VehicleVerdict

2004 Volvo S40 problems

Verdict · NHTSA data

One of the years to avoid

With 75 complaints filed to NHTSA — about 2.1 times the median S40 year — the 2004 model ranks #5 of 12 S40 years for complaint volume. It lands on the years-to-avoid list.

No single system dominates the record — complaints spread across electrical system (13), brakes (12), and airbags (11), which usually points to general build quality rather than one defect.

75

NHTSA complaints

6

Recalls

0

Investigations

7

Crash-involved

2

Fires reported

6

Injuries

0

Deaths

NCAP overall

How does 2004 compare to other S40 years?

S40 NHTSA complaints by model year, 2004 highlighted166 complaints2000: 166 complaints2001: 112 complaints2002: 34 complaints2003: 23 complaints2004: 75 complaints2005: 91 complaints2006: 81 complaints2007: 36 complaints2008: 27 complaints2009: 14 complaints2010: 11 complaints2011: 7 complaints
S40 NHTSA complaints by model year, 2004 highlighted. Red bars are years to avoid.

See all S40 years to avoid →

What are the most common 2004 Volvo S40 problems?

ComponentComplaintsShare
Electrical System1317%
Brakes1216%
Airbags1115%
Fuel System811%
Engine79%
Steering45%
Speed Control45%
Visibility & Wipers34%
Lighting23%
Other23%
Latches & Locks23%
Body & Structure23%
Climate Control (A/C & Heat)11%
Suspension11%
Tires & Wheels11%
Transmission11%
Driver Assistance11%

Does the 2004 Volvo S40 have recalls?

6 NHTSA recall campaigns on file. Recall repairs are free at franchised dealers.

10V566000Electrical SystemNovember 8, 2010 · 416 units

Defect

VOLVO IS RECALLING CERTAIN VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH GARMIN 760 PORTABLE GLOBAL POSITIONING SYSTEM (GPS) UNITS BECAUSE THE BATTERIES ON THOSE UNITS MAY OVERHEAT.

Consequence

AN OVERHEATED BATTERY COULD LEAD TO A FIRE.

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. THE UNIT'S BATTERY WILL BE REPLACED WITH A NEW BATTERY AND A SPACER WILL BE INSERTED ON TOP OF THE BATTERY NEXT TO THE PCB. THIS SERVICE WILL BE PERFORMED FREE OF CHARGE. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN ON NOVEMBER 18, 2010. OWNERS MAY CONTACT GARMIN AT 866-957-1981 OR VISIT GARMIN'S WEBSITE AT WWW.GARMIN.COM/NUVIBATTERYPCBRECALL.

08V033000Fuel SystemJanuary 28, 2008 · 23,000 units

Defect

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, LONG-TERM EXPOSURE TO CERTAIN ENVIRONMENTAL CONDITIONS SUCH AS SALTY-WET CONDITIONS, IT IS POSSIBLE FOR THE PUMP ELECTRONIC MODULE (PEM) TO BECOME CORRODED INTERNALLY. THIS CAN CAUSE A FAULTY SIGNAL TO THE FUEL PUMP, RESULTING IN LOW OR NO FUEL PRESSURE TO THE ENGINE.

Consequence

IF THIS OCCURS, THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT MAY ILLUMINATE. IN SOME CASES, THE VEHICLE MAY FAIL TO START OR MAY STALL, INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH.

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.

06V137000Fuel SystemApril 24, 2006 · 16,175 units

Defect

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.

Consequence

THIS MAY POTENTIALLY RESULT IN FUEL LINE LEAKAGE. FUEL LEAKAGE, IN THE PRESENCE OF AN IGNITION SOURCE, COULD RESULT IN A FIRE.

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.

04V493000BrakesOctober 14, 2004 · 1,719 units

Defect

ON CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES, THE NON-RETURN VALVE MAY CRACK DUE TO A POOR WELD CAUSING A VACUUM LEAK.

Consequence

IF THIS OCCURS, MORE BRAKE PEDAL FORCE MAY BE REQUIRED TO STOP THE VEHICLE AND/OR MAY EXPERIENCE A ROUGH ENGINE IDLE, WHICH COULD RESULT IN A CRASH.

Remedy

DEALERS WILL INSPECT, AND IF NECESSARY, REPLACE THE VACUUM HOSE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON NOVEMBER 29, 2004. OWNERS SHOULD CONTACT VOLVO CARS AT 1-800-458-1552.

03V424000Fuel SystemOctober 24, 2003 · 15,067 units

Defect

ON CERTAIN SEDANS AND STATION WAGONS, THERE MAY BE A FUEL LEAK FROM THE FUEL RAIL DUE TO INADEQUATE WELDING.

Consequence

FUEL LEAKAGE IN THE PRESENCE OF AN IGNITION SOURCE COULD RESULT IN A FIRE.

