2001 Volvo S40 Complaint Log

AT 19,600 MILES THE REAR BRAKE PADS WORE OUT ON MY WIFE'S 2001 S40 VOLVO SEDAN. WE WERE TOLD BY THE DEALER THIS IS NORMAL AND THAT THEY HAVE SEEN SOME S40S WEAR THE REAR BRAKES OUT AS EARLY AS 12,000 MILES. BASED ON A REASONABLE PERSONS EXPERIENCE THIS IS MUCH TOO EARLY FOR BRAKE PADS, ESPECIALLY THE REAR ONES TO BE WEARING. THIS MUST BE A DESIGN DEFECT AND SHOULD BE COVERED UNDER WARRANTY OR BETTER QUALITY PADS SHOULD BE INSTALLED ON THE CAR. SEARCHING THE WEB I HAVE THIS IS A COMMON COMPLAINT ABOUT S40S. BELOW IS ONE EXAMPLE I FOUND:*AK 9TH MAY 2002, 14:41JUST HAD MY VOLVO REAR BRAKE PADS REPLACED AT LESS THAN 20,000 MILES (AT MY COST!). AT INSPECTION THE REAR PADS HAD 0% REMAINING, WHILE THE FRONT STILL HAD 70%. WHEN I TOLD THE DEALER THAT THIS WAS UNACCEPTABLE, THEY SAID "THIS IS NORMAL FOR THE VOLVO S40". SO MY RESPONSE WAS, AND STILL IS, "IF IT IS NORMAL TO HAVE TO REPLACE BRAKE PADS ON THE VOLVO S40 EVERY 15,000 TO 20,000 MILES, THEN THE THE VOLVO S40 IS UNACCEPTABLE". VOLVO REFUSED TO COVER THIS ABNORMAL WEAR UNDER WARRANTY. PLEASE REGISTER MY COMPLAINT WITH VOLVO AND ADD THIS COMPLAINT TO YOUR GROWING LIST OF PRODUCT DEFECTS. THANKS.

WHEN BRAKING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS BRAKES WOULD INTERMITTENTLY WORK, RESULTING IN EXTENDED STOPPING DISTANCE.*AK

I HAD THE BRAKES SERVICED ON MY 2001 VOLVO S40 AT THE VOLVO DEALER. AT ONLY 21,500 MILES THE REAR BRAKES WERE GRINDING LOUDLY. I COMPLAINED TO VOLVO CONSUMER SERVICES FROM THEIR WEB PAGE. THEY WERE NOT ONLY NOT SURPRISED AT THE REAR BRAKE FAILURE AT 21,500 MILES, BUT SAID THAT THEY USUALLY GO OUT BETWEEN 10K AND 20K MILES. THE REAR BRAKES ON THAT VEHICLE ARE POORLY DESIGNED, CREATING A POTENTIAL ACCIDENT HAZARD BECAUSE OF CONSUMERS' IGNORANCE OF THEIR UNDER-ENGINEERING. AN AMERICAN CAR WOULD LIKELY GET AS MUCH AS 80K MILES OUT OF THE REAR BRAKES, BEING REPLACED ONLY THE THIRD TIME THE FRONT BRAKES ARE SERVICE. AN AMERICAN CAR COMPANY THAT IS AS OBVIOUSLY AWARE OF A FAILURE OF THIS NATURE WOULD LIKELY HAVE DONE A REDESIGN AND RECALL. THE REAR BRAKE PADS ON THE VOLVO S40 ARE NO BIGGER THAN THOSE OF A MOTORCYCLE. THIS IS AN UNSAFE VEHICLE AND VOLVO SHOULD BE FORCED TO RECALL THEM. *NLM

BRAKE POWER ASSIST FAILED. DEALER NOTIFIED. *AK THE BRAKES WERE SOFT UPON COLD STARTS AND WAS DISFUNCTIONAL UNTIL THE VEHICLE HAD WARMED UP. THE BRAKE WAS DEPRESSED MULTIPLE TIMES. THE DEALER ATTEMPTED ON FIVE OCCASIONS TO CORRECT THE PROBLEM AND REPLACED THE VACUUM HOSE TWICE. A REPRESENTATIVE OF VOLVO RECOMMENDED NEW WIRING AND IT SEEMED TO HAVE REMEDIED THE PROBLEM. *SCC *JB

