Title BLIS fault tracing . Status Released Status 2012 - Ref No US25788.1.1 en - US Date 04 - 16 Issue 2012 - Issuer - Date 01 - 19 Vida Partner 3 US 7510 Volvo Cars North America Reference Func Group 8462 Func Desc electrical outside mirrors , compl Attachment File Name File Size 156 water egress.pdf 0.1225 MB 134 - 135 - 136 - 124 . pdf 0.2876 MB 542 . pdf 0.2610 MB 544 - 545 . pdf 0.2104 MB TJ 24108 . pdf 0.1225 MB 533 - 156 - 275 . pdf 0.2665 MB TJ 21232 BLIS Functionality and Diagnostic Guide.pdf 0.1098 MB Vehicle Type Eng Struc Week Type Eng Sales Body Gear Steer Model Year Plant Chassis range Desc Range 0000150 - 124 2007 - 2012 0 - 0 0999999 0000150 - 134 2011 - 2012 0 - 0 9999999 00
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗2008 Volvo S40 steering problems
severe 4 complaints filed with NHTSA · avg repair $700 · see steering across all vehicles →
Complaints
4
Recalls
0
Avg fix
$700
1crash
When does it fail?
Of the 4 steering complaints filed for the 2008 Volvo S40, here's the actual mileage breakdown — failures cluster heaviest at 50,000-75,000 mi.
0-25k
25-50k
50-75k
75-100k
100-125k
125-150k
150k+
Each bar shows the share of total complaints filed at that mileage range. Peak failure window highlighted. Some owners report problems earlier; some make it well past 150,000 miles symptom-free. Maintenance habits and driving conditions shift the curve as much as mileage alone.
What stands out
No new NHTSA steering complaint has been filed on this vehicle in over 10 years — the issue may be aging out of the active population.
Is there a fix? Manufacturer service bulletins
The manufacturer has issued service bulletins covering steering on this vehicle — documented repair instructions, service campaigns, or warranty extensions sent to dealers. A TSB isn't a recall (it's not a free safety remedy), but it's the manufacturer acknowledging the issue and how to fix it.
VOLVO CARS SERVICE AND PARTS BUSINESS Technical Journal TITLE : Vehicle type and platform identification REF NO : ISSUING DEPARTMENT : CAR MARKET : United States and Canada TJ 19245 Technical Service PARTNER : ISSUE DATE : 3 US 7510 Volvo Cars North America YEAR MONTH DAY 2014 02 06 FUNC GROUP : FUNC DESC : 0 Publications Page 1 of 3 Attachment Vehicle Type Eng Struc Week Type Eng Sales Body Gear Steer Model Year Plant Chassis range Desc Range XXX 1927 - 9999 0000001 - 0999999 0 - 0 CSC Customer Symptom Codes Code Description 1C Administrative and Factory scheduled maintenance / Administrative and Factory scheduled maintenance DTC Diagnostic Trouble Codes Rows beginning with * are modified N
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗VOLVO: ANTI SKID SERVICE REQUIRED MESSAGE, SWM-0201, BCM-0109, EPS-0080. NEW SWM SOFTWARE HAS BEEN IMPLEMENTED INTO PRODUCTION AFTER THE CHASSIS RANGE IN THE HEADER.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗Source: NHTSA manufacturer communications. Bring the bulletin number to your dealer or shop.
What owners are reporting 4 most recent
2008 s40, car was placed in park and turned off while running errands, no problems. Came out of the store and placed the key into the ignition and received this error message, "turn steering, try start again." prior to this, the car was completely operable. Removed the key and inserted key into the ignition again and nothing happened. I noticed the following: when the key is turned to 1 and 2,…
I was getting in my car with my two young children and the car would not start (turn steering wheel and try to start again). I tried multiple times, but it would not start. After 15 minutes, I decided it was too hot with my children outside so I went inside. I checked an hour later, the car would not start. My husband was able to start the car hours later after moving the steering column up…
Tl* the contact owns a 2008 Volvo s40. The contact stated that after exiting a store and entering the vehicle, the contact was unable to restart the vehicle. The contact stated that there were several unknown warning lights illuminated. The contact stated that a message displayed on the instrument panel stated to turn the steering wheel and try again. The vehicle was first towed to the residence…
I was driving on a main route at night around 730 and a car was trying to get in my line and I assume they did not see me. I tried to move to the left to get out of the way but my steering wheel was so tight I could not veer away from the curb. Due to this I have numerous repairs that need to be paid and my power steering was tight for several weeks, it was almost hard for a strong man to turn…
Had steering trouble with your 2008 Volvo S40?
File a complaint with NHTSA → It's free, official, and how every report above got here — owner filings are the federal safety record this page is built on.
Common questions
How serious is the steering problem on the 2008 Volvo S40?
It's a meaningful issue. 4 complaints have been filed and the failure mode causes operational problems for owners. Repairs average $700.
At what mileage does the steering typically fail?
Based on the 4 complaints filed, steering issues most often appear around 82,667 miles. Some report problems earlier; some make it well past 150,000 with no symptoms. Maintenance habits matter — vehicles that received timely fluid services and were not regularly overworked tend to last longer.
What does it cost to fix?
Independent shops typically charge around $700 for steering 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 steering?
No active recalls currently cover steering 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.
Related
Complaint and recall data sourced from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA)
public records database. Verify the raw federal record at
nhtsa.gov/vehicle/2008/Volvo/S40.
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.