SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:POWER ASSIST:VACUUM
2000 Volvo S40
Recalls, owner-reported complaints, investigations and safety data
Data refreshed
Overview
Our database contains 122 NHTSA owner-reported complaints for the 2000 Volvo S40, most frequently naming the brakes, driver assistance and suspension categories. 1 safety recall has been issued covering this model year; 2 NHTSA investigations name it; and 200 manufacturer communications are on file.
Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.
Complaint activity over time
When owners filed reports about this model year
View as table
| Month | Complaints filed | Cumulative |
|---|---|---|
| Mar 2002 | 1 | 36 |
| May 2002 | 1 | 37 |
| Jul 2002 | 2 | 39 |
| Aug 2002 | 2 | 41 |
| Oct 2002 | 1 | 42 |
| Nov 2002 | 1 | 43 |
| Feb 2003 | 2 | 45 |
| Mar 2003 | 1 | 46 |
| Apr 2003 | 2 | 48 |
| May 2003 | 1 | 49 |
| Jul 2003 | 12 | 61 |
| Aug 2003 | 1 | 62 |
| Oct 2003 | 1 | 63 |
| Jan 2004 | 3 | 66 |
| Feb 2004 | 1 | 67 |
| Mar 2004 | 2 | 69 |
| Apr 2004 | 3 | 72 |
| May 2004 | 1 | 73 |
| Jun 2004 | 1 | 74 |
| Jul 2004 | 3 | 77 |
| Aug 2004 | 1 | 78 |
| Sep 2004 | 1 | 79 |
| Jan 2005 | 1 | 80 |
| Feb 2005 | 1 | 81 |
| Mar 2005 | 1 | 82 |
| Sep 2005 | 1 | 83 |
| Nov 2005 | 2 | 85 |
| Dec 2005 | 1 | 86 |
| Apr 2006 | 1 | 87 |
| May 2006 | 1 | 88 |
| Sep 2006 | 2 | 90 |
| Dec 2006 | 1 | 91 |
| Jan 2007 | 1 | 92 |
| Feb 2007 | 1 | 93 |
| Mar 2007 | 1 | 94 |
| Apr 2007 | 1 | 95 |
| Jul 2007 | 1 | 96 |
| Sep 2007 | 1 | 97 |
| Oct 2007 | 1 | 98 |
| Jan 2008 | 1 | 99 |
| Mar 2008 | 1 | 100 |
| Nov 2008 | 1 | 101 |
| Jan 2009 | 3 | 104 |
| Mar 2009 | 1 | 105 |
| Aug 2009 | 1 | 106 |
| Oct 2009 | 1 | 107 |
| Feb 2010 | 2 | 109 |
| Aug 2010 | 1 | 110 |
| Sep 2010 | 1 | 111 |
| Feb 2011 | 1 | 112 |
| Aug 2011 | 1 | 113 |
| Nov 2011 | 1 | 114 |
| Mar 2012 | 1 | 115 |
| May 2012 | 1 | 116 |
| Oct 2012 | 1 | 117 |
| Apr 2013 | 1 | 118 |
| Dec 2014 | 1 | 119 |
| Jan 2016 | 1 | 120 |
| Aug 2018 | 1 | 121 |
| Jun 2021 | 1 | 122 |
What owners report
Complaints grouped by the component NHTSA recorded
- Brakes5234.0%
- Driver assistance1711.1%
- Suspension149.2%
- Exterior lighting138.5%
- Electrical138.5%
- Engine127.8%
- Seat belts74.6%
- Visibility53.3%
Percentages are of component mentions. A single complaint can name more than one component, so these do not sum to the total complaint count.
Safety recalls
1 campaign cover this model year
Recalls apply to specific vehicles, not to every vehicle of a model year. Check your VIN with NHTSA or your manufacturer's dealer to confirm whether a recall affects your vehicle.
Check a VIN on NHTSA.govSafety investigations
NHTSA inquiries naming this vehicle. An investigation is not a finding of a defect.
VOLVO S40/V40 MY 2000-2001
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.
BRAKE POWER-ASSIST
Recent owner complaints
Reports submitted to NHTSA, shown in the owner's own words
This is to describe airbag injuries. My car performed well. If not for the airbag and good construction of this Volvo I would not be here to ask for your help. I am wondering why we still use explosive materials and a device that causes so many injuries. There has to be another device to absorb the force of impact than an explosive device that injures, maim, and can kill people. I want to send images of my injuries which are extensive. Is this what happens each time the airbags ignite? I was close due to my small stature. The bag hit me in the chest and face. Volvo is a safe car. I was traveling at 55mph, a woman stopped her car in the passing lane feet in front of me, everyone was doing 55 mph and more. There was nowhere to go to escape the impact. Frederick, MD Hwy 15 South at 7th Street has many oncoming ramps, there needs to be warning about oncoming and stopped vehicles. The speed limit is 65mph before these fast-moving on-ramps. A flashing light would also help.
