Volvo V40 problems and owner complaints
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
73 owner complaints analyzed
5 distinct recall campaigns
56,000 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 1993 to 2013 model years. Data snapshot: . 29 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip is the most frequently named component, appearing in 7 of 73 complaints (9.6%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Braking behavior | 37 | 50.7% |
| Transmission and shifting | 5 | 6.8% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 5 | 6.8% |
| Engine operation | 3 | 4.1% |
| Steering behavior | 3 | 4.1% |
| Fuel system concerns | 1 | 1.4% |
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 |
|---|---|
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip | 7 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling | 6 |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic | 6 |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 5 |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Foundation Components:Disc:Pads | 4 |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Power Assist:Vacuum | 4 |
| Electrical System | 3 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine | 3 |
Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip: 7; Engine And Engine Cooling: 6; Service Brakes, Hydraulic: 6; Vehicle Speed Control: 5; Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Foundation Components:Disc:Pads: 4; Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Power Assist:Vacuum: 4; Electrical System: 3; Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine: 3
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 5 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 8 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 6 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 6 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 3 |
| 150,000 and above | 1 |
Under 25,000: 5; 25,000 to 49,999: 8; 50,000 to 74,999: 6; 75,000 to 99,999: 6; 100,000 to 149,999: 3; 150,000 and above: 1
25,000 to 49,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (8). 44 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 |
|---|---|
| 2000 | 7 |
| 2001 | 9 |
| 2002 | 12 |
| 2003 | 14 |
| 2004 | 4 |
| 2005 | 4 |
| 2006 | 3 |
| 2007 | 4 |
| 2008 | 6 |
| 2010 | 4 |
| 2011 | 3 |
| 2015 | 1 |
| 2016 | 1 |
| 2019 | 1 |
2000: 7; 2001: 9; 2002: 12; 2003: 14; 2004: 4; 2005: 4; 2006: 3; 2007: 4; 2008: 6; 2010: 4; 2011: 3; 2015: 1; 2016: 1; 2019: 1
Pattern summary
Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip leads the component reports. Braking behavior appears in 37 complaint narratives. Transmission and shifting appears in 5 complaint narratives. Electrical and battery issues appears in 5 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 10000114 · 2002-12-16 (December 16, 2002)
UNPREDICTABLE EXTENDED BRAKING DISTANCE ON VOLVO MODELS V40 AND V70. VOLVO HAS A TSB THAT REMEDIES THIS DANGEROUS PROBLEM (SHOULD BE A RECALL!!!)
Owner-reported narrative. 15,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10000114 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10011979 · 2003-03-18 (March 18, 2003)
WHEN THE DRIVER APPLIED THE ABS BRAKES THEY LOCKED UP RESULTING IN EXTENDED STOPPING DISTANCE. *NLM
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10011979 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10011984 · 2003-03-18 (March 18, 2003)
WHILE DRIVING THE TRANSMISSION LOCKED UP LOCKING THE REAR TIRES WHICH MADE IT DIFFICULT TO CONTROL THE VEHICLE. *NLM
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10011984 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10409415 · 2011-06-29 (June 29, 2011)
2000 VOLVO V40 - VERY WELL MAINTAINED, 2ND OWNER, APPROXIMATELY 83,000 MILES. I STARTED NOTICING THAT THE CAR WOULD SURGE ON THE HIGHWAY WITH THE A/C ON AND WHEN I HAD STEADY PRESSURE ON THE ACCELERATOR (I.E. ICRUISING AT A STEADY SPEED). THE SURGE IN RPM'S WOULD BE RHYTHMIC, VERY SUBTLE (100-200 RPMS) AND CONTINUE INDEFINITELY UNTIL I TURN THE A/C OFF - AT WHICH TIME THEY WOULD CEASE. THEY WOULD SOMETIMES RESUME WHEN I TURNED THE A/C COMPRESSOR BACK ON. THIS HAPPENED INFREQUENTLY OVER THE PAST MONTH (IT'S JUNE IN CT, MY STATE OF RESIDENCE) A…
Owner-reported narrative. 83,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10409415 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10156816 · 2006-05-04 (May 4, 2006)
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING AT 55 MPH THE BRAKES FAILED RESULTING IN A CRASH. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED AT THE SCENE AND THE DRIVER AND PASSENGER SUSTAINED MINOR INJURIES. THE DEALERSHIP DETERMINED ON CERTAIN VEHICLES WATER CAN ENTER THE ELECTRICAL BRAKE VACUUM PUMP, CAUSING THE PUMP TO FAIL. THERE IS A NHTSA RECALL, # 03V474000, REGARDING THE SERVICE BRAKES HYDRAULIC POWER ASSIST VACUUM. THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL.
