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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 →

When problems were reported

Mileage at the reported incident

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

What owners actually said

84 reports
90,000 miles · Feb 10, 2010
Vehicle Speed Control

I'D LIKE TO REPORT UNINTENDED ACCELERATION IN MY VOLVO S40. IT STARTED LAST SUMMER AND OCCURRED SPORADICALLY UNTIL WINTER AND HAS NOT OCCURRED SINCE THEN. NO REPAIRS WERE MADE DURING THIS TIME AND I HAVE NOT TAKEN IT TO THE DEALER. SEVERAL TIMES LAST SUMMER I EXPERIENCED SUDDEN ACCELERATION THAT REQUIRED EXTRA HARD BREAKING T…

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I'D LIKE TO REPORT UNINTENDED ACCELERATION IN MY VOLVO S40. IT STARTED LAST SUMMER AND OCCURRED SPORADICALLY UNTIL WINTER AND HAS NOT OCCURRED SINCE THEN. NO REPAIRS WERE MADE DURING THIS TIME AND I HAVE NOT TAKEN IT TO THE DEALER. SEVERAL TIMES LAST SUMMER I EXPERIENCED SUDDEN ACCELERATION THAT REQUIRED EXTRA HARD BREAKING TO MAKE THE CAR COME TO A COMPLETE STOP. THE CAR SEEMED TO BE GIVING ITSELF GAS EVEN WHILE I WAS BRAKING TO COME TO A STOP, REQUIRING THAT I PRESS THE BRAKE EXTRA HARD. THIS PROBLEMS SOUNDS SIMILAR TO WHAT WE ARE HEARING IN THE NEWS ABOUT TOYOTAS. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10308527

73,000 miles · Jan 6, 2010
Service Brakes, HydraulicCrash

I BOUGHT A 2001 VOLVO S40 IN JUNE 2009. I NOTICED RIGHT AWAY THAT THE BRAKES DIDN'T SEEM TO WORK PROPERLY, AS THE STOPPING DISTANCE WAS FAR TOO LONG. THEY ASSURED ME THE BRAKES WERE BRAND NEW. AFTER DRIVING IT A FEW WEEKS, I BECAME VERY NERVOUS ABOUT THE BRAKES BECAUSE I HAD COME CLOSE TO REAR ENDING SEVERAL PEOPLE. I BROUGHT IT…

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I BOUGHT A 2001 VOLVO S40 IN JUNE 2009. I NOTICED RIGHT AWAY THAT THE BRAKES DIDN'T SEEM TO WORK PROPERLY, AS THE STOPPING DISTANCE WAS FAR TOO LONG. THEY ASSURED ME THE BRAKES WERE BRAND NEW. AFTER DRIVING IT A FEW WEEKS, I BECAME VERY NERVOUS ABOUT THE BRAKES BECAUSE I HAD COME CLOSE TO REAR ENDING SEVERAL PEOPLE. I BROUGHT IT BACK TO THE DEALER WHERE I PURCHASED IT AND ASKED THEM TO DOUBLE CHECK THE BRAKES. THEY DID SO AND STATED THAT THEY WERE FINE. SO, I DROVE EXTRA CAUTIOUSLY FROM THEN ON. UNFORTUNATELY, THEY NEVER GAVE ME ANY DOCUMENTATION AND I NEVER ASKED FOR IT. THEY JUST CHECKED THE BRAKES AND SENT ME ON MY WAY, REASSURING ME THERE WAS NOT A PROBLEM. HOWEVER, ON DECEMBER 28TH, 2009, THE BRAKES FAILED WHEN COMING TO AN INTERSECTION. I WAS JUST BEGINNING TO SLOW DOWN (NOT EVEN TRYING TO STOP YET) AND THE BRAKE WOULD NOT GO DOWN FURTHER. I TOOK MY FOOT OFF THE BRAKE, AND IT DID NOT RELEASE. I AGAIN TRIED TO PUSH DOWN THE PEDAL, AND IT DID NOT GO DOWN. I REAR ENDED THE CAR IN FRONT OF ME. I LOOKED ONLINE AND FOUND THAT SEVERAL PEOPLE WITH MY SAME YEAR AND MODEL HAD THE SAME PROBLEMS, BOTH WITH THE STOPPING DISTANCE AND THE BRAKE FAILURE. THE NEXT MORNING, I TOOK MY CAR TO THE VOLVO DEALER IN INDIANAPOLIS. THEY INSPECTED THE BRAKES AND FOUND NOTHING WRONG. THEY ALSO VERIFIED THAT THE RECALLED VACUUM PUMP HAD ALREADY BEEN REPLACED. FROM THERE I TOOK MY CAR TO THE BODY SHOP FOR AN ESTIMATE OF THE DAMAGE FROM THE ACCIDENT, WHICH WAS $2,2604.96. UPON LEAVING THE BODY SHOP, I BRAKED AT A YELLOW LIGHT, AND ONCE AGAIN, MY BRAKES WOULD NOT GO DOWN AND I WENT THROUGH THE INTERSECTION. I HAD MY CAR TOWED BACK TO THE VOLVO DEALER. I MADE A CLAIM WITH VOLVO COMPANY, WHO HAD SOMEONE LOOK AT IT AND SAID THE VACUUM PUMP AND PRESSURE VALVE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED, WHICH WOULD COST APPROXIMATELY $750. I ASKED FOR AN ESTIMATED TRADE-IN VALUE AFTER THE CAR WAS COMPLETELY FIXED. THEY STATED THAT THEY. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10298521

