2004 Volvo S40: complaints, problems and recalls

MULTIPLE FAILURES. AIR BAG SYSTEM, PROBLEM STARTING AND NOISE IN STEERING. *BF THE VEHICLE ALSO HAD AN AIR CONDITION PROBLEM. THE AIR BAG LIGHT ILLUMINATED ON 3 OCCASIONS. THE CONSUMER STATED THE PASSENGER SEAT WAS EQUIPPED WITH A DEVICE THAT WEIGHED PASSENGERS TO DETERMINE IF THE AIR BAG SHOULD BE ACTIVATED. *JB

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10097709 at NHTSA ↗

THE CONSUMER STATED THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED WHEN BRAKE WAS APPLIED. A RECALL WAS ISSUED, HOWEVER THE VEHICLE IDENTIFICATION NUMBER WAS OUTSIDE OF THE REMEDY SCOPE. PLEASE PROVIDE ADDITIONAL INFORMATION. *JB. THERE WERE FIVE INCIDENTS WHEN VEHICLE ACCELERATED APON APPLICATION OF BRAKES. INITIALLY TOOK VEHICLE TO VOLVO ON 11/11/2004. THEY RAN ALL TESTS AND COULD FIND NOTHING WRONG. SINCE THEN, IT HAPPENED AGAIN, AND CONSUMER WILL AGAIN REQUEST VOLVO TO CHECK IT. *AK

Owner-reported narrative. 13,400 miles reported. Look up ODI 10113582 at NHTSA ↗

CONSUMER IS EXPERIENCING ON GOING PROBLEMS WITH APPLYING THE BRAKE PEDAL AND THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL SIMULTANEOUSLY. THE CONDITION CAUSES THE VEHICLE TO ACCELERATE WHEN APPLYING THE BRAKES. THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN TO THE DEALER. THE DEALER INFORMED THE CONSUMER THAT NOTHING WAS WRONG AND THE VEHICLE MEETS NHTSA SPECIFICATION . *JB

Owner-reported narrative. 20 miles reported. Look up ODI 10113589 at NHTSA ↗

CONSUMER COMPLAINED ABOUT ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS. THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS SUDDENLY CUT ON AND OFF AT TIMES; THE POWER WINDOWS AND DOORS DID NOT WORK, AND GAS GAUGE ALWAYS SHOWED THAT VEHICLE HAD NO FUEL. ALSO, AIRBAG LIGHT CAME ON. FINALLY, THE TRUNK DID NOT OPEN. *AK

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10115193 at NHTSA ↗

2004 VOLVO S40 EXPERIENCING PROBLEMS WITH THE REAR TAIL LIGHT ASSEMBLY. *MR THE LEFT REAR TAIL LIGHT ASSEMBLY WAS INTERMITTENT. AT NIGHT THERE WOULD BE NO REAR TAIL LIGHTS. THE RIGHT FRONT PARK LIGHT AND THE YELLOW SIDE MARKER LIGHT HAD GONE OUT AS WELL. THE DEALER REPLACED THE CEM. THE VEHICLE'S BATTERY LASTED 8 MONTHS. *SC

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10126887 at NHTSA ↗

DURING A FRONTAL DRIVERS SIDE CRASH THE DRIVERS SIDE AIRBAG DID NOT DEPLOY CAUSING INJURY TO THE DRIVER. HOWEVER THE PASSENGER SIDE AIRBAG DID DEPLOY, BUT NO PASSENGERS WERE PRESENT AT THE TIME OF THE ACCIDENT. THE IMPACT OF THE CRASH WAS MOSTLY DRIVERS SIDE. I ALSO BELIEVE THE BRAKING SYSTEM FAILED SINCE MY CAR FAILED TO SLOW LIKE A CAR SHOULD DURING BRAKING.

Owner-reported narrative. 19,215 miles reported. Look up ODI 10130085 at NHTSA ↗

THE ENGINE DIES INTERMITTENTLY ONCE EVERY SIX MONTHS. THIS NORMALLY HAPPENS WHEN MAKING A RIGHT TURN OR SLOWING DOWN. ALL OF THE WARNING LIGHTS IN THE DASHBOARD LIGHT UP. THE GEAR MUST BE PUT BACK IN PARK, MUST TURN OFF THE IGNITION AND THEN RE-START AGAIN. THE FIRST TIME IT HAPPENED, I THOUGHT IT MIGHT HAVE BEEN A FLUKE, THE SECOND TIME I TOOK IT IN THEY CHANGED A VALVE IN THE ENGINE, THE THIRD TIME THEY KEPT THE CAR FOR 2 WEEKS AND THEY CHANGED THE AIR COMPRESSOR AND POSITIVE/NEGATIVE BATTERY CABLES (THEY HAD A VOLVO OF NORTH AMERICA TECHNICI…

