Volvo V50 Reliability

60 NHTSA complaints (2005–2011). Complaint rate: 232.6 per 1,000 vehicles.

Severity Score
310.1
Complaints
60
Crash Rate
0.0%
Fire Rate
3.3%
Injuries
1
Fatalities
—

Which Years to Buy & Avoid

Years auto-clustered by complaint volume relative to this model's median.

Bottom line: Avoid the 2005–2006 Volvo V50. The 2009–2011 models had significantly fewer reported issues. Most common issue across all years: UNKNOWN OR OTHER.

Avoid These Years

2005–2006
~22/yr complaints

Average

2007
~8/yr complaints

Better Years

2009–2011
~3/yr complaints
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Complaints by Model Year

NHTSA complaint count per model year

Volvo V50 — Complaints by Model YearPeak: 2005 (26)
07152230200520062007200920102011

Common Volvo V50 Problems

Most reported component complaints to NHTSA

ComponentComplaintsCrash %
UNKNOWN OR OTHER70.0%
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM70.0%
FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM60.0%
SUSPENSION50.0%
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE40.0%
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE30.0%
STEERING30.0%
ENGINE20.0%
WHEELS20.0%
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION20.0%

Year-by-Year Breakdown

NHTSA complaint count per model year — click any year for full problems & recalls breakdown.

YearGenerationComplaintsCrashesFiresDetails
2005AVOID—260—View→
2006AVOID—180—View→
2007—802View→
2009GOOD—30—View→
2010GOOD—30—View→
2011GOOD—20—View→

See also: Volvo V50accident & safety statistics from our vehicle history database.

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Volvo V50 Years to Avoid (2005–2011) — Reliability, Problems & Best Years to Buy | VinItel