Owner-reported complaints naming the brake system, filed with NHTSA
Data refreshed
Reports naming service brakes, the antilock braking system, brake hoses, master cylinders or the parking brake. Every record below is an owner-reported complaint about the 2001 Volvo S40 submitted to NHTSA — not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. 27 reports on file name it.
Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.
The 25 most recent of 27, in the owner's own words
WHILE DRIVING BRAKE WARNING LIGHT WENT ON.BRAKE PEDAL GOT SOFT & SLOWLY WENT TO FLOOR. WHEN VEHICLE WAS CHECKED IT WAS DISCOVERED THAT THE BRAKE LINES TO REAR BRAKES HAD RUSTED THROUGH AND WERE LEAKING FLUID. MASTER CYLINDER WAS ALMOST EMPTY. THE BRAKE LINES ON THIS CAR ARE SUPPOSED TO BE MADE OF A RUST RESISTANT NICKEL/COPPER MATERIAL BUT THEY RUSTED THROUGH. *TR
I PURCHASED A VOLVO FOR THEIR REPUTATION ON SAFETY. SO WHY DOES OUR VOLVO HAVE AN ACCELERATION PROBLEM? I COULD BE AT A STOP LIGHT AND THE CAR REVS UP TO 2000 RPM'S AND STARTS TO GO WITH MY FOOT ON THE BRAKE WITH ME ALMOST HITTING THE CAR IN FRONT OF ME THEN WHEN WE FIRST START UP THE CAR THE BRAKES DON'T WORK? THE CAR STILL ROLLS. WHAT'S GOING ON WITH VOLVO THEIR MAKING ME THINK THEIR JUST AS BAD AS TOYOTA! *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2001 VOLVO S40. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE DRIVER WAS TRAVELING APPROXIMATELY 35 MPH WHEN THE BRAKES WERE APPLIED BUT THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT STOP UNTIL CRASHING INTO ANOTHER VEHICLE. THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY AND THE SEAT BELT FAILED TO RETAIN THE DRIVER. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED AND THE DRIVER SUFFERED SERIOUS INJURIES. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED AND TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT REPAIR SHOP, BUT THE CAUSE OF FAILURE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 114,000. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE.
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 VOLVO S40. WHENEVER THE VEHICLE WAS COLD, THE BRAKES WOULD NOT WORK UNLESS THE PEDAL WAS ENGAGED 6 TIMES. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE BRAKE VACUUM NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 63,000. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 74,000.
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
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.
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
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.
BRAKES DO NOT STOP THE CAR FOR THE FIRST FEW APPLICATIONS. PEDAL DOES NOT FADE. EXCESSIVE PEDAL PRESSURE REQUIRED. SOME OTHER YEARS OF THIS MODEL ARE BEING RECALLED FOR THE SAME COMPLAINT. NO CRASH, INJURIES OR ACCIDENT AS A RESULT OF FAILURE.*AK
