Most common 2005 Volvo S40 problems
Share of the 69 complaints; one complaint can involve more than one system. "~" is the median mileage when the problem started.
Volvo S40 complaints by model year
Best S40 years: 2010, 2011, 2009. Years to avoid: 2000, 2001, 2005, 2006, 2004. Compare all years →
2005 Volvo S40 recalls (3)
Equipment › Electrical › Navigational system(global positioning system)
Volvo is recalling certain vehicles equipped with garmin 760 portable global positioning system (GPS) units because the batteries on those units May overheat.
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.
Fuel system, gasoline › Delivery › Fuel pump
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,…
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.
Fuel system, gasoline
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.
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.
What 2005 Volvo S40 owners say
Fuel & propulsion system all 20 →
The contact's wife owns a 2005 Volvo S40. The contact stated the vehicle was difficult to start for several days. Eventually, the failure progressed and the vehicle was not able to start. The check engine warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was repaired by the contact, a previous Volvo technician. The contact stated the failure was due to the pump electrical module being located out of the vehicle. The contact spoke with the dealer. The contact referenced The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 170,000.
Tl* the contact owns a 2005 Volvo S40. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the vehicle stalled without warning. The vehicle was towed to an independent mechanic who diagnosed that the fuel pump electronic module had failed due to rusting and corrosion. The fuel pump electronic module was replaced and the failure was remedied. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and the contact was informed that the vehicle was not included in the NHTSA campaign number 08V033000 (fuel system, gasoline). The contact stated that the vehicle had experienced the failure listed in the recall. Additionally, the vehicle was originally sold in the state of california and had been driven in the state of michigan the past 6 years. The failure mileage was 147,000.
Electrical system
The contact's wife owns a 2005 Volvo S40. The contact stated the vehicle was difficult to start for several days. Eventually, the failure progressed and the vehicle was not able to start. The check engine warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was repaired by the contact, a previous Volvo technician. The contact stated the failure was due to the pump electrical module being located out of the vehicle. The contact spoke with the dealer. The contact referenced The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 170,000.
Tl* the contact owns a 2005 Volvo S40. The contact stated that while driving at 55 MPH, the steering wheel and entire vehicle began to shake as there was an abnormal noise. In addition, the air conditioner, radio, horn and sun roof failed to function when activated. The SRS warning light illuminated. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic who diagnosed that the ECM, front axles and struts needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 194,000.
Engine & cooling
2005 Volvo S40 engine air conditioning malfunctioned. When the problem first begun the car would be cool at start then get warm until one day the air conditioning just quit working. I read on this forum authorized Volvo dealership admits this is a common problem in this year/make/model. The compressor clutch or compressor or both required replacing. In a class action lawsuit [filed 2018] http://www.autopartsclass.com/index.php includes the 2005 Volvo S40 air conditioning unit: [see below] congratulations! Your 2005 Volvo S40 is included in the following auto parts cases: in re: instrument panel clusters in re: air conditioning systems in re: alternators in re: windshield wiper systems
Tl* the contact owns a 2005 Volvo S40. When the vehicle was started, there was an abnormal vibration coming from the vehicle. Upon opening the hood and checking the engine, the contact noticed that the passenger side of the engine was fractured. The contact stated that the fracture was along the top side of the engine. The vehicle was not taken to be diagnosed. A dealer was not contacted. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 43,000.
2005 Volvo S40 engines & fuel economy
| Engine | Transmission | Drive | MPG city / hwy / combined |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2.4L 5-cyl | 5-speed manual | FWD | 19 / 27 / 22 |
| 2.4L 5-cyl | 5-speed automatic | FWD | 19 / 27 / 22 |
| 2.5L 5-cyl turbo | 6-speed manual | FWD | 19 / 29 / 22 |
| 2.5L 5-cyl turbo | 5-speed automatic | FWD | 19 / 27 / 22 |
| 2.5L 5-cyl turbo | 6-speed manual | 4WD/AWD | 17 / 25 / 20 |
| 2.5L 5-cyl turbo | 5-speed automatic | 4WD/AWD | 18 / 25 / 20 |
EPA ratings. Class: Compact car.
Frequently asked questions
Is the 2005 Volvo S40 a good car?
Based on 69 owner complaints filed with NHTSA, the 2005 S40 rates avoid: 2.5× as many complaints as a typical year of the S40 at the same age. It is one of the S40 years we suggest avoiding. Complaint counts don't account for sales volume or individual maintenance, so have any used car inspected before buying.
What is the most common problem with the 2005 Volvo S40?
The fuel & propulsion system — 20 complaints, 29% of all complaints for this model year, most often about delivery › fuel pump. Next are the electrical system (19) and engine & cooling (16).
How many recalls does the 2005 Volvo S40 have?
There are 3 recalls for the 2005 Volvo S40, the most recent from November 8, 2010 (navigational system(global positioning system)). Recall repairs are free at any authorized dealer — check whether yours has been done with the VIN recall check.
What are the best and worst years of the Volvo S40?
The best years by complaints, compared at the same age, are 2010, 2011 and 2009. Years to avoid or approach with caution: 2000, 2001, 2005, 2006 and 2004. See the full Volvo S40 years comparison.
At what mileage do 2005 Volvo S40 problems happen?
The median mileage reported in complaints is about 78,000 miles; 27% of problems with a recorded mileage started before 50,000 miles.
Source: U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) — owner complaints through October 20, 2026, recalls and defect investigations; fuel economy from the EPA. Complaints are unverified reports and are not proof of a defect. How we rate model years.