2003 Volvo S40 problems and owner complaints
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
18 owner complaints analyzed
2 distinct recall campaigns
85,106 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 2003 model year. Data snapshot: . 9 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Power Train:Automatic Transmission is the most frequently named component, appearing in 4 of 18 complaints (22.2%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Transmission and shifting | 7 | 38.9% |
| Braking behavior | 3 | 16.7% |
| Steering behavior | 3 | 16.7% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 2 | 11.1% |
Topic matches use published keyword rules. They describe mentions, including negations or comparisons, and do not confirm a diagnosis. Read the matching rules.
Component breakdown
Number of unique complaints naming each component. Top eight shown.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Power Train:Automatic Transmission | 4 |
| Electrical System | 2 |
| Fuel System, Gasoline:Fuel Injection System:Fuel Rail | 2 |
| Tires | 2 |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 2 |
| Electrical System: Instrument Cluster/Panel | 1 |
| Engine | 1 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Cooling System | 1 |
Power Train:Automatic Transmission: 4; Electrical System: 2; Fuel System, Gasoline:Fuel Injection System:Fuel Rail: 2; Tires: 2; Vehicle Speed Control: 2; Electrical System: Instrument Cluster/Panel: 1; Engine: 1; Engine And Engine Cooling:Cooling System: 1
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 2 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 1 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 1 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 2 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 3 |
| 150,000 and above | 0 |
Under 25,000: 2; 25,000 to 49,999: 1; 50,000 to 74,999: 1; 75,000 to 99,999: 2; 100,000 to 149,999: 3; 150,000 and above: 0
100,000 to 149,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (3). 9 complaints have missing, zero or invalid mileage.
Complaints over time
Year the complaint was filed, not the vehicle model year or incident year. The snapshot year is partial.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| 2003 | 3 |
| 2004 | 4 |
| 2005 | 1 |
| 2006 | 1 |
| 2007 | 1 |
| 2010 | 3 |
| 2012 | 1 |
| 2013 | 1 |
| 2018 | 2 |
| 2021 | 1 |
2003: 3; 2004: 4; 2005: 1; 2006: 1; 2007: 1; 2010: 3; 2012: 1; 2013: 1; 2018: 2; 2021: 1
Pattern summary
Power Train:Automatic Transmission leads the component reports. Transmission and shifting appears in 7 complaint narratives. Braking behavior appears in 3 complaint narratives. Steering behavior appears in 3 complaint narratives. Use these patterns to inspect individual reports and prepare questions for a mechanic.
Calculated from recorded counts. An AI narrative has not been published for this selection.
Complaint evidence
Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.
Owner report 10016992 · 2003-05-04 (May 4, 2003)
TRANSMISSION SLIPS FROM 2ND TO 3RD FROM TIME TO TIME. ADDITIONALLY, THE CAR SHIFTS HARSHLY FROM 3RD TO 2ND GEAR. *JB
Owner-reported narrative. 7,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10016992 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10026090 · 2003-07-15 (July 15, 2003)
