WINTER, MY HUSBAND AND I WAS HEADED HOME ON THE 215 FWY NORTHBOUND IN SAN BERNARDINO, CA WHEN THE CENTER DOME AREA AND THE ELECTRIC SUNROOF INSIDE OUR CAR BEGIN POURING IN HUGE AMOUNTS OF VERY COLD RAIN WATER ON US AND ON THE DASHBOARD, STEREO CONSOLE, GEAR SHIFTER, FLOOR AND SEATS. UNTIL IT WAS SAFE TO EXIT THE FREEWAY, MY HUSBAND TRIED TO SOAK UP AS MUCH OF THE LEAKING RAINWATER AS HE COULD WITH HIS COAT BUT THE WATER CONTINUED TO POURING INTO THE CAR. ONCE IT WAS SAFE TO EXIT THE FREEWAY, WE PULLED INTO A GAS STATION AND EXAMINE THE SUNROOF TO MAKE SURE IT WAS SHUT PROPERLY, WHICH IT WAS, NOT UNDERSTANDING WHY THIS WAS HAPPENING, HE AND I USED AS MANY PIECES OF NAPKINS AND CLOTH THAT WE COULD FIND TO SOP UP AS MUCH WATER AS WE COULD AND AS BEST AS WE COULD. WE DROVE ON THE STREETS THE REMAINING FEW MILES TO GET HOME BECAUSE IT WAS MUCH SAFER TO DO SO AT THIS POINT. LATER, WE RESEARCHED AS MUCH AS WE COULD FIND OUT ABOUT THE P
Mileage: 99,000
ON OR ABOUT 12/04/2019 DURING A FLASH RAIN STORM LAST WINTER, MY HUSBAND AND I WAS HEADED HOME ON THE 215 FWY NORTHBOUND IN SAN BERNARDINO, CA WHEN THE CENTER DOME AREA AND THE ELECTRIC SUNROOF INSIDE OUR CAR BEGIN POURING IN HUGE AMOUNTS OF VERY COLD RAIN WATER ON US AND ON THE DASHBOARD, STEREO CONSOLE, GEAR SHIFTER, FLOOR AND SEATS. UNTIL IT WAS SAFE TO EXIT THE FREEWAY, MY HUSBAND TRIED TO SOAK UP AS MUCH OF THE LEAKING RAINWATER AS HE COULD WITH HIS COAT BUT THE WATER CONTINUED TO POURING INTO THE CAR. ONCE IT WAS SAFE TO EXIT THE FREEWAY, WE PULLED INTO A GAS STATION AND EXAMINE THE SUNROOF TO MAKE SURE IT WAS SHUT PROPERLY, WHICH IT WAS, NOT UNDERSTANDING WHY THIS WAS HAPPENING, HE AND I USED AS MANY PIECES OF NAPKINS AND CLOTH THAT WE COULD FIND TO SOP UP AS MUCH WATER AS WE COULD AND AS BEST AS WE COULD. WE DROVE ON THE STREETS THE REMAINING FEW MILES TO GET HOME BECAUSE IT WAS MUCH SAFER TO DO SO AT THIS POINT. LATER, WE RESEARCHED AS MUCH AS WE COULD FIND OUT ABOUT THE P
Mileage: 99,000
I WAS DRIVING AND THE ENGINE SHUT OFF CAUSING ME TO LOSE CONTROL OF MY VEHICLE AS THE POWER STEERING SHUT DOWN. I WAS ABLE TO STEER MY VEHICLE WITH DIFFICULTY TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD WHERE IT STOPPED. ABOUT ONE WEEK LATER THIS HAPPENED AGAIN. THIS TIME I WAS COMING OUT OF A PARKING LOT AND HAD TO AIM MY VEHICLE IN A WAY TO AVOID HITTING OTHER VEHICLES. BOTH TIME, AFTER A FEW MINUTES THE CAR STARTED RIGHT UP AND I WAS ABLE TO DRIVE AGAIN. LAST FRIDAY, MAY 3, I PULLED MY VEHICLE OVER AND WHEN I STOPPED THE VEHICLE SHUT DOWN. THIS TIME IT DID NOT RESTART. THE ERROR MESSAGE DISPLAYED ON THE DASH WAS THAT THE "STEERING WAS LOCKED, TRY AGAIN." AFTER SEVERAL ATTEMPTS INCLUDING JUMP STARTING THE VEHICLE, WHICH WAS UNNECESSARY, THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT START. I HAD MY VEHICLE TOWED TO THE NEAREST VOLVO DEALERSHIP AND WAS TOLD THAT THE "STEERING COLUMN LOCK" HAD FAILED. THE PART NEEDED TO BE REPLACED AT A COST OF OVER $830.
