2011 VOLVO S40 — Problems, Recalls & Safety Data

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N/A

Safety Rating

7

Owner Complaints

1 Fire

2

Recalls

ACTIVE RECALL

1

Service Bulletin

0

Investigations

Overview of the 2011 VOLVO S40

The 2011 VOLVO S40 has received a total of 7 safety complaints filed with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). There have been 2 recall campaigns affecting this vehicle, covering issues with STRUCTURE:FRAME AND MEMBERS, SEATS. 1 technical service bulletin have been issued by Volvo Car USA, LLC for this model year. The most commonly reported problems involve the Electrical System (3 complaints), Electrical Systeminstrument Panelspeedometerodometer (1 complaint), and Seats (1 complaint).

Recalls for the 2011 VOLVO S40

NHTSA has recorded 2 recalls for the 2011 VOLVO S40, potentially affecting up to 7,427 vehicles.

Recall 11V186000 — STRUCTURE:FRAME AND MEMBERS

| 7 vehicles affected

Defect: VOLVO IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2011 S40 PASSENGER VEHICLES. A CRACK ON THE TOP SIDE OF THE PASSENGER SIDE SUPPORT MEMBER IN THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT MAY HAVE DEVELOPED DURING THE FORMING PROCESS IN COMPONENT PRODUCTION.

Consequence: THE CRACK COULD HAVE AN EFFECT ON THE FRONT STRUCTURE AND MAY REDUCE THE CRASH PERFORMANCE OF THE VEHICLE.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSPECT FOR CRACKS ON THE TOP SIDE OF THE PASSENGER SIDE SUPPORT MEMBER IN THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT. IF NO CRACK IS FOUND, NO FURTHER ACTION IS NEEDED. IF THE INSPECTION REVEALS THAT A VEHICLE HAS A CRACK IN...

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Recall 10V591000 — SEATS

| 7,420 vehicles affected

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.

Consequence: POSITIONING OF THE SEAT BEYOND THE INTENDED MAXIMUM CAN CAUSE INCREASED RISK OF INJURY TO THE PASSENGER IN THE EVENT OF A CRASH.

Remedy: 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...

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Owner Complaints for the 2011 VOLVO S40

7 complaints have been filed with NHTSA for the 2011 VOLVO S40. Below is a breakdown by vehicle component.

