IllustrationTHE STARTER KEEPS GETTING STUCK IN THE FORWARD POSITION, I HAVE TO MANUALLY TURN IT BACK TO THE CORRECT POSITION. ALSO, IT IS TAKING ABOUT 5 SECONDS TO START THE CAR. *JB
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
Compare all S40 years →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
50–25K
1025–50K
1050–75K
1175–100K
9100–150K
2150K+
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
What owners actually said
122 reportsVEHICLE: VOLVO, S40 (YEAR:2000), MILES: 95,000 VEHICLE HAS PROBLEMS IN LINE WITH THE OTHER 360,000 RECALLED VOLVOS INVOLVING ETM. WHY IS S40 NOT PART OF RECALL? LAST WEEKEND VEHICLE HAD RECURRENCE OF CONTINUING PROBLEM. VEHICLE SUDDENLY AND VIOLENTLY DOWN SHIFTS AT ROAD AND HIGHWAY SPEEDS. THIS HAS RESULTS IN RAPID SLOW…
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VEHICLE: VOLVO, S40 (YEAR:2000), MILES: 95,000 VEHICLE HAS PROBLEMS IN LINE WITH THE OTHER 360,000 RECALLED VOLVOS INVOLVING ETM. WHY IS S40 NOT PART OF RECALL? LAST WEEKEND VEHICLE HAD RECURRENCE OF CONTINUING PROBLEM. VEHICLE SUDDENLY AND VIOLENTLY DOWN SHIFTS AT ROAD AND HIGHWAY SPEEDS. THIS HAS RESULTS IN RAPID SLOWING OF VEHICLE AND A MASSIVE RPM SURGE. THIS COULD RESULT IN A SERIOUS ACCIDENT AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS. VEHICLE ACTS LIKE IT SHIFTS INTO "SAFE" OR "LIMP" MODE, BUT THERE ARE NO TROUBLE LIGHTS THAT COME ON. HAVE REPLACED MASS FLOW CENSOR, WHICH DID NOT HELP. WHEN IT OCCURS, SHUTTING VEHICLE OFF FOR A COUPLE OF MINUTES SEEMS TO "FIX" THE PROBLEM FOR AWHILE. IN MY OPINION, THIS IS A SERIOUS SAFETY CONCERN AND APPEARS RELATED TO THE ETM THAT HAS BEEN THE SOURCE OF PROBLEMS IN OTHER VOLVO VEHICLES. PLEASE ADD THE S40 TO THE RECALL CAMPAIGN. *NM
ROUTINE 90K MAINTENANCE ON VOLVO S40 YEAR 2000 REVEALED CRACKED ENGINE MOUNT. ACCORDING TO THE VOLVO MECHANIC THIS IS SEEN OFTEN ON VOLVO CARS S80, S60 AND S40. *JB
THE KEY HAS BEEN STICKING IN MY IGNITION WHEN I PARK. THIS TIME WHEN I COULD NOT GET THE KEY OUT, I RESTARTED THE CAR IN PARK, OF COURSE WITH MY FOOT ON THE BRAKE. THE CAR JUMPED INTO REVERSE AND FLEW BACKWARDS OUT OF MY GARAGE AT A HIGH RATE OF SPEED. IT CROSSED THE ROAD AND ENDED UP KNOCKING DOWN A GARAGE AND TOTALING THE CAR.…
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THE KEY HAS BEEN STICKING IN MY IGNITION WHEN I PARK. THIS TIME WHEN I COULD NOT GET THE KEY OUT, I RESTARTED THE CAR IN PARK, OF COURSE WITH MY FOOT ON THE BRAKE. THE CAR JUMPED INTO REVERSE AND FLEW BACKWARDS OUT OF MY GARAGE AT A HIGH RATE OF SPEED. IT CROSSED THE ROAD AND ENDED UP KNOCKING DOWN A GARAGE AND TOTALING THE CAR. THE BRAKES WERE ON AS EVIDENCED BY THE TIRE TREAD AND SKID MARKS. IT WAS A BIZARRE OCCURRENCE AND VERY FRIGHTENINGLY. *JB
DRIVER SIDE SEAT BELT BADLY FRAYED AT SHOULDER LEVEL. CAUSED BY SHARP GROOVE WORN IN PLASTIC TRIM WHERE BELT PULLS OUT FROM B POST. PASSENGER SIDE NOT AS BADLY WORN BECAUSE IT IS NOT USED AS MUCH. WEAR DEVELOPED AFTER WARRANTY PERIOD. FRAYING IS NOW APPROXIMATELY 1/4 THE WIDTH OF THE BELT. *JB
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE TURNING OR DRIVING ON AN UNLEVELED ROAD, THERE WAS A METAL GRINDING NOISE COMING FROM THE FRONT SUSPENSION. THIS CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO HIT A CURB AND THE VEHICLE BECAME INOPERABLE. THE VEHICLE WAS PUSHED TO THE COTNACT'S RESIDENCE, WHERE IT HAS BEEN PARKED.
