The Volvo S40 is a compact car built from 1999 to 2011 over 2 generations. Most were assembled in Sweden — 100% of those on record. Engines offered: 4-cyl, 5-cyl. Worth buying? It holds up well, with the usual caveat about model years at 4.0/5 — and the year you pick matters far more than the badge (best and worst years →).
What the S40 is
The Volvo S40 is a compact car that Volvo built from 1999 to 2011 — 13 model years. Our measurements put it at 2 generations, the current one starting in 2005. It has been offered with 4-cyl, 5-cyl power. Its closest siblings in the Volvo range: S60, C30.
Where the S40 is built
A badge says where the company is registered; the VIN says where the car was bolted together. We counted the first three characters — the manufacturer identifier — across 386 S40s on record.
| Assembled in | Share | VIN starts with | Years seen |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sweden | YV1 | 2000-2011 |
Check your own: the first three characters of a Volvo VIN decide which of these 2 lines your S40 belongs to. What every character in a S40 VIN means →
Got the full 17 characters? A free VIN check on a Volvo S40 adds what the decoder can't see: open recalls, theft and total-loss records, and the safety ratings for that exact build.
S40 generations, and what changed
These boundaries are not copied from a brochure — they fall out of the measurements. Where the S40's length or wheelbase jumps between consecutive model years the platform changed: a facelift moves a bumper by centimetres, a new generation moves the whole car — for the S40 that gives 2 distinct generations below.
| Generation | Length | Wheelbase | Weight | vs previous | Weight change |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2001-2004 | 454 cm | 256 cm | 1255 kg | - | - |
| 2005-2011 | 448 cm | 264 cm | 1372 kg | -6 cm | +117 kg |
Between 2001 and 2011 the S40 gained -6 cm in length (-1.3%) and 117 kg in weight (+9.3%). Cars did not so much grow as thicken — crash structures, airbags and equipment weigh more than the metal they replaced, and on the S40 that is 117 kg against -6 cm. Full dimensions by year →
Volvo S40 tire size, oil type & owner specs
The fitment S40 owners look up most — tires, wheels, oil and batteries. Exact wheel and tire sizes decode from your VIN or the driver's door-jamb placard; the universal items are listed below.
Exact tire, wheel, oil grade, capacity and battery group are added per trim and model year — decode your VIN above for the factory fitment. Universal items shown as-is.
What engines does the Volvo S40 have? Power & range
The Volvo S40 is offered with 2 powertrains — 1.9L 4-cyl, 2.5L 5-cyl. Here's the lineup by engine, transmission and drivetrain — 2 for the Volvo S40, against one or two on most rivals.
| Engine | Displacement | Transmission | Drive | Fuel |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4-cyl | 1.9L · 4-cyl | Automatic 5-spd | FWD | Premium |
| 5-cyl | 2.5L · 5-cyl | Automatic (S5) | FWD | Regular |
Horsepower, torque and fuel-tank size decode from your VIN — exact figures vary by engine and trim.
Source: EPA fueleconomy.gov (engines, drivetrain, range, charge time). Horsepower & torque from NHTSA vPIC on VIN decode.
The S40 by the numbers
What the federal and market records say about the Volvo S40. Each line opens the full breakdown by year.
| Topic | S40 | Detail |
|---|---|---|
| Recalls | 29 campaigns | NHTSA, all years |
| Owner complaints | 526 filed | What breaks and when |
| Reliability | 4.0 / 5 | Best and worst years |
| Insurance | $1,471/yr | Estimated full coverage |
Frequently asked questions
What kind of car is the Volvo S40?
The S40 is a compact car, built from 1999 to 2011 across 2 generations. Engines offered: 4-cyl, 5-cyl.
Where is the Volvo S40 made?
Across 386 cars in our records the split is: Sweden (100%). The first three characters of a VIN identify the plant's manufacturer and country — that is where these shares come from, not from a press release.
How many generations does the S40 have?
2 by our measurements, the latest starting in 2005. We draw the boundaries where length or wheelbase jumps between model years — a facelift moves a bumper, a new generation moves the whole car.
What is the Volvo S40 warranty?
New models carry 4 years / 50,000 miles basic cover and 4 years / 50,000 miles on the powertrain. Worth knowing: across our complaint records the typical car reaches the halfway point of its faults at five years, so most repairs land after the basic warranty ends.
Is the S40 reliable?
It scores 4.0/5 in our data. The honest answer depends on the year far more than the model — see the best and worst years, and when this car starts to break.
How do I check a specific S40?
This page describes the model; it cannot tell you whether that car has an open recall or a branded title. Run its VIN against the records — free, and matched to the exact production run.
More in Volvo
| Model | Years | Recalls | Best MPG | ForCar score |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Volvo XC90 | 2003–2026 | 92 | 27 mpg | 4.5/5 |
| Volvo XC60 | 2010–2026 | 70 | 28 mpg | 4.5/5 |
| Volvo S60 | 2001–2026 | 109 | 31 mpg | 4.5/5 |
| Volvo XC40 | 2019–2026 | 26 | 106 mpg | 4.5/5 |
| Volvo EX30 | 2025–2026 | 5 | 116 mpg | 3.5/5 |
| Volvo V60 | 2015–2026 | 40 | 31 mpg | 4.5/5 |
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