Mileage: 124,000
TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2007 VOLVO S40. THE CONTACT CALLED ON BEHALF OF THE DRIVER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS STRUCK ON THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE BY ANOTHER VEHICLE. THE SPEED WAS UNKNOWN. THE AIR BAG FAILED TO DEPLOY AND THE SEAT BELT DETACHED. THE DRIVER SUSTAINED LEG, BACK, AND SHOULDER INJURIES THAT REQUIRED MEDICAL ATTENTION. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED AND TOWED TO A TOW LOT. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO A DEALER OR AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 60,000.
Mileage: 60,000
TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2007 VOLVO S40. THE CONTACT CALLED ON BEHALF OF THE DRIVER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS STRUCK ON THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE BY ANOTHER VEHICLE. THE SPEED WAS UNKNOWN. THE AIR BAG FAILED TO DEPLOY AND THE SEAT BELT DETACHED. THE DRIVER SUSTAINED LEG, BACK, AND SHOULDER INJURIES THAT REQUIRED MEDICAL ATTENTION. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED AND TOWED TO A TOW LOT. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO A DEALER OR AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 60,000.
Mileage: 60,000
AFTER PARKING CAR AND TURNING CAR OFF, AIRBAG, BRAKE, AND INFORMATION WARNING LIGHTS STAY ON, AS DOES VENTILATION SYSTEM. PASSENGER SEAT HAS EXCESS WATER UNDERNEATH. NOW CAR WILL NOT START.
Mileage: 104,000
AFTER PARKING CAR AND TURNING CAR OFF, AIRBAG, BRAKE, AND INFORMATION WARNING LIGHTS STAY ON, AS DOES VENTILATION SYSTEM. PASSENGER SEAT HAS EXCESS WATER UNDERNEATH. NOW CAR WILL NOT START.
Mileage: 104,000
AFTER PARKING CAR AND TURNING CAR OFF, AIRBAG, BRAKE, AND INFORMATION WARNING LIGHTS STAY ON, AS DOES VENTILATION SYSTEM. PASSENGER SEAT HAS EXCESS WATER UNDERNEATH. NOW CAR WILL NOT START.
Mileage: 104,000
VEHICLE LOSES POWER DUE TO ACCELERATOR PEDAL LOW VOLTAGE/SIGNAL. THIS OCCURS IN MULTIPLE SITUATIONS. SAFEST IS SHORTLY AFTER STARTING THE CAR AN ENGINE LIGHT STATING 'ENGINE SYSTEM URGENT' APPEARS. UNSAFE OCCURRENCE INCLUDES POWER LOSS WHILE PEDAL IS DEPRESSES SUCH AS ON THE HIGHWAY WITH CONSTANT PRESSURE OR MOST SEVERE WHEN TURNING LEFT THROUGH AN INTERSECTION POWER IS REDUCED TO IDLE. IF THE VENT OCCURS WITH THE PEDAL REPRESSED, POWER IS REDUCED TO IDLE MOMENTARILY (2-3 SECONDS) AND AFTER 'PUMPING' THE PEDAL SEVERAL TIMES IT RETURNS TO NORMAL. I HAVE BROUGHT THIS VEHICLE SEVERAL TIMES TO REPAIR. DEAL CHANGED PEDAL, CHANGED WIRING CONNECTORS (ALSO CLEANED SEVERAL TIMES) AND ULTIMATELY REPLACED ENGINE COMPUTER. PROBLEM STILL OCCURS AND DEALER DOES NOT KNOW WHAT ELSE TO DO. MOST RECENT OCCURRENCE WAS 27 JAN BUT THIS ISSUES APPEARS ABOUT EVERY TWO MONTHS AFTER REPAIR AND OCCURS DAILY ONCE TO PROBLEM RETURNS.
