Volvo S40 Volvo S40

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Volvo S40 repairs by problem area

Engine (30%)

Transmission and Drivetrain (8%)

Brakes and Traction Control (7%)

Suspension and Steering (16%)

Electrical and Air Conditioning (27%)

Paint, Rust, Leaks, Rattles, and Trim (6%)

Other (5%)

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Chart based on 497 repairs.
See TSBs and recalls for the Volvo S40.

Volvo S40 transmission repair cost distribution

$2500+ (10%)

$1000 - $2499 (13%)

$500 - $999 (15%)

$100 - $499 (44%)

< $100 (18%)

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Chart based on 39 repair trips. The repair cost chart excludes repairs made under warranty, do-it-yourself repairs, and repair trips that include maintenance.

2008 Volvo S40 4dr Sedan

turbocharged 227hp 2.5L I5 5-speed shiftable automatic AWD

109000 mi

US $875
Replaced Passenger front drive axle 

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2008 Volvo S40 4dr Sedan

168-horsepower 2.4L I5 5-speed shiftable automatic FWD

145000 mi

US $40
Was having trouble shifting from Park to Drive, etc.. The shifter blind was cracked, and the pieces were causing the trouble. Took a lot of digging to figure out how to get to all the Torx screws to disassemble the center console, "wave" and so forth, but aside from that, pretty easy. 

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2007 Volvo S40 4dr Sedan

turbocharged 218hp 2.5L I5 6-speed manual AWD

80000 mi

US $1000
Shaking on acceleration. This should not happen at only 80K miles. Replaced an axle  
60140 mi

C $550
Front passenger axle replacement due to grinding noise in axle 

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2007 Volvo S40 4dr Sedan

turbocharged 218hp 2.5L I5 5-speed shiftable automatic FWD

73100 mi

US $600
Replace driver side trans axle and boot 

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2007 Volvo S40 4dr Sedan

168-horsepower 2.4L I5 5-speed shiftable automatic FWD

73000 mi

US $120
Shop diagnosed torn CV boot. 
85000 mi

US $100
I had a broken left axel repaired under warranty and 82000 service completed (another $583). 
85300 mi

US $100
passenger side axel replaced and both left and right boots replaced. 
213000 mi

US $125
Transmission flushed for first time in cars' history. 

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2007 Volvo S40 4dr Sedan

168-horsepower 2.4L I5 5-speed manual FWD

62000 mi

US $130
Passenger side inner cv boot was torn, owner replaced both inner and outer boots. 
120000 mi

US $170
Driver's side axle boot torn and leaking, replaced the axle assembly. 

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2006 Volvo S40 4dr Sedan

turbocharged 218hp 2.5L I5 5-speed shiftable automatic FWD

33480 mi

$5000
Transmission 
100000 mi

US $100
driveshaft bent, this had been replaced by previous repair with an cheap replacement part and not a volvo part. 

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2006 Volvo S40 4dr Sedan

turbocharged 134hp 2.0L I4 Diesel 6-speed manual FWD

146000 mi

£600
dual mass flywheel out of balance replaced clutch and dual mass repair successful 

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2006 Volvo S40 4dr Sedan

168-horsepower 2.4L I5 5-speed manual FWD

43000 mi

US $250
Clutch return spring snapped. Replaced by self after learning that dealership charges approx. $250. 
95000 mi

US $500
Shifter cables needed to be replaced. The coupling broke while shifting from first to second gear. 
118700 mi

US $1074
CV boots were torn on both sides - replaced all four. 

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2005 Volvo S40 4dr Sedan

turbocharged 218hp 2.5L I5 6-speed manual AWD

160000 mi Replace: both rear differential seals, driver rear axle (torn boot), rear wheel bearing. 
164000 mi

US $220
Replace AWD controller and pressure sensor. 
169000 mi

US $1200
Replace clutch, flywheel, slave and angle gear collar. 
128000 mi

US $300
InnerCV boot leaking 

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2005 Volvo S40 4dr Sedan

turbocharged 218hp 2.5L I5 5-speed shiftable automatic FWD

71900 mi

US $45
The auto transmission felt like it slipped a gear and message appeared in Trip Computer saying 'Transmission Service Urgent'. Dealer said they were not able to replicate, but performed a software update. This seemed to fix issue. 

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2005 Volvo S40 4dr Sedan

168-horsepower 2.4L I5 5-speed shiftable automatic FWD

138000 mi

US $1200
transmission needed to be replaced 
89000 mi Multiple warning lights illuminated, wipers switched on uncommanded, transmission reverted to "limp" mode. No parts replaced...got rid of car instead. 

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2005 Volvo S40 4dr Sedan

168-horsepower 2.4L I5 5-speed manual FWD

128000 mi Clutch spring failure. Mechanic could not physically replace the spring. 
90900 mi

US $3095
Clutch was slipping. Diagnosed as failed clutch. Replaced the clutch, flywheel, and throw out bearings. 
101000 mi

US $3072
Excessive vibration, rough ride, appears to be coming from front end. Left front axle was vibrating and inner boot torn. Replaced left front axle shaft. 
127000 mi

US $1971
Right front axle. 
92900 mi

US $4200
CV boots 
81220 mi

C $248
Squeaky clutch pedal with slow return. clutch spring was replaced. 
81220 mi

C $350
Manual transmission hard to use in winter. Noisy clutch release bearing, 
121520 mi

C $300
CV boot 

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2004.5 Volvo S40

Engine not specified

133920 mi

C $350
Had to replace both drive shafts. 

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2004.5 Volvo S40 4dr Sedan

168-horsepower 2.4L I5 5-speed shiftable automatic FWD

87000 mi Torn CV axle boot. 

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2003 Volvo S40 4dr Sedan

turbocharged 170hp 1.9L I4 5-speed automatic FWD

60325 mi

US $190
replace boost pressure sensor 

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2001 Volvo S40 4dr Sedan

turbocharged 165hp 1.9L I4 5-speed automatic FWD

156000 mi Transmission is starting to slip 

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2001 Volvo S40 4-door

4-cylinder automatic 2WD

56000 mi

£560
Harsh gear changes. 

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2000 Volvo S40 4dr Sedan

turbocharged 160hp 1.9L I4 4-speed automatic FWD

90000 mi

US $270
Both CV joint boots torn; both CV axles replaced other cv axle replaced 

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See TrueDelta's information for all Sedans
See TrueDelta's information for all Volvo models.

Volvo S40 Transmission Problems

See our lemon odds and nada odds page to see vehicles with no repairs or vehicles with more than three repairs. To see how frequently Volvo S40 problems occur, check out our car reliability stats.