NHTSA vehicle safety data

2008 Volvo S40 Recalls, Ratings & Complaints

The 2008 Volvo S40 has 2 NHTSA recall campaigns and 16 owner complaints on file as of November 3, 2026. Recall repairs are usually free at an authorized Volvo dealer.

NHTSA recall and complaint data for the 2008 Volvo S40, plus NCAP crash-test ratings. Recall data is refreshed daily from NHTSA.

2008 Volvo S40 owner complaints

Owners have filed 16 complaints with NHTSA about the 2008 Volvo S40, describing incidents dated February 20, 2010 to June 4, 2022.

Most-cited components

  • Electrical System 4 complaints
  • Engine 4 complaints
  • Steering 4 complaints
  • Vehicle Speed Control 3 complaints
  • Visibility/Wiper 3 complaints
  • Air Bags 2 complaints

Of the 16 complaints on file, 5 report a crash; across all 16 complaints, owners report 2 injuries (owner-reported, not verified by NHTSA).

Newest complaints

  • ODI #11467728 · Filed

    The contact owns a 2008 Volvo S40. The contact stated while his spouse was driving 70 MPH, the moon roof exploded. The vehicle was driven back to the residence. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not informed of the failure. The failure mileage was 133,000.

  • ODI #11428519 · Filed

    After buying the vehicle on 7/9/21, the car started having problems with the cooling system. I took it to a repair shop and they said the cooling system was overfilled. The air problem continued. I took it back to the dealership who said they fixed it but it continued. I contacted the prior…

  • ODI #11310426 · Filed

    TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 VOLVO S40. THE CONTACT STATED THAT AFTER EXITING A STORE AND ENTERING THE VEHICLE, THE CONTACT WAS UNABLE TO RESTART THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THERE WERE SEVERAL UNKNOWN WARNING LIGHTS ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT A MESSAGE DISPLAYED ON THE INSTRUMENT…

Read all 16 complaints

760 PORTABLE AUTOMOTIVE GPS UNITS/GARMIN

NHTSA #10V566000 · Equipment — Electrical — Navigational System(GLOBAL POSITIONING SYSTEM) · NHTSA notice

Reported November 8, 2010 · VOLVO CARS OF N.A. LLC.

Potentially affected: 416 vehicles

Volvo campaign R231 · Owners notified November 18, 2010

Defect description

VOLVO IS RECALLING CERTAIN VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH GARMIN 760 PORTABLE GLOBAL POSITIONING SYSTEM (GPS) UNITS BECAUSE THE BATTERIES ON THOSE UNITS MAY OVERHEAT.

Safety consequence

AN OVERHEATED BATTERY COULD LEAD TO A FIRE.

Manufacturer remedy

VOLVO ADVISES OWNERS TO PLEASE STOP USING THE GARMIN PORTABLE GPS DEVICE IMMEDIATELY, AND VISIT THE GARMIN WEBSITE TO DETERMINE IF THEIR UNIT IS AFFECTED. THE UNIT'S BATTERY WILL BE REPLACED WITH A NEW BATTERY AND A SPACER WILL BE INSERTED ON TOP OF THE BATTERY NEXT TO THE PCB. THIS SERVICE WILL BE PERFORMED FREE OF CHARGE. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN ON NOVEMBER 18, 2010. OWNERS MAY CONTACT GARMIN AT 866-957-1981 OR VISIT GARMIN'S WEBSITE AT WWW.GARMIN.COM/NUVIBATTERYPCBRECALL.

Notes

VOLVO SAFETY RECALL NO. R231.OWNERS MAY ALSO CONTACT THE NATIONAL HIGHWAY TRAFFIC SAFETY ADMINISTRATION'S VEHICLE SAFETY HOTLINE AT 1-888-327-4236 (TTY 1-800-424-9153), OR GO TO <A HREF=HTTP://WWW.SAFERCAR.GOV>HTTP://WWW.SAFERCAR.GOV</A> .

POWER STEERING HOSES/HUTCHINSON FLEXIBLES

NHTSA #08V329000 · Steering — Hydraulic Power Assist — Hose, Piping, and Connections · NHTSA notice

Reported July 23, 2008 · VOLVO CARS OF N.A. LLC.

Potentially affected: 1,020 vehicles

Volvo campaign 201 · Owners notified August 13, 2008 · Vehicles built April 14, 2008 – May 27, 2008 (per NHTSA)

Defect description

VOLVO IS RECALLING MY 2008-2009 VEHICLES. A SECTION OF THE POWER STEERING RETURN LINE HOSE WAS NOT PROPERLY VULCANIZED (CURED) AND DOES NOT MEET SPECIFICATIONS. IF THE POWER STEERING RETURN HOSE FAILS, A SUDDEN RUPTURE OF THE HOSE CAN OCCUR.

Safety consequence

THIS CAN RESULT IN A RAPID DRAINAGE OF THE POWER STEERING FLUID IN THE SYSTEM AND A COMPLETE LOSS OF POWER ASSISTANCE, INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH.

Manufacturer remedy

DEALERS WILL INSPECT AND REPLACE THE STEERING RETURN LINE HOSE ASSEMBLY FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON AUGUST 13, 2008. OWNERS MAY CONTACT VOLVO AT 1-800-458-1552.

Notes

VOLVO RECALL NO. 201.CUSTOMERS MAY ALSO CONTACT THE NATIONAL HIGHWAY TRAFFIC SAFETY ADMINISTRATION'S VEHICLE SAFETY HOTLINE AT 1-888-327-4236 (TTY 1-800-424-9153), OR GO TO HTTP://WWW.SAFERCAR.GOV.

Other Volvo S40 model years

Check your 2008 Volvo S40 VIN

Not every recall applies to every VIN in a given year. Enter the 17-character VIN from your Volvo S40 at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see whether your specific vehicle has an unrepaired recall.

Check a Volvo VIN