Owner-reported narrative. 29,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10156816 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 722662 · 2000-05-14 (May 14, 2000)
BRAKES NOT DEPRESSING, HAPPENED ON OUR CAR AND ON THE LOANER WE HAVE FROM VOLVO TWICE IN THE LAST WEEK. THE ENGINE: A BLACK PUFF OF SMOKE CAME OUT THE BACK, THE OIL LIGHT FLASHED ON AND THE ENGINE LOCKED BEFORE I COULD PULL OVER TO THE SHOULDER. THERE WAS NOT ELECTRICAL WARNING AND NO PHYSICAL WARNING (LEAKING OIL ETC.).
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 722662 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10132411 · 2005-08-11 (August 11, 2005)
OVER THE WEEKEND MY CHECK ENGINE CAME ON IN MY V40 WAGON. WHEN IDLE IT ACTED AS IF IT WAS GOING TO STALL. A FEW TIMES IT DID, WHEN IDLE AT A STOP. IT DID RESTART MOST OF THE TIME RIGHT AWAY, BUT A FEW TIMES IT TOOK A COUPLE OF TRIES AND WAITING. I MADE AN APPOINTMENT TO BRING IT IN FOR SERVICE ON 6/28. ON 6/27 I WAS TAKING MY 7 MONTH OLD BABY TO DAY CARE WHEN IT STALLED IN THE MIDDLE OF DRIVING. LUCKILY THERE WAS NO ONE BEHIND ME AND I WAS ABLE TO PULL TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. THE CAR WENT COMPLETELY DEAD WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 45 MPH. …
Owner-reported narrative. 41,901 miles reported. Look up ODI 10132411 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10201268 · 2007-08-30 (August 30, 2007)
2005 (SEP/NOV/DEC): ENGINE CHECK LIGHT ON 3 TIMES. DEALER REPAIRED ALL 3 TIMES AND FOLLOWING MONTHS, WHICH IS 2006, HAVING SUDDEN SHIFTING/ACCELARATING AT LOW SPEED. DEALER FIXED 2 TIMES AND 1 TIME COULDNOT FIND THE ISSUE. AUG. 18, 2007: CONTINUED HAVING SAME PROBLEMS PLUS CAR WAS JERKING ON FWY SPEED. TWO DAYS LATER, I COULDN'T START THE CAR. DEALER REPLACE NEG. BATTERY CABLE AND #4 IGNITION COIL. AUG.21, 2007: CALLED TO INFORM VOLVO NORTH AMERICA AND THEY SUGGESTED THAT I SHOULD TALK TO DEALER SERVICE MANAGER. AUG. 27, 2007: THE CAR …
Owner-reported narrative. 56,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10201268 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10250489 · 2008-12-02 (December 2, 2008)
FAILURE OF UPPER STRUT MOUNT BUSHINGS CAUSING LOSS OF SUSPENSION / STEERING. REPLACED FOR THE THIRD TIME ON 2000 V-40 VOLVO. RECENTLY VOLVO OFFERED A NEWLY DESIGNED HEAVY DUTY MOUNT AT THREE TIME THE REPLACEMENT COST DEMONSTRATING THAT ORIGINAL EQUIPMENT MOUNT WAS SEVERELY UNDER DESIGNED. *TR
Owner-reported narrative. 70,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10250489 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 729656 · 2000-08-31 (August 31, 2000)
OIL CAME OUT OF ENGINE - OIL LIGHT NOT COME ON - ENGINE STOPPED IN MIDDLE OF HIGHWAY WITH NO WARNING. JUST MISSED AN ACCIDENT - STEERING LOCKED, ENGINE STOPPED - COASTED TO EDGE OF HWY. REPORTED TO VOLVO - SAID MY FAULT - WOULD NOT INSPECT INSTRUMENTS. COST $7100. IN SHOP FOR 4 MONTHS TO REPAIR - SO FAR. HAVE PROBLEM WITH 2ND EGINE - FUEL LEAK. ASKED TO REPORT BY CAS.
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 729656 at NHTSA ↗
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.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| 2000 | 1 |
| 2001 | 2 |
| 2002 | 1 |
| 2003 | 2 |
| 2004 | 3 |
| 2013 | 0 |
2000: 1; 2001: 2; 2002: 1; 2003: 2; 2004: 3; 2013: 0