Volvo S40 Complaints

491 consumer complaints on file.

#10265614April 16, 2009
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE, EQUIPMENT
PURCHASED A VOLVO OVERSEAS IN 2005 AND IT RECENTLY BROKE DOWN LAST WEEK IN THE MIDDLE OF AN INTERSECTION. I HAD IT TOWED TO THE VOLVO DEALER IN FORT WALTON BEACH AND THEY TOLD ME MY PART WAS FAULTY AND WILL HAVE IT RUNNING BY THE NEXT DAY. I CALLED MY WARRANTY COMPANY AND THEY TOLD ME THAT PART HAD BEEN RECALLED AND VOLVO SHOULD PAY FOR IT BUT THEY DENIED THERE WAS A RECALL AND CALLED IT AN EXTENDED WARRANTY. MY WARRANTY COMPANY AMERICAN GUARDIAN SENT A 3RP PARTY MECHANIC TO VOLVO AND VERIFIED IT WAS CORRODED. THE RECALL IS ALL OVER THE WEBS/INCLUDING YOURS NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID #08V033000 SO I CALLED VOLVO AND THEY SAY THERE IS NO RECALL. THE PART AND LABOR WAS $800.00. MY VIN WASN'T LOADED IN THE US SYSTEM UNTIL THIS WEEK. CURRENTLY THE VOLVO DEALER REPLACE THE PART AND MOVED IT TO A DIFFERENT LOCATION AND SAYS IT CAN'T COVER IT UNLESS VOLVO PUT THAT SPECIFIC VIN NUMBER AND LOAD IT AGAINST IT (EXTENDED WARRANTY) BUT HOW IF THERE IS NO RECALL. NEITHER VOLVO OR THE WARRANTY COMPANY WILL PAY FOR THE PART. IF ITS AN OFFICIAL RECALL AND IT HAPPENED JUST LIKE THE DESCRIPTION ON THE RECALL STATES THEY SHOULD BE OBLIGATED TO COVER IT. ITS ONLY GOT 53000 MILES ON IT WHICH IS 3000 OVER THE MANUFACTURE WARRANTY. I FEEL VOLVO NEEDS TO ADD MY VIN TO THE LIST BECAUSE OBVIOUSLY ITS A PROBLEM TO MINE ALSO. I HAVE REFUSED TO PICK UP THE CAR THE LAST WEEK UNTIL I HEARD BACK FORM VOLVO BUT THEY SAID THERE IS NOTHING THEY CAN DO AND I HAVE TO PAY FOR IT. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10264197April 5, 2009
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
AFTER LETTING THE VEHICLE SIT OVER NIGHT...WHEN STARTING THE VEHICLE IN THE MORNING THERE IS NO BRAKE PRESSURE AFTER A HALF MILE OF DRIVING. THIS HAPPENS EVERYDAY AND THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH VOLVOS. THIS PROBLEM COULD RESULT IN VERY SERIOUS PROBLEMS AND MAYBE EVEN FATAL TO OTHER VOLVO OWNERS WHO ARE NOT AWARE OF THIS COMMON PROBLEM......I DO KNOW THAT ON THE VOLVO S40 2000 MODEL THIS WAS A RECALL AND IT SHOULD ALSO BE ON THE VOLVO S40 2005 MODEL. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10262473March 19, 2009
SUSPENSION:REAR
ON 3/4/2009, WHILE DOING OTHER WORK TO THE CAR, A MECHANIC DISCOVERED THAT THE REAR PASSENGER SIDE COIL SPRING WAS BROKEN. IT WAS BROKEN AT THE LOWEST POINT AND THE CAR STILL SAT LEVEL, SO I WAS NOT EVEN AWARE. I DO NOT KNOW HOW LONG IT WAS BROKEN. IT LOOKED LIKE IT JUST DETERIORATED OVER TIME. ALTHOUGH OVER 9 YEARS OLD, THE CAR HAS LESS THAN 64,000 MILE, SO I WOULD NOT EXPECT A COIL SPRING TO DETERIORATE LIKE THAT. THE DEALER REPLACED BOTH REAR COIL SPRINGS FOR $773. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10261682March 12, 2009
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 VOLVO S40. WHILE DRIVING LESS THAN 50 MPH, THE CONTACT CRASHED INTO THE REAR OF THE PRECEDING VEHICLE. THE PASSENGER SIDE AIR BAG DEPLOYED, BUT THE DRIVER'S SIDE AIR BAG DID NOT. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE DRIVER WAS TRANSPORTED TO THE HOSPITAL AND RELEASED WITH NO MAJOR INJURIES. THE MANUFACTURER STATED THAT THEY PERFORMED A COMPLETE SAFETY INSPECTION ON THE VEHICLE PRIOR TO SELLING IT TO HER, AND THE DIAGNOSTIC DID NOT INDICATE ANY FAILURE WITH THE AIR BAG. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE LESS THAN 40,000.
