Complaints by model year
Each bar is one model year. The most recent years are still collecting complaints.
NHTSA ODI complaints (public domain) · updated 23 Oct 2026
New York safety inspections
Share of first inspections failed on safety, by model year. Older cars fail more as miles build up, so compare each year with the average car of the same year. Best against its own year: 2010.
NY DMV Vehicle Inspections, initial inspections since Aug 2021 · how we count
Year by year
| Model year | Complaints | Recalls |
|---|---|---|
| 2013 | 0 | 0 |
| 2012 V50 | 0 | 0 |
| 2011 V50 | 2 | 1 |
| 2010 V50 | 2 | 3 |
| 2009 V50 | 2 | 3 |
| 2008 V50 | 0 | 3 |
| 2007 V50 | 6 | 2 |
| 2006 V50 | 12 | 3 |
| 2005 V50 | 18 | 3 |
| 2004 V50 | 0 | 2 |
A model year gets its own page when it has enough data for at least three sections
Most common problems
- Unknown or other7
- Electrical system7
- Fuel/propulsion system6
- Engine and engine cooling6
- Suspension5
- Fuel system, gasoline4
- Tires3
- Structure3
NHTSA ODI complaints, all model years
Crash-test ratings by year
NHTSA 5-star results for 1 model-year variants; not yet fully rated. Rollover risk is the estimated chance of rolling over in a single-vehicle crash.
| Year | Variant | Overall | Rollover risk |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2011 | 2011 Volvo V50 SW AWD | — | 0.0 % |
NHTSA New Car Assessment Program (5-Star Safety Ratings), api.nhtsa.gov · US federal work, public domain
Fuel consumption by year
Official Canadian test results for 7 model years, best variant per year. Combined consumption ranges from 9.9–10.4 L/100 km.
| Year | Variant | City | Highway | Combined |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2011 | V50 T5 · Station wagon: Small · Regular gasoline | 11.5 | 7.9 | 9.9 |
| 2010 | V50 T5 · Station wagon: Small · Regular gasoline | 11.6 | 8.1 | 10.0 |
| 2009 | V50 2.4i · Station wagon: Small · Regular gasoline | 11.9 | 8.5 | 10.4 |
| 2008 | V50 2.4 · Station wagon: Small · Premium gasoline | 11.9 | 8.3 | 10.3 |
| 2007 | V50 2.4i · Station wagon: Small · Premium gasoline | 12.0 | 8.3 | 10.4 |
| 2006 | V50 T5 Wagon Turbo · Station wagon: Small · Premium gasoline | 12.0 | 8.1 | 10.3 |
| 2005 | V50 2.5T Turbo · Station wagon: Small · Premium gasoline | 12.2 | 8.2 | 10.4 |
Litres per 100 km. Natural Resources Canada, Fuel consumption ratings (open.canada.ca) · Open Government Licence – Canada
In New Zealand
1,032 V50 cars are on the New Zealand register; 87% arrived as used imports.
| Model year | Registered | Sold new in NZ | Used imports |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2012 | 111 | 1 | 110 |
| 2011 | 110 | 6 | 103 |
| 2010 | 131 | 6 | 124 |
| 2009 | 117 | 9 | 106 |
| 2008 | 110 | 21 | 88 |
| 2007 | 132 | 36 | 95 |
| 2006 | 116 | 20 | 95 |
| 2005 | 143 | 14 | 124 |
| 2004 | 62 | 12 | 50 |
NZ Transport Agency Waka Kotahi, Motor Vehicle Register (March 2026) · CC BY 4.0
In the Netherlands
18,806 V50 cars are on Dutch roads; 20% arrived later as imports, and 12 still have a recall open. Open a year for APK defects, odometer checks and colours.
| First registered | On the road | Median list price |
|---|---|---|
| 2012 | 1,443 | €31,009 |
| 2011 | 1,708 | €32,774 |
| 2010 | 1,898 | €32,850 |
| 2009 | 1,954 | €32,824 |
| 2008 | 2,484 | €34,039 |
| 2007 | 2,520 | €33,784 |
| 2006 | 2,609 | €33,484 |
| 2005 | 2,543 | €34,159 |
| 2004 | 1,647 | €37,063 |
RDW Open Data: registered vehicles (CC0) · list price is the manufacturer's catalogue price when new
In Finland
12,763 V50 cars were in use in Finland on 30 Jun 2026: 48% petrol, 52% diesel. Mileage is the odometer reading at the last inspection.
