Volvo · S40 · 2003
2
Recalls
18
Complaints
-
Not Rated
The 2003 Volvo S40 has 2 recalls and 18 owner-reported complaints on file with NHTSA. Most reported issue: power train (5 reports).
Source: NHTSA Public Records · Updated Apr 28, 2026
The 2003 Volvo S40 page works best as a research starting point. Complaint totals show how much owner-reported activity exists, while recalls and investigations help show whether any of that activity turned into formal safety action.
Because this is a newer-era vehicle page, it usually helps to compare this year against nearby model years before deciding whether a complaint pattern looks isolated or persistent. On this page, the most prominent complaint area is power train with 5 reported complaints.
This page combines three types of NHTSA data: recall campaigns (official manufacturer or government actions), owner complaints (unverified consumer reports), and crash test ratings (where available). A vehicle with many complaints is not necessarily less reliable — complaint volume correlates with sales volume and vehicle age. Recalls indicate identified defects, not overall quality. To compare this model year with others, use the year navigation in the sidebar or return to the model overview page.
If you are researching a used vehicle, start with the complaint categories, compare them against the recall list, and then check nearby model years to see whether the same issue profile repeats. That usually produces a better buying or research signal than treating the raw complaint total as a standalone safety ranking.
ON CERTAIN SEDANS AND STATION WAGONS, THERE MAY BE A FUEL LEAK FROM THE FUEL RAIL DUE TO INADEQUATE WELDING.
Remedy Status
DEALERS WILL INSTALL A V-CLAMP TO THE FUEL RAIL. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN ON JANUARY 28, 2004. OWNERS SHOULD CONTACT VOLVO AT 1-800-458-1552.
CERTAIN PASSENGER CARS FAIL TO COMPLY WITH THE REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 225, "CHILD RESTRAINT ANCHORAGE SYSTEMS." THE SECOND ISOFIX GUIDE WAS NOT INSTALLED IN THESE VEHICLES AND, IN CERTAIN CASES, THE OWNER'S MANUAL ISOFIX INFORMATION IS INCORRECT.
Remedy Status
OWNERS WILL RECEIVE A LETTER/PACKAGE CONSISTING OF THE SECOND ISOFIX GUIDE WITH INSTALLATION INSTRUCTIONS, AND IN CERTAIN CASES, THE CORRECTED OWNER'S MANUAL MAY BE PROVIDED. IF THE OWNER WANTS TO TAKE THEIR VEHICLE TO A VOLVO DEALER FOR INSTALLATION OF THE GUIDE, IT WILL BE PERFORMED AT NO CHARGE TO THE OWNER. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN ON DECEMBER 19, 2003. OWNERS SHOULD CONTACT VOLVO AT 1-800-458-1552.
Engine light stays on. I have had 2 mechanics check it out. They don't know why the light is on. I am very concerned about the fuel line problem.
THE REAR STRUT/SHOCKS CONTINUE TO BREAK/CRACK OVER AND OVER. I HAVE GONE THROUGH 3 NEW STRUTS AND SHOCKS AND THEY CONTINUE TO BREAK. I ALSO HAVE GONE TO THE JUNKYARD AND ALL OF THE S40 AND V40'S HAVE ALL OF THEIR STRUTS/SHOCKS BROKEN. I'VE WITNESSED OVER 6 S40 OR V40'S LIKE THIS ...
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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 EL...
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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,...
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I RETURNED TO MY CAR AND FOUND THAT I COULD NOT TURN THE IGNITION SWITCH AND AS A RESULT OF THE SECURITY SYSTEM MY CAR WAS TOTALLY INOPERATIVE. THE CAR HAD TO BE TOWED TO THE NEAREST DEALER, WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED WITH A BROKEN IGNITION SWITCH, SPECIFICALLY THE DEVICE THAT READS...
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MY 2003 VOLVO S40 HAS BEEN DRIVEN FEWER THAN 70,000 MILES. ALL VOLVO RECOMMENDED SERVICE HAS BEEN PERFORMED BY CERTIFIED MECHANICS AND IS DOCUMENTED. MY VOLVO DEALER DETERMINED THAT THE TRANSMISSION HAD TO BE REPLACED. IT IS NOT AT ALL REASONABLE TO HAVE A CATASTROPHIC TRANS...
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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 K...
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INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6) ON FEB 12, I HAD A PERIODIC MAINTENANCE DONE AT THE DEALERSHIP AND THEY ADVISED ME THAT MY TIRES WERE BAD. I HAD ONLY HAD THE TIRES A SHORT WHILE SO I BROUGHT THE CAR TO WHERE I BOUGHT ...
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MY 2003 S40 HAS BEEN SLIPPING GEAR BETWEEN 3RD AND 4TH GEAR AND OCASSIONAL HARD SHIFT BETWEEN 2ND AND 3RD GEAR. THE CAR ONLY HAS 49000 MILES. I HAVE GONE TO THE DEALER AND THEY SAID, THERE IS NO SOFTWARE UPDATE FOR THE TCM (TRANSMISSION CONTROL MODULE)AND IT NEEDS TO BE REPLACED....
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GOT A CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ON AND TRIED TO GET A FULL DIAGNOSTIC TEST DONE, BUT THE POWER CONTROL MODULE WAS NOT COMMUNICATING WITH VEHICLE. *JB
Showing 10 recent complaints from 18 total
View Full Complaint LogThe strongest comparison flow is usually: exact vehicle-year page, then nearby years of the same model, then other 2003 Volvo models. That sequence helps separate one-off year spikes from broader make-wide patterns.
The 2003 Volvo S40 has 2 recalls recorded by NHTSA.
NHTSA has received 18 owner-reported complaints for the 2003 Volvo S40.
NHTSA has not published a safety rating for the 2003 Volvo S40.
The most commonly reported complaint categories for the 2003 Volvo S40 are power train (5 reports), electrical system (2 reports), fuel system, gasoline (2 reports).
Yes. NHTSA has 2 recalls on record for the 2003 Volvo S40. Scroll up to review the published recall summaries, consequences, and remedies. To check for unrepaired recalls on your specific vehicle, use your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
Look up recalls and complaints for any year, make, and model.
This page summarizes publicly available data from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). Complaint counts reflect reports submitted to NHTSA by vehicle owners and do not by themselves prove defect severity or vehicle safety. Safety ratings may not be available for all vehicle-years. This site is not affiliated with NHTSA or any vehicle manufacturer. For official information, visit the official NHTSA page for this vehicle.