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Volvo S40 problems and owner complaints

Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.

Key facts

491 owner complaints analyzed

12 distinct recall campaigns

71,000 mi median reported failure mileage

Scope: 2000 to 2011 model years. Data snapshot: . 305 complaints include usable failure mileage.

Owner-reported patterns

Most common problems

Electrical System is the most frequently named component, appearing in 80 of 491 complaints (16.3%). A complaint can name multiple components.

Recurring terms in complaint narratives
TopicMatching reportsShare of complaints
Braking behavior15030.5%
Electrical and battery issues5511.2%
Engine operation489.8%
Steering behavior346.9%
Transmission and shifting224.5%
Fuel system concerns224.5%

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.

Electrical System
80
Vehicle Speed Control
40
Service Brakes, Hydraulic
29
Engine
27
Engine And Engine Cooling
26
Air Bags
25
Fuel/Propulsion System
23
Unknown Or Other
22
Component breakdown data
CategoryCount
Electrical System80
Vehicle Speed Control40
Service Brakes, Hydraulic29
Engine27
Engine And Engine Cooling26
Air Bags25
Fuel/Propulsion System23
Unknown Or Other22

Electrical System: 80; Vehicle Speed Control: 40; Service Brakes, Hydraulic: 29; Engine: 27; Engine And Engine Cooling: 26; Air Bags: 25; Fuel/Propulsion System: 23; Unknown Or Other: 22

Reported problems by failure mileage

Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.

Under 25,000
48
25,000 to 49,999
48
50,000 to 74,999
65
75,000 to 99,999
71
100,000 to 149,999
56
150,000 and above
17
Reported problems by failure mileage data
CategoryCount
Under 25,00048
25,000 to 49,99948
50,000 to 74,99965
75,000 to 99,99971
100,000 to 149,99956
150,000 and above17

Under 25,000: 48; 25,000 to 49,999: 48; 50,000 to 74,999: 65; 75,000 to 99,999: 71; 100,000 to 149,999: 56; 150,000 and above: 17

75,000 to 99,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (71). 186 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.

2000
11
2001
36
2002
19
2003
39
2004
30
2005
28
2006
18
2007
30
2008
29
2009
21
2010
36
2011
27
2012
19
2013
19
2014
26
2015
24
2016
16
2017
13
2018
13
2019
8
2020
13
2021
6
2022
4
2023
2
2024
2
2025
2
Complaints over time data
CategoryCount
200011
200136
200219
200339
200430
200528
200618
200730
200829
200921
201036
201127
201219
201319
201426
201524
201616
201713
201813
20198
202013
20216
20224
20232
20242
20252

2000: 11; 2001: 36; 2002: 19; 2003: 39; 2004: 30; 2005: 28; 2006: 18; 2007: 30; 2008: 29; 2009: 21; 2010: 36; 2011: 27; 2012: 19; 2013: 19; 2014: 26; 2015: 24; 2016: 16; 2017: 13; 2018: 13; 2019: 8; 2020: 13; 2021: 6; 2022: 4; 2023: 2; 2024: 2; 2025: 2

Pattern summary

Electrical System leads the component reports. Braking behavior appears in 150 complaint narratives. Electrical and battery issues appears in 55 complaint narratives. Engine operation appears in 48 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 10010055 · 2003-03-06 (March 6, 2003)

WHEN THE BRAKES WERE APPLIED, THE VEHICLE EXPERIENCED EXTENDED STOPPING DISTANCE.*JB

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10010055 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10022718 · 2003-07-18 (July 18, 2003)

THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN FOR AN OIL CHANGE WHEN THE CONSUMER FOUND OUT THE REAR BRAKES WERE COMPLETELY GONE. THE REAR BRAKE PADS AND ROTORS HAD TO BE REPLACED. THE TOTAL COST FOR ALL REPAIRS WERE $545.61. *AK ALSO THE SEAT BELT HAD TO BE REPLACED. *CB *JB

