Reports submitted to NHTSA by owners and drivers, shown in full
Data refreshed
Complaints on fileComplaints 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
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
Filed in the last 12 monthsReports filed with NHTSA in the trailing 365 days. Recent volume reflects attention and vehicle age as much as anything else.
0
Reports on file since Sep 6, 2002
What this page shows
Our database holds 27 NHTSA owner-reported complaints for the 2002 Volvo S40. Each one is a report filed by an owner or driver and published by NHTSA without most of them being verified. A complaint is not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. Narratives are shown exactly as filed.
Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.
Complaints, most recent first
Showing 1–25 of 27 · page 1 of 2
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
BrakesExterior lightingVisibility
Filed May 22, 2007
TYPES OF RECURRING ISSUES WITH VOLVO S40: HEADLIGHTS, DRIVER FRONT WINDOW MOTOR, EARLY BRAKE PAD WEAR. HEADLIGHT BULBS WERE REPLACED 2-3 TIMES A YEAR AT CONSUMER'S COST. WHEN BROUGHT TO THE ATTENTION OF VOLVO DEALER THEY REPORTED THAT IT WAS PROBABLY DUE TO LIGHTS BEING USED DURING DAYLIGHT. THEY CHECK ELECTRICAL AND REPORTED NO ISSUE. HAD BRAKE PAD AND ROTOR ISSUED SHORTLY AFTER PURCHASING THE VEHICLE. VOLVO DEALER REPORTED VOLVO ROTORS WERE BUILT THIN AND SOFT. COST OF BRAKE REPLACEMENT WAS NOT COVERED UNDER WARRANTY AS IT WAS CONSIDERED REGULAR WEAR. DRIVER SIDE WINDOW REGULATOR HAS BEEN REPLACED THREE TIMES. FIRST REGULATOR WAS REPLACED IN JUNE 2005, THEN FEBRUARY 2006 AND NOW MAY 2007. MAY 2007 REGULATOR WAS AT THE COST OF THE CONSUMER AS WARRANTY HAD EXPIRED AND WARRANTY ON PART ONLY LASTS 12 MONTHS EVEN THOUGH THERE IS AN APPARENT PROBLEM.*AK
NHTSA ID
10191517
Incident
May 18, 2007
Mileage
2,000 mi
Electrical
Filed Feb 15, 2007
TL*- THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE ATTEMPTING TO DRIVE THE 2002 VOLVO S40 HE TURNED THE KEY IN THE IGNITION AND A THICK BLACK SMOKE CAME FROM THE FRONT DRIVER SIDE DOOR PANEL AND FILLED THE INTERIOR OF THE VEHICLE IMMEDIATELY. THE CONTACT TURNED THE VEHICLE OFF AND EXITED THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A VOLVO DEALER AND THEY COULD NOT FIND THE CAUSE OF THE SMOKE. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGE WERE 30,000.*AK
NHTSA ID
10182634
Incident
Feb 2, 2007
Mileage
30,000 mi
Engine
Filed Jan 30, 2007
TL* - THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 VOLVO S40. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE ENGINEWAS IDLING HIGH. VOLVO STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS OPERATING NORMALLY. THE RPM SURGE OCCURRED FREQUENTLY WHEN THE CONTACTWAS DRIVING THE VEHICLE. THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON PERIODICALLY. THERE WAS A RECALL FOR THIS FAILURE ON ALL VOLVO MODELS, BUT NOT FOR THE 240 MODEL. *AK