| First registered | In use | Average mileage |
|---|---|---|
| 2012 | 1,059 | 268,000 km |
| 2011 | 1,676 | 282,000 km |
| 2010 | 1,223 | 295,000 km |
| 2009 | 1,336 | 295,000 km |
| 2008 | 1,678 | 293,000 km |
| 2007 | 1,344 | 283,000 km |
| 2006 | 1,670 | 291,000 km |
| 2005 | 1,757 | 299,000 km |
| 2004 | 1,020 | 317,000 km |
Traficom (Finnish Transport and Communications Agency), open data on vehicles in use, 30 Jun 2026 · CC BY 4.0
Road collisions in Great Britain
From 2021 to 2025, 412 V50 cars were involved in road collisions in Great Britain that injured someone and were reported to the police. 5 of those collisions were fatal and 90 caused serious injuries. As with any count, models with more cars on British roads appear more often.
| Year | Cars in injury collisions | Fatal | Serious |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 69 | 0 | 17 |
| 2024 | 72 | 1 | 17 |
| 2023 | 94 | 1 | 26 |
| 2022 | 79 | 3 | 17 |
| 2021 | 98 | 0 | 13 |
Department for Transport, STATS19 road safety data 2021–2025 · Open Government Licence v3.0 · how we count
In the United Kingdom
23,915 V50 cars were licensed for the road at the end of 2025, by year of manufacture.
| Built | Licensed | Off the road (SORN) |
|---|---|---|
| 2014 | 1 | — |
| 2013 | 6 | — |
| 2012 | 2,868 | 106 |
| 2011 | 3,716 | 216 |
| 2010 | 3,793 | 417 |
| 2009 | 3,660 | 481 |
| 2008 | 3,968 | 630 |
| 2007 | 2,022 | 401 |
| 2006 | 1,998 | 515 |
| 2005 | 1,322 | 754 |
| 2004 | 561 | 293 |
Department for Transport and DVLA, vehicle licensing statistics (table VEH0124) · Open Government Licence v3.0
MOT test results in Great Britain
33,773 V50 cars took their annual MOT test in 2023; 55% passed first time, against 59% for all cars of the same ages. Older cars fail more often, so compare a year with the same year of other cars.
| First registered | Tests | Passed first time |
|---|---|---|
| 2012 | 3,220 | 60% |
| 2011 | 4,439 | 57% |
| 2010 | 5,050 | 56% |
| 2009 | 5,086 | 54% |
| 2008 | 5,961 | 53% |
| 2007 | 3,268 | 55% |
| 2006 | 3,251 | 55% |
| 2005 | 2,471 | 51% |
| 2004 | 1,027 | 53% |
Why they fail
Share of all first tests that ended in a fail because of each part of the car (one test can fail on several).
| Area | V50 | All cars, same ages |
|---|---|---|
| Suspension | 20.3% | 16.0% |
| Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment | 18.5% | 18.7% |
| Tyres | 10.8% | 7.4% |
| Brakes | 10.0% | 10.6% |
| Body, chassis, structure | 9.1% | 6.4% |
| Visibility | 5.8% | 6.4% |
| Noise, emissions and leaks | 4.8% | 5.3% |
| Steering | 4.0% | 3.1% |
DVSA anonymised MOT tests and results, 2023 (Department for Transport) · Open Government Licence v3.0 · first tests of cars only; a fix made at the test station within the hour still counts as a fail
New registrations in Europe
105,187 new Volvo V50 cars registered in the EU, Norway and Iceland between 2010 and 2022, from the European Environment Agency's CO₂ monitoring of every new car. In 2022 the largest markets were Italy (1).
| Year | New cars | CO₂ g/km |
|---|---|---|
| 2022 | 1 | 99 (WLTP) |
| 2018 | 2 | 166 (NEDC) |
| 2017 | 3 | 116 (NEDC) |
| 2016 | 2 | — |
| 2015 | 4 | — |
| 2014 | 8 | — |
| 2013 | 102 | — |
| 2012 | 23,333 | — |
| 2011 | 37,202 | — |
| 2010 | 44,530 | — |
Averages are weighted by registrations; CO₂ is the type-approval value (NEDC until the WLTP switch). European Environment Agency, CO₂ emissions from new passenger cars · re-use permitted with acknowledgement
EU safety alerts
Safety Gate, the European Union's rapid alert system, names the V50 in 2 alerts. European versions can differ from the North American car.
