2009 Volvo S40 problems, complaints & recalls
Most-reported problem areas: Power Train (2) · Wheels (1) · Suspension (1)
🧭 Reliability snapshot
Compared against other Volvo S40 model years — complaint volume vs the model's median year, recalls and severity. How we score →
Safety recalls (2)
Seats 2010-11-22 · campaign 10V591000 · 7,420 vehicles
Defect: VOLVO IS RECALLING CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH POWER FRONT PASSENGER SEATS. THE FRONT SEAT RAIL'S DETECTION SYSTEM WAS MANUFACTURED INCORRECTLY AND MAY PERMIT THE PASSENGER TO FORWARD THE SEAT BEYOND THE INTENDED MAXIMUM.
Risk: POSITIONING OF THE SEAT BEYOND THE INTENDED MAXIMUM CAN CAUSE INCREASED RISK OF INJURY TO THE PASSENGER IN THE EVENT OF A CRASH.
Fix: DEALERS WILL INSPECT THE FRONT POWER SEAT STOPS FOR BOTH FRONT SEATS FOR THE PRESENCE OF AN "END STOP" AND REPAIR THE VEHICLES AS NECESSARY FREE OF CHARGE. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN ON DECEMBER 23, 2010. OWNERS MAY CONTACT VOLVO AT 1-800-458-1552 OR AT CUSTOMERCARE@VOLVOFORLIFE.COM.
Equipment:electrical:navigational System(Global Positioning System) 2010-11-08 · campaign 10V566000 · 416 vehicles
Defect: VOLVO IS RECALLING CERTAIN VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH GARMIN 760 PORTABLE GLOBAL POSITIONING SYSTEM (GPS) UNITS BECAUSE THE BATTERIES ON THOSE UNITS MAY OVERHEAT.
Risk: AN OVERHEATED BATTERY COULD LEAD TO A FIRE.
Fix: 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.
Service bulletins (154)
Technical service bulletins are repair instructions manufacturers send dealers for known issues. Unlike recalls, the fix is not automatically free — but naming the bulletin at the service desk can save diagnosis time and support goodwill repairs.
Engine 2026-04-23 · 35526.1.8 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
this is a technical journal: text plus 2 pdfs and 1 .png oil consumption test. perform the test. follow service procedure description and service sections updated to clarify that vehicle reports are not required.
Unknown Or Other 2026-04-07 · 37809.1.1 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
this is a tj text only - the purpose of this tj is to be a master reference list to easily identify any components that are on prior approval. this tj will be regularily updated as items are added or removed from prior approval. current items under prior approval are listed in the "service" sec
Unknown Or Other 2025-12-06 · 19245 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
this is a technical journal. vehicle type and platform identification.
Exterior Lighting 2025-04-10 · 8501 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
this is a technical journal: remote connection, bomgar application. before joining a remote session: •connect a suitable battery maintainer/charger and verify that the battery voltage indicated in vida is between 12.5v and 14.9v. •connect to the vehicle over a wired connection using a voe
Unknown Or Other 2025-02-21 · S10303 · Service Campaign
volvo cars usa llc and volvo car canada ltd on behalf of the volvo car corporation has decided to launch service action s10303 on certain model year 2025 ex90 vehicles. volvo car investigations have identified that there is a pairing issue with the key fob. as a result, there is a possibil
Unknown Or Other 2025-02-13 · S10303 · Service Campaign
volvo cars usa llc and volvo car canada ltd on behalf of the volvo car corporation has decided to launch service action s10303 on certain model year 2025 ex90 vehicles. volvo car investigations have identified that there is a pairing issue with the key fob. as a result, there is a possibil
Showing the 6 most recent of 154 bulletins. Search all of them free at nhtsa.gov.
What owners report
2021-10-22 · Unknown Or Other“i purchased the 2009 volvo on 10/5 at m&m auto sales llc and on 10/9 at 6:20 am my vehicles check engine light turned on and a transmission service urgent light turned on. on 10/11 i went to aamco and they informed me that the transmission needed repairs costing up to 4k. when i purchased the car the dealership disclosed to me that the vehicle is i…”
2018-12-04 · Power Train · 69,400 mi“replacement of cv joints- october 2018 my vehicle was diagnosed with leakage from the cv joints which splattered all underneath my vehicle. my vehicle only had 69,000 miles. the technician stated that they should not have been a problems with so few miles. he stated that my vehicle's steering would have been compromised if they had failed and caus…”
2018-12-04 · Exterior Lighting“headlight wiring- made an attempt to change light bulbs for headlamps. covering around electrical wiring harness which connect to headlight crumbled in my hands and electrical wiring is exposed. worries that this may be potential fire hazard to my vehicle and myself. my vehicle was stationary in my driveway. …”
2017-05-08 · Unknown Or Other · 80,000 mi“improper draining route which in result causes mold and damage to floor mats and seat cushions in rainy weather. transmission fluid has higher acidity levels. coolant regularly falls below minimum level required.…”
2016-10-22 · Suspension · 95,000 mi“both front wheel bearings needed to be replaced within 1 year of each other. vehicle is not driven over rough terrain or pot holes.…”
2015-11-06 · Power Train · 65,000 mi“tl* the contact owns a 2009 volvo s40. while driving approximately 25 mph, the accelerator pedal was depressed, but the vehicle failed to accelerate. the vehicle independently decelerated and stalled. the vehicle was towed to a dealer where it was diagnosed that the transmission fuel line was fractured. the transmission fuel line and the transmissi…”
2014-03-19 · Wheels · 30,000 mi“tire pressure monitoring system (tpms) failure which almost resulted in a crash at high speed. tpms air stem broke while driving. the tpms then fell into the tire, leaving the air stem hole wide open, which resulted in rapid deflation of the tire. operator of the vehicle was able to barely keep control of the vehicle and bring it safely to a sto…”
2014-02-27 · Engine And Engine Cooling · 🔥 fire“my wife was driving home from a grocery store 3 miles away. a quarter mile from the house she noticed a burning smell. she thought it was from the outside since brush fires are common around south fl. she parked onto our driveway and noticed smoke rising from around the hood. she took the key off of the ignition and the engine kept running. she cal…”
2009-11-05 · Service Brakes, Hydraulic · 320 mi · 🔥 fire“new 2009 volvo s40 sedan brake fire 1. vehicle was driven 3 miles from a high school parking lot to the owner's home. 2. there was a fire between the brake pad and the rotor in the rear passenger side wheel well. 3. the rotor, brake caliper and brake pads were replaced. *tr…”
Excerpts of consumer complaints filed with NHTSA, lightly truncated. They are owner statements, not verified findings.