88,000 miles · Jan 4, 2010
Service Brakes, Hydraulic

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 VOLVO S40. WHENEVER THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED LONGER THAN 2 HOURS THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THE BRAKES FAILED TO OPERATE. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN DIAGNOSED BY THE DEALER AND THERE WERE NO PRIOR WARNINGS. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 112,131 AND THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS AT 88000.

NHTSA ODI #10298168

90,000 miles · Aug 23, 2009
Power Train

I HAVE A 2001 VOLVO S40. AT ABOUT 90,000 MILES THE GEAR SHIFT BUTTON BROKE. NOW YOU CAN CHANGE THE GEARS WITH OUT PRESSING THE BRAKE PEDAL. I HAVE SMALL CHILDREN SO I HAVE TO KEEP MY CAR LOCKED AT ALL TIMES WHEN I'M NOT IN IT. IF THEY WERE TO BE IN IT THEY COULD PULL IT OUT OF PARK WITH NO PROBLEM AND THE CAR WOULD START TO ROL…

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I HAVE A 2001 VOLVO S40. AT ABOUT 90,000 MILES THE GEAR SHIFT BUTTON BROKE. NOW YOU CAN CHANGE THE GEARS WITH OUT PRESSING THE BRAKE PEDAL. I HAVE SMALL CHILDREN SO I HAVE TO KEEP MY CAR LOCKED AT ALL TIMES WHEN I'M NOT IN IT. IF THEY WERE TO BE IN IT THEY COULD PULL IT OUT OF PARK WITH NO PROBLEM AND THE CAR WOULD START TO ROLL. I AM VERY CONCERNED ABOUT THE PROBLEM BECAUSE I'M SURE I'M NOT THE ONLY ONE WHO HAS HAD THIS PROBLEM AND IT IS A SAFETY ISSUE. THE SHIFTER ON THE INTERNET IS OVER $250.00 TO FIX IT THEN YOU HAVE TO PAY TO HAVE IT PUT IN. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10281475

88,000 miles · Aug 23, 2009
Service Brakes, Electric

I HAVE A 2001 VOLVO S40 WITH BRAKE PROBLEMS. IN THE MORNINGS WHEN I GET IN MY CAR AND BACK UP I HAVE TO ALMOST STAND UP ON THE BRAKES TO STOP MY CAR. I HAVE ALMOST WENT OUT IN FRONT OF OTHERS CARS BECAUSE MY BRAKES WILL NOT HARDLY STOP. THIS OCCURS DAILY. IF MY CAR SITS FOR A FEW HOURS IT DOES IT ALL OVER AGAIN. THIS TO ME IS A …

