NHTSA vehicle safety data

2009 Volvo V50 Recalls & Complaints

The 2009 Volvo V50 has 3 NHTSA recall campaigns and 2 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 2009 Volvo V50. Recall data is refreshed daily from NHTSA.

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

2009 Volvo V50 owner complaints

Owners have filed 2 complaints with NHTSA about the 2009 Volvo V50, describing incidents dated February 28, 2014 to March 4, 2017.

Most-cited components

Electrical System 1 complaint
Service Brakes 1 complaint
Structure 1 complaint

Newest complaints

ODI #10967600 · Filed March 21, 2017
I HAD THE BRAKE PADS REPLACED, THEN THE PUMP ONLY TO NOT BE ABLE TO STOP THE CAR BECAUSE OF THE BOOSTER PUMP! I WENT RIGHT THROUGH A STOP SIGN. THE MECHANIC SAID HE SEES THIS PROBLEM ALL OF THE TIME WITH THESE CARS.
ODI #10573983 · Filed March 21, 2014
FAILURE TO NOTIFY OWNERS OF A POTENTIALLY DEADLY, KNOWN DEFECTIVE PART THAT RESULTS IN MASSIVE CORROSION OF ELECTRONICS AND CEM CAUSING ENGINE TO QUIT WORKING. ELECTRONICS BEGAN TO QUIT WORKING WHILE TRAVELING. WE TOOK THE CAR INTO A DEALERSHIP SERVICE GARAGE AND TURNED THE IGNITION OFF. THEY WERE…

Read all 2 complaints

FRONT PASSENGER SIDE SEAT RAIL

NHTSA #10V591000 · Seats · NHTSA notice

Reported November 22, 2010 · VOLVO CARS OF N.A. LLC.

Potentially affected: 7,420 vehicles

Volvo campaign R235 · Owners notified December 23, 2010 · Vehicles built February 9, 2009 – October 4, 2010 (per NHTSA)

Defect description

VOLVO IS RECALLING CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH POWER FRONT PASSENGER SEATS. THE FRONT SEAT RAIL'S DETECTION SYSTEM WAS MANUFACTURED INCORRECTLY AND MAY PERMIT THE PASSENGER TO FORWARD THE SEAT BEYOND THE INTENDED MAXIMUM.

Safety consequence

POSITIONING OF THE SEAT BEYOND THE INTENDED MAXIMUM CAN CAUSE INCREASED RISK OF INJURY TO THE PASSENGER IN THE EVENT OF A CRASH.

Manufacturer remedy

DEALERS WILL INSPECT THE FRONT POWER SEAT STOPS FOR BOTH FRONT SEATS FOR THE PRESENCE OF AN "END STOP" AND REPAIR THE VEHICLES AS NECESSARY FREE OF CHARGE. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN ON DECEMBER 23, 2010. OWNERS MAY CONTACT VOLVO AT 1-800-458-1552 OR AT [email protected].

Notes

VOLVO SAFETY RECALL NO. R235.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> .

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.

2009 Volvo V50 Wagon 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

Electronic Stability Control Forward Collision Warning (Optional) Lane Departure Warning (Optional)

2 owner complaints have been filed with NHTSA for the 2009 Volvo V50.

Service Brakes

ODI #10967600

Incident: March 4, 2017 · Filed: March 21, 2017

I HAD THE BRAKE PADS REPLACED, THEN THE PUMP ONLY TO NOT BE ABLE TO STOP THE CAR BECAUSE OF THE BOOSTER PUMP! I WENT RIGHT THROUGH A STOP SIGN. THE MECHANIC SAID HE SEES THIS PROBLEM ALL OF THE TIME WITH THESE CARS.

Electrical System; Structure

ODI #10573983

Incident: February 28, 2014 · Filed: March 21, 2014

FAILURE TO NOTIFY OWNERS OF A POTENTIALLY DEADLY, KNOWN DEFECTIVE PART THAT RESULTS IN MASSIVE CORROSION OF ELECTRONICS AND CEM CAUSING ENGINE TO QUIT WORKING. ELECTRONICS BEGAN TO QUIT WORKING WHILE TRAVELING. WE TOOK THE CAR INTO A DEALERSHIP SERVICE GARAGE AND TURNED THE IGNITION OFF. THEY WERE UNABLE TO START THE ENGINE, AND COULD NOT FIND THE PROBLEM. THEY CALLED VOLVO WHO TOLD THEM THE V50 HAD A KNOWN DEFECTIVE WATER PUMP THAT CAUSED OTHER PARTS TO CORRODE. VOLVO SECRETLY CHANGED TO A DIFFERENT WATER PUMP IN NEW CARS AFTER DISCOVERING THIS DEFECT : BUT DID NOT NOTIFY OWNERS OR ISSUE A RECALL. THIS PUMP LEAKS WASHER FLUID, DRIPPING ONTO THE MAIN WIRING HARNESS AND CEM MAINFRAME COMPUTER WHICH CONTROLS THE ENGINE, CAUSING THE INABILITY TO START OR SHUT DOWN THE ENGINE, SECURITY ALARM TO ACTIVATE INTERMITTENTLY WITH NO PROVOCATION, DISABLED KEY FOB ENTRY, AND OTHER INTERMITTENT ISSUES RELATED TO ELECTRONICS. THESE PARTS WERE COMPLETELY CORRODED AND FRIED. IF THIS FAILED WHILE DRIVING AND HAD STOPPED THE ENGINE, THE SAME RESULTS WOULD HAVE OCCURRED AS THE GM CHEVROLET IGNITION PROBLEM. WITH NO ENGINE, THE CONTROLS TO POWER BRAKES, POWER STEERING AND AIRBAG DEPLOYMENT WOULD BE INACTIVE. VOLVO COVERED ONLY THE COST OF THE PARTS, BUT LEFT US WITH A $3000 BILL FOR THE LABOR PORTION. THEY TOLD US THAT BECAUSE OF THE CARS AGE AND MILEAGE AND A "LOYALTY" FACTOR, THEY WOULD NOT COVER THE LABOR COSTS. THEY SAID THEY WOULD ONLY COVER LABOR IF THERE WAS A RECALL, WHICH THEY HAVEN'T DONE. WE OWN 2 VOLVO'S AND OUR DAUGHTER PURCHASED A VOLVO ON OUR RECOMMENDATION JUST BEFORE THIS FAILURE. WE ASKED THAT THEY ALSO PICK THE LABOR COSTS REGARDLESS AND THEY REFUSED. THIS COULD LEAD TO A POTENTIAL DEADLY RESULT SIMILAR TO THE GM IGNITION PROBLEM & COVER-UP. *TR

Other Volvo V50 model years

Check your 2009 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