IllustrationWHILE PARKED IN THE DRIVEWAY, A WATER BALLOON HIT THE SUN ROOF OF THE CAR AND IT SHATTERED. *TT
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
What owners actually said
84 reportsCONSUMER HAD TO REPLACE TWO REAR BRAKE PADS AFTER 10230. IN ADDITION, HEADLIGHTS BURNED OUT AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. POWER STEERING WHEEL SHAFT. PH
FOR MONTHS, THE SERVICE LIGHT COMES ON IN THE CAR. I HAVE TAKEN THE CAR IN FOR REPAIR 6 TIMES. EACH TIME, THE LIGHT COMES BACK ON. VOLVO ENGINEER CAME IN FRIDAY TO SUPERVISE THE REPAIR OF CAR. SATURDAY EVENING THE LIGHT WENT ON. TWO WEEKS AGO, DEALER LOANED ME A 2003 V40 FOR SEVERAL DAYS WHILE THEY WORKED ON CAR. SURPRISE…
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FOR MONTHS, THE SERVICE LIGHT COMES ON IN THE CAR. I HAVE TAKEN THE CAR IN FOR REPAIR 6 TIMES. EACH TIME, THE LIGHT COMES BACK ON. VOLVO ENGINEER CAME IN FRIDAY TO SUPERVISE THE REPAIR OF CAR. SATURDAY EVENING THE LIGHT WENT ON. TWO WEEKS AGO, DEALER LOANED ME A 2003 V40 FOR SEVERAL DAYS WHILE THEY WORKED ON CAR. SURPRISE! SERVICE ENGINE LIGHT WENT ON IN LOANER CAR. DURING LAST VISIT TO DEALER, TWO PEOPLE IN FRONT OF ME WERE COMING IN FOR SERVICE ENGINE LIGHT! THERE IS A PROBLEM WITH THESE CARS. I AM ON A LEASE, AND ASKING FACTORY TO TERMINATE LEASE.
THE VOLVO DEALER TOLD ME I NEED NEW REAR BRAKES WHEN I HAD JUST UNDER 14,000 ON MY CAR AND I WOULD BE FINANCIALLY RESPONSIBLE. THEY SAID THIS IS "NORMAL" FOR THE S40. ISN'T THIS VERY UNUSUAL? I FEEL IT IS A MANUFACTURING DEFECT AND NEEDED TO BE REPORTED. THANK YOU. DT
THE REAR BRAKE PADS ARE WEARING PREMATURELY AND HAD TO BE REPLACED AT 12500 MILES. THE DEALER SAYS THIS IS TYPICAL OF THIS MODEL, AND THAT THEY ARE TO SMALL. IT COSTS $135 EACH TIME THESE HAVE TO BE REPLACED. I BELIEVE THIS COULD BE A SAFETY ISSUE SINCE THE REAR BRAKE PADS COULD FAIL MUCH AT RELATIVLY LOW MILEAGE.*AK
WHILE VEHICLE WAS PARKED, THE SUNROOF CAME LOOSE AND FELL INTO THE PASSENGER'S COMPARTMENT. WHEN THIS OCCURRED, GLASS SHATTERED AND SPREAD THROUGHOUT PASSENGER'S COMPARTMENT, DEALERSHIP HAS EXAMINED VEHICLE, AND WAS MAKING NECESSARY REPAIRS. *AK. CONSUMER STATES THAT VOLVO PURCHASED THE VEHICLE BACK FROM HIM. *YD
ABOUT 2 OR 3 WEEKS AGO I NOTICED SOMETHING THAT WAS HANGING FROM THE FRONT PART OF THE CAR. I CONTACTED THE DEALER AND THEY INFORMED ME IT WAS AN ENGINE COVERED, SINCE I AM LEASING THE CAR I REQUESTED TO BE REPAIRED. THE DEALER INFORMED ME IT WAS NOT COVERED BECAUSE THE DAMAGE WAS CAUSED BY ME. HE ALSO TOLD ME VOVOS ARE TOO LOW …
