Reliability & cost of ownership
Volvo S40N Reliability & Common Problems
How reliable is the Volvo S40N? Compare every model year side by side — NHTSA recalls, owner complaints, and crash-test stars — then open the year you're shopping for its AI reliability outlook where NHTSA has enough data.
Volvo S40N problems by model year
1 recall entry across 1 model year and 15 owner complaints across 4 model years on file, sourced from the federal NHTSA database. We couldn't confirm the NHTSA recall list for the remaining 3 model years — check the VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
| Year | Recalls | Complaints | NCAP stars | Full report |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2010 S40N | 1 | 0 | No NCAP test | Recalls & complaints → |
| 2006 S40N | Not confirmed | 1 | No NCAP test | Recalls & complaints → |
| 2005 S40N | Not confirmed | 12 | No NCAP test | AI reliability outlook → |
| 2004 S40N | Not confirmed | 2 | No NCAP test | Recalls & complaints → |
Most-complained-about components
Owner complaints filed with NHTSA against the Volvo S40N, grouped by the component each complaint names — the fastest read on where this model gives trouble.
- service brakes6 complaints
- hydraulic6 complaints
- vehicle speed control4 complaints
- engine and engine cooling2 complaints
- steering1 complaint
- air bags1 complaint
- power train1 complaint
- electrical system1 complaint