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
1
Deaths:
0
#10259980February 25, 2009
STEERING
DEAR SIR OR MADAM, I BOUGHT THE VOLVO S40 FOR ITS SAFETY RECORD. THIS ONE IS A 2004 VOLVO S40. AT THAT TIME, IT HAD ABOUT 43K MILES ON IT. NOW, IT HAS 53K MILES ON IT. ON 23RD FEBRUARY 2009, THE STEERING WHEEL COMPLETELY FROZE UP ON THE INTERSTATE MAKING IT VERY DIFFICULT TO CHANGE LANES, ETC. WITH GREAT DIFFICULTY, WE MANAGED TO BRING IT HOME. THE NEXT DAY, IT WAS STILL FROZEN AND WE COULD NOT TURN THE STEERING WHEEL AT ALL. I BELIEVE THIS MAY BE A SAFETY ISSUE SINCE I TRAVEL WITH MY KIDS IN THIS CAR. I WANT TO BRING THIS TO YOUR ATTENTION TO SEE IF: 1. VOLVO SHOULD BE ASKED TO RECALL AND FIX THIS PROBLEM IF IT PERTAINS TO ALL THEIR CARS. 2. A SAFETY WARNING SHOULD BE ISSUED TO ALERT THE PUBLIC. I HAVE HAD THE CAR TOWED TO A REPAIR SHOP AND THEY DON'T SEEM TO UNDERSTAND HOW OR WHY IT HAPPENED. I SEARCHED ONLINE BUT FOUND VERY LIMITED REFERENCES TO THIS TYPE OF PROBLEM. I AM REQUESTING YOU TO KINDLY TAKE THE NECESSARY ACTION AT YOUR EARLIEST CONVENIENCE IN ORDER TO PREVENT ANY UNTOWARD INCIDENT FROM OCCURRING BECAUSE OF THIS PROBLEM. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10258434February 12, 2009
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM
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.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10257684February 6, 2009
VISIBILITY:SUN/MOON ROOF ASSEMBLY
SPONTANEOUS ERUPTION( SHATTERING) OF A SUNROOF. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10257689February 6, 2009
VISIBILITY
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 VOLVO S40. WHILE DRIVING 65 MPH, THE SUN ROOF SPONTANEOUSLY SHATTERED. AS A RESULT, GLASS SHATTERED IN SMALL PIECES ALL OVER THE INTERIOR OF THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER, BUT THEY COULD NOT DETERMINE THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED AT THE COST OF $1,200. THE MANUFACTURER STATED THAT THEY HAVE NO CURRENT ISSUES ON FILE REGARDING THE SUN ROOF FAILURE; THEREFORE, NO COMPENSATION WOULD BE PROVIDED. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 42,000 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 45,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10255194January 15, 2009
STEERING
CUSTOMERS CAR BROKE DOWN, LOST STEERING CONTROL, INNER AND OUTER TIE-ROD END CAME APART AT THREADS, NO APARENT DAMAGE TO PARTS, REPLACED BOTH PARTS, SAVED OLD PARTS. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10254138January 7, 2009
SUSPENSION:REAR
1. EVENTS = REGULAR TIRE ROTATION IN SEPTEMBER 2008. TECHNICIAN POINTED OUT TO ME THE CORROSION AND CRACK/FAILURE IN BOTH REAR COIL SPRINGS. MILEAGE ON THE VEHICLE ABOUT 68,000 AT TIME OF DISCOVERY ON MY 2000 VOLVO S40. 2. CORRODED AND CRACKED REAR COIL SPRINGS (BOTH). THE CORROSION AND CRACK WERE ALMOST IN THE SAME LOCATION WITH THE SAME AMOUNT OF CORROSION NEAR THE BOTTOM (THE FIRST HALF-MOON CURVE) OF BOTH SPRINGS WHERE THEY ARE SEATED/BRACED. 