WHILE PARKED IN THE DRIVEWAY, A WATER BALLOON HIT THE SUN ROOF OF THE CAR AND IT SHATTERED. *TT

REAR BRAKE PADS NEEDED REPLACEMENT AT 13,500 MILES. THIS IS UNUSUALLY EARLY AND WHEN I STATED THAT I WAS UPSET VOLVO SAID "THEY WERE HAVING PROBLEMS WITH THE S40 PADS BEING TOO SOFT." ALTHOUGH, THEY STILL MADE ME PAY FOR THE REPLACEMENT.THEY SAID VOLVO WAS MAKING THE NEW PADS BETTER BUT BECAUSE IT WAS TOO EARLY THEY DID NOT KNOW HOW LONG THEY WOULD BE LASTING. *AK

CONSUMER'S VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN A FRONTAL COLLISION WHILE DRIVING AT 25MPH AND NEITHER AIR BAGS DEPLOYED. DEALER NOTIFIED. *AK

THE VOLVO DEALER TOLD ME I NEED NEW REAR BRAKES WHEN I HAD JUST UNDER 14,000 ON MY CAR AND I WOULD BE FINANCIALLY RESPONSIBLE. THEY SAID THIS IS "NORMAL" FOR THE S40. ISN'T THIS VERY UNUSUAL? I FEEL IT IS A MANUFACTURING DEFECT AND NEEDED TO BE REPORTED. THANK YOU. DT

TL* - THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 VOLVO S40. THE VEHICLE HESITATED WHEN ACCELERATING. THE VEHICLE IDLED ROUGHLY. THE DEALER COULD NOT FIND ANYTHING WRONG. THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT STARTED TURNING ON. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 36,000. THE DEALER REPLACED THE O2 SENSOR THE VEHICLE CONTINUED TO HESITATE , AND THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT STILL CAME ON INTERMITTENTLY. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 29,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 86000. *AK

VOLVO MODEL S40 VACUUM BRAKE FAILURE. MY 28 YEAR OLD DAUGHTER WAS MAKING A LOW SPEED TURN AT INTERSECTION AND BRAKES FAILED AND SHE HIT A TELEPHONE POLE. IN 2003 SHE WAS COMING TO A STOP BEHIND ANOTHER CAR AND THE SAME THING HAPPENED. SUBSEQUENTLY THEY REPLACED THE VACUUM PUMP AT THE 30,000 MILE SERVICE ON 8/14/03. WE JUST READ ABOUT RECALL ON VEHICLES MADE DURING 2000. *LA

THE REAR BRAKE PADS ARE WEARING PREMATURELY AND HAD TO BE REPLACED AT 12500 MILES. THE DEALER SAYS THIS IS TYPICAL OF THIS MODEL, AND THAT THEY ARE TO SMALL. IT COSTS $135 EACH TIME THESE HAVE TO BE REPLACED. I BELIEVE THIS COULD BE A SAFETY ISSUE SINCE THE REAR BRAKE PADS COULD FAIL MUCH AT RELATIVLY LOW MILEAGE.*AK

THE CONSUMER STATES THAT BOTH AIR BAGS DEPLOYED WITH OUT SUFFICIENT IMPACT WHEN THE UNDERCARRIAGE OF THE VEHICLE AND THE RIGHT FRONT TIRE STRUCK A PAVEMENT AT 40 MPH. DURING THE ACCIDENT THE FRONT WHEEL DROPPED OFF BREAKING THE TIE ROD. THE VEHICLE WAS TOTALED. *YH

THE VEHICLE EXPERIENCED SUDDEN ACCELERATION, WHILE THE BRAKE WAS APPLIED. THE CONSUMER HAD TO SHUT OFF THE ENGINE, TO STOP THE VEHICLE. *A *TS *JB

WHILE VEHICLE WAS PARKED, THE SUNROOF CAME LOOSE AND FELL INTO THE PASSENGER'S COMPARTMENT. WHEN THIS OCCURRED, GLASS SHATTERED AND SPREAD THROUGHOUT PASSENGER'S COMPARTMENT, DEALERSHIP HAS EXAMINED VEHICLE, AND WAS MAKING NECESSARY REPAIRS. *AK. CONSUMER STATES THAT VOLVO PURCHASED THE VEHICLE BACK FROM HIM. *YD