NHTSA ID
10181120
Incident
Mar 1, 2002
Mileage
30,000 mi
Exterior lighting
Filed Dec 8, 2005
I BOUGHT A 2002 VOLVO S40 FROM AN INDIVIDUAL IN JANUARY OF 2004. IN A MATTER OF 3 MONTHS IN 2005, I HAD TO REPLACE MY PASSENGER HEADLIGHT 3 DIFFERENT TIMES AND MY DRIVER HEADLIGHT 2 DIFFERENT TIMES. I CALLED THE VOLVO DEALER AND THEY SAID THAT A BULB SHOULD LAST AROUND 2 YEARS. IN THE NEXT MONTH, MY PASSENGER HEADLIGHT WENT OUT AGAIN. I GOT UNDER THE HOOD TO REPLACE IT AS USUAL. WHEN I PULLED THE BLACK PLASTIC PIECE THAT CONTAINS THE MALE PART TO THE WIRE CONNECTION AND ACTS AS THE BULB SOCKET, IT WAS MELTED. IT WAS MELTED TO THE POINT THAT I COULD NOT GET THE BULB OUT UNTIL I USED PLIERS. I TOOK MY CAR TO THE VOLVO DEALER AND THEY SAID THAT I WOULD HAVE TO REPLACE THE WHOLE HEADLIGHT COMPARTMENT. SINCE VOLVO HEADLIGHT COMPARTMENTS ARE "FACTORY SEALED", THEY WOULD NOT BREAK THE SEAL. I WOULD HAVE TO BUY A BRAND NEW ONE @ $500. I DID NOT DO ANYTHING ABOUT IT, BECAUSE I AM NOT PAYING FOR A WHOLE NEW HEADLIGHT COMPARTMENT FOR A PIECE OF PLASTIC THE SIZE OF MY THUMB. TWO DAYS LATER, THE DRIVER SIDE BULB WENT OUT AND IT DID THE SAME EXACT THING, MELTED. THIS LEFT ME WITH NO HEADLIGHTS! WITHOUT $1000 TO SPEND ON TWO NEW HEADLIGHT COMPARTMENTS (INSTALLED), I DROVE DURING THE DAY. I FOUND, MYSELF, THAT THE WIRES (POSITIVE AND NEGATIVE) THAT ARE CONNECTED TO THE BLACK PLASTIC SOCKET ARE FAIRLY CLOSE TOGETHER AND ARE NOT SHIELDED FROM ONE ANOTHER. SO, WHEN THE WIRING HARNESS FOR THE HEADLIGHTS WAS PUT TOGETHER, THEY DID NOT PLACE THE WIRES NICE AND NEAT IN THERE TO WHERE THERE WAS NO WAY THEY WOULD TOUCH. WHEN I CAME TO THIS CONCLUSION, I PUT BLACK ELECTRICAL TAPE AROUND THE TWO WIRES (POSITIVE AND NEGATIVE) IN EACH HEADLIGHT COMPARTMENT SO THAT NOTHING ABOUT THE WIRE WOULD TOUCH AND OBVIOUSLY HAD TO PUT NEW BULBS IN. THIS HAPPENED DURING THE SECOND AND THIRD WEEK OF AUGUST 2005. SINCE, I HAVE NOT HAD ANY PROBLEMS. I HAVE ALSO REPLACED BOTH LICENSE PLATES BULBS, THE REAR FOG LIGHT BULB, AND ALL FOUR BRAKE LIGHTS. *NM
NHTSA ID
10144777
Incident
Aug 9, 2005
Engine
Filed Dec 7, 2005
I PURCHASED A 2002 VOLVO S40 WHICH FROM THE DEALERSHIP IN JUNE 2002. IT WAS MY FIRST NEW CAR. ABOUT A YEAR AND HALF AGO, WITHOUT A WARNING LIGHT -COMING ON TO ALERT ME OF AN IMPENDING PROBLEM, THE CAR BEGAN EMITTING HEAVY BLACK SMOKE FROM THE EXHAUST SYSTEM. THE CAR HAD GONE THROUGH AN OIL CHANGE JUST 200 MILES BEFORE. WHEN THE CAR WAS BROUGHT TO THE DEALERSHIP, THEY INFORMED ME THAT DUE TO MY WAITING TOO LONG TO CHANGE OIL, THE TURBO FAILED AND OIL MAY HAVE GOTTEN INTO THE ENGINE, MAKING IT NECESSARY FOR ME TO REPLACE THE ENGINE AND THE TURBO. THE DEALERSHIP REFUSED TO HONOR THE WARRANTY AND INSISTED THAT I SPEND A $3000-$6000 FOR THE REPAIR/REPLACEMENT AFTER SOME DISCUSSION, THE DEALERSHIP PROPOSED CLEANING THE ENGINE AND REPLACING THE TURBO AS AN ALTERNATIVE. AS THE PRICE WAS EXORBITANT, I TOOK THE CAR TO AN INDEPENDENT REPAIR