3. OCTOBER 2008 - TOOK VEHICLE TO LOCAL VOLVO DEALER FOR EVALUATION. THEY ORDERED NEW REAR COIL SPRINGS. I RETURNED A WEEK LATER TO HAVE THE NEW COIL SPRINGS INSTALLED AT THE COST OF APPROXIMATELY $550, PLUS ALIGNMENT. THE COST OF THE COIL SPRINGS WAS APPROXIMATELY $220 FOR BOTH. THE REMAINDER WAS LABOR. I WROTE A LETTER TO VOLVO OF NORTH AMERICA ABOUT THIS CONDITION. I INCLUDED PHOTOS, AND I REQUESTED A REFUND. VOLVO CUSTOMER SERVICE OF NORTH AMERICA CALLED ME ON NOVEMBER 6, 2008, AND DENIED MY REQUEST. I WAS TOLD THAT MY CAR WAS OUT OF WARRANTY, AND THE ENGINEERS DESCRIBED THE PROBLEM AS AN "ANOMALY," NOT A DEFECT. SINCE I HAVE A LOW MILEAGE VEHICLE, I LIVE IN A "SALT STATE," AND CERTAIN SAABS IN SALT STATES ARE BEING INVESTIGATED FOR FRONT COIL SPRING FAILURE, IT WOULD BE INTERESTING TO KNOW WHETHER THERE IS A CONNECTION WITH THESE VEHICLES AND THE REAR COIL SPRINGS. I HAVE LOANED THE FAILED REAR COIL SPRINGS TO A PROFESSOR OF AUTOMOTIVE ENGINEERING TO USE IN HIS UPPER LEVEL DESIGN CLASS TO USE AS AN EXAMPLE OF A FAILURE. I COULD LIKELY GET THE PARTS BACK, IF NEEDED. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10253782January 5, 2009
EXTERIOR LIGHTING
NOTICED DECREASED VISIBILITY DRIVING AT NIGHT. THE AIMING MECHANISM ON BOTH HEADLAMPS HAS DISINTEGRATED CAUSING LOSS OF THE HEADLAMP CALIBRATION AND ALLOWING THE HEADLAMPS TO AIM DOWNWARD TO A POINT APPROXIMATELY 30' IN FRONT OF THE VEHICLE. THE FAILURE IS CONTINUOUS, RESULTS IN REDUCED VISIBILITY. NOTHING HAS BEEN DONE TO CORRECT THE PROBLEM. REPLACEMENT PARTS ARE PROHIBITIVELY EXPENSIVE AND VOLVO CUSTOMER SERVICE HAS DISAVOWED ANY RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE FAILURE DUE TO THE AGE AND MILEAGE OF THE VEHICLE, (2000 S40 WITH 130K MI.) THE SERVICE MANAGER AT MY LOCAL VOLVO DEALERSHIP HAS SAID THAT HE HAS SEEN THIS FAILURE ON OTHER VOLVOS OF SIMILAR AGE AND MILEAGE INCLUDING ONE OWNED BY HIS SON. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10253229December 30, 2008
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 VOLVO S40. WHILE DRIVING 30 MPH, THE VEHICLE RAPIDLY ACCELERATED AUTOMATICALLY. THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT SLOW DOWN WHEN THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED. THE CONTACT HAD A DIFFICULT TIME PULLING THE VEHICLE OVER TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. THE VEHICLE BEHIND HER NOTIFIED HER THAT THE VEHICLE WAS ON FIRE. FLAMES APPEARED WHILE ATTEMPTING TO PULL OVER THE VEHICLE. THE POLICE DEPARTMENT WAS NOTIFIED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO HER RESIDENCE AND THEN TO THE VOLVO DEALER. THE TIRES AND OTHER EQUIPMENT WERE DAMAGED BY THE FLAMES. THE VEHICLE IS CURRENTLY BEING DIAGNOSED BY THE DEALER. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 65,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
Yes
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10250389December 1, 2008
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 VOLVO S40. WHILE ATTEMPTING TO PARK THE VEHICLE WITH THE BRAKE PEDAL DEPRESSED, THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED ON ITS OWN AND CRASHED INTO A TELEPHONE POLE. THE CONTACT WAS UNINJURED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER AND THEY REPAIRED THE DAMAGES AT THE COST OF $8,000. THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE COULD NOT BE DETERMINED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 37,171 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 38100 UPDATED 1/5/09 *CN UPDATED 01/09/09.*JB
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10249483November 21, 2008
AIR BAGS