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I HAVE A 2001 VOLVO S40 WITH BRAKE PROBLEMS. IN THE MORNINGS WHEN I GET IN MY CAR AND BACK UP I HAVE TO ALMOST STAND UP ON THE BRAKES TO STOP MY CAR. I HAVE ALMOST WENT OUT IN FRONT OF OTHERS CARS BECAUSE MY BRAKES WILL NOT HARDLY STOP. THIS OCCURS DAILY. IF MY CAR SITS FOR A FEW HOURS IT DOES IT ALL OVER AGAIN. THIS TO ME IS A SAFTY ISSUE BECAUSE ONE DAY THEY ARE NOT GOING TO STOP AND I'LL HAVE A WRECK. I HAVE TWO SMALL CHILDREN IN MY CAR. I THOUGHT VOLVO WAS SUPPOSE TO BE ONE OF THE SAFEST CARSS ONE THE ROAD BUT SOMEONE DIDN'T DO ENOUGH RESEARCH. I HAVE BUMPED MY HUSBANDS TRUCK TWICE BECAUSE OF THIS PROBLEM. AND I HAVE ALSO HAD TO USE THE E-BRAKE TO STOP MORE THAN ONCE. SOME ONE NEEDS TO BE HELD RESPONSIBLE FOR THIS PROBLEM. MY CAR ONLY HAS 110,000 MILES ONE IT. I HAD A 1993 VOLVO 850 BEFORE THIS ONE AND IT HAD 207,000 MILES ON IT WHEN IT WAS WRECKED AND I NEVER HAD ANY PROBLEMS WITH IT. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10281474

88,000 miles · Feb 12, 2009
Engine And Engine Cooling

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 VOLVO S40. WHILE DRIVING AT AN UNKNOWN SPEED, THE CONTACT HEARD A LOUD NOISE COMING FROM THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE. HE INVESTIGATED AND NOTICED THAT THE EXHAUST PIPE WAS LOOSE FROM THE BASE. THE MANUFACTURER STATED THAT A WARRANTY WAS OFFERED FOR THE DEFECT; HOWEVER, THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE WA…

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TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 VOLVO S40. WHILE DRIVING AT AN UNKNOWN SPEED, THE CONTACT HEARD A LOUD NOISE COMING FROM THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE. HE INVESTIGATED AND NOTICED THAT THE EXHAUST PIPE WAS LOOSE FROM THE BASE. THE MANUFACTURER STATED THAT A WARRANTY WAS OFFERED FOR THE DEFECT; HOWEVER, THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE WARRANTY. THE EXHAUST SYSTEM WILL BE REPLACED AT THE COST OF $1,000. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 88,000. UPDATED 3/5/09 *CN THE CONSUMER STATED THE DEFECT IS THE FLEX PIPE PRIOR TO THE CONVERTER. WHEN THE FLEX PIPE FAILS EXHAUST ENTERS THE VEHICLE.

NHTSA ODI #10258434

82,524 miles · Oct 14, 2008
Engine And Engine Cooling

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 VOLVO S40. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 45 MPH, THE CHECK ENGINE WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. THE FOLLOWING DAY, THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT START. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER AND THEY STATED THAT A COOLANT FLUSH WAS NEEDED. THE REPAIRS WERE PERFORMED ON THE VEHICLE. A M…

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TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 VOLVO S40. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 45 MPH, THE CHECK ENGINE WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. THE FOLLOWING DAY, THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT START. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER AND THEY STATED THAT A COOLANT FLUSH WAS NEEDED. THE REPAIRS WERE PERFORMED ON THE VEHICLE. A MONTH LATER, THE CONTACT STARTED THE VEHICLE AND SMOKE APPEARED. SHE NOTICED A LEAK COMING FROM THE RADIATOR. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER AND THEY STATED THAT A NEW ENGINE AND RADIATOR WERE NEEDED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED AND THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 83,000 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 82,524. UPDATED 10-29-08 *BF

