IllustrationBRAKES 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
2001 Volvo S40
Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations
Similar to other model years
Owner complaints for the 2001 Volvo S40 do not stand out strongly from 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
80–25K
825–50K
1050–75K
1475–100K
6100–150K
3150K+
49 reports with mileage · 35 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 25 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Engine And Engine Cooling. Review the 12 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Electrical System. Review the 10 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
11 crash reports4 fire reports5 injury reports
Service Brakes, Hydraulic complaints
25 reportsBRAKES 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
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…
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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
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 ABRUPTL…
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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
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
Official recalls
203V284000 · Equipment:other:labels
Aug 1, 2003
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.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: THIS DOES NOT MEET THE REQUIREMENTS OF THE STANDARD.
Remedy: 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.
01V169000 · Equipment:appliance:air Conditioner
May 21, 2001
VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: SEDAN AND WAGON PASSENGER VEHICLES. A DIODE IN THE ELECTRONIC CLIMATE CONTROL SYSTEM MAY HAVE A REDUCED SERVICE LIFE.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: IF THE DIODE FAILS, THE HEATER FAN STOPS OPERATING AND THE DEFROSTER FUNCTION IS AFFECTED.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSTALL AN ADAPTER WITH A DIODE FITTED TO THE HEATER FAN MOTOR. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN JUNE 11, 2001. OWNERS WHO TAKE THEIR VEHICLES TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER ON AN AGREED UPON SERVICE DATE AND DO NOT RECEIVE THE FREE REMEDY WITHIN A REASONABLE TIME 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
1EA02026 · 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.