RoadVitals

2000 Volvo V40

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.
50
Latest Jul 12, 2011
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 Nov 17, 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.
2
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.
2
2 injuries, 0 deaths reported

Overview

Our database contains 50 NHTSA owner-reported complaints for the 2000 Volvo V40, most frequently naming the brakes, engine and suspension categories. 1 safety recall has been issued covering this model year; 2 NHTSA investigations name it; and 190 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

  • Brakes2436.9%
  • Engine1015.4%
  • Suspension710.8%
  • Electrical69.2%
  • Driver assistance46.2%
  • Exterior lighting34.6%
  • Body & structure23.1%
  • Other / unspecified23.1%

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

SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:POWER ASSIST:VACUUM

Nov 17, 2003
36,000 units potentially affected
The defect: ON CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES, WATER CAN ENTER THE ELECTRICAL BRAKE VACUUM PUMP, CAUSING THE PUMP TO FAIL.
The risk: THIS COULD RESULT IN LOSS OF POWER ASSIST AND AN INCREASE IN NEEDED BRAKE PEDAL FORCE, WHICH COULD RESULT IN A CRASH.
The remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE PUMP WITH A NEW AND IMPROVED VERSION AND MOVE THE PUMP TO A NEW LOCATION. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN ON MARCH 15, 2004. OWNERS SHOULD CONTACT VOLVO AT 1-800-458-1552.
VOLVO CARS OF N.A. LLC.Manufacturer number 129View on NHTSA.gov

Safety investigations

NHTSA inquiries naming this vehicle. An investigation is not a finding of a defect.

EA02026ClosedEngineering Analysis

VOLVO S40/V40 MY 2000-2001

Opened Sep 10, 2002
Closed Nov 21, 2003

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.

SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULICLed to recall 03V474000
PE02009ClosedPreliminary Evaluation

BRAKE POWER-ASSIST

Opened Jan 29, 2002
Closed Sep 10, 2002
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC

Recent owner complaints

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

Driver assistance
Filed Jul 12, 2011
Crash reported

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 VOLVO V40. THE CONTACT SHIFTED INTO REVERSE WITH THE BRAKE PEDAL ENGAGED WHEN THE VEHICLE UNINTENTIONALLY ACCELERATED AND DROVE OVER A PLASTIC TRASH RECEPTACLE, CERAMIC POT AND THEN CRASHED INTO THE SIDE OF A NEARBY HOUSE. THERE WAS NO PERSONAL INJURY AND THE EXTERIOR SIDE OF THE HOUSE SUSTAINED MINOR DAMAGE. A POLICE REPORT WAS NOT FILED. THE REAR BUMPER COMPLETELY DETACHED AND THE VEHICLE WAS IN THE PROCESS OF BEING TOWED TO A COLLISION CENTER. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNAVAILABLE. UPDATED 10/04/11*LJ UPDATED 3/22/12 *CN

NHTSA ID
10412048
Incident
Jul 12, 2011
Driver assistanceElectricalEngine+1 more
Filed Jun 29, 2011