I AM CURRENTLY DRIVING A 2003 VOLVO S40. IT HAS BEEN EXPERIENCING A TRANSMISSION SLIP BETWEEN 2ND AND 3RD GEARS. I HAD TAKEN THE CAR BACK TO THE DEALER FOR TWO TIMES DUE TO THE ABOVE PROBLEM. THE ONLY THING THEY DID WAS UPGRADING THE PROGRAM, WHICH IT DID NOT HELP AT ALL. THE MAJOR PROBLEM IS I ALMOST GOT IN A MAJOR ACCIDENT ON 6/27/2003 WHILE I WAS MAKING A LEFT TURN AND THE CAR LOST POWER IN THE MIDDLE OF THE ROAD. THE ON COMING TRAFFIC BARELY MISSED RUNNING INTO MY VOLVO. THIS TRANSMISSION SLIPPING USUALLY LAST FOR 2 TO 3 SECS AND THIS…
Owner-reported narrative. 4,500 miles reported. Look up ODI 10026090 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10348314 · 2010-08-09 (August 9, 2010)
I WAS DRIVING WHEN THE CAR START TO ACCELERATED BY ITSELF, ACCEL PEDAL WENT TO THE FLOOR. I COULD NOT KEEP A CAR EVEN BY THE HAND BRAKE, SO AS IT WAS JUMPING AHEAD. THEN THE CAR BEGAN TO BLOW BLACK AND WHITE SMOKE OUT UNDER THE HOOD. SOME HOW I TURN OFF THE ENGINE, TOOK THE KEY AND RUN AWAY FROM THE CAR IN THE MIDDLE OF THE TRAFFIC ROAD. GREEN LIQUID UNDER THE CAR. IT DIED ON THE ROAD. POLICE CAME, THE CAR TOWED. AFTER SEVERAL DAYS OF CHECKOUT : T/3.8 CHECKOUT AND REPLACED T-STAT, TEMP SENSOR, T-STAT HOUSING GASKET; BG COOLANT FLUSH ; …
Owner-reported narrative. 85,106 miles reported. Look up ODI 10348314 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10463577 · 2012-06-29 (June 29, 2012)
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 VOLVO S40. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE SITTING AT A TRAFFIC STOP, THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED ABNORMALLY. THE CONTACT HAD HIS FOOT ON THE BRAKE PEDAL AND THEN HAD TO SHIFT INTO NEUTRAL TO GET THE VEHICLE TO SLOW DOWN. THE CONTACT PULLED THE VEHICLE OVER, SHUT OFF AND TRIED TO RESTART THE ENGINE BUT IT FAILED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A DEALER FOR INSPECTION BUT THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE WAS UNKNOWN. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED AND THEY INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT THERE WERE NO RECALLS FOR THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAG…
Owner-reported narrative. 94,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10463577 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10065869 · 2004-04-09 (April 9, 2004)
THE FOLLOWING IS A SYNOPSIS OF ORIGINAL E-MAIL I SENT TO VOLVO CARS OF NORTH AMERICA FOR YOUR RECORDS. *AK ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- I FINALLY HAD MY 2003 VOLVO S40 SERVICED FOR EXCESSIVE BUMPY RIDE PROBLEM THAT IVE COMPLAINED ABOUT SINCE THE TIME I BOUGHT IT FROM HOWARD ORLOFF IN MAY 2003. IM APPALLED TO LEARN THAT FOLKS AT HOWARD ORLOFF LEFT THE SPRING SPACERS IN PLACE ALONG THE FRONT SUSPENSION WHEN THEY SOLD ME THE CAR; AND AFTER SEVERAL COMPLAINS (OF WHICH YOU…
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10065869 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11066109 · 2018-01-31 (January 31, 2018)
PRIOR TO LATEST INCIDENT, THE CAR HAD OCCASIONALLY GONE INTO "LIMP" MODE, STICKING IN 3RD GEAR BUT DRIVABLE. THAT PROBLEM WOULD GO AWAY AFTER A DAY OR SO. LOCAL SHOP COULDN'T FIND ANYTHING DEFINITIVE. BIGGER PROBLEM WAS YESTERDAY EVENING'S LOSS OF THROTTLE CONTROL AND MULTIPLE ELECTRICAL ISSUES. IDLE THROTTLE SETTING (EG STOPPED AT LIGHTS) BECAME UNSTABLE, OCCASIONALLY REVVING UPTO TO ~2000RPM. MOMENTS LATER ON SUBURBAN DIVIDED MAIN STREET, THROTTLE STUCK AT ~2200RPM WHICH MEANT I WAS DOING 45MPH (STRAIGHT LINE) WITHOUT ANY PRESSURE APPLIED TO…
Owner-reported narrative. 108,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 11066109 at NHTSA ↗