AI Damage2007 Volvo V50: common problems
Owners of the 2007 Volvo V50 filed 6 complaints with NHTSA, most often about tires and child seat. Details by component below, with sources.
Key figures
- Owner complaints
- 6
What fails most often
- 1 Tires 50% of all complaints
- 2 Child seat 17% of all complaints
- 3 Electrical system 17% of all complaints
- 4 Engine 17% of all complaints
- 5 Steering 17% of all complaints
- Tires: 3 complaints (50% of all).
- Child seat: 1 complaints (17% of all).
- Electrical system: 1 complaints (17% of all).
- Engine: 1 complaints (17% of all).
- Steering: 1 complaints (17% 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-speed
- manual, 6-speed
Drive: FWD, AWD
Symptoms owners describe
How many of the 6 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) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tires | 3 | 0 | 0 |
| Child seat | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Electrical system | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Engine | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Steering | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Other | 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.
Car was parked for about 1 hour, inside the garage, when it caught fire. No explanations.
Issue: car would not start and "steering locked, please try again" error message was displayed. The wheel is not locked, I can turn it, but the engine will not start and it keeps on giving me the same message.
Took car seats to pacific safety council to check proper installation of two car seats. Technician found granddaughters seat (base) stuck in rear facing position. Would not return to forward facing position. Technician had seen issue before so we removed base, returned bar to proper position and attached car seat.
Side wall bubble leading to low speed (<10 mph) blowout.
Sudden flat (not blowout); left rear. Tire unrecoverable.
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 13,278 of 36,656 model years in the NHTSA data (top 36% most complained about).
On average one model year of the V50 has 7 complaints (6 years in the data). This year has 6, about average.
What to check before buying
- Tires. Tire age by DOT code, bulges, wear pattern.
- Electrical system. Scan all modules, test the battery and alternator, inspect connectors near the impact zone.
- Engine. Cold start, unusual noises, oil leaks and engine codes.
- Steering. Steering play, power assist, rack and tie rods after a wheel impact.
Other years of this model
Questions and answers
What are the most common problems with the 2007 Volvo V50?
Owner complaints to NHTSA most often mention: tires, child seat, electrical system. Total complaints: 6. The most frequent symptoms in complaint texts: won't start (17%), smoke, burning smell, fire (17%), steering or power steering problems (17%).
How many service bulletins (TSB) were issued for the 2007 Volvo V50?
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 V50 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.