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Volvo V50 VIN Check

NHTSA holds 39 owner complaints on the Volvo V50 from 32 production runs; the worst run has 3, the typical one 1.2.

NHTSA complaint records · 39 complaints · 32 runs · 2005–2011 · Updated Nov 4, 2026
Quick answer

The most-reported V50 run is YV1MW382572 (2007 builds) with 3 complaints, 2.5× the typical run. Electrical system problems make up 17% of reports; 2007 is the worst model year at 1.7 complaints per run; NHTSA lists 8 recall campaigns for V50 model years 2005–2011.

Which build runs owners report most

A production run is the first 11 characters of the VIN: plant, model year, body and engine. The Volvo V50 has 32 of them on record. The five runs at the top of this table hold 28% of every V50 complaint on file.

FIG.01·Volvo V50 — complaints by production run
Production run (VIN 1–11)YearComplaintsInvolved a crashFire
YV1MW382572••••••20073——
YV1MJ682X52••••••20052——
YV1MW382262••••••20062——
YV1MJ682862••••••20062——
YV1MW382X52••••••20052——
YV1MW682152••••••20052——
VY1672MW1B2••••••20111——
YV1MJ682352••••••20051——
YV1MW390952••••••20051——
YV1MW390252••••••20051——
YV1MW682452••••••20051——
YV1MW682552••••••20051——
ROWS 12·SOURCE NHTSA complaint records, grouped by VIN prefix

Each of the other 20 V50 runs has 1 complaint or fewer. ForCar has checked 12 V50 VINs so far, most often 2010, 2006, 2009 builds.

Which model years to check twice

Complaints per production run, so a year that simply sold more does not top the list. On the Volvo V50 the gap between build years is 1.4×: a 2007 car draws 1.7 complaints per run, a 2005 one 1.2.

FIG.02·Volvo V50 — complaint rate by model year
YearPer runComplaintsRunsCrashes
20071.753—
20061.2119—
20051.21714—
ROWS 3·SOURCE NHTSA complaint records

Heaviest year here is 2007 at 1.7 complaints per run; lightest is 2005 at 1.2.

What to inspect on this car

One system accounts for 17% of everything Volvo V50 owners report: Electrical System, 7 of 39 complaints. Start the pre-purchase inspection there.

FIG.03·Volvo V50 — most-reported systems
SystemComplaintsInvolved a crashFire
Electrical System7——
Engine And Engine Cooling6——
Fuel/propulsion System6——
Unknown Or Other6—1
Suspension5——
Fuel System4——
Gasoline4——
Service Brakes3——
ROWS 8·SOURCE NHTSA complaint records

Recalls to check against your VIN

NHTSA has 8 recall campaigns on the Volvo V50; the 6 below cover build years 2005 to 2011. These are for the model and year; whether one is still open on a given car, only that VIN can tell.

FIG.04·Volvo V50 — recall campaigns
CampaignComponentModel years
10V566000Equipment:electrical:navigational System(global Positioning System)2005–2010
10V591000Seats2009–2011
08V329000Steering:hydraulic Power Assist:hose, Piping, And Connections2008–2009
06V137000Fuel System, Gasoline2005–2006
08V033000Fuel System, Gasoline:delivery:fuel Pump2005–2006
10V255000Steering:gear Box:shaft Sector2010
ROWS 6·SOURCE NHTSA recall campaigns

10V566000 was opened in 2010 on cars built from 2005: 5 years on the road before the recall.

The V50 against its rivals

The V50 draws 1.2 complaints per production run; the Dodge Caliber 5.6, the Hyundai Elantra Touring 2 and the Pontiac Vibe 4.9. That is the lowest rate of the 4.

FIG.05·Volvo V50 VIN check vs rivals
ModelComplaintsRunsPer runInvolved a crash
Volvo V5039321.20%
Dodge Caliber1,6622985.66%
Hyundai Elantra Touring1527726.6%
Pontiac Vibe1,6393344.95.2%
ROWS 4·SOURCE NHTSA complaint records

How serious were they

FIG.06·Volvo V50 — complaint severity
OutcomeVolvo V50All vehicles
Complaints filed391,115,966
Involved a crash0 (0%)64,194 (5.8%)
Involved a fire1 (2.6%)26,974 (2.4%)
Injuries reported158,013
Deaths reported02,728
ROWS 5·SOURCE NHTSA complaint records

Crash-related reports run 100% below the all-vehicle rate.

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How this check works

The file behind this page holds 1,115,966 complaints filed with NHTSA between 1981 and 2026, across 298,921 production runs. The Volvo V50 share of that is 39 complaints over 32 runs, 0% of everything on record.

Everything on the Volvo V50
Recalls19 campaignsFuel economy24 mpg bestReliability4.0/5Common problems42 complaintsDimensionsSize, weight, generationsCargo space32 cu ftUsed prices80 listingsWhat yours is worthValue by year & mileageInsurance costEstimated per yearWindow stickerOriginal Monroney labelDecode a VINWhat each character meansAbout this car2005–2011

Frequently asked questions

How do I check a Volvo V50 VIN for free?

Enter the 17 characters above. ForCar matches the first eleven, the production run, against 39 NHTSA complaints from 32 V50 runs and 8 recall campaigns. No account, no card.

Which V50 production run has the most complaints?

YV1MW382572, a 2007 build, with 3 complaints. The typical V50 run has 1.2.

Which V50 years have the most complaints?

Per production run, 2007 is heaviest at 1.7 complaints per run and 2005 lightest at 1.2.

Does the V50 get more complaints than the Dodge Caliber?

No: 1.2 complaints per production run for the V50 against 5.6 for the Dodge Caliber.

How many V50 complaints involve a crash?

0% of 39 reports, against 5.8% across all vehicles; 1 involved a fire.

Complaint and recall records from NHTSA, grouped by VIN production run (characters 1–11). Per-run rates computed by ForCar. Federal data covers safety only — title, odometer and insurance history are not included. Last updated Nov 2026. — ForCar Reviewed by , founder of ForCar.
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