Volvo S40: Years to Avoid and Best Years to Buy
The Volvo S40 has 1 model year(s) in the federal index and no scored complaint record yet, so this page carries the catalogue entry and the years we hold rather than a verdict.
Year-by-year data table
| Year | Score | Verdict | Running cost / yr | NHTSA complaints | Recalls |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2011 | 90 | BUY | $5,046 | 5 | 2 |
Running cost is fuel or energy plus the maintenance band midpoint for that car at its age today, re-priced to your country. Purchase price, insurance and depreciation are not included.
Photographs and every generation of the S40, through the years →
What goes wrong on the Volvo S40
Across every S40 model year in our index, owners report these component groups most often. The cost beside each one is the representative repair for that group at a US independent shop, re-priced to your country.
- Electrical System4 complaints across all S40 years · typical job: Alternator, battery-drain or body-module diagnosis and replacement$540–$1,310
- Vehicle Speed Control1 complaints across all S40 years · typical job: Throttle body, pedal sensor or cruise module replacement$520–$1,150
- Structure1 complaints across all S40 years · typical job: Body, subframe or corrosion repair$1,070–$2,920
- Seats1 complaints across all S40 years · typical job: Seat frame, track or occupancy-sensor repair$500–$1,200
Flat-rate labour hours x local shop rate plus a parts band. An estimate of what this class of failure costs, not a quote. Formula.
FAQ
What is the most common Volvo S40 problem?
4 of the complaints filed against the S40 across all its model years sit in the Electrical System group — more than any other component.
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Sources: NHTSA, EPA · Methodology · Updated 2026-10-04