Most common 2007 Volvo S40 problems
Share of the 25 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 →
2007 Volvo S40 recalls (2)
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.
Service brakes, hydraulic › Foundation components › Master cylinder
Volvo is recalling 1,114 my 2007 c30, c70, s40, and v50 passenger vehicles. A soft anodized layer in the master cylinder May trigger early wear on a rubber seal that can result in internal leakage of brake fluid.
Remedy: Dealers will inspect the master cylinder. The brake master cylinder and brake fluid reservoir will be replaced and certain brake lines cleaned free of charge. The recall began on March 11, 2008.
What 2007 Volvo S40 owners say
Brakes
12/9/2011 while on an incline driving at approximately 25 MPH brakes failed, even after pressing pedal all the way to the floor, car failed to stop causing collision with vehicle in front despite more than necessary braking distance maintained between two vehicles and under clear, sunny conditions. Note: dealer had completed 10-point inspection during oil change 14 days before occurrence. 8/2011 car flooded with water internally and on floor/carpet. Second occurrence. Sunroof drain pipes replaced and car seats, carpets, foam padding removed and dried. Owner required to pay 50% of cost of labor and parts, even though was to have been repaired in 2/2011.2/2011 first incident of car flood with water internally and on floor/carpet. Sunroof replaced and car seats, carpets, foam padding removed and dried. Sunroof replaced by Volvo, owner incurred labor costs. …
The rear brakes on this vehicle caught on fire after a short drive (1 mile) having to be extinguished with a fire extinguisher. The rear brake assembly (left rear) completely failed and overheated to the point of causing flames to appear needing to be extinguished. This car had 2939 miles on it as a new Volvo S40. This catastrophic failure was unexplained and without an apparent error by driver as this vehicle is used by a college student for very short distances. The emergency brake was not left on.
Engine & cooling
Safety concern: 2007 Volvo S40 electronic throttle module failure - causing "reduced engine performance" message and vehicle (2007 Volvo S40) suddenly slows down while in motion, limps and cannot go higher speed. Had barely exited the freeway on 1/24/2017 and this happened as I was on ramp. Could be extremely dangerous if it happened 1 minute before when on freeway. Turned vehicle in right away to local Volvo dealership (which was luckily within 15 minutes) and they diagnosed it to be faulty electronic throttle module needing replacement. Mileage on car 129,000 miles. Wanted to report so this issue can be looked into for safety concern and if the huge cost of replacement can be offset so owners can have peace of mind replacing it timely if there is a recommendation or bulletin (similar to timing belts etc. - which I don't believe there is currently for electronic throttle module).
Tl* the contact owns a 2007 Volvo S40. While driving, there was an abnormal noise coming from the engine and the check engine warning light illuminated. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic who diagnosed that the pvc valve failed. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 117,000.
Electrical system
On June 28, 2008, my garage door came down on my 2007 Volvo S40 sedan, without warning, causing damage to the roof of the car (est. $2000.00) as well as irreparable damage to the garage door (replaced at a cost of $1150.00). A technician from genie (mfg of garage door opener) thoroughly inspected and tested the opener on June 30, 2008, and found the unit to be working properly. It was discovered that the action of unlocking and locking the car doors with the remote as well as starting the ignition of the car caused the garage door to open and close without warning. Each time the car remote was pressed, it transmitted to the garage door opener. After de programming the homelink in the car, the situation no longer occurred. I no longer felt safe having the homelink active, as I did not want to chance further vehicle damage or bodily harm. …
On or about 12/04/2019 during a flash rain storm last winter, my husband and I was headed home on the 215 fwy northbound in san bernardino, ca when the center dome area and the electric sunroof inside our car begin pouring in huge amounts of very cold rain water on us and on the dashboard, stereo console, gear shifter, floor and seats. Until it was safe to exit the freeway, my husband tried to soak up as much of the leaking rainwater as he could with his coat but the water continued to pouring into the car. Once it was safe to exit the freeway, we pulled into a gas station and examine the sunroof to make sure it was shut properly, which it was, not understanding why this was happening, he and I used as many pieces of napkins and cloth that we could find to sop up as much water as we could and as best as we could. …
2007 Volvo S40 engines & fuel economy
| Engine | Transmission | Drive | MPG city / hwy / combined |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2.4L 5-cyl | 5-speed automatic | FWD | 20 / 28 / 23 |
| 2.4L 5-cyl | 5-speed manual | FWD | 19 / 27 / 22 |
| 2.5L 5-cyl turbo | 6-speed manual | FWD | 18 / 27 / 22 |
| 2.5L 5-cyl turbo | 5-speed automatic | FWD | 19 / 28 / 22 |
| 2.5L 5-cyl turbo | 6-speed manual | 4WD/AWD | 18 / 26 / 21 |
| 2.5L 5-cyl turbo | 5-speed automatic | 4WD/AWD | 18 / 26 / 21 |
EPA ratings. Class: Compact car.
Frequently asked questions
Is the 2007 Volvo S40 a good car?
Based on 25 owner complaints filed with NHTSA, the 2007 S40 rates average: 20% fewer complaints than a typical year of the S40 at the same age. 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 2007 Volvo S40?
The brakes — 6 complaints, 24% of all complaints for this model year, most often about foundation components › disc › caliper. Next are the engine & cooling (5) and electrical system (5).
How many recalls does the 2007 Volvo S40 have?
There are 2 recalls for the 2007 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 2007 Volvo S40 problems happen?
The median mileage reported in complaints is about 60,000 miles; 36% 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.