SHOP WHICH PERFORMED THE TURBO REPLACEMENT AND ENGINE CLEAN-UP, CHANGING THE OIL AND COOLANT. THE CAR RAN FINE WITHOUT A PROBLEM UNTIL 11/26/05 WHEN THE ENGINE, AT 57,000 MILES BUT OUT OF WARRANTY, BEGAN EMITTING WHITE SMOKE AT THE FRONT AND REAR OF THE CAR. FORTUNATELY I WAS ABLE TO DRIVE THE CAR TO A REPUTABLE REPAIR SHOP WHICH DIAGNOSED THE PROBLEM AS A TURBO FAILURE (FAILURE #2). THE ENGINE WAS CLEANED AS BEST THE SHOP COULD AND THE TURBO REPLACED AT SUBSTANTIAL EXPENSE. WHEN THE REPAIR WAS COMPLETED, I DROVE THE CAR 200 MILES TO BRING IT HOME WITHOUT INCIDENT. THE NEXT MORNING IT BEGAN TO MAKE ODD NOISES. I TOOK IT TO THE DEALERSHIP AND WAS TOLD THAT THE ENGINE NEEDED REPLACEMENT AND THE TURBO HAD BROKEN (FAILURE #3)--PRICE TAG $6600. I AM CONVINCED THAT I WAS SOLD A DEFECTIVE S40 AT THE OUTSET,AND THE PROBLEMS I'VE EXPERIENCED I RELATE TO THE DEALERS UNWILLINGNESS TO HONOR THE WARRANTY WHEN IT WAS STILL ALIVE AND FIX THE DEFECTIVE ENGINE/TURBO ON A NEW CAR. I WILL NEVER BUY ANOTHER VOLVO, AND I DO NOT RECOMMEND THAT ANYONE ELSE BUY ONE . *JB
NHTSA ID
10144688
Incident
Nov 26, 2005
Fuel system
Filed Nov 2, 2005
1 injury reported
CRACK IN UPPER TANK OF SENDING UNIT RESULTING IN GAS LEAKAGE. 15 MONTH OLD DAUGHTER MAY HAVE BEEN AFFECTED BY THE TOXIC FUMES. *NM
NHTSA ID
10141542
Incident
Oct 25, 2005
Mileage
72,872 mi
Electrical
Filed Aug 12, 2005
IN SEPTEMBER OF 2004, I BEGAN EXPERIENCING PROBLEMS WITH MY VOLVO S40 SEDAN. THE VEHICLE WOULD SHUT OFF WHILE I WAS OPERATING IT FOR NO APPARENT REASON. I TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER TWICE AND THEN CONTACTED THE VOLVO CUSTOMER CARE DEPARTMENT FOLLOWING AN INCIDENT WHEN THE VEHICLE SHUT OFF WHILE I WAS IN A VERY BUSY INTERSECTION IN TOWN. I NARROWLY AVOIDED A VERY SERIOUS CRASH. THEY SENT A REGIONAL TECHNICIAN TO THE VOLVO DEALER. VOLVO HAD THE CAR FOR AN EXTENDED PERIOD OF TIME AND SAID WHILE THEY COULD NOT DETERMINE THE PROBLEM, THEY REPLACED SEVERAL PARTS. I EXPERIENCED NO FURTHER PROBLEMS UNTIL JUNE OF 2005 WHEN THE EXACT PROBLEM RESURFACED. WHEN I TOOK THE CAR BACK TO THE DEALER AND CONTACTED VOLVO CUSTOMER CARE, THEY INDICATED TO ME THAT THEY STILL COULD NOT TELL WHAT WAS WRONG WITH THE CAR AND SO THEY WOULD NOT "THROW PARTS" AT A CAR. MY HUSBAND AND I ARE BOTH IN LAW ENFORCEMENT AND KNOW FIRSTHAND THE DEVASTATION OF CAR CRASHES. WE FELT SO UNSAFE IN THE VEHICLE, THAT WE DECIDED TO TRADE IT IN JULY OF 2005....A VERY COSTLY AND FINANCIALLY DEVASTATING RESULT. (WE LOST OVER $4,300) HOWEVER, I FELT TOO GUILTY TO SELL THE CAR TO ANYONE PRIVATELY. I WAS SO DISAPPOINTED THAT VOLVO REFUSED TO DEAL WITH THIS PROBLEM AND LEFT ME NO OTHER CHOICES THAN TO DRIVE IN A VERY UNSAFE CAR, OR FACE FINANCIAL DEVASTATION. *JB
NHTSA ID
10132646
Incident
Jun 1, 2005
Mileage
48,000 mi
Engine
Filed Aug 11, 2005