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10133818 at NHTSA ↗

THE VEHICLE HAS THE FOLLOWING INTERMITTENT ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS. DASHBOARD, RADIO, CLIMATE CONTROLS TURN-OFF BY THEMSELVES. WIPERS ACTIVATE BY THEMSELVES. SRS WARNINGS ARE DISPLAYED. FUEL DOOR BUTTON DOES NOT ACTIVATE. IGNITION WILL NOT ACTIVE SO CAR WILL NOT START. *JB

Owner-reported narrative. 10,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10169333 at NHTSA ↗

Reported: 2003-08-01 (August 1, 2003)

CERTAIN PASSENGER CARS FAIL TO COMPLY WITH THE REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 225, "CHILD RESTRAINT ANCHORAGE SYSTEMS." THE SECOND ISOFIX GUIDE WAS NOT INSTALLED IN THESE VEHICLES AND, IN CERTAIN CASES, THE OWNER'S MANUAL ISOFIX INFORMATION IS INCORRECT.

Consequence: THIS DOES NOT MEET THE REQUIREMENTS OF THE STANDARD.

Remedy: OWNERS WILL RECEIVE A LETTER/PACKAGE CONSISTING OF THE SECOND ISOFIX GUIDE WITH INSTALLATION INSTRUCTIONS, AND IN CERTAIN CASES, THE CORRECTED OWNER'S MANUAL MAY BE PROVIDED. IF THE OWNER WANTS TO TAKE THEIR VEHICLE TO A VOLVO DEALER FOR INSTALLATION OF THE GUIDE, IT WILL BE PERFORMED AT NO CHARGE TO THE OWNER. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN ON DECEMBER 19, 2003. OWNERS SHOULD CONTACT VOLVO AT 1-800-458-1552.

Reported: 2003-10-24 (October 24, 2003)

ON CERTAIN SEDANS AND STATION WAGONS, THERE MAY BE A FUEL LEAK FROM THE FUEL RAIL DUE TO INADEQUATE WELDING.

Consequence: FUEL LEAKAGE IN THE PRESENCE OF AN IGNITION SOURCE COULD RESULT IN A FIRE.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSTALL A V-CLAMP TO THE FUEL RAIL. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN ON JANUARY 28, 2004. OWNERS SHOULD CONTACT VOLVO AT 1-800-458-1552.

Reported: 2004-10-14 (October 14, 2004)

ON CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES, THE NON-RETURN VALVE MAY CRACK DUE TO A POOR WELD CAUSING A VACUUM LEAK.

Consequence: IF THIS OCCURS, MORE BRAKE PEDAL FORCE MAY BE REQUIRED TO STOP THE VEHICLE AND/OR MAY EXPERIENCE A ROUGH ENGINE IDLE, WHICH COULD RESULT IN A CRASH.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSPECT, AND IF NECESSARY, REPLACE THE VACUUM HOSE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON NOVEMBER 29, 2004. OWNERS SHOULD CONTACT VOLVO CARS AT 1-800-458-1552.

Reported: 2006-04-24 (April 24, 2006)

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.

Consequence: THIS MAY POTENTIALLY RESULT IN FUEL LINE LEAKAGE. FUEL LEAKAGE, IN THE PRESENCE OF AN IGNITION SOURCE, COULD RESULT IN A FIRE.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL CHANGE THE FUEL LINE MATERIAL TO TEFLON FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON JUNE 5, 2006. OWNERS MAY CONTACT VOLVO CARS AT 1-800-458-1552.

Reported: 2008-01-28 (January 28, 2008)

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.

Consequence: IF THIS OCCURS, THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT MAY ILLUMINATE. IN SOME CASES, THE VEHICLE MAY FAIL TO START OR MAY STALL, INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE PEM AND INSTALL IT IN A NEW LOCATION TO PREVENT CORROSION. THE RECALL BEGAN ON FEBRUARY 20, 2008. OWNERS MAY CONTACT VOLVO AT 1-800-458-1552.

Reported: 2010-11-08 (November 8, 2010)

VOLVO IS RECALLING CERTAIN VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH GARMIN 760 PORTABLE GLOBAL POSITIONING SYSTEM (GPS) UNITS BECAUSE THE BATTERIES ON THOSE UNITS MAY OVERHEAT.

Consequence: AN OVERHEATED BATTERY COULD LEAD TO A FIRE.

Remedy: VOLVO ADVISES OWNERS TO PLEASE STOP USING THE GARMIN PORTABLE GPS DEVICE IMMEDIATELY, AND VISIT THE GARMIN WEBSITE TO DETERMINE IF THEIR UNIT IS AFFECTED. THE UNIT'S BATTERY WILL BE REPLACED WITH A NEW BATTERY AND A SPACER WILL BE INSERTED ON TOP OF THE BATTERY NEXT TO THE PCB. THIS SERVICE WILL BE PERFORMED FREE OF CHARGE. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN ON NOVEMBER 18, 2010. OWNERS MAY CONTACT GARMIN AT 866-957-1981 OR VISIT GARMIN'S WEBSITE AT WWW.GARMIN.COM/NUVIBATTERYPCBRECALL.