NHTSA ODI #10245424

36,000 miles · Sep 11, 2008
Engine And Engine Cooling

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 VOLVO S40. SHORTLY AFTER PURCHASING THE VEHICLE, AND DRIVING AT ANY SPEED, THERE WAS EXCESSIVE VIBRATION INSIDE THE PASSENGER COMPARTMENT. THE FAILURE OCCURRED MOSTLY WHILE IDLING AND HAS PROGRESSIVELY WORSENED OVER TIME. THE DEALER STATED THAT THERE WERE NO FAILURES WITH THE VEHICLE AND THE VIBRATI…

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TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 VOLVO S40. SHORTLY AFTER PURCHASING THE VEHICLE, AND DRIVING AT ANY SPEED, THERE WAS EXCESSIVE VIBRATION INSIDE THE PASSENGER COMPARTMENT. THE FAILURE OCCURRED MOSTLY WHILE IDLING AND HAS PROGRESSIVELY WORSENED OVER TIME. THE DEALER STATED THAT THERE WERE NO FAILURES WITH THE VEHICLE AND THE VIBRATION WAS TYPICAL. RECENTLY, THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A VOLVO SPECIALIST AND HE DIAGNOSED THAT THE MOTOR MOUNTS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 75,400 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 36,000.

NHTSA ODI #10241866

76,470 miles · Aug 4, 2008
Structure

SOMETHING, POSSIBLY A RAIL, FLEW OFF OF MY VOLVO S40 (2001) ON THE HIGHWAY. SUBSEQUENTLY, THE SUNROOF WAS UNABLE TO CLOSE BECAUSE OF GETTING HUNG UP ON THE SUNSHADE. WHEN I BROUGHT IT INTO THE SHOP, I LEARNED THAT THE RAILS WHICH HAD HELD THE SUNROOF IN PLACE HAD BECOME DETACHED FROM THE GLASS BECAUSE THE GLUE APPLIED IN THE F…

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SOMETHING, POSSIBLY A RAIL, FLEW OFF OF MY VOLVO S40 (2001) ON THE HIGHWAY. SUBSEQUENTLY, THE SUNROOF WAS UNABLE TO CLOSE BECAUSE OF GETTING HUNG UP ON THE SUNSHADE. WHEN I BROUGHT IT INTO THE SHOP, I LEARNED THAT THE RAILS WHICH HAD HELD THE SUNROOF IN PLACE HAD BECOME DETACHED FROM THE GLASS BECAUSE THE GLUE APPLIED IN THE FACTORY TO ATTACH THE METAL RAILS TO THE GLASS WAS NO LONGER EVEN VISIBLE. I DO NOT BELIEVE THE RAIL HIT ANOTHER CAR WHEN IT FLEW OFF THE CAR, BUT THIS INCIDENT COULD HAVE HAD VERY SERIOUS CONSEQUENCES.

NHTSA ODI #10236819

60,000 miles · Oct 29, 2007
Service Brakes, Hydraulic

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 VOLVO S40. EACH MORNING, THE BRAKES WOULD FAIL. THE CONTACT HAD TO LEAVE THE VEHICLE RUNNING FOR APPROXIMATELY FIVE MINUTES BEFORE THE BRAKES BECAME OPERATIONAL. HE TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER AND THEY STATED THAT THE PUMP NEEDED TO BE REPLACED AND THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NU…

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TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 VOLVO S40. EACH MORNING, THE BRAKES WOULD FAIL. THE CONTACT HAD TO LEAVE THE VEHICLE RUNNING FOR APPROXIMATELY FIVE MINUTES BEFORE THE BRAKES BECAME OPERATIONAL. HE TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER AND THEY STATED THAT THE PUMP NEEDED TO BE REPLACED AND THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 03V474000 (SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:POWER ASSIST:VACUUM). THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 67,000 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 60,000.

NHTSA ODI #10207333

Official recalls

2

03V284000 · 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

1

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.