Most Recent Complaints

Odometer Fraud. The contact purchased a 2011 Volvo S40. It was discovered that there was a mileage discrepancy. The vehicle was a dealer sale. At the time of purchase, the mileage was 115,314. The contact stated that at the time of registration, it was discovered that the mileage was 350,000 on VIN History USA.
#11519692 | STRUCTURE:BODY | | N/A miles
Windshield bonding has failed on the top edge of the windshield. It leaks and I can move the glass easily. I am worried that the windshield will fall out in a crash and reduce the airbag performance
#10954356 | ELECTRICAL SYSTEM | | 69,000 miles
DRIVING DOWN THE HIGHWAY AT 55 MPH WHEN INSTRUMENT PANEL WENT COMPLETELY BLANK I HEARD A SIZZLING NOISE BEHIND THE DASH BOARD. I LOST THE SPEEDOMETER, GAS GAUGE, LIGHT INDICATOR, BLINKER INDICATORS, ALL OF THE INSTRUMENTS YOU DEPEND ON WHILE DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD. I IMMEDIATELY PULLED OVER AND SHUT THE CAR OFF, IT CONTINUED SIZZLING SOUNDING LIKE IT WAS BURNING. AFTER A FEW MINUTES I STARTED THE CAR AND NOTHING ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL WORKS, I TURNED ON THE FLASHER AND LIMPED TO A LOCAL MECHANIC, AS AN ELDERLY FEMALE THIS WAS VERY NERVE RACKING AS I DID NOT KNOW IF MY FLASHERS WERE WORKING NOR WHAT SPEED I WAS TRAVELING. THE MECHANIC TOLD ME THAT HE KNEW EXACTLY WHAT IT WAS SOMETHING CALLED THE DIM HAD WENT BAD AND THAT ONLY A VOLVO DEALER COULD REPLACE WHICH WILL COST OVER $1800. HE SAID I SHOULD FEEL LUCKY THAT THE CAR HAD NOT CAUGHT FIRE AS THAT WAS USUALLY WHAT HAPPENED IN THESE SITUATIONS AND VOLVO HAD IGNORED THIS PROBLEM FOR YEARS SO THEY WOULD NOT HAVE TO SPEND MONEY ON A RECALL. THIS PART IS NOT SOMETHING THAT IS A WEAR AND TEAR ITEM IT IS FAULTY FROM THE MANUFACTURER YET THEY CONTINUE TO CHARGE PEOPLE OUTRAGEOUS AMOUNTS TO REPLACE THEM. I NOW HAVE TO DRIVE AN UNSAFE CAR AS I CANT EVEN TELL IF I HAVE A WORKING BLINKER OVER 40 MILES TO THE NEAREST VOLVO DEALER, I AM NOT SURE WHAT WILL HAPPEN AFTER THAT AS I DO NOT HAVE THE MONEY (SOCIAL SECURITY) TO FIX SOMETHING THAT VOLVO SHOULD BE REPAIRING FOR FREE. I DO NOT UNDERSTAND WHY THIS PROBLEM HAS NOT BEEN RECALLED AS I HAVE RESEARCHED AND SEE THIS HAS BEEN AN ISSUE WITH VOLVO FOR MANY MAKES AND MODEL YEAR CARS NOT JUST 2011.
#10954356 | SEATS | | 69,000 miles
DRIVING DOWN THE HIGHWAY AT 55 MPH WHEN INSTRUMENT PANEL WENT COMPLETELY BLANK I HEARD A SIZZLING NOISE BEHIND THE DASH BOARD. I LOST THE SPEEDOMETER, GAS GAUGE, LIGHT INDICATOR, BLINKER INDICATORS, ALL OF THE INSTRUMENTS YOU DEPEND ON WHILE DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD. I IMMEDIATELY PULLED OVER AND SHUT THE CAR OFF, IT CONTINUED SIZZLING SOUNDING LIKE IT WAS BURNING. AFTER A FEW MINUTES I STARTED THE CAR AND NOTHING ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL WORKS, I TURNED ON THE FLASHER AND LIMPED TO A LOCAL MECHANIC, AS AN ELDERLY FEMALE THIS WAS VERY NERVE RACKING AS I DID NOT KNOW IF MY FLASHERS WERE WORKING NOR WHAT SPEED I WAS TRAVELING. THE MECHANIC TOLD ME THAT HE KNEW EXACTLY WHAT IT WAS SOMETHING CALLED THE DIM HAD WENT BAD AND THAT ONLY A VOLVO DEALER COULD REPLACE WHICH WILL COST OVER $1800. HE SAID I SHOULD FEEL LUCKY THAT THE CAR HAD NOT CAUGHT FIRE AS THAT WAS USUALLY WHAT HAPPENED IN THESE SITUATIONS AND VOLVO HAD IGNORED THIS PROBLEM FOR YEARS SO THEY WOULD NOT HAVE TO SPEND MONEY ON