RoadVitals

2001 Volvo S40 Engine Problems

Owner-reported complaints naming the engine system, filed with NHTSA

Data refreshed

Engine reportsComplaints are reports submitted to NHTSA by owners and drivers. NHTSA does not verify most reports before publishing them, and a complaint does not establish that a defect exists. Volume is influenced by how many of a vehicle were sold, how long it has been on the road, and how much attention an issue has received.
17
Latest Jul 16, 2020
Share of all reportsThis category as a share of every owner report on file for this model year. One report can name more than one component, so the categories overlap.
20%
of 84 total
Crash or fire reportedReports in this category whose submitter recorded that a crash or a fire occurred. The reporter's own answer on the NHTSA form, not a verified finding.
3
Injuries or deaths reportedTotals the submitters entered on their own reports in this category. Not verified by NHTSA and not a casualty statistic.
0

What this page shows

Reports naming the engine itself — including stalling, misfires, oil consumption, cooling and internal engine components. 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. 17 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.

Owner reports naming engine

Shown in the owner’s own words, exactly as filed

Body & structureElectricalEngine
Filed Jul 16, 2020
Fire reported

ME AN MY HUSBAND WAS DRIVING THE CAR AN IT STARTED TO RUN HOT SO WE WENT AN GOT THE PART TO GO ON THE CAR AN WHEN WHEN WE GOT BACK TO MY FATHER IN LAW HOUSE THE CAR CUT OFF AN STARTED TO SMOKE REAL BAD THEN WENT INTO FLAMES AN WHEN WE FIRST GOT THE CAR WE GOT EVERYTHING FIX ON IT AN THEN WHEN YOU PLUG THE MONTIOR TO THE THE CAR IT SAID WE HAD TEN CODES UP THERE AN THEY WAS THE SAME CODES THAT WAS ON THE CAR AN WE KNOW WE HAD GOT EVERYTHING FIX ON THE CAR AN WE WAS STILL HAVING PROBLEMS WITH THE CAR NO WE OUT OF A CAR CAUSE IT WENT INTO FLAMES.

NHTSA ID
11339721
Incident
Jul 15, 2020
Mileage
15,000 mi
ElectricalEngine
Filed Jun 6, 2019

IGNITION KEY WILL NOT TURN PAST POSITION 2 ALLOWING FOR ENGINE STARTING. THE VEHICLE WITH STATIONARY IN PARK.

NHTSA ID
11218386
Incident
Jun 6, 2019
Mileage
67,000 mi
Engine
Filed Jan 12, 2016
Fire reported

CAR CAUGHT FIRE WITHOUT WARNING AS I WAS DRIVING IT. CAR HAD 93,000 AND HAD PASSED VA INSPECTION IN AUGUST. I PULLED OVER AND CALLED 911. BY THE TIME THE FIRE DEPARTMENT ARRIVED 3 MINUTES LATER, ENTIRE ENGINE WAS ENGULFED IN LARGE FLAMES. THE TEMPERATURE GAUGE NEVER INDICATED THE ENGINE WAS RUNNING HOT. USAA REMOVED THE VEHICLE, AND I DON'T KNOW WHETHER THEY WILL INSPECT IT FOR CAUSE, BUT I SUSPECT AN ELECTRICAL MALFUNCTION.

NHTSA ID
10819591
Incident
Jan 11, 2016
Mileage
93,000 mi
EngineOther / unspecified
Filed Apr 21, 2013

MY CAR VIBRATES WHENEVER I REACH 60 MPH AND CONTINUES TO VIBRATES IF I TRY TO ACCELERATE BUT STOPS WHEN I DECELERATE. I WAS TOLD IT COULD BE A BALANCE PROBLEM BUT WHY WOULD THE WHOLE CAR VIBRATE? I WAS ALSO TOLD IT MAY BE WORN OR OLD MOTOR MOUNTS, WHICH I BELIEVE THAT MORE THAN IT BEING A BALANCE PROBLEM. I JUST NEED TO KNOW FOR CERTAIN SO I KNOW WHAT TO HAVE REPLACED AND HOW MUCH I MAY HAVE TO SPEND. *TR

NHTSA ID
10509003
Incident
Mar 13, 2013
Mileage
153,280 mi
Engine
Filed Aug 1, 2012

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 VOLVO S40. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING 35 MPH WHEN THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO RESTART THE VEHICLE. THE ENGINE RPMS INCREASED EXCESSIVELY AS THE VEHICLE STALLED A SECOND TIME. THE FAILURE RECURRED SEVERAL TIMES. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 107,000.

