There are 6 owner-reported brakes complaints for the 2007 Volvo S40in NHTSA's database. These are unverified consumer reports and may not reflect confirmed defects.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 VOLVO S40. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE BRAKE SENSOR ILLUMINATED INDICATING LOW BRAKE FLUID. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER. THE TECHNICIAN REPLENISHED THE BRAKE FLUID AND RESET THE BRAKE SENSOR. THE CONTACT INDICATED THAT SHORTLY AFTER THE BRAKE SENSOR WAS RESET BY THE DEALER, THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT REPAIR SHOP WHO WAS NOT ABLE TO REPLICATE OR DIAGNOSE THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE CONTACT WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 08V101000 (BRAKES). THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 65,000.
12/9/2011 WHILE ON AN INCLINE DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 25 MPH BRAKES FAILED, EVEN AFTER PRESSING PEDAL ALL THE WAY TO THE FLOOR, CAR FAILED TO STOP CAUSING COLLISION WITH VEHICLE IN FRONT DESPITE MORE THAN NECESSARY BRAKING DISTANCE MAINTAINED BETWEEN TWO VEHICLES AND UNDER CLEAR, SUNNY CONDITIONS. NOTE: DEALER HAD COMPLETED 10-POINT INSPECTION DURING OIL CHANGE 14 DAYS BEFORE OCCURRENCE. 8/2011 CAR FLOODED WITH WATER INTERNALLY AND ON FLOOR/CARPET. SECOND OCCURRENCE. SUNROOF DRAIN PIPES REPLACED AND CAR SEATS, CARPETS, FOAM PADDING REMOVED AND DRIED. OWNER REQUIRED TO PAY 50% OF COST OF LABOR AND PARTS, EVEN THOUGH WAS TO HAVE BEEN REPAIRED IN 2/2011.2/2011 FIRST INCIDENT OF CAR FLOOD WITH WATER INTERNALLY AND ON FLOOR/CARPET. SUNROOF REPLACED AND CAR SEATS, CARPETS, FOAM PADDING REMOVED AND DRIED. SUNROOF REPLACED BY VOLVO, OWNER INCURRED LABOR COSTS. WARRANTY EXPIRED 2 MONTHS AND 1 WEEK BEFORE TAKEN IN. CAR HAD UNDERGONE 22500 MILE CHECK WITH NOTHING NOTICED BY VOLVO WHILE UNDER WARRANTY! REGULAR MAINTENANCE WAS DONE AT DEALERS AT RECOMMENDED SCHEDULE AND DEALER PERFORMED STATE-REQUIRED SAFETY AND EMISSION INSPECTIONS. *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 VOLVO S40. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING 30 MPH, SHE APPLIED THE BRAKES AND A BRAKE LIGHT ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT REPAIR SHOP AND THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS LEAKING BRAKE FLUID. BRAKE FLUID WAS ADDED TO THE VEHICLE AS A TEMPORARY REMEDY. THE VEHICLE WAS THEN TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER AND THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL ASSOCIATED NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 08V101000 (SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:MASTER CYLINDER). THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND OFFERED NO ASSISTANCE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 76,000. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE.
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 VOLVO S40. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 30 MPH THE BRAKES FAILED CAUSING HER TO CRASH INTO THE REAR OF A VEHICLE. THE DRIVER SUSTAINED MINOR INJURIES, WHIPLASH AND WAS NOT TRANSPORTED TO THE HOSPITAL. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS INSPECTED BY AN INSURANCE ADJUSTER WHO CONFIRMED THAT IT WAS DESTROYED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE APPROXIMATELY 63,000.
I DROVE INTO A HOTEL PARKING GARAGE , CAME INTO MY SPOT AND THE CAR ACCELERATED AND WENT INTO A WALL. I SHUT THE ENGINE OFF TO PREVENT MY WHOLE CAR GOING THRU THE WALL. JUST THE FRONT OF THE CAR WENT INTO THE WALL. *TR
THE REAR BRAKES ON THIS VEHICLE CAUGHT ON FIRE AFTER A SHORT DRIVE (1 MILE) HAVING TO BE EXTINGUISHED WITH A FIRE EXTINGUISHER. THE REAR BRAKE ASSEMBLY (LEFT REAR) COMPLETELY FAILED AND OVERHEATED TO THE POINT OF CAUSING FLAMES TO APPEAR NEEDING TO BE EXTINGUISHED. THIS CAR HAD 2939 MILES ON IT AS A NEW VOLVO S40. THIS CATASTROPHIC FAILURE WAS UNEXPLAINED AND WITHOUT AN APPARENT ERROR BY DRIVER AS THIS VEHICLE IS USED BY A COLLEGE STUDENT FOR VERY SHORT DISTANCES. THE EMERGENCY BRAKE WAS NOT LEFT ON. *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