- NHTSA ID
- 11422879
- Incident
- Jun 23, 2021
THE CAR HAS PROBLEMS STARTING AND TAKES A FEW TRIES BEFORE STARTING UP. HAVE ALSO HAD A PROBLEM WHERE THE CAR WAS IN PARK WITH THE PARKING BRAKE ENGAGED AND THE CAR WAS REVVING ON ITS OWN. THERE HAVE ALSO BEEN PROBLEMS WHILE THE CAR HAS BEEN SLOWING DOWN ON THE FREEWAY, SPECIFICALLY WHEN THE BRAKES ARE BEING ENGAGED THE CAR WILL ATTEMPT TO MOVE FORWARD AS THOUGH IT IS TRYING TO PUSH PASS THE FACT THAT THE BRAKES ARE BEING ENGAGED. AS WELL AS THE CAR WILL ACCELERATE FASTER THAN THE GAS PEDAL IS BEING PUSHED E.G WHEN THE GAS PEDAL IS SLIGHTLY PUSHED THE CAR WILL ACCELERATE QUICKLY AS THOUGH THE GAS PEDAL WAS BEING PUSHED UPON FIRMLY.
- NHTSA ID
- 11118565
- Incident
- Jul 27, 2018
- Mileage
- 148,800 mi
THIS HAPPENED YESTERDAY 1/28/16 AND IN APRIL 2015 (THE DEALERSHIP "FIXED IT" BUT IT DIDN'T WORK!!!!) YESTERDAY, WHILE DRIVING HOME FROM WORK, THE CAR DID THE SCARIEST THING I'VE EVER EXPERIENCED WHILE DRIVING. ALL THE LIGHTS ON THE DASH, ALL THE WARNING LIGHTS FLASHED SEVERAL TIMES AND THE CAR CAME TO A COMPLETE STANDSTILL. NO POWER AT ALL. IT DIDN'T SLOW TO A STALL, NO WEIRD SOUNDS...IT JUST LITERALLY STOPPED IN IT'S TRACKS. RIGHT THERE, IN THE ROAD. ALL OF A SUDDEN MY CAR SHUT OFF. WHEN I SAY SHUT OFF I MEAN THE HEADLIGHTS, DOME LIGHTS, ENGINE....ANYTHING THAT WAS ELECTRICAL COMPLETELY SHUT OFF. THIS WOULD INCLUDE THE STEERING WHEEL LOCKING UP. IMAGINE DRIVING ON THE FREEWAY/HIGHWAY IN THE MIDDLE OF THE NIGHT WITH TRAFFIC AROUND YOU AND YOUR LIGHTS GOING OUT, STEERING WHEEL LOCKING AND HAVING NO WAY TO CONTROL THE VEHICLE. THIS COULD HAVE KILLED ME AND MY BABY. LAST NIGHT, I HAS NIGHTMARES ALL NIGHT LONG OF THAT HAPPENING ON THE FREEWAY OR THE TRESTLE WITH MY BABY. WHERE I DRIVE FREQUENTLY. HAD THAT HAVE HAPPENED THERE, I COULD HAVE BEEN KILLED ESPECIALLY IF A SEMI TRUCK WAS BEHIND ME, AS IS OFTEN THE CASE. THEY CAN'T STOP THAT FAST. MOST PEOPLE CAN'T STOP THAT FAST GOING 55-75 MPH. I HAD BEEN ON THE TRESTLE ABOUT 15 MINUTES BEFORE IT HAPPENED. AND I AM PETRIFIED TO THINK WHAT COULD HAVE HAPPENED SINCE I OFTEN HAVE MY BABY IN THE CAR. THE CAR IS AT THE DEALERSHIP IN SERVICE. THEY CANNOT FIND ANYTHING WRONG WITH IT. THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT DIDN'T COME ON, SO THERE ARE NO CODES. THEY CANNOT GET IT DO IT AGAIN.
- NHTSA ID
- 10823121
- Incident
- Jan 28, 2016
- Mileage
- 103,000 mi
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 VOLVO S40. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED INDEPENDENTLY WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT MENTIONED THAT THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED IN ORDER TO SLOW DOWN OR STOP THE VEHICLE. THE FAILURE OCCURRED ON MULTIPLE OCCASIONS. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 99,900.
