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2000 Volvo S40

Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations

More warning signs than most S40 years

Owner complaints for the 2000 Volvo S40 are substantially higher than the model-year median of 26.

About this comparison →

How this year compares

Owner complaints by model year

Other model years Selected year
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Counts vary with age, sales and reporting. They are not failure rates.

What owners reported most

All reported categories

Tap a category to read its complaints. One report may name several components.

When problems were reported

Mileage at the reported incident

47 reports with mileage · 75 unknown

NHTSA’s mileage field refers to the reported incident, not necessarily the filing date. This shows report counts, not the likelihood of a failure.

What to inspect

Issues worth paying extra attention to based on owner reports.

  • Service Brakes, Hydraulic. Review the 49 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Vehicle Speed Control. Review the 17 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Suspension. Review the 14 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

12 crash reports1 fire reports3 injury reports

Exterior Lighting complaints

13 reports
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90,000 miles · Feb 10, 2010
Exterior Lighting

TURN SIGNALS WILL STOP WORKING INTERMITTENTLY. WHEN IT HAPPENS NEITHER LH NOR LH TURN SIGNAL WILL ILLUMINATE AND NEITHER EXTERIOR BULB NOR DASH INDICATOR WILL ILLUMINATE. TURNING ON THE HAZARD LIGHTS WILL JUMP START THE TURN SIGNALS TO WORK AGAIN. TURN SIGNAL RELAY (UNDER DASH NEAR DRIVER KICK PANEL) HAS BEEN REPLACED WITH NO IM…

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TURN SIGNALS WILL STOP WORKING INTERMITTENTLY. WHEN IT HAPPENS NEITHER LH NOR LH TURN SIGNAL WILL ILLUMINATE AND NEITHER EXTERIOR BULB NOR DASH INDICATOR WILL ILLUMINATE. TURNING ON THE HAZARD LIGHTS WILL JUMP START THE TURN SIGNALS TO WORK AGAIN. TURN SIGNAL RELAY (UNDER DASH NEAR DRIVER KICK PANEL) HAS BEEN REPLACED WITH NO IMPROVEMENT. USED TO ONLY HAPPEN ON VERY HOT DAYS. NOW HAPPENS REGARDLESS THE AMBIENT TEMP. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10308462

120,000 miles · Jan 5, 2009
Exterior Lighting

NOTICED DECREASED VISIBILITY DRIVING AT NIGHT. THE AIMING MECHANISM ON BOTH HEADLAMPS HAS DISINTEGRATED CAUSING LOSS OF THE HEADLAMP CALIBRATION AND ALLOWING THE HEADLAMPS TO AIM DOWNWARD TO A POINT APPROXIMATELY 30' IN FRONT OF THE VEHICLE. THE FAILURE IS CONTINUOUS, RESULTS IN REDUCED VISIBILITY. NOTHING HAS BEEN DONE TO CO…

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NOTICED DECREASED VISIBILITY DRIVING AT NIGHT. THE AIMING MECHANISM ON BOTH HEADLAMPS HAS DISINTEGRATED CAUSING LOSS OF THE HEADLAMP CALIBRATION AND ALLOWING THE HEADLAMPS TO AIM DOWNWARD TO A POINT APPROXIMATELY 30' IN FRONT OF THE VEHICLE. THE FAILURE IS CONTINUOUS, RESULTS IN REDUCED VISIBILITY. NOTHING HAS BEEN DONE TO CORRECT THE PROBLEM. REPLACEMENT PARTS ARE PROHIBITIVELY EXPENSIVE AND VOLVO CUSTOMER SERVICE HAS DISAVOWED ANY RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE FAILURE DUE TO THE AGE AND MILEAGE OF THE VEHICLE, (2000 S40 WITH 130K MI.) THE SERVICE MANAGER AT MY LOCAL VOLVO DEALERSHIP HAS SAID THAT HE HAS SEEN THIS FAILURE ON OTHER VOLVOS OF SIMILAR AGE AND MILEAGE INCLUDING ONE OWNED BY HIS SON. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10253782

Mileage unknown · Jan 16, 2008
Exterior Lighting

TWO DIFFERENT MECHANICS INFORMED ME THAT THE CASING IN BOTH OF MY HEADLIGHTS WAS DETERIORATING AND WOULD NEED TO BE REPLACED. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10215085

98,000 miles · Sep 10, 2007
Engine And Engine CoolingExterior Lighting

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…

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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 THE PASSENGER SIDE HEADLIGHT WAS OUT AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. UPDATED 12/12/07 *TR

NHTSA ODI #10202377

Mileage unknown · Mar 6, 2007
Exterior LightingService Brakes, Hydraulic

3/6/2007. VOLVO S40 2000. CONTACT HAS A CONCERN WITH THE BRAKES AND THE HEADLIGHTS.*MC THE HEADLIGHTS AND BRAKES FAILED. *JB

NHTSA ODI #10184796

28,000 miles · Jul 6, 2004
Exterior Lighting

BOTH HEADLAMP UNITS NEED REPLACEMENT BECAUSE THE ADJUSTMENT MECHANISIM HAS BROKEN OUT OF EACH UNIT. ONLY REPAIR IS TOTAL REPLACMENT OF HEAD LAMP UNITS.