Mileage: 10
SAFETY CONCERN: 2007 VOLVO S40 ELECTRONIC THROTTLE MODULE FAILURE - CAUSING "REDUCED ENGINE PERFORMANCE" MESSAGE AND VEHICLE (2007 VOLVO S40) SUDDENLY SLOWS DOWN WHILE IN MOTION, LIMPS AND CANNOT GO HIGHER SPEED. HAD BARELY EXITED THE FREEWAY ON 1/24/2017 AND THIS HAPPENED AS I WAS ON RAMP. COULD BE EXTREMELY DANGEROUS IF IT HAPPENED 1 MINUTE BEFORE WHEN ON FREEWAY. TURNED VEHICLE IN RIGHT AWAY TO LOCAL VOLVO DEALERSHIP (WHICH WAS LUCKILY WITHIN 15 MINUTES) AND THEY DIAGNOSED IT TO BE FAULTY ELECTRONIC THROTTLE MODULE NEEDING REPLACEMENT. MILEAGE ON CAR 129,000 MILES. WANTED TO REPORT SO THIS ISSUE CAN BE LOOKED INTO FOR SAFETY CONCERN AND IF THE HUGE COST OF REPLACEMENT CAN BE OFFSET SO OWNERS CAN HAVE PEACE OF MIND REPLACING IT TIMELY IF THERE IS A RECOMMENDATION OR BULLETIN (SIMILAR TO TIMING BELTS ETC. - WHICH I DON'T BELIEVE THERE IS CURRENTLY FOR ELECTRONIC THROTTLE MODULE).
Mileage: 129,401
SAFETY CONCERN: 2007 VOLVO S40 ELECTRONIC THROTTLE MODULE FAILURE - CAUSING "REDUCED ENGINE PERFORMANCE" MESSAGE AND VEHICLE (2007 VOLVO S40) SUDDENLY SLOWS DOWN WHILE IN MOTION, LIMPS AND CANNOT GO HIGHER SPEED. HAD BARELY EXITED THE FREEWAY ON 1/24/2017 AND THIS HAPPENED AS I WAS ON RAMP. COULD BE EXTREMELY DANGEROUS IF IT HAPPENED 1 MINUTE BEFORE WHEN ON FREEWAY. TURNED VEHICLE IN RIGHT AWAY TO LOCAL VOLVO DEALERSHIP (WHICH WAS LUCKILY WITHIN 15 MINUTES) AND THEY DIAGNOSED IT TO BE FAULTY ELECTRONIC THROTTLE MODULE NEEDING REPLACEMENT. MILEAGE ON CAR 129,000 MILES. WANTED TO REPORT SO THIS ISSUE CAN BE LOOKED INTO FOR SAFETY CONCERN AND IF THE HUGE COST OF REPLACEMENT CAN BE OFFSET SO OWNERS CAN HAVE PEACE OF MIND REPLACING IT TIMELY IF THERE IS A RECOMMENDATION OR BULLETIN (SIMILAR TO TIMING BELTS ETC. - WHICH I DON'T BELIEVE THERE IS CURRENTLY FOR ELECTRONIC THROTTLE MODULE).
Mileage: 129,401
SAFETY CONCERN: 2007 VOLVO S40 ELECTRONIC THROTTLE MODULE FAILURE - CAUSING "REDUCED ENGINE PERFORMANCE" MESSAGE AND VEHICLE (2007 VOLVO S40) SUDDENLY SLOWS DOWN WHILE IN MOTION, LIMPS AND CANNOT GO HIGHER SPEED. HAD BARELY EXITED THE FREEWAY ON 1/24/2017 AND THIS HAPPENED AS I WAS ON RAMP. COULD BE EXTREMELY DANGEROUS IF IT HAPPENED 1 MINUTE BEFORE WHEN ON FREEWAY. TURNED VEHICLE IN RIGHT AWAY TO LOCAL VOLVO DEALERSHIP (WHICH WAS LUCKILY WITHIN 15 MINUTES) AND THEY DIAGNOSED IT TO BE FAULTY ELECTRONIC THROTTLE MODULE NEEDING REPLACEMENT. MILEAGE ON CAR 129,000 MILES. WANTED TO REPORT SO THIS ISSUE CAN BE LOOKED INTO FOR SAFETY CONCERN AND IF THE HUGE COST OF REPLACEMENT CAN BE OFFSET SO OWNERS CAN HAVE PEACE OF MIND REPLACING IT TIMELY IF THERE IS A RECOMMENDATION OR BULLETIN (SIMILAR TO TIMING BELTS ETC. - WHICH I DON'T BELIEVE THERE IS CURRENTLY FOR ELECTRONIC THROTTLE MODULE).