- NHTSA ID
- 10664859
- Incident
- Oct 30, 2014
- Mileage
- 99,900 mi
I WAS STOPPED AT A RED LIGHT BEHIND SEVERAL CARS. THE LIGHT TURNED GREEN AND I TOOK MY FOOT OFF THE BRAKE, BUT DID NOT PUT MY FOOT ON THE ACCELERATOR. THE CAR ENGINE REVVED UP AND LURCHED FORWARD DESPITE ME ATTEMPTING TO BRAKE HEAVILY. THE BRAKES WOULD NOT FULLY DECOMPRESS CAUSING ME TO REAR END THE VEHICLE IN FRONT OF ME. I PURCHASED THE CAR USED WITH 134,100 MILES. I NOTICED ABOUT 5 MONTHS AFTER PURCHASE THAT THE ENGINE WOULD REV AND THE RPM'S WOULD REMAIN HIGH WITHOUT PRESSING ON THE ACCELERATOR AND THE CAR WILL MOVE APPROXIMATELY 10-15 MPH WITHOUT PRESSING ON THE ACCELERATOR. WHEN ROADS ARE WET OR WHEN IT HAS BEEN RAINING, THE CAR IS DIFFICULT IN BRAKING AND THE BRAKES OFTEN "FREEZE" WHERE THE BRAKE PEDAL CANNOT BE DEPRESSED. BRAKES WERE REPLACED, BUT THE ISSUE PERSISTS. ALSO, AT TIMES, THE CAR ENGINE CONTINUES TO REV WHEN PRESSING ON THE BRAKES. LASTLY, THE ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON, IT WAS INDICATED VIA A DIAGNOSTIC TEST THAT THERE WAS A MISFIRE WITH ONE OF THE SPARK PLUG COILS. ALL SPARK PLUGS AND COILS/IGNITION COILS WERE REPLACED, ENGINE LIGHT PERSISTED. AT THE TIME THE TEMP SENSOR AND THE THERMOSTAT WAS REPLACED AS THE IGNITION COILS AND SPARK PLUGS DID NOT ALLEVIATE THE ISSUE. WHEN A FOLLOWING DIAGNOSTIC TEST WAS PERFORMED INDICATED THAT THE COOLANT TEMP SENSOR HAS LOW VOLTAGE. SOMETIMES THE CAR ENGINE WILL TURN, BUT THE CAR WILL NOT FULLY TURN ON AND I NEED TO WAIT ABOUT 10 MINUTES (OR UNTIL THE FAN TURNS OFF) BEFORE BEING ABLE TO ATTEMPT TO START THE CAR. DUE TO THE ISSUES WITH THE CAR, THE CAR CANNOT GET AN INSPECTION STICKER, AND IT DOES NOT SEEM SAFE TO DRIVE. DUE TO MASSACHUSETTS CAR LAWS, WE CANNOT SELL THE CAR DUE TO LEMON LAW AND THE CAR IS WORTH MORE THAN SCRAPING. WE ALSO HAD A BROKEN AXEL AND COIL THAT WERE REPLACED AFTER HITTING A POTHOLE. *TR
- NHTSA ID
- 10509612
- Incident
- Oct 2, 2012
- Mileage
- 151,000 mi
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 VOLVO S40. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE TRAVELING 30 MPH THE VEHICLE'S SPEED ERRONEOUSLY INCREASED TO 55 MPH. THE CONTACT FIRMLY DEPRESSED THE BRAKE PEDAL TO STOP THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT MERGED TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD TO RESTART THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE THEN FUNCTIONED AS NORMAL. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A MECHANIC WHERE IT WAS FOUND THAT THE COOLANT TEMPERATURE SENSOR HAD FAILED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE FAILURE RECURRED SEVERAL TIMES AFTER THE REPAIR. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 95,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 96,828. UPDATED 11/13/12 *CN THE IDLE CONTROL VALVE AS REPLACED TO CORRECT THE PROBLEM. HOWEVER, THE CONSUMER CONTINUED TO EXPERIENCE PROBLEMS. UPDATED 11/19/12
- NHTSA ID
- 10479401
- Incident
- Aug 30, 2012
- Mileage
- 95,000 mi
IT WAS CLOSE TO 9PM. I HAD EXITED THE FREEWAY TO STOP IN A PARKING LOT TO CHECK DIRECTIONS. I HAD BEEN DRIVING FOR ABOUT AN HOUR, SO I GOT OUT TO WALK AROUND AND BUY A CUP OF COFFEE. I CAME BACK A FEW MINUTES LATER AND DROVE OUT OF THE LOT. THE ON RAMP WAS ABOUT 200 YARDS AWAY AND THERE WAS A RED LIGHT AT THE INTERSECTION, SO I WAS ONLY MOVING AT AROUND 20MPH. I WAS THE ONLY CAR IN MY LANE, SO ABOUT 100 FEET AWAY FROM THE INTERSECTION I PRESSED DOWN ON MY BRAKE PEDAL, BUT THE FOR SOME REASON IT THE CAR KEPT ROLLING. I TRIED AGAIN, BUT THE BRAKES WERE NO HELP AS I KEPT ROLLING. FRANTICALLY, I STOMPED HARD, FLOORED THE BRAKES, AND MY CAR STARTED TO SLOW DOWN A LITTLE, BUT THAT TIME IT WAS TOO LATE. I TRIED TO TURN TO THE RIGHT TO AVOID THE FLOW OF TRAFFIC, BUT AN INSTANT LATER I HAD HIT AN ONCOMING CAR. I DON'T KNOW WHAT WENT WRONG. I AM PRETTY GOOD AT MAINTAINING THE CAR AND IT HAD BEEN SERVICED AT THE VOLVO DEALER FAIRLY RECENTLY. IT'S ONLY GARAGED ABOUT HALF THE TIME, BUT I LIVE IN SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA SO IT'S NEVER BEEN EXPOSED TO AN EXTREME CLIMATE OR ANYTHING. THERE WAS A THUNDERSTORM THAT MORNING, AND THE ROADS WERE VERY WET EARLIER IN THE DAY, BUT THE STORM BROKE AROUND NOON: 7 OR 8 HOURS BEFORE I LEFT HOME THAT NIGHT. BY THAT TIME ALL OF THE ROADS HAD DRIED. *TR