VEHICLE BEING REPORTED IS A 2002 VOLVO S40 SEDAN. TRAVELING ON US ROUTE 13 SOUTH OF DOVER, DE. AND SLOWED DOWN FOR A TRAFFIC LIGHT IN MEDIUM TRAFFIC FROM A SPEED OF APPROXIMATELY 55 MPH. VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING DURING DECELERATION. VEHICLE RESTARTED WITH SOME EFFORT. AT NEXT LIGHT, SITUATION REPEATED ITSELF - VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING DURING DECELERATION. PLACED TRANSMISSION IN NEUTRAL TO COAST WHILE ATTEMPTING TO RESTART. VEHICLE RESTARTED ONLY WHEN ACCELERATOR WAS PARTIALLY DEPRESSED CAUSING ENGINE TO REV UP. VEHICLE CONTINUED TO STALL WHEN SPEED DROPPED TO APPROXIMATELY 25-30 MPH UNLESS THE ACCELERATOR WAS DEPRESSED TO MAINTAIN ENGINE RPM WHILE BRAKES WERE BEING APPLIED TO SLOW VEHICLE DOWN. CRITICAL SITUATION TRAVELING IN AREA WITH LOW SPEED LIMITS AND TRAFFIC CONTROL DEVICES SUCH AS STOP SIGNS AND TRAFFIC LIGHTS. VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO LOCAL VOLVO DEALER WHO DETERMINED THAT A DEVICE THAT CONTROLS THE AIR GOING INTO THE ENGINE WAS AT FAULT. REPAIRS WERE MADE AT A TOTAL COST OF $600. *JB
NHTSA ID
10132467
Incident
Jul 20, 2005
Mileage
75,700 mi
Exterior lighting
Filed Mar 7, 2005
VOLVO S40 2002 HEADLIGHTS BURNED OUT, REPLACED 4-5 TIMES. *BF THE CONSUMER BELIEVED THIS TO BE POTENTIALLY DANGEROUS SINCE THE HEAD LIGHTS WERE BEING USED AS DAYTIME RUNNING LIGHTS. *JB
NHTSA ID
10113749
Incident
Mar 1, 2005
Electrical
Filed Feb 5, 2005
I HAVE HAD TO REPLACE A HEADLIGHT 3 TIMES AND A TAILLIGHT 2 TIMES, A CONSOLE LIGHT, AND THE FUSE TO MY CIGARETTE LIGHTER IN MY 2002 VOLVO S40; 5 OF THESE THINGS IN THE LAST SIX WEEKS. THE VOLVO DEALERSHIP SAYS VOLVOS NOW ( THEY DIDN'T SPECIFY ANY PARTICULAR YEAR OF VOLVOS) ARE BLOWING HEADLIGHTS SO FREQUENTLY, THAT THE CUSTOMER REPS KEEP HEADLIGHT BULBS IN THEIR DESK DRAWERS AND REPLACE THEM FOR FREE. TO ME, THIS MEANS EITHER THERE IS A SIGNIFICANT PROBLEM WITH THE VOLVO VOLTAGE REGULATORS OR THIS PARTICULAR VOLVO DEALERSHIP IS PUTTING ME OFF TO TRY KEEP THIS REPAIR FROM BEING TAKEN CARE OF BY MY CAR WARRANTY. I SAY THIS BECAUSE THE FIRST TIME I ASKED ABOUT MY LIGHTS BLOWING SO FREQUENTLY, THEY TOLD ME IT WAS BECAUSE LIGHT BULBS TEND TO BLOW IN COLD WEATHER. THE SECOND TIME I ASKED, THEY SAID ALL VOLVOS WERE DOING THAT. I LOOKED ON YOUR SITE ABOUT SAFETY RECALLS ON VOLVOS AND SAW NOTHING ABOUT VOLTAGE PROBLEMS. TONIGHT I HAVE ALSO SENT AN EMAIL TO VOLVO.COM SITE SO OBVIOUSLY I HAVEN'T GOTTEN A RESPONSE FROM THEM. SINCE SAFETY LIGHTS (HEADLIGHT AND TAILLIGHTS) ARE AN ISSUE WITH THE PROBLEM I'M HAVING WITH MY CAR AND THE VOLVO DEALERSHIP SAYS IT'S A COMMON VOLVO PROBLEM, I THOUGHT I SHOULD PASS THIS BY YOUR SITE TO SEE WHAT YOU HAVE HEARD. *JB
NHTSA ID
10109875
Incident
Jan 20, 2005
Brakes
Filed Jan 5, 2005