It is possible that the chrome sleeve on the tail end of the exhaust system may under certain conditions become loose and fall off into the road.
Cracks may develop over time in the right-hand drive shaft. In the worst case, the drive shaft may break, leading to a sudden loss of drive. This may lead to an unsafe traffic situation.
Safety Gate (European Commission) · CC0
Recalls
8 campaigns cover the V50.
VOLVO IS RECALLING CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH POWER FRONT PASSENGER SEATS. THE FRONT SEAT RAIL'S DETECTION SYSTEM WAS MANUFACTURED INCORRECTLY AND MAY PERMIT THE PASSENGER TO FORWARD THE SEAT BEYOND THE INTENDED MAXIMUM.
VOLVO IS RECALLING CERTAIN VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH GARMIN 760 PORTABLE GLOBAL POSITIONING SYSTEM (GPS) UNITS BECAUSE THE BATTERIES ON THOSE UNITS MAY OVERHEAT.
VOLVO IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2010-2011 C30, MODEL YEAR 2010 S40 AND V50 VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH 6 SPEED MANUAL TRANSMISSIONS. THE GEARSHIFT LEVER STUD ASSEMBLY MAY NOT HAVE BEEN TIGHTENED TO THE CORRECT SPECIFICATION DURING ASSEMBLY. IF THE GEARSHIFT LEVER CABLE OR STUD ASSEMBLY BECOMES LOOSE, IT MAY NOT BE POSSIBLE TO ENGAGE, DISENGAGE OR SHIFT GEARS.
VOLVO IS RECALLING MY 2008-2009 VEHICLES. A SECTION OF THE POWER STEERING RETURN LINE HOSE WAS NOT PROPERLY VULCANIZED (CURED) AND DOES NOT MEET SPECIFICATIONS. IF THE POWER STEERING RETURN HOSE FAILS, A SUDDEN RUPTURE OF THE HOSE CAN OCCUR.
VOLVO IS RECALLING 7 MY 2008 V50 PASSENGER VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH ROOF RAILS. BOLTS HAVE BEEN FOUND TO BE OUT OF SPECIFICATION. THIS HAS CAUSED LESS TREAD LENGTH ON THE BOLTS WHICH IN TURN HAS LEAD TO INSUFFICIENT CLAMPING FORCE IN THE JOINT DUE TO THE WASHER GETTING STUCK WHEN TIGHTENING THE BOLTS.
VOLVO IS RECALLING 1,114 MY 2007 C30, C70, S40, AND V50 PASSENGER VEHICLES. A SOFT ANODIZED LAYER IN THE MASTER CYLINDER MAY TRIGGER EARLY WEAR ON A RUBBER SEAL THAT CAN RESULT IN INTERNAL LEAKAGE OF BRAKE FLUID. IF AFFECTED, THE DRIVER MAY EXPERIENCE REDUCED BRAKE PERFORMANCE WHEN APPLYING AND MAINTAINING FORCE OF THE BRAKE PEDAL.
ON CERTAIN VEHICLES SOLD IN OR CURRENTLY REGISTERED IN THE STATES OF CONNECTICUT, DELAWARE, ILLINOIS, INDIANA, IOWA, MAINE, MARYLAND, MASSACHUSETTS, MICHIGAN, MINNESOTA, MISSOURI, NEW HAMPSHIRE, NEW JERSEY, NEW YORK, OHIO, PENNSYLVANIA, RHODE ISLAND, VERMONT, WEST VIRGINIA, WISCONSIN, AND THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA, REOCCURRING, LONG-TERM EXPOSURE TO CERTAIN ENVIRONMENTAL CONDITIONS SUCH AS SALTY-WET CONDITIONS, IT IS POSSIBLE FOR THE PUMP ELECTRONIC MODULE (PEM) TO BECOME CORRODED INTERNALLY. THIS CAN CAUSE A FAULTY SIGNAL TO THE FUEL PUMP, RESULTING IN LOW OR NO FUEL PRESSURE TO THE ENGINE.
ON CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH T5 TURBO ENGINES, THE POLYAMIDE TUBE IN THE FUEL LINE IS SENSITIVE TO THE EXTREME TEMPERATURES THAT MAY OCCUR IN THE AREA WHERE THE TURBO/EXHAUST MANIFOLD IS LOCATED.
NHTSA recalls