ON OCTOBER 4TH I WAS INVOLVED IN A CAR ACCIDENT IN WHICH A DRIVER HIT MY CAR ON THE DRIVER'S SIDE PUSHING MY CAR DOWN A PTH IN THE WOODS IN FAIRFAX, VA. MY AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY ALTHOUGH THE SENSORS WERE ACTIVATED ACCORDING TO THE COLLISION CENTER. *TR
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
1
Deaths:
0
#10249517November 21, 2008
STEERING, TIRES:TREAD/BELT, TIRES
TIRES ON VEHICLE FAILED. BELTS BROKEN CAUSING IMPAIRED DRIVABILITY. TIRES WITH LESS THAN 10K MILEAGE W/95+ % TREAD LEFT. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10247568November 3, 2008
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
ENGINE FAILURE. CAR STALLED WHILE ON HIGHWAY. UPON ARRIVAL AT VOLVO SERVICE DEALER, I WAS TOLD THAT A DRIVE BELT BROKE, LEADING TO THE BREAKAGE OF THE TIMING BELT AND SUBSEQUENT EXTREME DAMAGE TO THE ENGINE. ALL BELTS, PISTONS, VALVES AND TOP PART OF ENGINE NEEDED REPLACING. APPROXIMATE DAMAGE WAS $5000. CAR HAS ONLY 85K ON IT, DRIVE BELT AND TIMING BELT HAVE A RECOMMENDED REPLACEMENT IN MANUAL AS 125K. VOLVO DID NOTHING TO ACKNOWLEDGE THIS ISSUE, IN FACT CALLING OUT THE SERVICE RECORD WHICH IS IMPECCABLE MINUS A 50K SERVICE WHICH WOULD'VE COST $1500 AND DID NOT INCLUDE ANY MAINTENANCE TO THE TIMING BELT. IN LOOKING UP THIS ISSUE ON MANY WEBSITES, IT WOULD APPEAR THIS IS NOT ATYPICAL FOR THIS MAKE, MODEL AND YEAR VOLVO. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10246584October 24, 2008
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
IN AUGUST OF 08 MY 2004.5(NEW BODY STYLE) VOLVO S40 T5'S ENGINE BEGAN TO MAKE A HIGH SCREECHING NOISE AT IDLE AND THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON. IT HAD 61,000MILES AND I BROUGHT IT TO THE DEALERSHIP WHERE THEY DIAGNOSED THAT IT NEEDED A NEW OIL TRAP. THE PROBLEM HAS NOT RECURRED. MY WIFE'S 05 S40 T5 HAS 58,000MILES AND THE SAME PROBLEM HAS OCCURRED IN HER'S. THERE MUST BE AN ISSUE WITH THIS VEHICLE. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10245424October 14, 2008
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
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
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10244338October 3, 2008
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 VOLVO S40. WHILE IDLING AT A TRAFFIC LIGHT AND ATTEMPTING TO ACCELERATE, THE VEHICLE STALLED. SECONDLY, THE DOORS AUTOMATICALLY LOCKED THE CONTACT INSIDE THE PASSENGER COMPARTMENT, THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS BEGAN MOVING, AND ALL THE LIGHTING WAS INOPERATIVE. SHE WAS UNABLE TO RESTART THE VEHICLE AND HAD IT TOWED. THE CONTACT IS IN THE PROCESS OF HAVING THE VEHICLE INSPECTED TO DETERMINE THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 57,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10242107September 14, 2008
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING, ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM
WHEN I SIGNED A PURCHASE ORDER ON 5/10/08, THE ODOMETER DISCLOSURE STATEMENT WAS 6225 MILES. JACKSON VOLVO SERVICE AT HILO DID NOT GIVE ME THE COPY OF ODOMETER DISCLOSURE STATEMENT. IT WAS DELIVERED ON 5/12/2008. THEN THE ODOMETER DISCLOSURE STATEMENT SHOWED 106,225 MILES. THE A/C ALSO BECAME VERY POLLUTED. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
1
Deaths:
0

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