WITH THE LOW BEAMS ON, NIGHT TIME VISIBILITY IS POOR AND TREACHEROUS. I HAVE THE SAME PROBLEM WITH MY VOLVO 960 WHICH THE SERVICEMAN STATES CAN NOT BE ADJUSTED ANY BETTER. I HIT A DEER LAST WEEK IN THE S40 AND I STRONGLY BELIEVE IT WOULD NOT HAVE HAPPENED IF THE HEADLIGHTS WERE EFFECTIVE. I HAVE OWNED AND DRIVEN SEVERAL CARS BEFORE INCLUDING A MAZDA MIATA AND A FORD EXPLORER RECENTLY AND BOTH VEHICLES HAVE EXCELLENT NIGHT TIME HEADLAMP VISIBILITY. I STRONGLY BELIEVE THIS IS A VOLVO DESIGN PROBLEM. THERE IS GREATER VSIBILITY TO THE SIDE THAN TO THE FRONT OF THE VEHICLE. PLEASE INVESTIGATE THIS ISSUE BEFORE SOMEONE GETS SERIOUSLY HURT.

HEADLIGHTS DO NOT THROW A BEAM BUT RATHER A SPRAY OF DISPERSED LIGHT THAT LIGHTS MORE OF THE SIDE OF THE ROAD THAN IN FRONT OF THE VEHICLE. I DO NOT FEEL SAFE DRIVING THIS VEHICLE AT NIGHT, ESPECIALLY ON NARROW DARK BACKROADS (WHICH I HAVE TO TRAVEL FREQUENTLY). DEALER SAID THEY HAVE DONE EVERYTHING THEY CAN.*AK

BRAKES WENT OUT ON VEHICLE GOING DOWN A HILL AT 35MPH. WHEN APPLYING BRAKES CONSUMER HEARD A SNAP. BRAKE PEDAL WENT STRAIGHT TO THE FLOOR. CONSUMER PUT VEHICLE IN LOW, AND PULLED EMERGENCY BRAKE UP. VOLVO DEALER CAME AND TOWED VEHICLE TO DEALER. *AK

WHILE DRIVING THE FULE REGULATOR PUMP CRACKED CAUSING ALL THE FUEL IN THE VEHICLE TO SPILL ALL OVER THE HOT ENGINE AND FUMES TO COME INTO THE VEHICLE. THE CAR WAS EASILY ABLE TO CATCH ON FIRE.*AK

THIS IS THE SECOND TRANSMISSION FAILURE IN THE FIRST SEVEN MONTHS OF OWNERSHIP. THE DEALER REPORTS THAT IT IS A TRANSAXLE PROBLEM, AND THEY "HAVE NO IDEA WHY IT IS HAPPENING" (SIC) . THE FIRST TIME THIS OCCURRED MY HUSBAND WAS DRIVING 55 MPH WHEN A LOUD SCREECHING BEGAN, AND THE CAR BEGAN TO SHUDDER, SUPPLYING POWER OFF AND ON TO ONLY ONE WHEEL, JERKING THE CAR AROUND THE ROAD WITH MINIMAL CONTROL, ALMOST CAUSING A MAJOR ACCIDENT. THE SECOND OCCURRENCE HAPPENED AT 40 MILES PER HOUR, THE SAME LOUD SCREECH, FOLLOWED BY AN IMMEDIATE LOSS OF POWER, FORCING US TO COAST ACROSS 4 LANES OF RUSH HOUR TRAFFIC TO GET TO THE CURB. THIS PROBLEM HAS NO WARNING AND POSES A SERIOUS THREAT TO OUR SAFETY WHENEVER WE DRIVE THIS CAR.*AK

BRAKES FAILED (2ND TIME) WHEN BEING CUT-OFF ON THE ROAD. IF I TURN RIGHT AND HIT THE BRAKES QUICKLY, THEY FAIL AND SKID FOR A WHILE.*AK

WHILE DRIVING ON A GRATED ROAD, CONSUMERS SON HIT A POTHOLE, AND ALL OF A SUDDEN THE SUNROFF SHATTERED INTO PIECES, DAMAGING THE VEHICLE AS WELL AS ANOTHER MOTORIST VEHICLE.*JB

