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2006 Volvo S40 electrical problems

moderate 23 complaints filed with NHTSA · avg repair $850

Complaints
23
Recalls
0
Crashes
0
Avg fix
$850

What owners are reporting 7 most recent

electrical · filed 12/07/2010

MY 2006 VOLVO S40 HAS HAD NUMEROUS AND INTERMITTENT ELECTRICAL ISSUES INCLUDING GAUGES THAT GO HAYWIRE, FALSE AIRBAG FAILURE OR BRAKE FAILURE MESSAGES, LOCKS THAT DON'T ENGAGE OR DISENGAGE AND TRACTION CONTROL THAT SEEMS TO STICK OR MALFUNCTION. ON A FEW OCCASIONS THE SPEEDOMETER AND RPM READOUT GO COMPLETELY DEAD WHILE I'M GOING 70 MILES PER HOUR ON THE HIGHWAY. THESE ISSUES ARE INTERMITTENT BUT …

electrical · filed 10/08/2012

DRIVING IN RAIN, BRAKE FAILURE MESSAGE BEGAN FLASHING ON DASH, THEN AIRBAG FAILURE. SLOWED TO A STOP AND TURNED OFF CAR, TURNED BACK ON AND DROVE SLOWLY HOME. MESSAGES CONTINUED TO FLASH. DROVE TO SERVICE CENTER AND MESSAGES WERE NO LONGER FLASHING , MECHANIC SAID IT WOULD NEED TO BE ACTIVE TO FIND PROBLEM. SAME SCENARIO MANY TIMES SINCE AND THE PROBLEM HAS BECOME WORSE, DRIVING DOWN HIGHWAY AND M…

electrical · filed 10/05/2015

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 VOLVO S40. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 40 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED AND FAILED TO RESTART. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC, WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE SUN ROOF DRAINAGE SYSTEM WAS CLOGGED AND WATER ENTERED INTO THE VEHICLE WHICH CAUSED DAMAGE TO THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED …

electrical · filed 10/03/2008

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 VOLVO S40. WHILE IDLING AT A TRAFFIC LIGHT AND ATTEMPTING TO ACCELERATE, THE VEHICLE STALLED. SECONDLY, THE DOORS AUTOMATICALLY LOCKED THE CONTACT INSIDE THE PASSENGER COMPARTMENT, THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS BEGAN MOVING, AND ALL THE LIGHTING WAS INOPERATIVE. SHE WAS UNABLE TO RESTART THE VEHICLE AND HAD IT TOWED. THE CONTACT IS IN THE PROCESS OF HAVING THE VEHICLE INSPEC…

electrical · filed 09/17/2015

PRIOR TO THIS INCIDENT, MY CAR IDLED DOWN AND PRESSING THE GAS DID NOT PREVENT IT FROM COMING TO A COMPLETE STOP. THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ILLUMINATED AND ALL OF THE LIGHTS CAME ON TO INCLUDE, WARNING LIGHTS, AIRBAG, STABILITY CONTROL, AND OTHERS INCLUDING ABS. FORTUNATELY WE HAD JUST EXITED THE HIGHWAY TO PURCHASE FUEL AND WAS IN NO IMMEDIATE DANGER. BECAUSE OF THE VEHICLES AGE IT WAS RECOMMENDED …

electrical · filed 08/29/2014

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 VOLVO S40. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE FAILED TO ACCELERATE MORE THAN 20 MPH AND SEVERAL WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC. THE TECHNICIAN STATED THAT THE COMPUTER NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS …

electrical · filed 08/26/2014

A DESIGN FLAW CAUSED FLOODING WITHIN THE CABIN OF THIS VEHICLE. THE SUNROOF DRAINAGE SYSTEM IS FAULTY AND OVER TIME LEAKS WATER INTO THE FLOOR PAN OF THE CAR, SOMETIMES ENOUGH WHERE FLOODING OCCURS. MY CAR FLOODED A FEW MONTHS BACK SO BADLY UP TO 10 GALLONS OF WATER WAS VACUUMED OUT. THE FLOODING CAUSED DAMAGE TO THE ELECTRICAL HARNESS/CONNECTIONS UNDER THE DRIVER'S/PASSENGER'S SEAT. CURRENTLY THE…

Common questions

How serious is the electrical problem on the 2006 Volvo S40?

It's a documented issue but not catastrophic. 23 complaints have been filed. Repairs average $850 and most owners catch it before it causes a breakdown.

At what mileage does the electrical typically fail?

Mileage data is limited for this issue. Owners report failures across a wide range, suggesting cause is more about driving conditions and maintenance than mileage alone.

What does it cost to fix?

Independent shops typically charge around $850 for electrical repairs on this vehicle. Dealer pricing tends to run 20-40% higher. The exact figure depends on the specific failure mode, parts availability, and your local labor rates. If you're outside factory warranty, an extended service contract often covers this category.

Are there any recalls related to electrical?

No active recalls currently cover electrical issues on this vehicle. The complaints filed represent owner-reported failures that haven't risen to the level of a manufacturer-issued recall — but they're still worth knowing about before you buy or budget for repairs.

Other problem areas on this vehicle

Complaint and recall data sourced from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) public records database. Severity ratings are derived from reported crashes, fires, injuries, and fatalities. Repair cost estimates are independent-shop national averages and may differ in your area. Some links on this page are affiliate links.
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