THREE TIMES MY DAUGHTER'S 2000 VOLVO S40 ACCELERATED UNEXPECTEDLY. TWICE (ON THE SAME NIGHT) IT ALMOST PULLED HER INTO A BUSY INTERSECTION. THE THIRD TIME IT HAPPENED TO THE SERVICE MANGER (JEFF) AT A LOCAL VOLVO DEALERSHIP. AFTER TWO VISITS FROM A TECHNICIAN FROM VOLVO IT WAS DETERMINED THAT A TEMPERATURE SENSOR HAD FAILED.…
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THREE TIMES MY DAUGHTER'S 2000 VOLVO S40 ACCELERATED UNEXPECTEDLY. TWICE (ON THE SAME NIGHT) IT ALMOST PULLED HER INTO A BUSY INTERSECTION. THE THIRD TIME IT HAPPENED TO THE SERVICE MANGER (JEFF) AT A LOCAL VOLVO DEALERSHIP. AFTER TWO VISITS FROM A TECHNICIAN FROM VOLVO IT WAS DETERMINED THAT A TEMPERATURE SENSOR HAD FAILED. THIS FAILURE LED TO EXCESS AIR BEING FED TO THE ENGINE WHICH IN TURN LED TO EXCESS FUEL BEING FED TO THE ENGINE, WHICH IN TURN ACCELERATED THE ENGINE. VOLVO REPLACED A TEMPERATURE CONTROL SENSOR THAT OPERATES THE AIR SLIDE IN THE ENGINE ON 12/7/05. *NM
2000 VOLVO S40 WOULD NOT STOP WHEN APPLIED PRESSURE TO BRAKES. *TS SIX MONTHS AFTER THE ACCIDENT, THE CONSUMER RECEIVED A RECALL NOTICE IN THE MAIL REGARDING THE BRAKE PUMP. THE CONSUMER IS NOW SEEKING REIMBURSEMENT FOR DAMAGES INCURRED PRIOR TO NOTIFICATION OF THE RECALL. RECALL 03V474000. *JB
2000 VOLVO S40 WOULD NOT STOP WHEN APPLIED PRESSURE TO BRAKES. *TS THE CONSUMER FELT THAT SHE HAVE PLENTY OF DISTANCE BETWEEN HER VEHICLE AND THE OTHER VEHICLE TO STOP BUT THE VEHICLE JUST WOULDN'T STOP. AS A RESULT THE CONSUMER'S VEHICLE CRASHED INTO THE OTHER VEHICLE. SIX MONTHS AFTER THE ACCIDENT THE CONSUMER RECEIVED A R…
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2000 VOLVO S40 WOULD NOT STOP WHEN APPLIED PRESSURE TO BRAKES. *TS THE CONSUMER FELT THAT SHE HAVE PLENTY OF DISTANCE BETWEEN HER VEHICLE AND THE OTHER VEHICLE TO STOP BUT THE VEHICLE JUST WOULDN'T STOP. AS A RESULT THE CONSUMER'S VEHICLE CRASHED INTO THE OTHER VEHICLE. SIX MONTHS AFTER THE ACCIDENT THE CONSUMER RECEIVED A RECALL NOTICE ON THE BRAKE PUMP WHICH DESCRIBED THE FAILURE THE CONSUMER EXPERIENCED. THE CONSUMER REQUEST REIMBURSEMENT FOR ALL EXPENSES INCURRED. *NM
BOUGHT A NEW 2000 VOLVO S40 IN APRIL OF 2000. THE CAR NOW HAS 60,000 MILES ON IT....LIGHT DRIVING BY MOST STANDARDS. AT 18,000 MILES REAR BRAKES AND ROTORS WERE REPLACED AT A COST OF MORE THAN $400. FRONT AND REAR BRAKES HAVE BEEN REPLACED ANOTHER TIME SINCE THEN. ON 9/21/05, I HAVE NOW ALSO HAD TO REPLACE THE ALTERNATOR AT A …
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BOUGHT A NEW 2000 VOLVO S40 IN APRIL OF 2000. THE CAR NOW HAS 60,000 MILES ON IT....LIGHT DRIVING BY MOST STANDARDS. AT 18,000 MILES REAR BRAKES AND ROTORS WERE REPLACED AT A COST OF MORE THAN $400. FRONT AND REAR BRAKES HAVE BEEN REPLACED ANOTHER TIME SINCE THEN. ON 9/21/05, I HAVE NOW ALSO HAD TO REPLACE THE ALTERNATOR AT A COST OF $600. THIS CAR ONLY HAS 60,000 MILES ON IT. I HAVE READ A LOT OF OTHER DISCUSSIONS ONLINE FROM OTHER 2000 VOLVO S40 OWNERS WHO ALSO COMPLAIN ABOUT THE CAR RUNNING THROUGH BRAKES EVERY 15-20,000 MILES. *JB
Official recalls
103V474000 · 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
2EA02026 · 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.