2006 Volvo S40

The Verdict

Worst problem area

Electrical

Electrical leads by volume: 24 of 58 complaints (41%) mention it. Complaints mentioning Engine include more reported injuries (1) than those mentioning any other identified area.

Complaints filed fell from 69 in 2005 to 58 in 2006.

Data last changed Sep 16, 2026. Sources: NHTSA complaints and recalls, EPA fuel economy data. Methodology

Cost, Fuel Economy & Complaint History

Fuel cost, fuel economy, and complaint history by model-yearScroll sideways to see all 5 years. Fuel figures show the range across trims for years with more than one EPA-rated configuration.
Category	2004	2005	2006	2007	2008	vs. 2006 Compact Cars
Annual fuel cost ($)	3,350–3,500	3,500–3,900	3,350–3,900	3,350–3,700	3,350–3,900
Combined MPG	22–23	20–22	20–23	21–23	20–23
City / Highway MPG	19 / 27–28	17–19 / 25–29	18–20 / 25–29	18–20 / 26–28	17–20 / 25–28
CO₂ tailpipe (g/mi)	386–404	404–444	386–444	386–423	386–444
Complaints filed	48	69	58	25	16	Not compared
Recalls issued	6	3	3	2	2	Not compared
Crash-involved complaints	5	2	1	4	5	Not compared
Fire-involved complaints	1	0	0	1	0	Not compared
Injuries reported	4	1	1	5	2	Not compared
Deaths reported	0	0	0	0	0	Not compared
Configurations compared	3	6	6	6	6

Common questions

How many recalls does the 2006 Volvo S40 have?

3 NHTSA recall campaigns as of Sep 16, 2026. Check your VIN with NHTSA to see whether one applies to your car.

What is the most common complaint about the 2006 Volvo S40?

Electrical: 24 of 58 NHTSA complaints (41%) mention it.

What gas mileage does the 2006 Volvo S40 get?

EPA rates it 20–23 MPG combined across 6 configurations.

How much does it cost to fuel a 2006 Volvo S40?

EPA estimates $3,350–$3,900 a year in fuel costs, using EPA's assumptions.

Similar Vehicles

EPA-Rated Configurations (6)

Every EPA-rated configuration on this page, one row each.A number tagged (low) or (high) is this page’s own cost-table figure of that name, above.
Configuration	Transmission	Cylinders	Displacement	Drivetrain	Fuel Type	Vehicle Class	City	Highway	Combined	Annual Fuel Cost	CO₂
Configuration 1	Manual 6-spd	5	2.5L	4-Wheel or All-Wheel Drive	Premium	Compact Cars	18 mpg (low)	26 mpg	21 mpg	$3,700	423 g/mi
Configuration 2	Automatic (S5)	5	2.5L	4-Wheel or All-Wheel Drive	Premium	Compact Cars	18 mpg (low)	25 mpg (low)	20 mpg (low)	$3,900 (high)	444 g/mi (high)
Configuration 3	Manual 5-spd	5	2.4L	Front-Wheel Drive	Premium	Compact Cars	19 mpg	27 mpg	22 mpg	$3,500	404 g/mi
Configuration 4	Automatic (S5)	5	2.4L	Front-Wheel Drive	Premium	Compact Cars	19 mpg	27 mpg	22 mpg	$3,500	404 g/mi
Configuration 5	Manual 6-spd	5	2.5L	Front-Wheel Drive	Premium	Compact Cars	20 mpg (high)	29 mpg (high)	23 mpg (high)	$3,350 (low)	386 g/mi (low)
Configuration 6	Automatic (S5)	5	2.5L	Front-Wheel Drive	Premium	Compact Cars	19 mpg	28 mpg	22 mpg	$3,500	404 g/mi

Complaints by Category

Complaints by category, in the same fixed order on every page
Category	Complaints	Crash-Involved	Injuries
Engine	9	0	1
Transmission & Drivetrain	1	0	0
Fuel System	9	0	0
Electrical	24	0	0
Brakes	7	0	0
Steering	0	0	0
Suspension, Wheels & Tires	1	0	0
Airbags & Restraints	4	0	0
Driver Assistance & Speed Control	2	1	0
Body, Seats & Latches	9	0	0
Visibility & Lighting	8	0	0
Other	3	0	0

A complaint that names more than one category is counted in each, so the rows can add up to more than the total number of complaints.

Recalls (3)

EQUIPMENT:ELECTRICAL:NAVIGATIONAL SYSTEM(GLOBAL POSITIONING SYSTEM) · Campaign 10V566000 · Nov 16, 2010
Defect: VOLVO IS RECALLING CERTAIN VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH GARMIN 760 PORTABLE GLOBAL POSITIONING SYSTEM (GPS) UNITS BECAUSE THE BATTERIES ON THOSE UNITS MAY OVERHEAT.
Consequence: AN OVERHEATED BATTERY COULD LEAD TO A FIRE.
Remedy: 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 NEW BATTERY AND A SPACER WILL BE INSERTED ON TOP OF THE BATTERY NEXT TO THE PCB. THIS SERVICE WILL BE PERFORMED FREE OF CHARGE. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN ON NOVEMBER 18, 2010. OWNERS MAY CONTACT GARMIN AT 866-957-1981 OR VISIT GARMIN'S WEBSITE AT WWW.GARMIN.COM/NUVIBATTERYPCBRECALL.
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY:FUEL PUMP · Campaign 08V033000 · Jan 28, 2008
Defect: 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 DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA, REOCCURRING, LONG-TERM EXPOSURE TO CERTAIN ENVIRONMENTAL CONDITIONS SUCH AS SALTY-WET CONDITIONS, IT IS POSSIBLE FOR THE PUMP ELECTRONIC MODULE (PEM) TO BECOME CORRODED INTERNALLY. THIS CAN CAUSE A FAULTY SIGNAL TO THE FUEL PUMP, RESULTING IN LOW OR NO FUEL PRESSURE TO THE ENGINE.
Consequence: 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.
Remedy: 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.
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE · Campaign 06V137000 · Apr 26, 2006
Defect: 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.
Consequence: THIS MAY POTENTIALLY RESULT IN FUEL LINE LEAKAGE. FUEL LEAKAGE, IN THE PRESENCE OF AN IGNITION SOURCE, COULD RESULT IN A FIRE.
Remedy: 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.