NHTSA ODI #10080471

Mileage unknown · May 3, 2004
Exterior Lighting

2000 S40 PURCHASE NEW. I HAVE REPLACED 8-10 HEADLIGHTS ALREADY. VEHICLE HAS BEEN COSTLY TO MAINTAIN. DEALER HAS TAKEN A MINUMUM OF 3 VISITS TO LOCATE PROBLEMS. NONE HAS BEEN RESOLVED COMPLETELY. BRAKES PADS REPLACE AT 37K- MY COST- DELAR SAID THEY WORE THIN. I HAVE THEM CHECK THE BRAKES EVERY TIME I GET AN OIL CHANGE - TO …

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2000 S40 PURCHASE NEW. I HAVE REPLACED 8-10 HEADLIGHTS ALREADY. VEHICLE HAS BEEN COSTLY TO MAINTAIN. DEALER HAS TAKEN A MINUMUM OF 3 VISITS TO LOCATE PROBLEMS. NONE HAS BEEN RESOLVED COMPLETELY. BRAKES PADS REPLACE AT 37K- MY COST- DELAR SAID THEY WORE THIN. I HAVE THEM CHECK THE BRAKES EVERY TIME I GET AN OIL CHANGE - TO FEEL SAFE. PROBLEMS WITH HIGH PITCH WHISTLING NOISE STARING AT 60 MPH TOOK BACK SEVERAL TIMES NOT ABLE TO STOP NOISE BEFORE WARRANTY EXPIRED. RECENTLY: VEHICLE RAN ROUGH TOOK IN TO DELAER FOR 90K TUNE-UP. DEALER SAID BUSHING ON MOTOR MOUNTS ARE GONE COST TO REPLACE IS $800. NOTICED THE DRIVERS SIDE POWER WINDOW GOING OUT NOW. *AK

NHTSA ODI #10068196

6,000 miles · Jan 6, 2004
Electrical SystemExterior Lighting

DEALER REPLACED, IN THE PAST TWO YEARS, HEADLIGHTS/ALTERNATOR/TAIL LIGHTS, AND SIGNAL LIGHTS, BUT THE PROBLEM WAS STILL OCCURRING. *AK

NHTSA ODI #10053451

Mileage unknown · Jul 21, 2003
Exterior Lighting

HEADLIGHT BURNED OUT FOR 2ND TIME IN LESS THAN 30,000 MILES. *AK

NHTSA ODI #10028709

Mileage unknown · Jul 21, 2003
Exterior Lighting

HEADLAMP BULD BURNED OUT (12380 MILES). *AK

NHTSA ODI #10028703

Official recalls

1

03V474000 · Service Brakes, Hydraulic:power Assist:vacuum

Nov 17, 2003

ON CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES, WATER CAN ENTER THE ELECTRICAL BRAKE VACUUM PUMP, CAUSING THE PUMP TO FAIL.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: THIS COULD RESULT IN LOSS OF POWER ASSIST AND AN INCREASE IN NEEDED BRAKE PEDAL FORCE, WHICH COULD RESULT IN A CRASH.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE PUMP WITH A NEW AND IMPROVED VERSION AND MOVE THE PUMP TO A NEW LOCATION. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN ON MARCH 15, 2004. OWNERS SHOULD CONTACT VOLVO AT 1-800-458-1552.

Model-level recall history does not show whether a particular VIN is affected or has received a repair. Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗

NHTSA investigations

2

EA02026 · Volvo S40/V40 My 2000-2001

Opened Sep 10, 2002 · Closed Nov 21, 2003

Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Service Brakes, Hydraulic

IN A NOVEMBER 6, 2003 SAFETY DEFECT REPORT, VOLVO INDICATED THAT THEY WILL CONDUCT A SAFETY-RELATED DEFECT RECALL OF THE 2000 MODEL YEAR (MY) SUBJECT VEHICLES (ABOUT 36,000 VEHICLES).VOLVO WILL ALSO CONDUCT A SERVICE CAMPAIGN OF ABOUT 31,000 2001 MY SUBJECT VEHICLES.ODI INVESTIGATED BOTH THE 2000 AND 2001 MY VEHICLES AND DETERMINED THAT THE 2001 MY VEHICLES EXPERIENCED SUBSTANTIALLY LOWER RATES OF FAILURES BASED ON THE NUMBER OF OWNER REPORTS AND WARRANTY CLAIMS SUBMITTED TO ODI.ODI BELIEVES THAT THE PROPOSED ACTION IS SUFFICIENT TO RESOLVE THIS INVESTIGATION'S SAFETY ISSUES. FOR THE CRASHES, IN ADDITION TO THE 22 SUBMITTED BY VOLVO, ODI FOUND 10 ADDITIONAL CRASH ALLEGATIONS IN THE OWNER REPORTS, FIELD REPORTS, AND WARRANTY CLAIMS SUBMITTED BY VOLVO.OF THESE 32 CRASHES, ODI BELIEVES THAT 10 ARE CLEARLY RELATED TO THE ALLEGED DEFECT, AND 5 APPEAR TO BE RELATED.OF THE 17 REMAINING CASES, TWO DID NOT INVOLVE A CRASH AND THE OTHER 15 COULD NOT BE DIRECTLY CONNECTED TO THE ALLEGED DEFECT.ODI WILL SUPPLEMENT THIS RESUME WITH A CLOSING REPORT AND ADDITIONAL TECHNICAL DETAILS CONCERNING THE DEFECT.

PE02009 · Brake POWER-ASSIST

Opened Jan 29, 2002 · Closed Sep 10, 2002

Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Service Brakes, Hydraulic

No summary supplied.