AI Damage2007 Volvo S40: common problems
Owners of the 2007 Volvo S40 filed 25 complaints with NHTSA, most often about service brakes and electrical system. Details by component below, with sources.
Key figures
- Owner complaints
- 25
- involving a crash
- 4
What fails most often
- 1 Service brakes 24% of all complaints
- 2 Electrical system 20% of all complaints
- 3 Engine and cooling 12% of all complaints
- 4 Air bags 8% of all complaints
- 5 Engine 8% of all complaints
- 6 Powertrain 8% of all complaints
- 7 Seat belts 8% of all complaints
- 8 Steering 8% of all complaints
- Service brakes: 6 complaints (24% of all), 2 of them with a crash reported by the owner.
- Electrical system: 5 complaints (20% of all).
- Engine and cooling: 3 complaints (12% of all).
- Air bags: 2 complaints (8% of all), 1 of them with a crash reported by the owner.
- Engine: 2 complaints (8% of all).
Engines and transmissions
US-market versions per EPA. On the right: how many NHTSA complaints name this engine or transmission type.
- 2.4 L · petrol · 5 cyl
- 2.5 L · petrol · turbo · 5 cyl
- automatic, 5-speed
- manual, 5-speednamed in 1 complaints
- manual, 6-speednamed in 1 complaints
Drive: FWD, AWD
Symptoms owners describe
How many of the 25 NHTSA complaints mention each symptom (automatic count from complaint text; one complaint can mention several).
Components owners complain about
| Component | Owner complaints | involving a crash | Technical service bulletins (TSB) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Service brakes | 6 | 2 | 0 |
| Electrical system | 5 | 0 | 0 |
| Engine and cooling | 3 | 0 | 0 |
| Air bags | 2 | 1 | 0 |
| Engine | 2 | 0 | 0 |
| Powertrain | 2 | 0 | 0 |
| Seat belts | 2 | 2 | 0 |
| Steering | 2 | 0 | 0 |
| Vehicle speed control | 2 | 0 | 0 |
| Visibility | 2 | 0 | 0 |
| Electronic stability control | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Latches, locks, linkages | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Seats | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Structure | 1 | 0 | 0 |
What owners report
Short excerpts of NHTSA complaints in the original wording. These are owner statements not verified by NHTSA; personal data removed.
The air bag failed to deploy and the seat belt detached. The driver sustained leg, back, and shoulder injuries that required medical attention. A police report was filed. The vehicle was destroyed and towed to a tow lot. The vehicle was not taken to a dealer or an independent mechanic for diagnostic testing.
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.
Consumer writes regarding a seat belt defect after suffering an injury to the eye due to a rear end collision the consumer stated he was struck from the rear while stopped yielding to traffic.
The contact stated that while driving approximately 30 mph the brakes failed causing her to crash into the rear of a vehicle. The driver sustained minor injuries, whiplash and was not transported to the hospital. A police report was filed.
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…
I was driving and the engine shut off causing me to lose control of my vehicle as the power steering shut down. I was able to steer my vehicle with difficulty to the side of the road where it stopped. About one week later this happened again.
After parking car and turning car off, airbag, brake, and information warning lights stay on, as does ventilation system. Passenger seat has excess water underneath. Now car will not start.
Unsafe occurrence includes power loss while pedal is depresses such as on the highway with constant pressure or most severe when turning left through an intersection power is reduced to idle.
When owners complained
NHTSA complaints by filing year. The peak shows at what age the problems show up most.
Comparison
By complaint count this model year ranks 7,448 of 36,656 model years in the NHTSA data (top 20% most complained about).
On average one model year of the S40 has 41 complaints (12 years in the data). This year has 25, below average.
What to check before buying
- Service brakes. Pedal feel, ABS operation, leaks, discs and hoses.
- Electrical system. Scan all modules, test the battery and alternator, inspect connectors near the impact zone.
- Engine and cooling. Radiator and fan after a frontal hit, coolant level and condition, overheating.
- Air bags. Check the SRS light, stored codes and airbag/curtain status after any impact.
Other years of this model
Questions and answers
What are the most common problems with the 2007 Volvo S40?
Owner complaints to NHTSA most often mention: service brakes, electrical system, engine and cooling. Total complaints: 25. The most frequent symptoms in complaint texts: won't start (12%), windows, sunroof (12%), brake failure (8%).
How many service bulletins (TSB) were issued for the 2007 Volvo S40?
NHTSA lists 0 manufacturer service bulletins for this year. A bulletin tells dealers how to diagnose or fix a known issue; it is not a recall.
Should I buy a 2007 Volvo S40 from a US auction?
Owner complaints describe defects, not crash damage. Before bidding, check the components listed above and review the lot photos: VinWind builds a report of visible and hidden damage by VIN.
Other 2007 models
Read also
Sources: public NHTSA data (USA): service bulletins and owner complaints; YouTube: links to videos credited to their authors. Complaints are owner statements not verified by NHTSA, and describe defects rather than crash damage. Data updated 2026-11-05.