NHTSA ID
10468802
Incident
Jul 31, 2012
Mileage
107,000 mi
Engine
Filed Nov 5, 2010
Fire reported

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 VOLVO S40. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING, THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY CAUGHT FIRE. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT EXTINGUISHED THE FIRE AND THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN INSPECTED FOR THE CAUSE OF THE FIRE. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE APPROXIMATELY 86,000. PRIOR TO THE FIRE, THE WATER PUMP AND TIMING BELT WERE REPLACED. UPDATED 04/19/11

NHTSA ID
10364167
Incident
Oct 29, 2010
Mileage
86,000 mi
Engine
Filed Feb 12, 2009

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 ID
10258434
Incident
Feb 4, 2009
Mileage
88,000 mi
Engine
Filed Oct 14, 2008

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 ID
10245424
Incident
Sep 10, 2008
Mileage
82,524 mi
Engine
Filed Sep 11, 2008

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 ID
10241866
Incident
Sep 11, 2008
Mileage
36,000 mi
Engine
Filed Mar 20, 2007

TL* - THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 VOLVO S40. THE VEHICLE HESITATED WHEN ACCELERATING. THE VEHICLE IDLED ROUGHLY. THE DEALER COULD NOT FIND ANYTHING WRONG. THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT STARTED TURNING ON. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 36,000. THE DEALER REPLACED THE O2 SENSOR THE VEHICLE CONTINUED TO HESITATE , AND THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT STILL CAME ON INTERMITTENTLY. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 29,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 86000. *AK

NHTSA ID
10185626
Incident
Oct 18, 2002
Mileage
29,000 mi
EngineVisibility
Filed Jan 6, 2006

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THE WINDSHIELD WIPER LINKAGES ARE OUT OF SYNC AND LOCK TOGETHER WHICH CAUSES A LOSS OF VISIBILITY. THIS PROBLEM OCCURRED ON BOTH THE DRIVER AND PASSENGER SIDE WINDSHIELD WIPER LINKAGE ARMS. AFTER THE FIRST INCIDENT THE CONTACT CALLED THE MANUFACTURER'S CUSTOMER SERVICE DEPARTMENT. THEY INSTRUCTED THE CONTACT TO OPEN THE HOUSING ON THE WINDSHIELD WIPER LINKAGE ARM AND TIGHTEN THE BOLT. THE CONTACT DID AS INSTRUCTED ON THE DRIVER'S SIDE AND THIS CORRECTED THE PROBLEM. AFTERWARDS, THE PROBLEM RETURNED TO THE PASSENGER SIDE LINKAGE. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO AN INDEPENDENT REPAIR SHOP, AND THEY PERFORMED THE SAME REPAIR THAT WAS INSTRUCTED BY MANUFACTURER'S CUSTOMER SERVICE DEPARTMENT. HOWEVER, THE PROBLEM RECURRED. *AK THE ENGINE WOULD HESITATE WHEN THE CONSUMER ATTEMPTED TO ACCELERATE. THE DEALER REPLACED THE OXYGEN SENSOR. UPDATED 01/25/06. *JB

NHTSA ID
10147051
Incident
Jan 2, 2006
Mileage
57,000 mi
Driver assistanceEngine
Filed Dec 28, 2005

CONSISTENT ENGINE PROBLEMS WITH 2001 VOLVO S40 RESULTING IN ENGINE DELAYS, IDLING, PAUSING, OVER HEATING AND BURNING WHILE ON THE FREEWAY AND AT BOTH ACCELERATED (65 MPH) AND RESIDENTIAL (35 MPH) SPEEDS. *NM

