2009 Volvo S40: complaints, problems and recalls

NEW 2009 VOLVO S40 SEDAN BRAKE FIRE 1. VEHICLE WAS DRIVEN 3 MILES FROM A HIGH SCHOOL PARKING LOT TO THE OWNER'S HOME. 2. THERE WAS A FIRE BETWEEN THE BRAKE PAD AND THE ROTOR IN THE REAR PASSENGER SIDE WHEEL WELL. 3. THE ROTOR, BRAKE CALIPER AND BRAKE PADS WERE REPLACED. *TR

Owner-reported narrative. 320 miles reported. Look up ODI 10291072 at NHTSA ↗

MY WIFE WAS DRIVING HOME FROM A GROCERY STORE 3 MILES AWAY. A QUARTER MILE FROM THE HOUSE SHE NOTICED A BURNING SMELL. SHE THOUGHT IT WAS FROM THE OUTSIDE SINCE BRUSH FIRES ARE COMMON AROUND SOUTH FL. SHE PARKED ONTO OUR DRIVEWAY AND NOTICED SMOKE RISING FROM AROUND THE HOOD. SHE TOOK THE KEY OFF OF THE IGNITION AND THE ENGINE KEPT RUNNING. SHE CALLED THE FIRE DEPARTMENT WHILE A NEIGHBOR HELPED AND OPENED THE HOOD. IMMEDIATELY SMOKE STARTED BILLOWING AND THEY OBSERVED FIRE IN THE ENGINE.TWO FIRE ENGINES SHOWED UP AND CONTAINED THE FIRE BEFORE D…

Owner-reported narrative. 60,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10549809 at NHTSA ↗

MY WIFE WAS DRIVING HOME FROM A GROCERY STORE 3 MILES AWAY. A QUARTER MILE FROM THE HOUSE SHE NOTICED A BURNING SMELL. SHE THOUGHT IT WAS FROM THE OUTSIDE SINCE BRUSH FIRES ARE COMMON AROUND SOUTH FL. SHE PARKED ONTO OUR DRIVEWAY AND NOTICED SMOKE RISING FROM AROUND THE HOOD. SHE TOOK THE KEY OFF OF THE IGNITION AND THE ENGINE KEPT RUNNING. SHE CALLED THE FIRE DEPARTMENT WHILE A NEIGHBOR HELPED AND OPENED THE HOOD. IMMEDIATELY SMOKE STARTED BILLOWING AND THEY OBSERVED FIRE IN THE ENGINE.TWO FIRE ENGINES SHOWED UP AND CONTAINED THE FIRE BEFORE D…

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10567209 at NHTSA ↗

TIRE PRESSURE MONITORING SYSTEM (TPMS) FAILURE WHICH ALMOST RESULTED IN A CRASH AT HIGH SPEED. TPMS AIR STEM BROKE WHILE DRIVING. THE TPMS THEN FELL INTO THE TIRE, LEAVING THE AIR STEM HOLE WIDE OPEN, WHICH RESULTED IN RAPID DEFLATION OF THE TIRE. OPERATOR OF THE VEHICLE WAS ABLE TO BARELY KEEP CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE AND BRING IT SAFELY TO A STOP; TIRE WAS COMPLETELY DESTROYED - NOTHING BUT THE WHEEL RIM WAS LEFT. MECHANIC / RECOVERY PERSONNEL WITH TOW TRUCK SAID IT WAS A MINOR MIRACLE THAT AN ACCIDENT/ CRASH WAS AVOIDED. WHEN REPORTED TO …

Owner-reported narrative. 30,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10573317 at NHTSA ↗

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 VOLVO S40. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 25 MPH, THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED, BUT THE VEHICLE FAILED TO ACCELERATE. THE VEHICLE INDEPENDENTLY DECELERATED AND STALLED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE TRANSMISSION FUEL LINE WAS FRACTURED. THE TRANSMISSION FUEL LINE AND THE TRANSMISSION FLUID WERE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 65,000.

Owner-reported narrative. 65,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10788898 at NHTSA ↗

BOTH FRONT WHEEL BEARINGS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED WITHIN 1 YEAR OF EACH OTHER. VEHICLE IS NOT DRIVEN OVER ROUGH TERRAIN OR POT HOLES.

Owner-reported narrative. 95,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10918075 at NHTSA ↗

IMPROPER DRAINING ROUTE WHICH IN RESULT CAUSES MOLD AND DAMAGE TO FLOOR MATS AND SEAT CUSHIONS IN RAINY WEATHER. TRANSMISSION FLUID HAS HIGHER ACIDITY LEVELS. COOLANT REGULARLY FALLS BELOW MINIMUM LEVEL REQUIRED.

Owner-reported narrative. 80,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10984381 at NHTSA ↗

HEADLIGHT WIRING- MADE AN ATTEMPT TO CHANGE LIGHT BULBS FOR HEADLAMPS. COVERING AROUND ELECTRICAL WIRING HARNESS WHICH CONNECT TO HEADLIGHT CRUMBLED IN MY HANDS AND ELECTRICAL WIRING IS EXPOSED. WORRIES THAT THIS MAY BE POTENTIAL FIRE HAZARD TO MY VEHICLE AND MYSELF. MY VEHICLE WAS STATIONARY IN MY DRIVEWAY.

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 11156046 at NHTSA ↗

Reported: 2008-07-23 (July 23, 2008)

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.

Consequence: THIS CAN RESULT IN A RAPID DRAINAGE OF THE POWER STEERING FLUID IN THE SYSTEM AND A COMPLETE LOSS OF POWER ASSISTANCE, INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSPECT AND REPLACE THE STEERING RETURN LINE HOSE ASSEMBLY FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON AUGUST 13, 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.

Reported: 2010-11-22 (November 22, 2010)

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.

Consequence: POSITIONING OF THE SEAT BEYOND THE INTENDED MAXIMUM CAN CAUSE INCREASED RISK OF INJURY TO THE PASSENGER IN THE EVENT OF A CRASH.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSPECT THE FRONT POWER SEAT STOPS FOR BOTH FRONT SEATS FOR THE PRESENCE OF AN "END STOP" AND REPAIR THE VEHICLES AS NECESSARY FREE OF CHARGE. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN ON DECEMBER 23, 2010. OWNERS MAY CONTACT VOLVO AT 1-800-458-1552 OR AT CUSTOMERCARE@VOLVOFORLIFE.COM.