Mileage: 129,401
TAKATA RECALL SOMETHING IS WRONG WITH THE AIRBAGS. I T IS SHOWING ME THAT IT NEEDS TO BE REPAIRED.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 VOLVO S40. WHILE DRIVING, THERE WAS AN ABNORMAL NOISE COMING FROM THE ENGINE AND THE CHECK ENGINE WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE PVC VALVE FAILED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 117,000.
Mileage: 117,000
MY CAR WOULD NOT START BECAUSE THERE WAS A MESSAGE INDICATING THE STEERING WHEEL WAS LOCKED, BUT, IT WAS NOT LOCKED. I HAD TO TOW THE CAR TO THE SHOP. THEY REPORTED A DEFECTIVE STEERING COLUMN LOCK MODULE. I FOUND THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM FOR THIS CARS WHICH IS TOTALLY UNSAFE AND UNACCEPTABLE.
Mileage: 51,104
THE COOLING SYSTEM AND DEFROST SHUT DOWN AFTER DRIVING FOR A WHILE. TURNS OUT THE CLUTCH WENT BAD ON THE COMPRESSOR. AFTER RESEARCHING FURTHER ONLINE, THERE ARE MANY COMPLAINTS ABOUT THIS FAILURE. UNFORTUNATELY, THIS IS A VERY EXPENSIVE REPAIR THAT I CANNOT AFFORD. *TR
THE COOLING SYSTEM AND DEFROST SHUT DOWN AFTER DRIVING FOR A WHILE. TURNS OUT THE CLUTCH WENT BAD ON THE COMPRESSOR. AFTER RESEARCHING FURTHER ONLINE, THERE ARE MANY COMPLAINTS ABOUT THIS FAILURE. UNFORTUNATELY, THIS IS A VERY EXPENSIVE REPAIR THAT I CANNOT AFFORD. *TR
SUNROOF DRAIN BECAME CLOGGED. THIS CAUSED THE POORLY DESIGNED DRAINS TO LEAK AT A JUNCTION INSIDE THE VEHICLE ALONG THE DOOR PILLAR AND BEHIND THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. THE WATER COLLECTS ON THE REAR PASSENGER FLOORBOARDS AND AROUND THE DRIVERS SEAT. THE CAR OWNER IS UNAWARE OF THE LEAK UNTIL A LARGE AMOUNT OF WATER HAS ACCUMULATED. I AM VERY CONCERNED ABOUT THE POTENTIAL FOR AN ELECTRICAL FAULT OR SHORT CIRCUIT THAT COULD POTENTIALLY RESULT IN A FIRE, MALFUNCTION OR COULD LEAD TO AN ACCIDENT. VOLVO SHOULD MAKE CHECKING THESE DRAINS A REGULAR PART OF IT'S SERVICE PROCEDURES OR CONSIDER A REDESIGN OR RECALL. THIS ISSUE IS WIDESPREAD. *TR
Mileage: 54,000
SUNROOF DRAIN BECAME CLOGGED. THIS CAUSED THE POORLY DESIGNED DRAINS TO LEAK AT A JUNCTION INSIDE THE VEHICLE ALONG THE DOOR PILLAR AND BEHIND THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. THE WATER COLLECTS ON THE REAR PASSENGER FLOORBOARDS AND AROUND THE DRIVERS SEAT. THE CAR OWNER IS UNAWARE OF THE LEAK UNTIL A LARGE AMOUNT OF WATER HAS ACCUMULATED. I AM VERY CONCERNED ABOUT THE POTENTIAL FOR AN ELECTRICAL FAULT OR SHORT CIRCUIT THAT COULD POTENTIALLY RESULT IN A FIRE, MALFUNCTION OR COULD LEAD TO AN ACCIDENT. VOLVO SHOULD MAKE CHECKING THESE DRAINS A REGULAR PART OF IT'S SERVICE PROCEDURES OR CONSIDER A REDESIGN OR RECALL. THIS ISSUE IS WIDESPREAD. *TR
Mileage: 54,000
Data as of 2025. Sources: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) complaints database, NHTSA recall campaign API, NHTSA NCAP crash-test ratings, and NHTSA FARS for fatality cross-reference.
Read our methodology — how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.