NHTSA ID
10146258
Incident
Nov 21, 2005
Mileage
75,500 mi
Engine
Filed Nov 5, 2005

I OWN A 2001 VOLVO S40. IN EARLY APRIL 2005, MY VEHICLE WAS DIAGNOSED AS BEING IN NEED OF OXYGEN SENSORS, WHICH WAS THE REASON FOR MY "CHECK ENGINE" TO BE ACTIVATED. THE PROBLEM IS THAT MY CAR HAD APPROXIMATELY 25,000 MILES ON IT. AS OF MID OCTOBER 2005, THE "CHECK ENGINE" LIGHT HAS BEEN REACTIVATED AND THE VEHICLE WAS RECENTLY DIAGNOSED AT THE VOLVO DEALERSHIP AS NEEDING NEW OXYGEN SENSORS-AGAIN. CURRENTLY, MY CAR HAS 32,000 MILES AND IS GOING ON ITS THIRD SET OF OXYGEN SENSORS. THE PARTS AND LABOR THAT ARE REQUIRED TO FIX THE PROBLEM ARE TRULY EXPENSIVE. ALL MY COMPLAINTS TO VOLVO HAVE FALLEN ON DEAF EARS. I TRULY BELIEVE THAT THIS PROBLEM IS A RESULT OF POOR ENGINEERING SKILLS, OR WORSE YET, INTELLIGENT ENGINEERING THAT IS INTENDED TO KEEP THE CUSTOMERS SPENDING ON COSTLY REPAIRS. *JB

NHTSA ID
10141844
Incident
Oct 14, 2005
Mileage
31,000 mi
Engine
Filed Aug 2, 2005

I HAVE A 2001 VOLVO, MODEL S40. DURING THE LAST SIX MONTHS, I'VE EXPERIENCED A STALLED CAR ENGINE -- ESPECIALLY WHEN THE CAR IS IDLING AT A STOP LIGHT. WHEN THE STALL HAPPENS, I MUST FLOOR THE ACCELERATOR TO RESTART THE ENGINE AGAIN. THIS PROBLEM IS THE SAME AS THOSE ALREADY REPORTED TO THE NHTSA FOR OTHER VOLVO MODELS FOR THE YEARS 1999 TO 2001. *JB

NHTSA ID
10131175
Incident
Aug 2, 2005
Mileage
37,498 mi
Engine
Filed Aug 1, 2005

A 1010 WINS NEW STORY ALERTED ME TO THE FACT THAT I AM HAVING THE SAME EXACT PROBLEMS WITH MY VOLVO S40 VIN#: [XXX]. I LOSE SPEED AS I AM DRIVING AND THE ENGINE FEELS AS IF IT IS GOING TO STOP AT ANY MOMENT. THE YEAR OF THE VEHICLE IS 2001. *NM UPDATED 07/19/2012 *JS INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

NHTSA ID
10130926
Incident
Jun 19, 2005
Mileage
49,000 mi
Body & structureEngine
Filed Jan 31, 2002

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

NHTSA ID
757588
AirbagsBody & structureElectrical+2 more
Filed Nov 21, 2000

BATTERY WAS DRAINED, AND THIS CAUSED CAR NOT TO START AT 150 MILES. SRS LIGHT KEPT COMING ON AT 1100 MILES. THIS INDICATED THAT THERE WAS SOMETHING WRONG WITH AIRBAGS. AT 1400 MILES, SRS LIGHT APPEARED AGAIN AFTER DEALER HAD CORRECTED PROBLEM.*AK THE VEHICLE FAILED TO START. THE FORWARD AND BACKWARD SEAT ADJUSTMENT WAS NOT WORKING. THERE WAS NOISE COMING FROM THE SUNROOF. THE ENGINE WAS NOISY. THE ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON. *YH

NHTSA ID
875312
Incident
Oct 20, 2000

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.

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Data sources

Data on this page last refreshed .