THE BRAKE PEDAL IS TOO CLOSE TO THE GAS PEDAL IN THIS MODEL. ADDITIONALLY THEY ARE ON THE SAME LEVEL, THAT IS THEY ARE ON THE SAME PLANE WHEN THE BRAKE IS FULLY DEPRESSED. IF THE DRIVER'S FOOT IS NOT COMPLETELY ON THE BRAKE WHEN IT IS DEPRESSED THE GAS PEDAL CAN BE INADVERTANTLY PRESSED. THE DISTANCE BETWEEN THE GAS PEDAL AND BRAKE PEDAL IS 62 MM (2.44 INCHES). I BELIEVE THIS PROBLEM IS THE EXACT SAME PROBLEM THAT THE AUDI WAS HAVING WHEN DRIVERS THOUGHT THAT THEY WERE PUSHING ON THE BRAKE WHEN HALF THEIR FOOT WAS ON THE GAS. HAVING THE PEDALS ON DIFFERENT LEVELS AVOIDS THIS PROBLEM COMPLETELY. LOOK AT THE OLD VW BUG WITH ITS RESTRICTED SPACE. NO PROBLEM THERE. I HAVE ALSO REPORTED THIS PROBLEM THE VOLVO. I WOULD SUGGEST A RISER KIT TO BRING THE BRAKE UP ABOUT AN INCH SO THE DRIVER HAS TO LIFT HIS/HER FOOT UP OFF THE GAS TO DEPRESS THE BRAKE. I DON'T WANT TO MODIFY THIS CAR SINCE IT IS SO NEW, THE DELER WILL NOT MODIFY IT BECAUSE OF WARRANTEE ISSUES (BY THE WAY THEIR MECHANIC SAID HE HAD THE SAME THING HAPPEN). COULD NTSA SUGGEST A MODIFICATION I CAN MAKE AT MY OWN EXPENSE THAT WOULD ADDRESS THESE ISSUES, E.G. SAFETY AND WARRANTEE. THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR YOUR HELP ON THIS MATTER.*AK

THE VEHICLE STALLED WHILE DRIVING, VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER, AND THE PROBLEM WAS DETERMINED THAT THE IDLE CONTROL VALVE NEEDE TO BE REPLACED, CONSUMER STATES WHILE DRIVING, VEHICLE STALLED AGAIN AND VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO ANOTHER DEALERSHIP, COINCIDENTALLY CONSUMER RECEIVED A RECALL NOTICE (01V-169) FOR A DEFECTIVE DIODE IN THE ELECTRONIC CONTROL MODULE OF THE CLIMATE CONTROL SYSTEM, VEHICLE STALLED AGAIN FOR THE THIRD TIME AND THE PROBLEM WAS TRACED TO THE AIR MASS METER.*YH

DRIVING WE SMELLED AN ELECTRICAL TYPE OF SMELL, THEN BELL OWING SMOKE AND THEN WE STOPPED AND TRIED TO OPEN HOOD FIRE CAME GUSHING OUT. CALLED 911 REPORT TO FIRE DEPT. CAR TOTALLED.*AK

MICHELIN TIRE SIZE 195/60R15, 1200 MILES ON THE TIRE. TIRES MOUNTED ON A VOLVO S4T 2001. WHILE DRIVING AT 65 MPH ONE OF TIRES, RIGHT REAR TIRE, BLEWOUT. CONTACTED DEALER, AND DEALER STATED THAT TIRE WAS NOT FIXABLE.*AK DOT# HDDACHYX4500. *SLC

CONSUMER PUT VEHICLE IN DRIVE AND VEHICLE TOOK OFF. CONSUMER HIT A TELEPHONE POLE WHILE TRYING TO AVOID HITTING ANOTHER VEHICLE.*AK

BRAKES WERE VERY HARD - CAR WOULD NOT STOP FOR SEVERAL FEET. ALSO CAR WOULDN'T START ON ONE OCCASION - A SHIELD WAS PUT INTO CAR TO PREVENT THIS FROM HAPPENING AGAIN

FOR MONTHS, THE SERVICE LIGHT COMES ON IN THE CAR. I HAVE TAKEN THE CAR IN FOR REPAIR 6 TIMES. EACH TIME, THE LIGHT COMES BACK ON. VOLVO ENGINEER CAME IN FRIDAY TO SUPERVISE THE REPAIR OF CAR. SATURDAY EVENING THE LIGHT WENT ON. TWO WEEKS AGO, DEALER LOANED ME A 2003 V40 FOR SEVERAL DAYS WHILE THEY WORKED ON CAR. SURPRISE! SERVICE ENGINE LIGHT WENT ON IN LOANER CAR. DURING LAST VISIT TO DEALER, TWO PEOPLE IN FRONT OF ME WERE COMING IN FOR SERVICE ENGINE LIGHT! THERE IS A PROBLEM WITH THESE CARS. I AM ON A LEASE, AND ASKING FACTORY TO TERMINATE LEASE.