I WAS SLOWING DOWN ON THE INTERSTATE FOR MY EXIT AND MY STEERING WHEEL STARTING SHAKING SEVERELY TO THE POINT THAT I WAS BARELY ABLE TO CONTAIN IT THIS WAS WHEN I DECIDED TO TAKE MY S40 TO THE DEALERSHIP. I HAD NOTICED SOME SHAKING PREVIOUSLY BUT WASN'T SURE WHAT THE PROBLEM WAS AND SINCE MY CAR HAD JUST BEEN SERVICED I FIGURED ANYTHING SERIOUS WOULD HAVE BEEN IDENTIFIED. WHEN I TOOK MY CAR IN I WAS TOLD THAT I NEEDED NEW ROTORS AND PADS. MY MILEAGE SEEMED RATHER LOW FOR MY ROTORS TO BE SHOT SO I ASKED WHY THIS MIGHT HAVE HAPPENED AS I WORK FROM HOME. I WAS TOLD IT WAS PROBABLY DUE TO LACK OF DRIVING. THE DEALERSHIP COVERED THE ROTORS UNDER MY WARRENTY BUT CHARGED ME FOR THE BRAKE PADS WHICH MADE NO SENSE AS I WOULD NOT HAVE NEEDED NEW PADS IF IT HADN'T BEEN FOR THE ROTORS BEING SHOT.*AK
NHTSA ID
10105803
Incident
Jul 18, 2004
AirbagsSeat belts
Filed Mar 31, 2004
Crash reported1 injury reported
THE CONSUMER SUSTAINED MAJOR INJURIES WHEN THE VEHICLE STRUCK A TREE. THE SEAT BELT DIDN'T HOLD HIM IN PLACE AND THE AIR BAGS DIDN'T DEPLOY. *PH *SC *JB
NHTSA ID
10066717
Incident
Jan 11, 2003
Electrical
Filed Nov 5, 2003
Crash reported
THE HORN FAILED TO FUNCTION PROPERLY WHEN HORN BUTTON WAS PRESSED FROM THE LEFT SIDE. THE HORN DID NOT WORK AT TIMES OR EXCESSIVE FORCE WAS NEEDED.*AK CONSUMER WAS INVOLVED IN A REAR END COLLISION IN WHICH HE TRIED TO USE THE HORN BUT IT DIDN'T WORK. VEHICLE WAS BROUGHT IN SEVERAL TIMES BUT NOT REPAIRED TO WORKING ORDER. *PH *JB
NHTSA ID
10042382
Mileage
6 mi
Driver assistance
Filed Oct 1, 2003
WHILE DRIVING AT A VERY LOW SPEED, THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY ACCELERATED. THE DRIVER WAS ABLE TO STOP THE VEHICLE BY PRESSING ON THE BRAKE PEDAL REALLY HARD. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER. *AK *JB
NHTSA ID
10038234
Incident
Aug 21, 2003
Brakes
Filed Aug 5, 2003
THE REAR BRAKE PADS ON MY 2002 S40 VOLVO WORE OUT AT ABOUT 21 THOUSAND MILES AND RUINED THE ROTOR. ACCORDING TO VOLVO CORP. THIS IS BECASUE THE GOVERNMENT IS HAS PROHIBITED THEM FROM USING ASBESTOS IN THE BRAKE PADS. VOLVO PUT NOISE MAKING "SQUEALERES" ON THE INSIDE PADS BUT DUE TO THE DESIGN OF THE BRAKES THE OUTSIDE PADS WEAR OUT FIRST CAUSING A RIVIT ON THE PAD TO CONTACT THE ROTOR AND RUIN IT BEFORE THE PADS CAN BE REPLACED. ACCORDING TO THREE VOLVO SERVICE MANAGERS IT IS NORMAL FOR THE PADS TO WEAROUT AT BETWEEN 15 AND 20,000 MILES.I HAVE CONTACTED VOLVO OF AMERICA BY EMAIL ON TWO OCCASIONS TO ADVISE THEM OF THE OBVIOUS PROBLEM WITH THEIR BRAKES THEY ADVISED ME THEY COULD OFFER ME NO REIMBURSEMENT FOR THE PREMATURE BRAKE FAILURE AND WOULD FILE THE INFORMATION .*AK
NHTSA ID
10030802
Incident
May 10, 2003
Mileage
21,000 mi
Filed Feb 14, 2003
CONSUMER REQUESTED ALL COMPLAINTS, RECALLS, CONCERNS AND ACCIDENTS LISTED FOR A 2002 VOLVO S40. *DT *JB
NHTSA ID
10007106
Incident
Jan 21, 2003
Airbags
Filed Jan 13, 2003
Crash reported
WHILE DRIVING 35 MPH THE CONSUMER WAS INVOLVED IN A FRONTAL COLLISION BUT THE AIRBAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. THE MANUFACTURER INDICATED THAT THE SYSTEM WORKED PROPERLY. *JB *NLM
NHTSA ID
10003610
Incident
Oct 12, 2002
Mileage
5,000 mi
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.