Short answer
Among Volvo S40 model years through 2024, 2000 and 2002 have the fewest NHTSA recall campaigns on record (1) and 2004 has the most (6). Recall counts are not a reliability score; they show how often a safety defect had to be corrected.
Quick read
Volvo S40: Key Facts
- Model years with data
- 12 (2000–2011)
- Distinct recall campaigns
- 12
- Fewest recalls
- 2000 and 2002 (1)
- Most recalls
- 2004 (6)
- Most recalled system
- Equipment (12)
Volvo S40 Recalls and Ratings by Model Year
| Model year | Recall campaigns | Overall crash rating | Most recalled systems |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2011 | 2 | Not rated | Seats, Structure |
| 2010 | 2 | Not rated | Equipment, Seats |
| 2009 | 3 | Not rated | Equipment, Seats, Steering |
| 2008 | 2 | Not rated | Equipment, Steering |
| 2007 | 2 | Not rated | Equipment, Service brakes, hydraulic |
| 2006 | 3 | Not rated | Fuel system, gasoline, Equipment |
| 2005 | 3 | Not rated | Fuel system, gasoline, Equipment |
| 2004 | 6 | Not rated | Fuel system, gasoline, Equipment, Service brakes, hydraulic |
| 2003 | 2 | Not rated | Equipment, Fuel system, gasoline |
| 2002 | 1 | Not rated | Equipment |
| 2001 | 2 | Not rated | Equipment |
| 2000 | 1 | Not rated | Service brakes, hydraulic |
No model years match your search.
The scale of the difference
Recall Campaigns by Model Year
Distinct NHTSA recall campaigns per model year. Years after 2024 are recent and still collecting recalls.
- 20112 recalls
- 20102 recalls
- 20093 recalls
- 20082 recalls
- 20072 recalls
- 20063 recalls
- 20053 recalls
- 20046 recalls
- 20032 recalls
- 20021 recall
- 20012 recalls
- 20001 recall
Volvo S40: Analysis
How to read recall counts
A recall campaign is a safety defect that the manufacturer or NHTSA required to be fixed. Counts depend on how long a model year has been on the road, so recent years look better than they will in time; this page therefore ranks only model years through 2024. A high count can also mean a manufacturer reacts quickly to small defects, so it says little about breakdowns or running costs.
What the recalls were about
Across all model years, the systems named most often in Volvo S40 recalls are equipment (12), fuel system, gasoline (8), seats (3), service brakes, hydraulic (3) and steering (2). The number in brackets counts model-year entries, so one campaign that covers several years is counted in each.
FAQ: Volvo S40 Best and Worst Years
What are the best years for the Volvo S40?
By NHTSA recall campaigns, 2000 and 2002 are the cleanest model years through 2024, with 1 each.
Which Volvo S40 model years have the most recalls?
2004 has the most, with 6 recall campaigns each.
Does a recall mean the car is unreliable?
No. A recall is a safety correction filed with NHTSA, usually repaired free of charge. It does not measure breakdowns or running costs, so use these counts together with a vehicle history report and an inspection.
Sources & methodology
Recalls and crash ratings come from the NHTSA datasets and APIs, retrieved on 2026-10-03. A record counts for this model when its make matches and its model name starts with the same words as "S40", so variants such as body styles are included. Only model years from 2000 are used, and each recall campaign is counted once per model year. The data does not say whether an individual car was repaired, so check a specific car by VIN.
NHTSA, US Department of Transportation; this page is not endorsed by NHTSA. Maintained by Artsiom Dusau. Editorial policy