BATTERY WAS DRAINED, AND THIS CAUSED CAR NOT TO START AT 150 MILES. SRS LIGHT KEPT COMING ON AT 1100 MILES. THIS INDICATED THAT THERE WAS SOMETHING WRONG WITH AIRBAGS. AT 1400 MILES, SRS LIGHT APPEARED AGAIN AFTER DEALER HAD CORRECTED PROBLEM.*AK THE VEHICLE FAILED TO START. THE FORWARD AND BACKWARD SEAT ADJUSTMENT WAS NOT WORKING. THERE WAS NOISE COMING FROM THE SUNROOF. THE ENGINE WAS NOISY. THE ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON. *YH

I AM VERY CONCERNED ABOUT MY CARS BRAKING DISTANCE. IT SEEMS TO TAKE A LONG TIME TO STOP AFTER APPLYING THE BRAKES. TODAY I WAS IN A MINOR TRAFFIC INCIDENT, I WAS TRAVELLING UNDER 15MPH WHEN THE CAR IN FRONT OF ME SLAMMED ON HER BRAKES (THE CAR INFRONT OF HER STOPPED SHORT). THOUGH IT WAS NOT GOOD THAT SHE HAD TO STOP SO ABRUPTLY, MY CAR SHOULD HAVE BEEN ABLE TO STOP WITHOUT HITTING HER BUMBPER. I WAS TRAVELING AT A SAFE SPEED AND SAFE DISTANCE. THIS MINOR ACCIDENT SHOULD NOT HAVE OCCURRED AND NOW I AM CONCERNED ABOUT GETTING MY CAR BACK AND IT'S ABILITY TO STOP AT A PROPER DISTANCE. THE OTHER CAR SUSTAINED VERY MINOR SCRATCHES ON THE BUMPER. I DO NOT KNOW IF THIS IS SOMETHING REGARDING MY VOLVO S40 MODEL (NEW IN THE US) OR JUST MY PARTICULAR VEHICLE. THIS IS MY 4TH VOLVO AND I HAVE NEVER HAD BRAEKS THAT STOPPED IN SUCH A LONG DISTANCE. THANKFULLY THE ACCIDENT WAS MINOR, BUT I AM CONCERNED ABOUT BRAKING NEXT TIME I GET CUT-OFF AND HOW MY VEHICLE WILL RESPOND. COULD YOU POSSIBLY SHED SOME LIGHT ON THIS. I WOULD GREATLY APPRECIATE IT.*AK

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 PURCHASE.*AK

ABOUT 2 OR 3 WEEKS AGO I NOTICED SOMETHING THAT WAS HANGING FROM THE FRONT PART OF THE CAR. I CONTACTED THE DEALER AND THEY INFORMED ME IT WAS AN ENGINE COVERED, SINCE I AM LEASING THE CAR I REQUESTED TO BE REPAIRED. THE DEALER INFORMED ME IT WAS NOT COVERED BECAUSE THE DAMAGE WAS CAUSED BY ME. HE ALSO TOLD ME VOVOS ARE TOO LOW IN THE FRONT AND IF YOU PUSHED AGAINST A CAR BUMPER OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT IT WILL CAUSE THE ENGINE COVER TO FALL. AS FAR AS KNOW THIS IS NOT IN THE MANUAL AND WAS NEVER INFORMED OF THIS VOVOS PROBLEMS. THEY CHARGED ME $151.06 TO REPLACE THE ENGINE COVERED. *AK

CONSUMER HAD TO REPLACE TWO REAR BRAKE PADS AFTER 10230. IN ADDITION, HEADLIGHTS BURNED OUT AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. POWER STEERING WHEEL SHAFT. PH

THE TIRES WERE NOT SET CORRECTLY ON THE HUB, AND WHILE DRIVING, THE LUGS:NUTS LOOSENED. *AK