Major Problems with Volvo V40 Derived from Complaints & Recalls

Learn about the common problems with a used Volvo V40 to avoid purchasing a bad year of the model.

Volvo V40 complaint overview

71 recorded complaints across model years
Years covered 2000–2004
Most recorded categories ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP (7), ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING (6), SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC (6)
Highest recorded count 50 in 2000

Complaint counts are reports, not confirmed defect rates. Older model years have had more time to accumulate reports, and sales volume and reporting coverage differ by year. A higher count does not by itself make a year the least reliable, and these figures are not a failure probability.

Compare two model years

Year A Year B

Problem category

Volvo V40 FlawScore

Best and Worst Years for Volvo V40

Explore the chart showing how many complaints have been filed for each year of Volvo V40.

Model Year	Complaints
2004 V40	4
2003 V40	2
2002 V40	4
2001 V40	11
2000 V40	50

Worst 3 Volvo V40 complaints

2000 Volvo V40 VACUUM Victims: 2 Mileage: 29000 miles

2000 Volvo V40 SEATS

2000 Volvo V40 ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING Mileage: 83000 miles

Browse Volvo V40 complaints by category

Problems with ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP, SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC and ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING are the most frequent issues recorded by the NHTSA from Volvo V40 owners.

Problem Category	Number of Problems
ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP > SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC brakes not depressing happened on our car and on the loaner we have from volvo twice in the last week....	7
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC 2003 volvo v40 cold start brake failure on cold winter mornings when temperature is below freezing after the engine is...	6 ~ 49684 miles
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING 2005 (sep/nov/dec): engine check light on 3 times. dealer repaired all 3 times and following months which is 2006 having...	6 ~ 54980 miles
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL transmission slips rpm/speed increases at approx 30 mph intermittently and after a turn for approx 1-2 seconds causing an unsafe	5 ~ 56799 miles
VACUUM > POWER ASSIST > SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC tl*the contact owns a used 2002 volvo v40 which was purchased in 2002. he stated that in order for the...	4 ~ 36000 miles
PADS > DISC > FOUNDATION COMPONENTS at 15k miles front brake pads had to be replaced. dealer advised that is normal. rear brakes should last 30k	4
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM i have a 2002 volvo v40 and it has 50 200 miles. my daughter drives the car. i have noticed...	3 ~ 44400 miles
ENGINE > ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING over the weekend my check engine came on in my v40 wagon. when idle it acted as if it was...	3 ~ 31376 miles
COIL SPRINGS > SPRINGS > REAR rear springs cracked on 2000 volvo v40 with only 63805 miles. *ak...	3 ~ 47600 miles
FOUNDATION COMPONENTS > SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC this is an ongoing problem with the brake system in this vehicle which began in the first weeks of ownership...	3
DISC > FOUNDATION COMPONENTS > SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC rear brake pads are worn down to the metal and the metal is cutting into the rotor. dealer said it	3
GASOLINE > ENGINE > ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING brakes not depressing happened on our car and on the loaner we have from volvo twice in the last week....	3
HEADLIGHTS > EXTERIOR LIGHTING while driving the driver's seat back moves backward sometimes causing the driver to lose control of the vehicle. the console...	3
BODY > STRUCTURE there is s rip on my seat belt that could result to an injury or death. seat belt cover was...	2 ~ 54750 miles
UNKNOWN OR OTHER there is s rip on my seat belt that could result to an injury or death. seat belt cover was...	2 ~ 54750 miles
SPRINGS > REAR > SUSPENSION upon returning to the dealership for the third time for a complaint about a suspicious sounding thump or clunk in...	2 ~ 18724 miles
AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION > POWER TRAIN transmission slips rpm/speed increases at approx 30 mph intermittently and after a turn for approx 1-2 seconds causing an unsafe	2