Owner-reported narrative. 14,469 miles reported. Look up ODI 10022718 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10082461 · 2004-07-22 (July 22, 2004)

WHILE DRIVING, VEHICLE WILL LOOSE ELECTRICAL POWER AND SHUT OFF. SOMETIMES PRIOR TO THIS HAPPENING LIGHTS WILL DIM AND FLICKER. SOMETIMES THE ENGINE WILL STUMBLE. THIS SEEMS TO HAPPEN MORE WHEN IT IS HOT OUTSIDE AND THE AC IS ON. THIS HAPPENS MOSTLY WHEN CAR IS AT IDLE OR LOW SPEEDS. CAR WAS TAKEN TO DEALER AND THEY CANNOT DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM. *JB

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10082461 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10091612 · 2004-09-08 (September 8, 2004)

CONSUMER RECEIVED RECALL 03-V-474-000 FOR REPLACEMENT OF ELECTRICAL BRAKE VACUUM PUMP. NO PARTS WERE AVAILABLE. SPOKE WITH A SERVICE MANAGER. *AK

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10091612 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10083938 · 2004-07-30 (July 30, 2004)

WHEN DRIVING WITHIN 10-15 MPH OR 30-35 MPH VEHICLE STALLED. VEHICLE BEEN TO THE DEALER ON 4 SEPARATE OCCASIONS, BUT PROBLEM RECURRED. *AK

Owner-reported narrative. 48,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10083938 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10202377 · 2007-09-10 (September 10, 2007)

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 VOLVO S40. WHILE DRIVING 65 MPH, THE ENGINE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO PULL SAFELY OFF THE ROAD. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE FAILURE WAS CAUSED BY COOLANT LEAKING FROM THE ENGINE. THE CAUSE OF THE LEAKAGE WAS UNKNOWN. THE CONTACT HAD A MAINTENANCE PACKAGE PERFORMED ON AUGUST 9, 2007 AND NO FAILURES WERE FOUND IN THE ENGINE. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 98,000. THE CONSUMER STATED SHE EXPECTS TO BE REIMBURSED THE FULL $3,000 FOR REPAIRS. THE CONSUMER STATED UPON MAINTENANCE REPAIR T…

Owner-reported narrative. 98,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10202377 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10031061 · 2003-08-08 (August 8, 2003)

RECENTLY PURCHASED USED 2000 VOLVO S40 SEDAN. THE HORN IS VERY DIFFICULT TO OPERATE, WHICH I CONSIDER TO BE A DANGEROUS SAFETY PROBLEM. WHEN I POINTED THIS OUT TO THE SERVICE TECHNICIAN, HE TOLD ME THAT IT WAS A DESIGN FLAW IN THE PLACEMENT OF THE AIRBAG MODULE IN THE STEERING COLUMN.

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10031061 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10255194 · 2009-01-15 (January 15, 2009)

CUSTOMERS CAR BROKE DOWN, LOST STEERING CONTROL, INNER AND OUTER TIE-ROD END CAME APART AT THREADS, NO APARENT DAMAGE TO PARTS, REPLACED BOTH PARTS, SAVED OLD PARTS. *TR

Owner-reported narrative. 103,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10255194 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10175999 · 2006-12-12 (December 12, 2006)

VEHICLE: VOLVO, S40 (YEAR:2000), MILES: 95,000 VEHICLE HAS PROBLEMS IN LINE WITH THE OTHER 360,000 RECALLED VOLVOS INVOLVING ETM. WHY IS S40 NOT PART OF RECALL? LAST WEEKEND VEHICLE HAD RECURRENCE OF CONTINUING PROBLEM. VEHICLE SUDDENLY AND VIOLENTLY DOWN SHIFTS AT ROAD AND HIGHWAY SPEEDS. THIS HAS RESULTS IN RAPID SLOWING OF VEHICLE AND A MASSIVE RPM SURGE. THIS COULD RESULT IN A SERIOUS ACCIDENT AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS. VEHICLE ACTS LIKE IT SHIFTS INTO "SAFE" OR "LIMP" MODE, BUT THERE ARE NO TROUBLE LIGHTS THAT COME ON. HAVE REPLACED MA…

