There are 6 owner-reported air bags & restraints complaints for the 2005 Volvo S40in NHTSA's database. These are unverified consumer reports and may not reflect confirmed defects.
The drivers seat belt does not lock/latch in properly. Everytime I enter the vehicle I reach for my seat belt and buckle myself, well so I thought I did. When I insert the belt it seems as though its buckles however once I start to drive the belt comes un done and it i always have to pull over to put it back on becsuse it locks the seat belt so I'm not able to just buckle back in.
[THIS IS A PREVENTATIVE COMPLAINT. NO INJURY SUSTAINED.] THIS CAR HAS A FAILED PASSENGER SEAT SENSOR THAT WHEN DEPRESSED ACTIVATES THE PASSENGER SIDE AIR BAG. THIS VEHICLE ALSO HAS A DRIVER SIDE SEAT BELT THAT CLICKS AND THEN CAN BE PULLED OUT OF THE LOCKING HARNESS. THESE ITEMS ARE NOT RECALLED BY THE MANUFACTURE BUT, IN MY OPINION, SHOULD BE FOR CUSTOMER SAFETY.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 VOLVO S40. THE CONTACT STATED THE SEAT BELT RETRACTOR IN THE REAR HAS FAILED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A MECHANIC SHOP WHO INSPECTED THE FAILURE AND STATED THE SEAT BELT RETRACTOR ASSEMBLY NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 106,103.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 VOLVO S40. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE PASSENGER AIR BAG OFF WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED WITH THE PASSENGER SEAT OCCUPIED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A LOCAL MECHANIC WHO INSPECTED THE FAILURE AND ADVISED THAT THE AIR BAG WEIGHT SENSOR NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE DEALER WAS NOTIFIED AND ADVISED THAT THEY WOULD CONTACT HIM WITH AN ESTIMATE FOR REPAIRS. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 80,000.
ONE DAY OUT OF THE BLUE, THE WARNING LIGHT SAYING THE AIRBAGS WERE NOT OPERATING APPEARED. FOUND OUT THAT A SENSOR LOCATED WITHIN ANOTHER PART, LOCATED SAFELY UNDER THE PASSENGER SEAT, HAD BECOME DEFECTIVE. ALL ON ITS OWN. I HAD A CHOICE. ROLL THE DICE AND MAYBE IN A BAD CRASH THE AIRBAGS WOULD NOT DEPLOY...OR SPEND $1,400 TO GET IT REPLACED. ALSO EVEN THOUGH IT SAID ONLY PASSENGER AIRBAG WAS AFFECTED, DEALERSHIP SAID THEY WOULD NOT CONFIRM OR DENY WHETHER THE DRIVER AIRBAG WAS OPERABLE. SO I SHELLED OUT THE CASH ONLY TO FIND THAT TWO PARTS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED - ONE PART HAD TO BE BROKEN TO GET TO THE SENSOR. SO I HAD TO PURCHASE BOTH PARTS. AND THEY SAID THIS IS ONE OF THE SAFEST VEHICLES ON THE ROAD? I LATER FOUND OUT THIS IS COMMON, FILED A COMPLAINT WITH VOLVO, AND THEY SENT ME A "COURTESY" CHECK FOR $200 TO HELP DEFRAY THE COST. I THINK THEY SHOULD RECALL THIS PART AND PAY THE ENTIRE PRICE. *TR
ON NOVEMBER 14, 2007, MY DAUGHTER, HAD A ACCIDENT WITH MY CAR, A 2005 VOLVO S.40, 24.1. SHE HIT A MEDIUM SIZE TREE HEAD ON. THE AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOYED. *TR
Complaints are unverified consumer reports submitted to NHTSA. A high complaint count may reflect vehicle popularity, not defect severity. Data sourced from NHTSA public records.
Data synced from NHTSA on Apr 26, 2026