Remedy

DEALERS WILL INSTALL A V-CLAMP TO THE FUEL RAIL. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN ON JANUARY 28, 2004. OWNERS SHOULD CONTACT VOLVO AT 1-800-458-1552.

03V284000OtherAugust 1, 2003 · 220,407 units

Defect

CERTAIN PASSENGER CARS FAIL TO COMPLY WITH THE REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 225, "CHILD RESTRAINT ANCHORAGE SYSTEMS." THE SECOND ISOFIX GUIDE WAS NOT INSTALLED IN THESE VEHICLES AND, IN CERTAIN CASES, THE OWNER'S MANUAL ISOFIX INFORMATION IS INCORRECT.

Consequence

THIS DOES NOT MEET THE REQUIREMENTS OF THE STANDARD.

Remedy

OWNERS WILL RECEIVE A LETTER/PACKAGE CONSISTING OF THE SECOND ISOFIX GUIDE WITH INSTALLATION INSTRUCTIONS, AND IN CERTAIN CASES, THE CORRECTED OWNER'S MANUAL MAY BE PROVIDED. IF THE OWNER WANTS TO TAKE THEIR VEHICLE TO A VOLVO DEALER FOR INSTALLATION OF THE GUIDE, IT WILL BE PERFORMED AT NO CHARGE TO THE OWNER. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN ON DECEMBER 19, 2003. OWNERS SHOULD CONTACT VOLVO AT 1-800-458-1552.

Consumer complaints filed with NHTSA

Representative excerpts, cleaned of personal information. These are consumer statements, not verified defects.

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 VOLVO S40. WHILE DRIVING 30 MPH, THE VEHICLE RAPIDLY ACCELERATED AUTOMATICALLY. THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT SLOW DOWN WHEN THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED. THE CONTACT HAD A DIFFICULT TIME PULLING THE VEHICLE OVER TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. THE VEHICLE BEHIND HER NOTIFIED HER THAT…

Complaint filed with NHTSA · Electrical System · December 24, 2008 · fire

DURING A FRONTAL DRIVERS SIDE CRASH THE DRIVERS SIDE AIRBAG DID NOT DEPLOY CAUSING INJURY TO THE DRIVER. HOWEVER THE PASSENGER SIDE AIRBAG DID DEPLOY, BUT NO PASSENGERS WERE PRESENT AT THE TIME OF THE ACCIDENT. THE IMPACT OF THE CRASH WAS MOSTLY DRIVERS SIDE. I ALSO BELIEVE THE BRAKING SYSTEM…

Complaint filed with NHTSA · Brakes · July 19, 2005 · crash

DURING A FRONTAL DRIVERS SIDE CRASH THE DRIVERS SIDE AIRBAG DID NOT DEPLOY CAUSING INJURY TO THE DRIVER. HOWEVER THE PASSENGER SIDE AIRBAG DID DEPLOY, BUT NO PASSENGERS WERE PRESENT AT THE TIME OF THE ACCIDENT. THE IMPACT OF THE CRASH WAS MOSTLY DRIVERS SIDE. I ALSO BELIEVE THE BRAKING SYSTEM…

Complaint filed with NHTSA · Airbags · July 19, 2005 · crash

I GOT NEW CAR IN NOV 2003 OF THE YEAR 2004 MODEL. IT FEELS LIKE ONE HAS TO PUT FOOT ON BRAKES ALL THE WAY TO APPLY. IT IS PROGRESSIVELY GETTING WORSE. IN DEC 2005, WHILE EXISTING FROM HIGHWAY WE MEET AN ACCIDENT AS IT DID NOT STOP WHERE IT WAS SUPPOSE TO STOP. VOLVO DEALER TOP THE BREAK FLUID…

Complaint filed with NHTSA · Fuel System · December 9, 2005 · crash

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 VOLVO S40. WHILE DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 10 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE DID NOT RESTART. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE PEM WAS FAULTY. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE.…

Complaint filed with NHTSA · Engine · December 21, 2014

2004 Volvo S40 — common questions

Is the 2004 Volvo S40 reliable?

NHTSA data argues against it: 75 complaints put the 2004 model at #5 of 12 S40 years. It is one of the S40 years to avoid.

What are the most common 2004 S40 problems?

According to NHTSA complaint data, the leading problem areas are electrical system (13 complaints), brakes (12 complaints), airbags (11 complaints).

Does the 2004 Volvo S40 have recalls?

Yes — NHTSA lists 6 recall campaigns affecting the 2004 Volvo S40. Recall repairs are free at franchised dealers; check the VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to confirm the work was done.

Which Volvo S40 years should you avoid?

Based on complaint rates and open investigations, the S40 years to avoid are 2000, 2001, 2005, 2006, 2004. The cleanest record among S40 years belongs to 2011.

Related

Based on NHTSA ODI data through June 2026. Complaints are consumer-reported and unverified. Updated July 5, 2026.

Compiled by Sharon Ben-Moshe, Founder.