Owner-reported narrative. 30,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10175999 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10357892 · 2010-09-27 (September 27, 2010)

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 VOLVO S40. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WOULD SPORADICALLY ACCELERATE INDEPENDENTLY. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE THROTTLE WAS REPLACED IN 2008 AND THE FAILURE DID NOT RECUR UNTIL 2010. MOST RECENTLY, THE CONTACT WAS ENTERING A PARKING LOT WHEN THE VEHICLE ABNORMALLY ACCELERATED. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO STOP THE VEHICLE BY SHIFTING INTO PARK. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED AND THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT HER MODEL WAS NOT INVOLVED IN ANY RECALLS THEREFORE ANY REPAIRS WOULD BE AT HER EXPENSE. THE VEHICLE WA…

Owner-reported narrative. 88,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10357892 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 757298 · 2002-01-24 (January 24, 2002)

FUEL GAUGE REPORTS INACCURATE FUEL LEVEL READINGS. RATE AT WHICH GAUGE DEPLETES IS TOO RAPID SUCH THAT WHEN GAUGE REGISTERS 1/2 TANK, 3/4 TANK OF FUEL EXISTS, WHEN GAUGE REGISTERS 1/4 TANK, 1/2 TANK EXISTS, AND SO ON. GAUGE REGISTERS 3-4 GALLONS LESS THAN WHAT IS IN THE FUEL TANK (CAPACITY: 16 GALLONS). PROBLEM REPORTED TO DEALERSIP TWICE. DEALER ADVISES THAT THERE IS NO FIX FOR THIS ISSUE-- STATES THAT VOLVO NORTH AMERICA DOES NOT HAVE A FIX CURRENTLY UNDER DEVELOPMENT. PROBLEM BEGAN TO OCCUR APPROX 3 TO 4 MONTHS AFTER NEW VEHICLE PURCHAS…

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 757298 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 11055898 · 2017-12-21 (December 21, 2017)

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 VOLVO S40. THE CONTACT INQUIRED ABOUT GETTING HER VEHICLE INCLUDED IN AN OPEN RECALL. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THERE WAS A DELAY WHEN THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED. THE CONTACT ALSO STATED THAT SHE OBSERVED A FUEL ODOR INSIDE THE VEHICLE AND SHE WAS CONCERNED OF A FUEL LEAK. IN ADDITION, THE CHECK ENGINE INDICATOR ILLUMINATED BEFORE AND AFTER THE FAILURE. THE CONTACT SPECIFICALLY INQUIRED ABOUT NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 08V033000 (FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE) AND CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 06V137000 (FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE). THE CO…

Owner-reported narrative. 130,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 11055898 at NHTSA ↗

Compare model years

Recalls by model year

All campaigns in the snapshot affecting each model year, including recalls announced years later.

Recall campaigns

Shared campaigns appear once in each affected model year.

2000
1
2001
2
2002
1
2003
2
2004
6
2005
3
2006
3
2007
2
2008
2
2009
3
2010
2
2011
2
Recall campaigns data
CategoryCount
20001
20012
20021
20032
20046
20053
20063
20072
20082
20093
20102
20112

2000: 1; 2001: 2; 2002: 1; 2003: 2; 2004: 6; 2005: 3; 2006: 3; 2007: 2; 2008: 2; 2009: 3; 2010: 2; 2011: 2

Year-by-year records

Volvo S40 model-year comparison
Model yearComplaintsRecallsChange in recalls
20001221Not available
2001842+1
2002271-1
2003182+1
2004486+4
2005693-3
20065830
2007252-1
20081620
2009103+1
201092-1
2011520