RoadVitals

2004 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.
4
Latest Jun 24, 2016
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.
3
Latest Oct 14, 2004
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.
1

Overview

Our database contains 4 NHTSA owner-reported complaints for the 2004 Volvo V40, most frequently naming the brakes, airbags and body & structure categories. 3 safety recalls have been issued covering this model year; and 153 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

  • Brakes250.0%
  • Airbags125.0%
  • Body & structure125.0%

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

3 campaigns 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
04V493000

SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:POWER ASSIST:VACUUM:HOSES, LINES/PIPING, AND FITTINGS

Oct 14, 2004
1,719 units potentially affected
The defect: ON CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES, THE NON-RETURN VALVE MAY CRACK DUE TO A POOR WELD CAUSING A VACUUM LEAK.
The risk: IF THIS OCCURS, MORE BRAKE PEDAL FORCE MAY BE REQUIRED TO STOP THE VEHICLE AND/OR MAY EXPERIENCE A ROUGH ENGINE IDLE, WHICH COULD RESULT IN A CRASH.
The remedy: DEALERS WILL INSPECT, AND IF NECESSARY, REPLACE THE VACUUM HOSE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON NOVEMBER 29, 2004. OWNERS SHOULD CONTACT VOLVO CARS AT 1-800-458-1552.
VOLVO CARS OF N.A. LLC.Manufacturer number 137View on NHTSA.gov
03V424000

FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE

Oct 24, 2003
15,067 units potentially affected
The defect: ON CERTAIN SEDANS AND STATION WAGONS, THERE MAY BE A FUEL LEAK FROM THE FUEL RAIL DUE TO INADEQUATE WELDING.
The risk: FUEL LEAKAGE IN THE PRESENCE OF AN IGNITION SOURCE COULD RESULT IN A FIRE.
The remedy: DEALERS WILL INSTALL A V-CLAMP TO THE FUEL RAIL. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN ON JANUARY 28, 2004. OWNERS SHOULD CONTACT VOLVO AT 1-800-458-1552.
VOLVO CARS OF N.A. LLC.Manufacturer number R128View 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

Brakes
Filed Jun 24, 2016

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 VOLVO V40. WHILE DRIVING 15 MPH, THE BRAKES MALFUNCTIONED. THE CONTACT DEPRESSED THE BRAKE PEDAL TO THE FLOORBOARD IN ORDER TO STOP THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED NOR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 44,000.

NHTSA ID
10876490
Incident
Jun 18, 2016
Mileage
44,000 mi
Airbags
Filed Feb 7, 2008

THE DRIVER'S SIDE AIRBAG HAS FAILED FOR NO APPARENT REASON. THE COST OF REPAIR WILL BE AROUND $900.00 THE CAR WAS PURCHASED 4 YEARS AGO. THAT IS A VERY COSTLY REPAIR FOR A RELATIVELY YOUNG VEHICLE. I ASKED THE SERVICE REPRESENTATIVE AT MY AUTHORIZED VOLVO REPAIR SHOP IF I SHOULD EXPECT THE RIGHT SIDE TO FAIL AS SOON AS I REPAIR THE LEFT ONE. HE SAID "NO, THE RIGHT NEVER GOES OUT." "I HAD ONE IN JUST LAST WEEK- EXACT SAME PROBLEM AS YOURS." *TR

NHTSA ID
10217324
Incident
Jan 10, 2008
Mileage
87,036 mi
Body & structure
Filed Jul 22, 2005

DT: CONSUMER STATES WHEN THERE IS A SUN GLARE ON THE DASHBOARD THERE ISN'T ENOUGH ILLUMINATION. THE CONSUMER WAS UNABLE TO SEE THE INSTRUMENTS ON THE DASHBOARD. THE CONSUMER TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALERSHIP AND WAS TOLD THERE WAS NOTHING THAT COULD BE DONE ABOUT IT.*AK THE CONSUMER STATED A FLASH LIGHT MUST BE USED TO SEE THE INSTRUMENTS ON THE PANEL. *JB

NHTSA ID
10127029
Incident
Jan 23, 2004
Brakes
Filed May 23, 2005
Crash reported

ON APRIL 13, 2005 AT APPROXIMATELY 4 PM, I WAS BACKING MY V40 VOLVO 2004 WAGON OUT OF A PARKING SPACE AT THE KOSSMAN GARAGE, LIBERTY AVENUE,PITTSBURGH, PA, GOING SLOWLY BECAUSE IT WAS A TIGHT SPACE, WHEN MY BRAKES DID NOT WORK, AT ALL. DESPITE PUSHING MY BRAKES AS FAR AS THEY WOULD GO, THE CAR DID NOT STOP, AND CRASHED INTO A CONCRETE SUPPORT BEAM, CRASHING IN THE ENTIRE BACK WINDOW AND DENTING THE BACK BUMPER VERTICALLY WHERE THE TALL CONCRETE BEAM HIT IT. THANK GOODNESS, NO PEOPLE WERE HURT, AND I WAS NOT INJURED EITHER. NO OTHER VEHICLES WERE DAMAGED, BECAUSE THE BEAM WAS DIRECTLY BEHIND ME, THANK GOODNESS. THE VOLVO HEADQUARTERS INSPECTED THE CAR AND SAID THERE WAS NOTHING WRONG, BUT THERE WAS INDEED SOMETHING WRONG WITH THE BRAKES. THROUGH MY INSURER, AMICA, I BECAME AWARE OF THE REPORTED HYDRAULICS PRO BLEM WITH BRAKES ON CERTAIN V40 VOLVO 2004 CARS. I ALSO FOUND A WEBSITE SHOWING A NOVEMBER, 2004 RECALL NOTICE REQUIRED TO BE SENT BY THE NATIONAL TRAFFIC AND MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY ACT TO OWNERS OF SUCH VEHILCES, BUT I NEVER RECEIVED SUCH A NOTICE. WHAT IS MORE, EVEN AFTER MY ACCIDENT, THE COMPANY HAS NEVER TOLD ME OF SUCH A PROBLEM. I FOUND OUT TODAY ABOUT THIS, THANKS TO MY INSURER WHO RESEARCHED THIS. THE CAR IS NOW BEING REPAIRED, AT MY AND MY INSURERS EXPENSE, ALTHOUGH IT MAY BE DUE TO THE FAULTY BRAKES NOTED IN THE RECALL. I THINK THERE IS SOME RESPONSE NEEDED FROM VOLVO FOR NOT INFORMING ME OF THIS RECALL, FOR INDICATING IT WAS MY FAULT, AND FOR NOT BEING WILLING TO EVEN SEND ME A MEMO BASED ON THEIR EVALUATION OF MY CAR. MY INSURER IS ALSO WANTING TO KNOW WHAT THEIR RESPONSE IS.

NHTSA ID
10121869
Incident
Apr 13, 2005

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—
2004Viewing430—
2003220—
2002410—
2001112149.6
2000501243.9
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.