POWER ASSIST > SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC while backing vehicle out of garage in morning the brakes sometimes become very difficult to push (hence difficult to stop...	2 ~ 7500 miles
MASTER CYLINDER > FOUNDATION COMPONENTS > SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC brakes failed on may 17. dealer could not find problem. brakes failed on may 28. dealer replaced master cylinder and	2
WINDSHIELD WIPER/WASHER > VISIBILITY while driving in a snowstorm windshield wipers failed.*ak...	2
IGNITION > ELECTRICAL SYSTEM electrical system has total failure and shorted within one week of purchase unresolved problems with brake and dsm warning lights	2
SERVICE BRAKES tl* the contact owns a 2004 volvo v40. while driving 15 mph the brakes malfunctioned. the contact depressed the brake...	1 ~ 44000 miles
SEAT BELTS there is s rip on my seat belt that could result to an injury or death. seat belt cover was...	1 ~ 109500 miles
POWER TRAIN 2000 volvo v40 - very well maintained 2nd owner approximately 83 000 miles. i started noticing that the car would...	1 ~ 83000 miles
STEERING failure of upper strut mount bushings causing loss of suspension / steering. replaced for the third time on 2000 v-40...	1 ~ 70000 miles
FRONT > SUSPENSION failure of upper strut mount bushings causing loss of suspension / steering. replaced for the third time on 2000 v-40...	1 ~ 70000 miles
SIDE/WINDOW > AIR BAGS the driver's side airbag has failed for no apparent reason. the cost of repair will be around $900.00 the car...	1 ~ 87036 miles
HOSES/LINES/PIPING/FITTINGS > COOLING SYSTEM > ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING the vehicle both accelerated and decelerated without input placing me in a very unsafe situation. when i stopped the car...	1 ~ 103246 miles
HOSES, LINES/PIPING, AND FITTINGS > HYDRAULIC > POWER ASSIST on april 13 2005 at approximately 4 pm i was backing my v40 volvo 2004 wagon out of a parking...	1
LUGS/NUTS/BOLTS > WHEELS 2000 volvo v40 front wheels become loose. (1) car was taken to dealership for recall on braking system. (2) departing...	1 ~ 65000 miles
BUCKLE ASSEMBLY > FRONT > SEAT BELTS seat belts are defective. when pulling on the seat belts they will not reach the buckle. thus making it impossible...	1 ~ 18000 miles
STRUCTURE dt: consumer states when there is a sun glare on the dashboard there isn't enough illumination. the consumer was unable...	1
WHEEL BEARING > FRONT > SUSPENSION the wheel bearing snapped causing the tire to wobble. dealer notified. *nlm...	1
HATCHBACK/LIFTGATE > BODY > STRUCTURE the rear hatch did not close. *nlm...	1
WHEEL CYLINDERS > DRUM > FOUNDATION COMPONENTS brakes failed on may 17. dealer could not find problem. brakes failed on may 28. dealer replaced master cylinder and	1
CONTROL MODULE (TCM, PCM) > AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION > POWER TRAIN while driving 5 mph on a snowy hill traction control failed. vehicle was unmoveable. vehicle towed to dealer sensor was	1
BRAKE LIGHTS > EXTERIOR LIGHTING brake light bulbs fall out of light harness. repeated problem - dealer only replaces bulbs but bulbs still fall out	1
RACK AND PINION > STEERING while driving home from work and trying to pull into the community development went to apply brakes and they depressed...	1
AIR BAGS in a minimal accident with no passenger in the passenger seat air bags deployed causing excessive and needless damage to	1
WHEELS the driver side wheel was loose which caused a noise.*jb...	1
SEATS while driving the driver's seat back moves backward sometimes causing the driver to lose control of the vehicle. the console...	1
RADIO/TAPE DECK/CD ETC. > ELECTRICAL > EQUIPMENT while driving the driver's seat back moves backward sometimes causing the driver to lose control of the vehicle. the console...	1
HORN > ELECTRICAL SYSTEM horn work some of the time....	1
HUB > WHEELS while driving the driver's seat back moves backward sometimes causing the driver to lose control of the vehicle. the console...	1

FAQ

What year Volvo V40 is the most reliable?

Speaking of the models produced in the last 5 years, Volvo V40 models of 2003, 2004, 2002 year of manufacture have had the least number of complaints.

What year was a bad year for Volvo V40?

Volvo V40 models of 2000 and 2001 are probably the years to be avoided like the plague due to a higher than an average number of issues reported.

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