NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
Service Brakes, Hydraulic complaints
23 reportsClear category filterMileage unknown · Apr 11, 2002
Service Brakes, Hydraulic
HERE IS HOW THE PROBLEM FIRST STARTS TO OCCUR. IT STARTS OUT AS AN INTERMITTENT THING AND GRADUALLY PROGRESSES TO EVERY TIME. CAR HAS BEEN OFF FOR A PERIOD OF TIME. THE CAR IS STARTED, PLACED IN REVERSE TO BACK OUT OF THE DRIVEWAY, THE BRAKE PEDAL IS DEPRESSED TO STOP THE CAR AND PLACE INTO DRIVE. DURING THE FIRST BRAKING AT…
Read full complaint
HERE IS HOW THE PROBLEM FIRST STARTS TO OCCUR. IT STARTS OUT AS AN INTERMITTENT THING AND GRADUALLY PROGRESSES TO EVERY TIME. CAR HAS BEEN OFF FOR A PERIOD OF TIME. THE CAR IS STARTED, PLACED IN REVERSE TO BACK OUT OF THE DRIVEWAY, THE BRAKE PEDAL IS DEPRESSED TO STOP THE CAR AND PLACE INTO DRIVE. DURING THE FIRST BRAKING ATTEMPT THE BRAKE PEDAL IS DEPRESSED TO THE FLOOR TO GET THE CAR TO STOP (THE POWER BRAKING SEEMS TO FAIL). THE BRAKES OPERATE NORMALLY AT THE SECOND BRAKING ATTEMPT. THIS PROBLEM PROGRESSES OVER TIME WHERE BRAKING BECOMES SLUGGISH AT ALL BRAKING ATTEMPTS. WHAT HAS PROMPTED ME TO ISSUE THIS COMPLAINT IS MY WIFE ALMOST REAR ENDED THE CAR IN FRONT OF HER IN A QUICK STOP SITUATION. VOLVO HAS REPLACED COMPONENTS CENTERED AROUND THE BRAKE VACUUM SYSTEM. THESE ITEMS HAVE INCLUDED THE VACUUM PUMP (TWICE), HOSES, AND A FUSE. THE CAR HAS BEEN SERVICED FOR THIS ISSUE 5 TIMES IN A LITTLE OVER TWO YEARS SINCE I MADE MY PURCHASE. DURING THE LAST ATTEMPT TO FIX THE CAR IT WAS IN FOR SERVICE FOR 9 DAYS STRAIGHT (11/11/01-11/20/01). AT THE TIME OF THIS WRITING (4/11/02) IT IS BACK IN THE SHOP FOR THIS ISSUE.*AK
NHTSA ODI #760570
Mileage unknown · Jan 29, 2002
Service Brakes, Hydraulic
ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS WHEN BRAKES WERE APPLIED PEDAL BECAME SOFT,CAUSING EXTENDED STOPPING DISTANCE. VEHICLE HAS BEEN AT THE DEALER ON FOUR OCCASIONS, AND PROBLEM STILL OCCURS. FEEL FREE TO PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION.*AK
NHTSA ODI #8003080
Mileage unknown · Aug 30, 2001
Exterior LightingService Brakes, Hydraulic
TWO HEADLAMPS AT DIFFERENT TIMES BLEW OUT PREMATURELY. REPLACE REAR BRAKE PADS BOTHE SIDES. IT HAS BEEN ADMITTED THAT THE SIZE OF THE REAR BRAKES ARE TOO SMALL.
NHTSA ODI #9004337
Mileage unknown · Aug 20, 2001
Service Brakes, Hydraulic
BRAKE PADS PREMATURELY WORN ALMOST TO THE ROTORS ONLY 20,000 MILES, 90% HIGHWAY DRIVING. DEALER TOLD US THAT WAS ABNORMAL WEAR AND THE CAR WAS MANUFACTURED WITH SOFTER PADS TO PREVENT SQUEALING AND WILL REPLACE AT MY COST WITH HARDER BREAK PADS THAT SHOULD LAST LONGER. DEALER SAID THIS HAS BEEN A PROBLEM WITH MANY OF THE V40'S…
Read full complaint
BRAKE PADS PREMATURELY WORN ALMOST TO THE ROTORS ONLY 20,000 MILES, 90% HIGHWAY DRIVING. DEALER TOLD US THAT WAS ABNORMAL WEAR AND THE CAR WAS MANUFACTURED WITH SOFTER PADS TO PREVENT SQUEALING AND WILL REPLACE AT MY COST WITH HARDER BREAK PADS THAT SHOULD LAST LONGER. DEALER SAID THIS HAS BEEN A PROBLEM WITH MANY OF THE V40'S " ONE LADY HAD TO REPLACE THEM AT 11,000 MILES". *AK
NHTSA ODI #750784
Mileage unknown · Jul 23, 2001
Service Brakes, Hydraulic
BRAKES HAD OR HAVE A PROBLEM, BRAKES FREEZE AND IT IS LIKE PUTTING YOU FOOT ON A BOARD WITH NO GIVE.
NHTSA ODI #9003363
Mileage unknown · Jul 16, 2001
Service Brakes, Hydraulic
NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOVE VEHICLE. *AK
NHTSA ODI #748543
Mileage unknown · May 2, 2001
Service Brakes, Hydraulic
BRAKE PEDAL VERY STIFF AFTER CAR HAS BEEN SITTING, CAUSING EXTENDED BRAKING DISTANCES. VOLVO TSB # 52-01 ADRESSES THIS SYMPTOM.
NHTSA ODI #744835
Mileage unknown · Apr 13, 2001
Service Brakes, Hydraulic
REAR BRAKE PADS ARE WORN DOWN TO THE METAL AND THE METAL IS CUTTING INTO THE ROTOR. DEALER SAID IT IS NORMAL FOR BRAKES TO BE REPLACED BETWEEN 10,000 TO 15,000 MILES. I FIND THIS TO UNACCEPTABLE.*AK
NHTSA ODI #743980
Mileage unknown · Oct 27, 2000
Service Brakes, Hydraulic
AT 15K MILES FRONT BRAKE PADS HAD TO BE REPLACED. DEALER ADVISED THAT IS NORMAL. REAR BRAKES SHOULD LAST 30K MILES. NOT COVERED UNDER WARRANTY. *AK
NHTSA ODI #735281
Mileage unknown · Aug 2, 2000
Service Brakes, Hydraulic
AT 12,000 MILES BRAKE PADS ARE PREMATURELY WEARING OUT. CAUSE UNKOWN. DEALER CANNOT IDENTIFY THE CAUSE. PLEASE GIVE ANY FURTHER DETAILS. *AK
NHTSA ODI #866607
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.
Illustration