Reliability, what owners report, and what it costs to keep.
AVOIR's read: the numbers are mixed and the complaint record is worth reading before you commit.
Owners have filed 59 complaints with NHTSA about the 2006 Volvo S40, and it carries 3 recalls. These are owner allegations rather than confirmed defects, but the pattern of what people complain about is the most useful signal a used buyer has.
| Area | Complaints | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Electrical system | 14 | 24% |
| Fuel/propulsion system | 6 | 10% |
| Visibility | 5 | 8% |
| Engine | 4 | 7% |
| Air bags | 3 | 5% |
| Engine and engine cooling | 3 | 5% |
| Electrical system | 2 | 3% |
| Electrical system | 2 | 3% |
| Fuel system | 2 | 3% |
| Service brakes | 2 | 3% |
Verbatim from NHTSA complaint records, trimmed for length.
Check engine light came on and stays in. Vehicle always sputters to start, acceleration is sometimes slow to respond, has stalled out on a rare occasion usual on hills. I’m afraid someday I might be involved in a crash b
NHTSA complaint: Fuel/propulsion system
Check engine light came on and has stayed on. Stalled out in traffic, turned the car off and it restarted and I continued. Happens two more times. Initial start up has a delay in the engine turning over. Gas pedal is slo
NHTSA complaint: Fuel/propulsion system
IN SOME OCCASIONS CAR WON'T START AND WHILE DRIVING THE CAR IT WOULD SHUT OFF UNEXPECTEDLY CAUSING A DANGEROUS SITUATION. I BELIEVE IT'S THE PUMP ELECTRONIC MODULE WHICH IS ALREADY RECALLED IN SOME CARS. ACCORDING TO YOU
NHTSA complaint: Fuel/propulsion system
AFTER A LONG PERIOD OF RAIN, WATER POOLED ON REAR DRIVER AND PASSENGER FLOOR. WINDOWS WOULD NOT FUNCTION, DOOR LOCKS WOULD NOT FUNCTION, TURN SIGNALS DIDN'T WORK. INSTRUMENT PANEL FLASHED WARNINGS OF ENGINE PROBLEMS, BRA
NHTSA complaint: Electrical system
I WENT OUT TO START MY CAR FOR WORK AND IT WOULD NOT START LIKE IT WAS OUT OF BUT I HAVE A HALF TANK OF GAS IN IT BUT FOR SOME REASON IT SOUNDS LIKE THE FUEL PUMP/MODULE IS NOT WORKING.
NHTSA complaint: Fuel/propulsion system
IVE HAD CAR 3 YRS AND WITHIN LAST FEW MONTHE NOTICE LARGE WATER PUDDLES ON REAR FLOORS WINDOWS WERE ALL CLOSED TOOK IT TO MY MECHANIC AND STATES CHANNELS FOR SUNROOF WERE FLAWED AS I LATER FOUND OUT UNDER COMPUTER CAR CO
NHTSA complaint: Unknown or other
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 VOLVO S40. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING AT 20 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO RESTART THE VEHICLE AFTER SEVERAL MINUTES AND SEVERAL ATTEMPTS. THE VEHICLE
NHTSA complaint: Engine
FOUND COMPLAINTS ON MULTIPLE SITES ABOUT ISSUE FOUND ON MY VEHICLE . THE OIL FILTER HOUSING CORRUGATED BREATHING HOSE WAS SO BADLY ROTTED WAS ONLY LITTLE PIECE LEFT REST FELL OFF SOMEWHERE WHILE OPERATING VEHICLE. ON TOP
NHTSA complaint: Engine
NHTSA lists 3 recall campaigns for the 2006 Volvo S40. Recalls are free to have fixed at a franchised dealer regardless of who owns the car now, but only if they were never done, so check the VIN of the specific car rather than trusting the model.
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 N
ON CERTAIN VEHICLES SOLD IN OR CURRENTLY REGISTERED IN THE STATES OF CONNECTICUT, DELAWARE, ILLINOIS, INDIANA, IOWA, MAINE, MARYLAND, MASSACHUSETTS, MICHIGAN, MINNESOTA, MISSOURI, NEW HAMPSHIRE, NEW JERSEY, NEW YORK, OHIO, PENNSYLVANIA, RHODE ISLAND, VERMONT, WEST VIRGINIA, WISCONSIN, AND THE DISTRI
Risk: IF THIS OCCURS, THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT MAY ILLUMINATE. IN SOME CASES, THE VEHICLE MAY FAIL TO START OR MAY STALL, INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH.
Fix: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE PEM AND INSTALL IT IN A NEW LOCATION TO PREVENT CORROSION. THE RECALL BEGAN ON FEBRUARY 20, 2008. OWNERS MAY CONTACT VOLVO AT 1-800-458-1552.
ON CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH T5 TURBO ENGINES, THE POLYAMIDE TUBE IN THE FUEL LINE IS SENSITIVE TO THE EXTREME TEMPERATURES THAT MAY OCCUR IN THE AREA WHERE THE TURBO/EXHAUST MANIFOLD IS LOCATED.
Risk: THIS MAY POTENTIALLY RESULT IN FUEL LINE LEAKAGE. FUEL LEAKAGE, IN THE PRESENCE OF AN IGNITION SOURCE, COULD RESULT IN A FIRE.
Fix: DEALERS WILL CHANGE THE FUEL LINE MATERIAL TO TEFLON FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON JUNE 5, 2006. OWNERS MAY CONTACT VOLVO CARS AT 1-800-458-1552.
| Reliability raw | 79 | good |
|---|---|---|
| Longevity est. | 74 | good |
| Maintenance | 70 | good |
| Depreciation | 52 | average |
| Performance | 67 | good |
| Efficiency | 37 | below average |
Percentile ranks against other compact cars in the catalog.
What stands behind each score for this car:
Owners have filed 59 complaints with NHTSA for this model-year, and electrical system is the most reported area with 14 of them (24%). There are 3 recalls on record. Check any specific car against its VIN before buying.
AVOIR scores its reliability 79/100 (good) from NHTSA recall campaigns and complaint density. That figure is a raw complaint count, not yet adjusted for sales volume, so a high-volume model scores worse than it deserves.
AVOIR scores its longevity 74/100, but that figure is an estimate built from the powertrain and the brand's record, not a measurement. A 2006 car has no 200,000-mile population to observe yet, so treat it as a prior rather than evidence.
AVOIR's read: be careful, because the numbers are mixed and the complaint record is worth reading before you commit. Its overall ownership score is 67/100. Condition, mileage and service history still matter more than any score, so get a pre-purchase inspection on the specific car.
Sources: NHTSA recalls and complaints, EPA fuel economy, IIHS awards, and live market listings. A score describes a model-year, not the individual car in front of you. Get a pre-purchase inspection.