2000 VOLVO V40 - VERY WELL MAINTAINED, 2ND OWNER, APPROXIMATELY 83,000 MILES. I STARTED NOTICING THAT THE CAR WOULD SURGE ON THE HIGHWAY WITH THE A/C ON AND WHEN I HAD STEADY PRESSURE ON THE ACCELERATOR (I.E. ICRUISING AT A STEADY SPEED). THE SURGE IN RPM'S WOULD BE RHYTHMIC, VERY SUBTLE (100-200 RPMS) AND CONTINUE INDEFINITELY UNTIL I TURN THE A/C OFF - AT WHICH TIME THEY WOULD CEASE. THEY WOULD SOMETIMES RESUME WHEN I TURNED THE A/C COMPRESSOR BACK ON. THIS HAPPENED INFREQUENTLY OVER THE PAST MONTH (IT'S JUNE IN CT, MY STATE OF RESIDENCE) AND WOULD NOT HAPPEN EVERY TIME I RAN THE A/C - BUT ONLY OCCURRED WHEN THE A/C COMPRESSOR WAS RUNNING. THEN A REMARKABLE THING HAPPENED TODAY - WHILE CRUISING ON THE HIGHWAY AND WITH THE A/C COMPRESSOR ON - THE CARE SUDDENLY AND VIOLENTLY SURGED IN A WAY THAT IT HAD NEVER DONE PREVIOUSLY. THE INCREASE IN RPM'S WAS SIGNIFICANT ENOUGH TO CAUSE THE AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION TO DOWNSHIFT INTO THE NEXT LOWEST GEAR. FORTUNATELY, I HAD ENOUGH SPACE BETWEEN MY CAR AND THE CAR IN FRONT OF ME TO ALLOW ME TIME TO RESPOND WITHOUT HAVING AND ACCIDENT. I IMMEDIATELY PUT THE CAR IN NEUTRAL AND THE RPM'S STARTED SPIKING TO ALMOST 4,000 THEN QUICKLY BACK DOWN TO 1,000. THE RPM'S CONTINUED TO THIS RAPID BACK AND FORTH SPIKING AND DIPPING FOR ALMOST 30 SECONDS. I TURNED OFF THE A/C/ BUT THAT DIDN'T HAVE AN IMMEDIATE AFFECT (AS WAS THE CASE IN THE PREVIOUSLY MENTIONED EPISODES WHEN THE SPIKES AND DIPS WERE MUCH MORE SUBTLE). WHEN TURNING OFF THE A/C DIDN'T DO THE TRICK ((AS IT HAD IN THE PAST) I THEN IMMEDIATELY CHECKED THE CRUISE CONTROL - IT WAS OFF. I THEN STABBED AT THE ACCELERATOR WITH MY FOOT SEVERAL TIMES BEFORE IT FINALLY SETTLED DOWN. AND I HAVE THE FACTORY VOLVO RUBBER MATS THAT ARE SECURED TO THE FLOOR BY A POSITIONING PIN (I'M METICULOUS ABOUT MY CAR THE MAT WAS NO WHERE NEAR THE ACCELERATOR). I AM NATURALLY VERY WARY OF THIS CAR NOW, ESPECIALLY AFTER READING THE MANY COMPLAINTS ABOUT UNINTENDED ACCELERATION FOR THIS MODEL. WHY NO RECALL? *TR

NHTSA ID
10409415
Incident
Jun 29, 2011
Mileage
83,000 mi
Brakes
Filed Sep 15, 2010

BRAKES FAILED COMING INTO MY DRIVEWAY. ABLE TO STOP CAR BY USING EMERGENCY BRAKE. COULD HAVE CAUSED A CRASH. BROUGHT TO BE SERVICED. MECHANIC REPORTED THAT IT WAS FAILED LEFT FRONT BRAKE HOSE DUE TO SPRING SUPPORT RUBBING THROUGH. THIS HOSE HAS BEEN REPLACED AND THE OLD PART IS AVAILABLE. MECHANIC ALSO REPORTED THAT RIGHT FRONT BRAKE HOSE NEEDS TO BE REPLACED BECAUSE OF SAME REASON. AN APPOINTMENT FOR THIS HAS BEEN SCHEDULED AND PART WILL BE AVAILABLE. HE FEELS THIS WILL BE A DESIGN ISSUE. *TR

NHTSA ID
10355663
Incident
Aug 25, 2010
Mileage
97,104 mi
Driver assistance
Filed Mar 16, 2010

VEHICLE IDLE INCREASE ON BRAKING TO ABOUT 1500 RPMS. WHEN PUT IN PARK, IDLE INCREASED TO 4500 RPMS. I TRIED TAPING THE GAS TO SEE IF RPMS WOULD GO DOWN. INSTEAD RPMS INCREASED EVEN HIGHER TO OVER 5500 RPMS. TURNED THE CAR OFF. TRIED TO RESTART CAR AND RPMS IMMEDIATELY WENT HIGH AGAIN. TURNED THE CAR OFF A SECOND TIME. COULD NOT RESTART THE CAR. A SIMILAR INCIDENT HAPPENED 36 HOURS LATER AFTER THE CAR HAD BEEN AT THE REPAIR SHIP. THAT INCIDENT HAPPENED AFTER DRIVING AROUND A PARKING LOT LOOKING FOR A SPACE. RPM'S INCREASED. WHEN PUT IN PARK THE RPM'S INCREASED TO OVER 4000 RPMS. CAR TOWED TO REPAIR SHOP. *TR

NHTSA ID
10320274
Incident
Mar 10, 2010
Mileage
97,750 mi
SteeringSuspension
Filed Dec 2, 2008

FAILURE OF UPPER STRUT MOUNT BUSHINGS CAUSING LOSS OF SUSPENSION / STEERING. REPLACED FOR THE THIRD TIME ON 2000 V-40 VOLVO. RECENTLY VOLVO OFFERED A NEWLY DESIGNED HEAVY DUTY MOUNT AT THREE TIME THE REPLACEMENT COST DEMONSTRATING THAT ORIGINAL EQUIPMENT MOUNT WAS SEVERELY UNDER DESIGNED. *TR

