YearToAvoid

2005 Volvo S40 Engine Problems

NHTSA has 17 owner complaints about engine problems in the 2005 Volvo S40, 25% of all 69 complaints for this model year. That is the highest engine complaint count among 7 S40 model years. Median mileage at failure: 65,500 miles.

Engine complaints
17
25% of 69 complaints
All complaints this year
69
Crashes reported
0
Fires reported
0
Injuries reported
0
Median mileage
65,500 mi
Related recalls
0

When 2005 Volvo S40 engine complaints were filed

First complaint Aug 1, 2007, latest Aug 23, 2019.

2005 Volvo S40 engine complaints: complaints filed per month2Aug 2007Aug 2008Nov 2008Aug 2010Nov 2010Jul 2013Nov 2017Jan 2018
17 complaints filed with NHTSA from Aug 2007 to Aug 2019; peak Nov 2010 (2).

Engine recalls for the 2005 Volvo S40

No safety recalls on record for this model year.

Engine complaints by S40 model year

Raw complaint counts per model year; newer years have had less time to accumulate complaints.

  1. 200517 (25%)
  2. 200611 (19%)
  3. 20076 (24%)
  4. 20086 (38%)
  5. 20092 (20%)
  6. 20100 (0%)
  7. 20111 (20%)

Frequently asked questions

Does the 2005 Volvo S40 have engine problems?
NHTSA has 17 owner complaints about the engine in the 2005 Volvo S40, 25% of all complaints for this model year. Median mileage at failure is 65,500 miles.
Which Volvo S40 year has the most engine complaints?
The 2005 Volvo S40 has the most engine complaints (17), compared with 17 for the 2005.
Is there a engine recall for the 2005 Volvo S40?
No NHTSA recall campaign for the 2005 Volvo S40 is classified under engine. Complaints alone do not trigger a recall; check the full recall list and your VIN.

Sources: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation complaint and recall databases; U.S. EPA fuel economy data; NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings. Complaints are unverified owner reports.

Data updated Sep 24, 2026. Read the methodology and data sources. The Complaint Index is based on NHTSA owner complaints and recalls; it is not a reliability rating.