RoadVitals

2002 Volvo S40

Recalls, owner-reported complaints, investigations and safety data

Data refreshed

Owner complaintsComplaints 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.
27
Latest Dec 21, 2017
Safety recallsA safety recall is issued when a manufacturer or NHTSA determines that a vehicle has a safety-related defect or does not comply with a federal motor vehicle safety standard. Recall repairs are free. Whether a specific vehicle is covered depends on its VIN — a recall listed for a model year does not necessarily apply to every vehicle of that year.
1
Latest Aug 1, 2003
InvestigationsNHTSA opens an investigation to examine whether a safety defect may exist. An open investigation is not a determination that a defect exists, and many investigations close without a recall. Investigations can, however, lead to one.
0
Crash or fire reportedComplaints whose submitter recorded that a crash or a fire occurred. These are the reporter's own answers on the NHTSA form, not verified findings.
4
2 injuries, 0 deaths reported

Overview

Our database contains 27 NHTSA owner-reported complaints for the 2002 Volvo S40, most frequently naming the brakes, electrical and exterior lighting categories. 1 safety recall has been issued covering this model year; and 157 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.

What owners report

Complaints grouped by the component NHTSA recorded

  • Brakes722.6%
  • Electrical516.1%
  • Exterior lighting39.7%
  • Suspension39.7%
  • Engine39.7%
  • Visibility26.5%
  • Fuel system26.5%
  • Transmission26.5%

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.gov
03V284000

EQUIPMENT:OTHER:LABELS

Aug 1, 2003
220,407 units potentially affected
The defect: 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.
The risk: THIS DOES NOT MEET THE REQUIREMENTS OF THE STANDARD.
The 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.
VOLVO CARS OF N.A. LLC.Manufacturer number 124View on NHTSA.gov

Recent owner complaints

Reports submitted to NHTSA, shown in the owner's own words

View all 27
Fuel system
Filed Dec 21, 2017

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 VOLVO S40. THE CONTACT INQUIRED ABOUT GETTING HER VEHICLE INCLUDED IN AN OPEN RECALL. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THERE WAS A DELAY WHEN THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED. THE CONTACT ALSO STATED THAT SHE OBSERVED A FUEL ODOR INSIDE THE VEHICLE AND SHE WAS CONCERNED OF A FUEL LEAK. IN ADDITION, THE CHECK ENGINE INDICATOR ILLUMINATED BEFORE AND AFTER THE FAILURE. THE CONTACT SPECIFICALLY INQUIRED ABOUT NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 08V033000 (FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE) AND CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 06V137000 (FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE). THE CONTACT SCHEDULED AN APPOINTMENT WITH 128 VOLVO CARS (614 NORTH AVE, WAKEFIELD, MA). THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VIN WAS UNKNOWN. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 130,000.

NHTSA ID
11055898
Incident
Dec 20, 2017
Mileage
130,000 mi
Brakes
Filed Nov 3, 2013

I WAS DRIVING ON A MAIN ROAD AND MY BRAKES FAILED. IT WAS DETERMINED THAT A BRAKE LINE CORRODED THROUGH. IT APPEARS THAT THE VEHICLE HAS A SINGLE MASTER BRAKE CYLINDER. I ASKED A VOLVO DEALERSHIP ABOUT THIS, AND THEY CONFIRMED TO ME THAT THE MASTER BRAKE CYLINDER IS A SINGLE ONE. IT IS MY UNDERSTANDING THAT IN THE 80'S, ALL VEHICLES SOLD IN THE UNITED STATES WERE TO HAVE A DUAL MASTER BRAKE CYLINDER. *LN

NHTSA ID
10550701
Incident
Sep 21, 2013
Mileage
145,000 mi
Suspension
Filed Jan 3, 2013

WHILE DRIVING THE RIGHT FRONT AND RIGHT REAR COIL SPRINGS BROKE AND THE FRONT COIL SPRING DAMAGED THE TIRE. DEALER STOCKS THESE EXPENSIVE SPRINGS (BOTH FRONT AND REAR) IN LARGER THAN NORMAL AMOUNTS DUE TO INCIDENCES OF BREAKAGE. I FEEL THAT THIS WAS AN EARLY FAILURE FOR THIS TYPE AND AGE OF VEHICLE AND SHOULD IT HAVE BEEN A A HIGHER SPEED THE INCIDENT COULD HAVE BEEN SEVERE. *TR

NHTSA ID
10490922
Incident
Jan 2, 2013
Mileage
114,800 mi
Brakes
Filed Sep 7, 2011