A RECALL. THIS PART IS NOT SOMETHING THAT IS A WEAR AND TEAR ITEM IT IS FAULTY FROM THE MANUFACTURER YET THEY CONTINUE TO CHARGE PEOPLE OUTRAGEOUS AMOUNTS TO REPLACE THEM. I NOW HAVE TO DRIVE AN UNSAFE CAR AS I CANT EVEN TELL IF I HAVE A WORKING BLINKER OVER 40 MILES TO THE NEAREST VOLVO DEALER, I AM NOT SURE WHAT WILL HAPPEN AFTER THAT AS I DO NOT HAVE THE MONEY (SOCIAL SECURITY) TO FIX SOMETHING THAT VOLVO SHOULD BE REPAIRING FOR FREE. I DO NOT UNDERSTAND WHY THIS PROBLEM HAS NOT BEEN RECALLED AS I HAVE RESEARCHED AND SEE THIS HAS BEEN AN ISSUE WITH VOLVO FOR MANY MAKES AND MODEL YEAR CARS NOT JUST 2011.
#10954356 | VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL | | 69,000 miles
DRIVING DOWN THE HIGHWAY AT 55 MPH WHEN INSTRUMENT PANEL WENT COMPLETELY BLANK I HEARD A SIZZLING NOISE BEHIND THE DASH BOARD. I LOST THE SPEEDOMETER, GAS GAUGE, LIGHT INDICATOR, BLINKER INDICATORS, ALL OF THE INSTRUMENTS YOU DEPEND ON WHILE DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD. I IMMEDIATELY PULLED OVER AND SHUT THE CAR OFF, IT CONTINUED SIZZLING SOUNDING LIKE IT WAS BURNING. AFTER A FEW MINUTES I STARTED THE CAR AND NOTHING ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL WORKS, I TURNED ON THE FLASHER AND LIMPED TO A LOCAL MECHANIC, AS AN ELDERLY FEMALE THIS WAS VERY NERVE RACKING AS I DID NOT KNOW IF MY FLASHERS WERE WORKING NOR WHAT SPEED I WAS TRAVELING. THE MECHANIC TOLD ME THAT HE KNEW EXACTLY WHAT IT WAS SOMETHING CALLED THE DIM HAD WENT BAD AND THAT ONLY A VOLVO DEALER COULD REPLACE WHICH WILL COST OVER $1800. HE SAID I SHOULD FEEL LUCKY THAT THE CAR HAD NOT CAUGHT FIRE AS THAT WAS USUALLY WHAT HAPPENED IN THESE SITUATIONS AND VOLVO HAD IGNORED THIS PROBLEM FOR YEARS SO THEY WOULD NOT HAVE TO SPEND MONEY ON A RECALL. THIS PART IS NOT SOMETHING THAT IS A WEAR AND TEAR ITEM IT IS FAULTY FROM THE MANUFACTURER YET THEY CONTINUE TO CHARGE PEOPLE OUTRAGEOUS AMOUNTS TO REPLACE THEM. I NOW HAVE TO DRIVE AN UNSAFE CAR AS I CANT EVEN TELL IF I HAVE A WORKING BLINKER OVER 40 MILES TO THE NEAREST VOLVO DEALER, I AM NOT SURE WHAT WILL HAPPEN AFTER THAT AS I DO NOT HAVE THE MONEY (SOCIAL SECURITY) TO FIX SOMETHING THAT VOLVO SHOULD BE REPAIRING FOR FREE. I DO NOT UNDERSTAND WHY THIS PROBLEM HAS NOT BEEN RECALLED AS I HAVE RESEARCHED AND SEE THIS HAS BEEN AN ISSUE WITH VOLVO FOR MANY MAKES AND MODEL YEAR CARS NOT JUST 2011.

View all Electrical System complaints →

Safety Rating for the 2011 VOLVO S40

NHTSA has not yet tested the 2011 VOLVO S40 in its New Car Assessment Program.

Technical Service Bulletins for the 2011 VOLVO S40

Volvo Car USA, LLC has issued 1 technical service bulletin (TSBs) for the 2011 VOLVO S40. TSBs are notices sent by manufacturers to their dealers describing a known issue and the recommended repair procedure.

TJ31750.1.1 — EQUIPMENT ADAPTIVE/MOBILITY

This is a Technical Journal: If the Volvo logo on the center of the steering wheel is peeling off or corroded, the logo itself can now be replaced (no need to replace the whole airbag unit). Replace carefully the Volvo logo according to repair method "TJ 31750 repair.pdf".

NHTSA Investigations for the 2011 VOLVO S40

There are no NHTSA defect investigations on record for this vehicle.

Other Model Years of the VOLVO S40

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Other VOLVO Models

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