"How reliable is the 2005 Volvo S40?"

"Based on 90 NHTSA complaints, the 2005 Volvo S40 has a median complaint mileage of 71000 miles. The most common issue is ELECTRICAL SYSTEM."

"What are common problems with the 2005 Volvo S40?"

"The most frequently reported component in NHTSA complaints for the 2005 Volvo S40 is ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, accounting for a significant portion of the 90 total complaints filed."

2005 Volvo S40: Reliability Data

Source: NHTSA — 90 complaints

Total Complaints

71,000mi

Median Mileage

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

Top Issue

Crash Reports

When Do Complaints Happen?

Distribution of NHTSA complaints by vehicle mileage at time of report.

47,000 25th Percentile

71,000 Median Mileage

95,000 75th Percentile

What Fails?

Most reported component issues from NHTSA complaints.

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE

FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM

ENGINE

FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY:FUEL PUMP

AIR BAGS

SEAT BELTS

VISIBILITY:SUN/MOON ROOF ASSEMBLY

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE

Severity Assessment

Crashes

Fires

Injuries

Deaths

Sample Complaint Reports

"NOVEMBER 15, 2005 MY VOLVO S40'S PARKING BRAKE FAILED TO WORK PROPERLY. AFTER PARKING MY CAR AND LEAVING THE GARAGE THE BRAKE "SLIPPED" AND ROLLED OUT OF THE SPOT HITTING ANOTHER CAR. MY CAR HAD 2,899 MILES ON IT. WHEN RETURNING TO MY CAR THAT NIGHT I FOUND THAT MY PARKING BRAKE HAD "SLIPPED" AN..."

"THE S-40 WAS ON THE HIGHWAY AND THE MESSAGE CAME ON STATING ENGINE FAILURE. I PULLED OVER IN THE BREAKDOWN LANE AND SHUT THE CAR OFF. I RESTARTED THE CAR AND WAS ABLE TO DRIVE HOME. I MADE AN APPOINTMENT WITH THE DEALER TO LOOK INTO THE PROBLEM WHICH OCCURRED AT THAT TIME, TODAY I EXPERIENCED THE..."

"1) I HAD TO CHANGE A FLAT TIRE AND USED THE VEHICLE SUPPLIED SCISSOR JACK. I NOTICED THAT IT GOT INCREASINGLY DIFFICULT TO TURN THE JACK TO RAISE THE CAR. EVENTUALLY IT GOT SO STIFF THAT IT REQUIRED BOTH ARMS TO TURN THE LEVER. 2) THE JACK SUDDENLY FAILED AND THE CAR CAME CRASHING DOWN ONTO THE P..."

Source: NHTSA ODI Complaints Database. Names and identifying details omitted.

Data source: View this vehicle on NHTSA.gov | NHTSA ODI Complaints Database. Public domain.

Methodology: Complaint counts and mileage distributions are computed directly from consumer-reported NHTSA complaints. This data represents reported issues, not failure rates — vehicles without complaints are not represented. Full methodology.

Data through: 2026-03-28