NHTSA vehicle safety data

2005 Volvo V50 Recalls & Complaints

The 2005 Volvo V50 has 3 NHTSA recall campaigns and 18 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 2005 Volvo V50. Recall data is refreshed daily from NHTSA.

Pre-purchase inspection checklist → Reliability & 5-year cost forecast →

2005 Volvo V50 owner complaints

Owners have filed 18 complaints with NHTSA about the 2005 Volvo V50, describing incidents dated February 1, 2005 to October 21, 2017.

Most-cited components

Engine 6 complaints
Fuel/Propulsion System 6 complaints
Electrical System 3 complaints
Suspension 3 complaints
Structure 2 complaints
Exterior Lighting 1 complaint

Together, the 18 complaints on file report 1 injury (owner-reported, not verified by NHTSA).

Newest complaints

ODI #11071932 · Filed February 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…
ODI #11035452 · Filed October 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…
ODI #10899495 · Filed August 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…

Read all 18 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> .

PUMP ELECTRONIC MODULE (PEM) CORROSION

NHTSA #08V033000 · Fuel System, Gasoline — Delivery — Fuel Pump · NHTSA notice

Reported January 28, 2008 · VOLVO CARS OF N.A. LLC.

Potentially affected: 23,000 vehicles

Volvo campaign 190 · Owners notified February 20, 2008 · Vehicles built February 4, 2003 – August 22, 2005 (per NHTSA)

Defect description

ON CERTAIN VEHICLES SOLD IN OR CURRENTLY REGISTERED IN THE STATES OF CONNECTICUT, DELAWARE, ILLINOIS, INDIANA, IOWA, MAINE, MARYLAND, MASSACHUSETTS, MICHIGAN, MINNESOTA, MISSOURI, NEW HAMPSHIRE, NEW JERSEY, NEW YORK, OHIO, PENNSYLVANIA, RHODE ISLAND, VERMONT, WEST VIRGINIA, WISCONSIN, AND THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA, REOCCURRING, LONG-TERM EXPOSURE TO CERTAIN ENVIRONMENTAL CONDITIONS SUCH AS SALTY-WET CONDITIONS, IT IS POSSIBLE FOR THE PUMP ELECTRONIC MODULE (PEM) TO BECOME CORRODED INTERNALLY. THIS CAN CAUSE A FAULTY SIGNAL TO THE FUEL PUMP, RESULTING IN LOW OR NO FUEL PRESSURE TO THE ENGINE.

Safety consequence

IF THIS OCCURS, THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT MAY ILLUMINATE. IN SOME CASES, THE VEHICLE MAY FAIL TO START OR MAY STALL, INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH.

Manufacturer remedy

DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE PEM AND INSTALL IT IN A NEW LOCATION TO PREVENT CORROSION. THE RECALL BEGAN ON FEBRUARY 20, 2008. OWNERS MAY CONTACT VOLVO AT 1-800-458-1552.

Notes

VOLVO RECALL NO. 190.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.

FUEL LINE

NHTSA #06V137000 · Fuel System, Gasoline · NHTSA notice

Reported April 24, 2006 · VOLVO CARS OF N.A. LLC.

Potentially affected: 16,175 vehicles

Volvo campaign R158 · Owners notified June 5, 2006 · Vehicles built February 21, 2003 – June 15, 2005 (per NHTSA)

Defect description

ON CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH T5 TURBO ENGINES, THE POLYAMIDE TUBE IN THE FUEL LINE IS SENSITIVE TO THE EXTREME TEMPERATURES THAT MAY OCCUR IN THE AREA WHERE THE TURBO/EXHAUST MANIFOLD IS LOCATED.

Safety consequence

THIS MAY POTENTIALLY RESULT IN FUEL LINE LEAKAGE. FUEL LEAKAGE, IN THE PRESENCE OF AN IGNITION SOURCE, COULD RESULT IN A FIRE.

Manufacturer remedy

DEALERS WILL CHANGE THE FUEL LINE MATERIAL TO TEFLON FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON JUNE 5, 2006. OWNERS MAY CONTACT VOLVO CARS AT 1-800-458-1552.

Notes

VOLVO RECALL NO. R158. 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.

2005 Volvo V50 4-DR w/SAB

—

out of 5

Overall Safety Rating

Not Rated

Frontal Crash

Not Rated

Driver: Not Rated, Passenger: Not Rated

Side Crash

Not Rated

Driver: Not Rated, Passenger: Not Rated

Side Pole

Not Rated

Rollover

Not Rated

Safety Technology

18 owner complaints have been filed with NHTSA for the 2005 Volvo V50.

Fuel/Propulsion System

ODI #11071932

Incident: October 1, 2017 · Filed: February 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.

Fuel/Propulsion System

ODI #11035452

Incident: October 21, 2017 · Filed: October 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.

Steering; Suspension; Engine and Engine Cooling

ODI #10899495

Incident: June 2, 2016 · Filed: August 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

Suspension

ODI #10781310

Incident: August 20, 2015 · Filed: October 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.

Unknown or Other

ODI #10523390

Incident: June 27, 2013 · Filed: July 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.

Fuel/Propulsion System

ODI #10512860

Incident: May 1, 2013 · 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.

Fuel System, Gasoline; Electrical System

ODI #10434809

Incident: October 1, 2011 · Filed: November 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.

Engine and Engine Cooling

ODI #10424498

Incident: August 17, 2011 · Filed: September 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

Engine and Engine Cooling; Fuel System, Gasoline

ODI #10420013

Incident: June 20, 2011 · Filed: August 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

Structure

ODI #10399221

Incident: February 8, 2011 · Filed: May 5, 2011

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

Other Volvo V50 model years

Check your 2005 Volvo V50 VIN

Not every recall applies to every VIN in a given year. Enter the 17-character VIN from your Volvo V50 at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see whether your specific vehicle has an unrepaired recall.

Check a Volvo VIN