NHTSA ID
10250489
Incident
Nov 18, 2008
Mileage
70,000 mi
Engine
Filed Aug 15, 2008

EVER SINCE I BOUGHT THE 2000 VOLVO V40 STATIONWAGON FROM A PRIVATE DEALERSHIP I'VE HAD NOTHING BUT PROBLEMS TRYING TO START THE CAR. WHEN TRYING TO CRANK UP VEHICLE IT TAKES A COUPLE OF SECONDS BEFORE THE CAR ACTUALLY STARTS AND IT SMELLS LIKE GAS AFTERWARDS. I'VE TAKEN IT TO THE MECHANICS AND THEY HAVE GIVEN IT A FULL TUNE UP AND REPLACED THE INJECTORS BUT STILL I HAVE THE SAME PROBLEM. *TR

NHTSA ID
10238345
Incident
Feb 23, 2008
Mileage
81,015 mi
Engine
Filed Jul 31, 2008

ON JULY 19,2008, OUR 2000 VOLVO V40 LOST POWER WHILE DRIVING 65 MPH ON US 29 IN VIRGINIA. THE CAR WAS STILL RUNNING, BUT IT DID NOT RESPOND TO THE ACCELERATOR. WE WERE ABLE TO SAFELY PULL OFF THE ROAD, AND HAVE CAR TOWED TO OUR MECHANIC. WE WERE TOLD THE PROBLEM WAS A SENSOR FAILURE. ACCORDING TO OUR SERVICE RECORDS, THE BOOST PRESSURE SENSOR AND CAMSHAFT RESET VALVE WAS REPLACED. THREE DAYS LATER, ON JULY 26, 2008, THE SAME THING HAPPENED - THIS TIME IN THE MIDDLE OF A BUSY INTERSECTION. AGAIN, FORTUNATELY, THE CAR REMAINED RUNNING AND SEEMED TO LIMP ALONG TO GET OUT OF THE WAY OF TRAFFIC. AGAIN, THE CAR WAS TOWED TO OUR MECHANIC, WHERE THEY HAVE BEEN UNABLE TO DIAGNOSE THE PROBLEM. A LITTLE INTERNET SEARCH ON OUR PART UNCOVERED A SERIES OF SIMILAR COMPLAINTS REGARDING WHAT APPEARS TO BE THE PROBLEM - AN ETM FAILURE. WE ARE IN THE PROCESS OF WORKING WITH OUR MECHANIC TO GET THIS FIXED. *TR

NHTSA ID
10236560
Incident
Jul 19, 2008
Mileage
109,865 mi
Suspension
Filed Mar 18, 2008

WE PURCHASED OUR 2000 V40 FROM THE ORIGINAL OWNER AT 81K. WE NEEDED BOTH REAR SPRINGS REPLACED RIGHT AWAY. THIS WAS THE SECOND TIME THEY WERE REPLACED. DEALER SAID A COMMON FLAW WITH THE V40. WE ARE ALSO NOTICING A SHAKING IN THE FRONT END WHEN ACCELERATING BETWEEN 50-60MPH. NOT SURE WHAT THIS IS. ALSO NOTICING THAT THERE IS A SHAKE IN THE BRAKE PEDAL AND TOLD NEED NEW BRAKE PADS AND ROTORS. THEY WERE JUST REPLACED BEFORE WE GOT THE CAR AT 75K AND NOW CAR HAS 100K WHICH IS A ALL HIGHWAY MILES. WE HAVE ALSO NOTICED DIFFICULTY WITH THE BRAKING SYSTEM, SOMETIMES TROUBLE STOPPING AND BRAKES SQUEAL AFTER SITTING FOR A COUPLE OF DAYS. HEAD LIGHTS AND TAIL LIGHTS ALSO HAVE BURNT OUT QUITE FREQUENTLY. THERE ALSO SEEMS TO BE SOME MAJOR DEFECT WITH THE EXTERIOR PAINT. RUSTING IN MANY PLACES AND PAINT SEEMS TO BE RUBBING OFF AT THE TOUCH. LUCKILY NONE OF THESE HAVE CAUSED ANY ACCIDENTS OR CLOSE CALLS, HOWEVER NOT VERY SATISFIED WITH THIS VOLVO. *TR

NHTSA ID
10221533
Incident
Mar 18, 2008

Manufacturer communications

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

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.

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.

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 V40 by model year
YearComplaintsRecallsInvestigationsIssue Index
2013100
2009000
2008000
2007000
2006000
2005000
2004430
2003220
2002410
2001112149.6
2000Viewing501243.9
1993100

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.