REAR BRAKE PADS NEEDED REPLACEMENT AT 13,500 MILES. THIS IS UNUSUALLY EARLY AND WHEN I STATED THAT I WAS UPSET VOLVO SAID "THEY WERE HAVING PROBLEMS WITH THE S40 PADS BEING TOO SOFT." ALTHOUGH, THEY STILL MADE ME PAY FOR THE REPLACEMENT.THEY SAID VOLVO WAS MAKING THE NEW PADS BETTER BUT BECAUSE IT WAS TOO EARLY THEY DID NOT KNOW HOW LONG THEY WOULD BE LASTING. *AK
WHEN PRESSING ON THE BRAKE PEDAL CONSUMER HEARD A GRINDING NOISE, CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO HAVE EXTENDED STOPPING DISTANCE. CONSUMER INDICATED THAT THIS PROBLEM ONLY OCCURRED WHEN VEHICLE WAS SHUT OFF FOR ALONG PERIOD OF TIME. *AK
MY 2001 VOLVO S40 HAS A LITTLE OVER 16,000 MILES. THE FRONT BRAKE PADS HAVE BEEN REPLACED 3 TIMES, ONCE BY THE DEALER UNDER WARRANTY AND TWICE AT MY EXPENSE. WE ALSO HAVE ANOTHER S40 IN THE HOUSEHOLD WITH THE SAME PROBLEM OF BRAKES NEEDING REPLACEMENT FREQUENTLY. I HAVE NOTICED ALLOT OF PEOPLE ON INTERNET SITES WITH S40'S COMPLAINING OF THE SAME FREQUENT BRAKE REPLACEMENT PROBLEM. I DO BELIEVE THERE IS SOME SORT OF BRAKE PAD DEFECT OR DESIGN DEFECT ON S40'S. THERE IS NO REASON WHY OWNERS OF THESE CARS SHOULD BE CONSTANTLY REPLACING BRAKE PADS. PLEASE CHECK INTO THIS COMPLAINT FOR ME AND THE THOUSANDS OF OTHER PEOPLE WITH THE SAME COMPLAINTS. *NM
I HAD MY VOLVO S40 INTO THE DEALER I BOUGHT IT FROM (KEYSTONE, PA) 5 TIMES FOR A SQUEAK IN THE REAR OF THE CAR. EACH TIME WE WERE TOLD THEY COULDN'T LOCATE THE PROBLEM BUT THEY COULD HEAR THE SQUEAK. ON THE 6 VISIT THEY GAVE US A LOANER AND TOOK THE CAR FOR A COUPLE OF DAYS AND THEN CALLED US AND TOLD US THEY FOUND THE PROBLEM.... THE REAR BRAKES NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. ALL THOSE VISITS AND THEY JUST FIGURED OUT IT WAS THE BRAKES PLUS THE CAR ONLY HAS 14,000 MILES. WHAT KIND OF SMALL, LIGHT SPORTS CAR NEEDS REAR BRAKES AT 14,000. THIS CAR IS ONLY DRIVEN BY MY WIFE TO HER JOB THAT IS ABOUT 5 MILES AWAY. AFTER ALL THIS MESS I WILL BE TRADING IN MY S40 AND NEVER RECOMMEND OR PURCHASE A VOLVO AGAIN. SO MUCH FOR VOLVO'S REPUTATION. I READ OTHER PEOPLE'S COMPLAINTS ABOUT THE BRAKES ON THIS SITE AND IT ONLY STRENGHTHEN THE CONSUMERS CASE ABOUT THE BRAKE PROBLEMS. *AK
VOLVO MODEL S40 VACUUM BRAKE FAILURE. MY 28 YEAR OLD DAUGHTER WAS MAKING A LOW SPEED TURN AT INTERSECTION AND BRAKES FAILED AND SHE HIT A TELEPHONE POLE. IN 2003 SHE WAS COMING TO A STOP BEHIND ANOTHER CAR AND THE SAME THING HAPPENED. SUBSEQUENTLY THEY REPLACED THE VACUUM PUMP AT THE 30,000 MILE SERVICE ON 8/14/03. WE JUST READ ABOUT RECALL ON VEHICLES MADE DURING 2000. *LA
REAR BRAKES WORN OUT AT 20,000 MILES AND 5 HEADLIGHT BULBS ALREADY REPLACED. 2 BRAKE SHOPS TOLD ME I WAS LUCKY TO GET THIS MUCH OUT OF THEM! *LA