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ABOUT 2 OR 3 WEEKS AGO I NOTICED SOMETHING THAT WAS HANGING FROM THE FRONT PART OF THE CAR. I CONTACTED THE DEALER AND THEY INFORMED ME IT WAS AN ENGINE COVERED, SINCE I AM LEASING THE CAR I REQUESTED TO BE REPAIRED. THE DEALER INFORMED ME IT WAS NOT COVERED BECAUSE THE DAMAGE WAS CAUSED BY ME. HE ALSO TOLD ME VOVOS ARE TOO LOW IN THE FRONT AND IF YOU PUSHED AGAINST A CAR BUMPER OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT IT WILL CAUSE THE ENGINE COVER TO FALL. AS FAR AS KNOW THIS IS NOT IN THE MANUAL AND WAS NEVER INFORMED OF THIS VOVOS PROBLEMS. THEY CHARGED ME $151.06 TO REPLACE THE ENGINE COVERED. *AK
FUEL GAUGE REPORTS INACCURATE FUEL LEVEL READINGS. RATE AT WHICH GAUGE DEPLETES IS TOO RAPID SUCH THAT WHEN GAUGE REGISTERS 1/2 TANK, 3/4 TANK OF FUEL EXISTS, WHEN GAUGE REGISTERS 1/4 TANK, 1/2 TANK EXISTS, AND SO ON. GAUGE REGISTERS 3-4 GALLONS LESS THAN WHAT IS IN THE FUEL TANK (CAPACITY: 16 GALLONS). PROBLEM REPORTED TO DE…
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FUEL GAUGE REPORTS INACCURATE FUEL LEVEL READINGS. RATE AT WHICH GAUGE DEPLETES IS TOO RAPID SUCH THAT WHEN GAUGE REGISTERS 1/2 TANK, 3/4 TANK OF FUEL EXISTS, WHEN GAUGE REGISTERS 1/4 TANK, 1/2 TANK EXISTS, AND SO ON. GAUGE REGISTERS 3-4 GALLONS LESS THAN WHAT IS IN THE FUEL TANK (CAPACITY: 16 GALLONS). PROBLEM REPORTED TO DEALERSIP TWICE. DEALER ADVISES THAT THERE IS NO FIX FOR THIS ISSUE-- STATES THAT VOLVO NORTH AMERICA DOES NOT HAVE A FIX CURRENTLY UNDER DEVELOPMENT. PROBLEM BEGAN TO OCCUR APPROX 3 TO 4 MONTHS AFTER NEW VEHICLE PURCHASE.*AK
WITH THE LOW BEAMS ON, NIGHT TIME VISIBILITY IS POOR AND TREACHEROUS. I HAVE THE SAME PROBLEM WITH MY VOLVO 960 WHICH THE SERVICEMAN STATES CAN NOT BE ADJUSTED ANY BETTER. I HIT A DEER LAST WEEK IN THE S40 AND I STRONGLY BELIEVE IT WOULD NOT HAVE HAPPENED IF THE HEADLIGHTS WERE EFFECTIVE. I HAVE OWNED AND DRIVEN SEVERAL CARS BEF…
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WITH THE LOW BEAMS ON, NIGHT TIME VISIBILITY IS POOR AND TREACHEROUS. I HAVE THE SAME PROBLEM WITH MY VOLVO 960 WHICH THE SERVICEMAN STATES CAN NOT BE ADJUSTED ANY BETTER. I HIT A DEER LAST WEEK IN THE S40 AND I STRONGLY BELIEVE IT WOULD NOT HAVE HAPPENED IF THE HEADLIGHTS WERE EFFECTIVE. I HAVE OWNED AND DRIVEN SEVERAL CARS BEFORE INCLUDING A MAZDA MIATA AND A FORD EXPLORER RECENTLY AND BOTH VEHICLES HAVE EXCELLENT NIGHT TIME HEADLAMP VISIBILITY. I STRONGLY BELIEVE THIS IS A VOLVO DESIGN PROBLEM. THERE IS GREATER VSIBILITY TO THE SIDE THAN TO THE FRONT OF THE VEHICLE. PLEASE INVESTIGATE THIS ISSUE BEFORE SOMEONE GETS SERIOUSLY HURT.
HEADLIGHTS DO NOT THROW A BEAM BUT RATHER A SPRAY OF DISPERSED LIGHT THAT LIGHTS MORE OF THE SIDE OF THE ROAD THAN IN FRONT OF THE VEHICLE. I DO NOT FEEL SAFE DRIVING THIS VEHICLE AT NIGHT, ESPECIALLY ON NARROW DARK BACKROADS (WHICH I HAVE TO TRAVEL FREQUENTLY). DEALER SAID THEY HAVE DONE EVERYTHING THEY CAN.*AK
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.