- NHTSA ID
- 10457440
- Incident
- Apr 13, 2012
- Mileage
- 151,278 mi
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 VOLVO S40. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WOULD ACCELERATE ABNORMALLY WITHOUT DEPRESSING THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL. THE FAILURE OCCURRED INTERMITTENTLY WHETHER DRIVING IN REVERSE OR GOING FORWARD, AS WELL AS WHEN SITTING AT A COMPLETE STOP. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHO ADVISED THAT THEY NEED TO REPAIR THE ELECTRONIC THROTTLE CONTROL, IDLE CONTROL VALVE AND THE BRAKE SYSTEM. THE REPAIRS WERE NOT COMPLETED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 74,000.
- NHTSA ID
- 10453452
- Incident
- Jan 28, 2012
- Mileage
- 74,000 mi
Manufacturer communications
A bulletin sent by a manufacturer to its dealers. Not a recall, and repairs are not necessarily free.
ENGINE
This is a Technical Journal: Text plus 2 PDFs and 1 .PNG Oil Consumption test. Perform the test. Follow service procedure Description and Service sections updated to clarify that vehicle reports are not required.
This is a TJ text only - The purpose of this TJ is to be a master reference list to easily identify any components that are on prior approval. This TJ will be regularily updated as items are added or removed from prior approval. Current items under prior approval are listed in the "Service" section
This is a Technical Journal. Vehicle type and platform identification.
EXTERIOR LIGHTING
This is a Technical Journal: Remote connection, BOMGAR application. Before joining a remote session: •Connect a suitable battery maintainer/charger and verify that the battery voltage indicated in VIDA is between 12.5V and 14.9V. •Connect to the vehicle over a wired connection using a VOE (Volvo OBD to Ethernet) adapter and perform a NEW vehicle readout.
Volvo Cars USA LLC and Volvo Car Canada LTD on behalf of the Volvo Car Corporation has decided to launch Service Action S10303 on certain model year 2025 EX90 vehicles. Volvo Car Investigations have identified that there is a pairing issue with the key fob. As a result, there is a possibility that the customer’s key fob is not paired to the vehicle. The corrective action is to download SP Software. S10303 affects 151 vehicles in the U.S and 5 in Canada.
Volvo Cars USA LLC and Volvo Car Canada LTD on behalf of the Volvo Car Corporation has decided to launch Service Action S10303 on certain model year 2025 EX90 vehicles. Volvo Car Investigations have identified that there is a pairing issue with the key fob. As a result, there is a possibility that the customer’s key fob is not paired to the vehicle. The corrective action is to download SP Software. S10303 affects 151 vehicles in the U.S and 5 in Canada.
Manufacturers file copies of the bulletins they send to dealers with NHTSA. These often describe diagnostic or repair procedures for a known condition. They are not recalls: repairs described in a bulletin are usually only free if the vehicle is still under warranty or the manufacturer has extended coverage.
Compare model years
Complaint and recall counts across every year of this model
Higher-selling and older vehicles accumulate more reports. Counts are not failure rates and are not directly comparable between vehicles that sold in very different numbers. Older model years have had longer for reports to accumulate.