AT 19,600 MILES THE REAR BRAKE PADS WORE OUT ON MY WIFE'S 2001 S40 VOLVO SEDAN. WE WERE TOLD BY THE DEALER THIS IS NORMAL AND THAT THEY HAVE SEEN SOME S40S WEAR THE REAR BRAKES OUT AS EARLY AS 12,000 MILES. BASED ON A REASONABLE PERSONS EXPERIENCE THIS IS MUCH TOO EARLY FOR BRAKE PADS, ESPECIALLY THE REAR ONES TO BE WEARING. THIS MUST BE A DESIGN DEFECT AND SHOULD BE COVERED UNDER WARRANTY OR BETTER QUALITY PADS SHOULD BE INSTALLED ON THE CAR. SEARCHING THE WEB I HAVE THIS IS A COMMON COMPLAINT ABOUT S40S. BELOW IS ONE EXAMPLE I FOUND:*AK 9TH MAY 2002, 14:41JUST HAD MY VOLVO REAR BRAKE PADS REPLACED AT LESS THAN 20,000 MILES (AT MY COST!). AT INSPECTION THE REAR PADS HAD 0% REMAINING, WHILE THE FRONT STILL HAD 70%. WHEN I TOLD THE DEALER THAT THIS WAS UNACCEPTABLE, THEY SAID "THIS IS NORMAL FOR THE VOLVO S40". SO MY RESPONSE WAS, AND STILL IS, "IF IT IS NORMAL TO HAVE TO REPLACE BRAKE PADS ON THE VOLVO S40 EVERY 15,000 TO 20,000 MILES, THEN THE THE VOLVO S40 IS UNACCEPTABLE". VOLVO REFUSED TO COVER THIS ABNORMAL WEAR UNDER WARRANTY. PLEASE REGISTER MY COMPLAINT WITH VOLVO AND ADD THIS COMPLAINT TO YOUR GROWING LIST OF PRODUCT DEFECTS. THANKS.
WHEN BRAKING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS BRAKES WOULD INTERMITTENTLY WORK, RESULTING IN EXTENDED STOPPING DISTANCE.*AK
BRAKE POWER ASSIST FAILED. DEALER NOTIFIED. *AK THE BRAKES WERE SOFT UPON COLD STARTS AND WAS DISFUNCTIONAL UNTIL THE VEHICLE HAD WARMED UP. THE BRAKE WAS DEPRESSED MULTIPLE TIMES. THE DEALER ATTEMPTED ON FIVE OCCASIONS TO CORRECT THE PROBLEM AND REPLACED THE VACUUM HOSE TWICE. A REPRESENTATIVE OF VOLVO RECOMMENDED NEW WIRING AND IT SEEMED TO HAVE REMEDIED THE PROBLEM. *SCC *JB
I HAD THE BRAKES SERVICED ON MY 2001 VOLVO S40 AT THE VOLVO DEALER. AT ONLY 21,500 MILES THE REAR BRAKES WERE GRINDING LOUDLY. I COMPLAINED TO VOLVO CONSUMER SERVICES FROM THEIR WEB PAGE. THEY WERE NOT ONLY NOT SURPRISED AT THE REAR BRAKE FAILURE AT 21,500 MILES, BUT SAID THAT THEY USUALLY GO OUT BETWEEN 10K AND 20K MILES. THE REAR BRAKES ON THAT VEHICLE ARE POORLY DESIGNED, CREATING A POTENTIAL ACCIDENT HAZARD BECAUSE OF CONSUMERS' IGNORANCE OF THEIR UNDER-ENGINEERING. AN AMERICAN CAR WOULD LIKELY GET AS MUCH AS 80K MILES OUT OF THE REAR BRAKES, BEING REPLACED ONLY THE THIRD TIME THE FRONT BRAKES ARE SERVICE. AN AMERICAN CAR COMPANY THAT IS AS OBVIOUSLY AWARE OF A FAILURE OF THIS NATURE WOULD LIKELY HAVE DONE A REDESIGN AND RECALL. THE REAR BRAKE PADS ON THE VOLVO S40 ARE NO BIGGER THAN THOSE OF A MOTORCYCLE. THIS IS AN UNSAFE VEHICLE AND VOLVO SHOULD BE FORCED TO RECALL THEM. *NLM
CONSUMER HAD TO REPLACE TWO REAR BRAKE PADS AFTER 10230. IN ADDITION, HEADLIGHTS BURNED OUT AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. POWER STEERING WHEEL SHAFT. PH
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
BRAKES 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
BRAKES 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 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
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.
Categories with enough reports to have a page of their own
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