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 VOLVO S40. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE BRAKES WERE APPLIED WHILE REVERSING AND THE PEDAL TRAVELED TO THE FLOORBOARD ABNORMALLY. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO A LOCAL MECHANIC WHERE THE MECHANIC ADVISED THAT THERE WAS A CRACK IN THE MASTER CYLINDER. THE MASTER CYLINDER WAS REPLACED HOWEVER, THE FAILURE RECURRED WHILE IN REVERSE. THE MECHANIC WAS CONTACTED A SECOND TIME WHO ADVISED THE CONTACT OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 04V493000 (SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:POWER ASSIST:VACUUM:HOSES, LINES/PIPING, AND FITTINGS) AND INFORMED THE CONTACT TO CALL A DEALER. THE CONTACT CALLED THE DEALER REGARDING THE RECALL BUT THE DEALER STATED THAT THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT FURTHER REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 150,000. UPDATED 10/04/11 *BF THE CONSUMER STATED HE WAS EXPERIENCING PROBLEMS WITH THE BRAKES ON HIS VEHICLE. WHEN HE BACKED OUT OF THE DRIVEWAY, THE BRAKE PEDAL WOULD SINK TO THE FLOOR. WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS PUT IN DRIVE, THE VEHICLE CONTINUED TO ROLL WHEN THE BRAKES WERE APPLIED. INITIALLY, THE CONSUMER WAS INFORMED THERE WAS A CRACK IN THE MASTER CYLINDER, WHICH WAS REPLACED. AFTER THE REPLACEMENT, THE SAME PROBLEM OCCURRED, THE CONSUMER TOOK THE VEHICLE BACK TO THE REPAIR SHOP AND WAS THEN INFORMED, THERE WAS A RECALL FOR THE BRAKE VACUUM PUMP. THE CONSUMER CALLED THE DEALER AND WAS INFORMED THERE WAS A RECALL. HOWEVER, HIS VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED. UPDATED 10/05/11

NHTSA ID
10424125
Incident
Aug 24, 2011
Mileage
150,000 mi
Brakes
Filed Jan 7, 2011
Crash reported

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 VOLVO S40. WHILE DRIVING 30 MPH THE CONTACT ENGAGED THE BRAKES WHEN THE VEHICLE IN FRONT OF HER SLOWED DOWN CAUSING A CRASH. THE VEHICLE FAILED TO SLOW DOWN WHEN THE BRAKES WERE APPLIED. THE CONTACT WAS NOT INJURED. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE CONTACTS VEHICLE HAD FRONT END DAMAGES. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT A LOCAL MECHANIC REPLACED ALL OF THE LEFT FRONT LIGHTS, THE HOOD, THE BUMPER AND THE FENDER. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 104,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 104,900.

NHTSA ID
10375160
Incident
Oct 20, 2010
Mileage
104,000 mi
ElectricalSuspensionTransmission
Filed Jul 11, 2009

FRONT END SUSPENSION ISN'T RIGHT,PULLS WHEN DRIVING AND THERE IS A KNOCKING ITEMS NHTSA 10016415 AND 630879. CHECK ENGINE HAS ALWAYS BEEN ON 10003441. THERE IS A CLUNKING NOISE WHEN SHIFTING 10003398. THERE WAS NEVER AN ACCIDENT THESE ARE JUST ONGOING THINGS AND THE SUSPENSION MAY CAUSE AN ACCIDENT AND CHECK ENGINE LIGHT IS HARD TO GET PASSED FOR INSPECTION IN NC. *TR

NHTSA ID
10276396
Incident
Jun 6, 2009
Suspension
Filed Dec 8, 2007

BOTH REAR SPRINGS BROKE, VEHICLE HAD LESS THEN 40K MILES. *TR

NHTSA ID
10211212
Incident
Mar 1, 2007
Mileage
40,000 mi
Transmission
Filed Jun 27, 2007

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 VOLVO S40. THE VEHICLE HESITATED WHEN IT WAS STARTED BY THE CONTACT. THE WINTER WEATHER DRIVING WARNING INDICATOR ARROW AND THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ILLUMINATED WHILE DRIVING 5 MPH. THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT REMAINED ILLUMINATED AFTER TURNING THE VEHICLE ON AN OFF. ON JUNE 23, 2007, THE DEALER ADVISED THE CONTACT NOT TO DRIVE THE VEHICLE UNTIL IT WAS DIAGNOSED. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE VEHICLE HAD A FAULTY TRANSMISSION CONTROL MODULE AND THE ORIGINAL BATTERY WAS WEAK. THE ESTIMATED COST OF REPAIR IS $1,000, WHICH DOES NOT GUARANTEE THAT THE FAILURE WILL NOT RECUR. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 42,000.

NHTSA ID
10194749
Incident
Jun 22, 2007
Mileage
42,000 mi

Manufacturer communications

A bulletin sent by a manufacturer to its dealers. Not a recall, and repairs are not necessarily free.

35526.1.8

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.

37809.1.1

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

19245

This is a Technical Journal. Vehicle type and platform identification.

8501

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.

S10303

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.

S10303

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

Volvo S40 by model year
YearComplaintsRecallsInvestigationsIssue Index
2012000—
2011520—
2010920—
2009103055.1
2008162053.7
2007252050.1
2006583043.5
2005693043.1
2004486052.0
2003182041.4
2002Viewing271044.1
2001842156.8
20001221250.1
1993000—

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.