Problems · NHTSA complaints

2005 Volvo V50 problems

Owners filed 18 complaints about the 2005 Volvo V50 with NHTSA between Sep 2005 and Feb 2018. The most-cited component is engine and engine cooling (6).

Complaints
18
Filed with NHTSA
Crashes
0
Reported by owners
Fires
0
Reported by owners
Injuries
1
People reported injured
Deaths
0
Reported to NHTSA
01 —By component

Complaints by component

One complaint can cite several components
  1. Engine and engine cooling6
  2. Fuel/propulsion system3
  3. Suspension3
  4. Fuel system, gasoline3
  5. Electrical system3
  6. Structure2
  7. Steering1
  8. Power train1
  9. Service brakes, hydraulic1
  10. Exterior lighting1
  11. Other / unknown1

Complaints are unverified owner reports to NHTSA and are not normalized for sales volume. One complaint can cite several components.

Data from NHTSA Complaints API · synced Nov 10, 2026NHTSA vehicle page
02 —Trend

When complaints were filed

Does it get worse with age? Complaints per calendar year filed
View as table
Model yearComplaints filed per calendar year
20051
20061
20071
20082
20092
20101
20114
20120
20132
20140
20151
20161
20171
20181

Mileage at failure isn’t a structured field in NHTSA complaint data, so we don’t chart it. Some owners mention it in their reports below.

03 —Owner reports

Top problems in owners’ words

Verbatim from NHTSA complaints, newest first

Engine and engine cooling

6 reports
“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 VOLVO V50. WHILE PULLING OUT OF THE DRIVEWAY AND MAKING A RIGHT TURN, THERE WAS AN ABNORMAL NOISE COMING FROM THE FRONT OF THE VEHICLE. THE NOISE RECURRED PERIODICALLY. IN ADDITION, WHEN DRIVING OVER A SLIGHT BUMP, THE VEHICLE FELT AS IF THE BOTTOM WOULD DETACH. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE THE TECHNICIAN COULD NOT FIND A FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 82,000. UPDATED 10/06/16*LJ THE CONSUMER STATED THE PROBLEM WAS THE RIGHT FRONT ENGINE MOUNT. *TR”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Aug 30, 2016Steering, Suspension, Engine and engine coolingODI 10899495

Fuel/propulsion system

3 reports
“2005 VOLVO V50 HAS INTERMITTENT STARTING ISSUES. THE ENGINE CRANKS AND FUEL PUMP CAN BE HEARD WHEN KEY IS TURNED IN IGNITION BUT THE ENGINE DOES NOT TURN OVER/START. AFTER 10-15 (SOMETIMES MORE) ATTEMPTS AT STARTING THE VEHICLE, FUEL PRESSURE APPEARS TO BUILD SLOWLY WITH EACH ATTEMPT AND THE ENGINE WILL SOMETIMES START. IF THE VEHICLE DOES START IT IS OPERABLE WITHOUT ADDITIONAL PROBLEMS AND CAN BE DRIVEN NORMALLY. THE CAR WILL RE-START WITHOUT ISSUE IF THE ENGINE HAS RUN WITHIN A FEW HOURS OF THE ATTEMPT. AFTER 24-36 HOURS OF BEING OFF THE VEHICLE WILL HAVE DIFFICULTY STARTING AGAIN. I BELIEVE THE PEM (PUMP ELECTRONICS MODULE) IS FAULTY IN MY VEHICLE - VOLVO ISSUED RECALL 190 TO ADDRESS THIS BUT NOW REFUSES TO REPAIR MY VEHICLE OR PROVIDE ME WITH DOCUMENTATION SUFFICIENT TO ENSURE ME THAT MY VEHICLE IS NOT COVERED BY THIS RECALL CAMPAIGN.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Feb 9, 2018Fuel/propulsion systemODI 11071932

Suspension

3 reports
“CAR HAS HAD POOR STEERING AND NOISE COMING FROM THE FRONT END - REPAIRS MADE TO LEFT FRONT AND RIGHT FRONT - NOISE CONTINUES RIGHT FRONT - REPAIRED AGAIN AND NOW IN VOLVO OF SANTA MONICA FOR 3RD REPAIR TO RIGHT FRONT; ALL REPAIRS INVOLVE SUSPENSION ISSUES AND PART SUCH AS JOINTS AND WHEEL AXEL. NOISES ARE WHEN CAR IS BEING DRIVEN ESPECIALLY TURNING RIGHT.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Oct 11, 2015SuspensionODI 10781310

Fuel system, gasoline

3 reports2 related recalls
“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 VOLVO V50. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE EXITING A PARKING SPACE THE VEHICLE STALLED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE FUEL PUMP AND THE CENTRAL ELECTRICAL MODULE WERE DEFECTIVE AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE WHO DID NOT OFFER ANY ASSISTANCE SINCE THE VEHICLE WAS NO LONGER UNDER WARRANTY. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 93,000.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Nov 7, 2011Fuel system, gasoline, Electrical systemODI 10434809

Electrical system

3 reports
“CAR BREAKDOWN REQUIRED THE FOLLOWING PARTS TO BE REPLACED - START CONTROL MODULE, PUMP CONTROL MODULE, FUEL PRESSURE SENSOR. *TR”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Mar 5, 2010Fuel system, gasoline, Electrical systemODI 10316990

Structure

2 reports
“SUN ROOF DRAINS DISCONNECT RESULTING IN WATER BEING BLOWN INTO CAR UNDER DRIVERS AND PASSENGER SEATS. *TR”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled May 5, 2011StructureODI 10399221
Data from NHTSA Complaints API (owner reports, unverified) · synced Nov 10, 2026

Complaints are unverified owner reports to NHTSA and are not normalized for sales volume. One complaint can cite several components.