Two problems related to ignition have been reported for the 2006 Volvo S40. The most recently reported issues are listed below.
All gauges and readings go to zero. Four warning appear on the message board. After stopping and turning off ignition the car will restart with intermittent warnings, or no warnings at all. Upon hitting a bump the error messages changes and the gauges work or don't work. The car has been in for computer "fixes" three times since late 2005.
Several times I took my Volvo S40 to the dealership before my warranty expired on the problem with starting my car. When inserting the key in the ignition nothing worked. Now the warranty is expired (59,000 miles) and no one at the Volvo dealership "recalls" our many conversations! after trying to start it several times and calling a tow truck for a jump, still nothing. It displayed the message "brake failure stop car safely", "anti-skid system failure", "reduced engine performance", "power steering failure", sbs airbag failure". The car stopped, I could not restart the engine and the messages kept repeating in random order. The car will be towed to Volvo and they will see what's going on! I have read this same complaint in many different Volvo forums. You would thing there would be a recall on whatever this problem is. I found out that Ford made this particular year!.