Volvo S40 Complaints

491 consumer complaints on file.

#10083162August 2, 2004
SUSPENSION:FRONT:SPRINGS:COIL SPRINGS
2000 VOLVO ("V") S40.ON BELOW DATE I EXIT. HWY AFTER DRIVING NORMAL&WITHIN SPEED LIMIT&PARK AT A GAS PUMP.I WAS AT PUMP FOR 30 SEC. WHEN I HEARD "BANG", "POP", "HISS",& FRONT PASSENGER SIDE OF CAR DIPPED DOWN.TIRE HAD GONE FLAT IN 2 SECONDS.I & EMPLOYEES TRIED TO CHANGE TIRE. WE COULD NOT PULL TIRE FREE. COIL AROUND STRUT SNAPPED&WHEN UNWINDING (I ASSUME), COIL WENT THROUGH ONE SIDE OF BACK OF TIRE & CAME OUT OTHER SIDE.TIRE WAS BEING HELD ONTO CAR BY COIL. CAR WAS TOWED TO NEAREST GARAGE ABOUT 50 FT. AWAY.WASN'T TOWED TO NEAREST V DLR FOR MANY REASONS INC. DEALER WAS AT LEAST 15 MILES AWAY, WAS 3:00 AM BY THE TIME I COULD GET A TOW,& DLR HAD DAMAGED MY CAR ON AT LEAST 2 OCCASIONS WHEN I BROUGHT IT THERE FOR SERVICE.TIRE THAT WAS PUNCTURED WAS LESS THEN 2 MON. OLD BECAUSE DEALER HAD PUNCTURED IT WHEN I BROUGHT MY CAR IN FOR RECALL.I ASKED GARAGE TO KEEP DETAILED RECORDS OF REPAIRS,TAKE PICS IF THEY HAD A DIGITAL CAMERA,&SAVE ALL PARTS SO THEY COULD BE EXAM. TO DETERMINE WHY THEY FAILED.GARAGE REPLACED PRETTY MUCH THE WHOLE FRONT END SUSPENSION ON BOTH SIDES.MECHANIC COULDN'T SAY WHY COIL FAILED, BUT SAID (BEARINGS WERE MISSING FROM TOP OF STRUT (?)).I CLD V ON 8/2/04 & TALKED TO SAM. TOLD ME THAT V WOULDN'T BE ABLE TO DETERMINE HOW FAILURE OCCRD SINCE I HAD NOT HAD CAR FIXED AT V & THAT V WOULD NOT REIMBURSE ME FOR OVER $1300 IN REPAIRS CUZ I DID NOT GO TO A V DEALER. I TOLD HIM V NEEDED TO FIND OUT WHY COIL SNAPPED BECAUSE FAILURE IS VIRTUALLY UNHEARD OF ON OTHER CARS. TOLD ME HE WOULD LOOK INTO SENDING A FIELD REP OUT TO LOOK AT PARTS,ALL OF WHICH I SAVED.NHTSA NEEDS TO INVESTIGATE COMPLAINTS V HAS REC'D ABOUT THIS DANGEROUS PROBLEM SO IT CAN BE CORRECTED. HAD FAILURE OCCURRED 60 SECONDS SOONER,I PROBABLY WOULD NOT BE ALIVE RIGHT NOW,OR WOULD BE VERY SERIOUSLY INJURED. V DOES NOT SEEM TO BE TAKING THIS PROB. SERIOUSLY & SHOULD INVESTIGATE TO DETERMINE IF THERE IS A COMMON DEFECT IN PART & REIMBURSE ME FOR HAVING PROBLEM FIXED. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10083093August 1, 2004
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DISC:PADS
REAR BRAKE PADS NEEDED REPLACEMENT AT 13,500 MILES. THIS IS UNUSUALLY EARLY AND WHEN I STATED THAT I WAS UPSET VOLVO SAID "THEY WERE HAVING PROBLEMS WITH THE S40 PADS BEING TOO SOFT." ALTHOUGH, THEY STILL MADE ME PAY FOR THE REPLACEMENT.THEY SAID VOLVO WAS MAKING THE NEW PADS BETTER BUT BECAUSE IT WAS TOO EARLY THEY DID NOT KNOW HOW LONG THEY WOULD BE LASTING. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10083938July 30, 2004
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
WHEN DRIVING WITHIN 10-15 MPH OR 30-35 MPH VEHICLE STALLED. VEHICLE BEEN TO THE DEALER ON 4 SEPARATE OCCASIONS, BUT PROBLEM RECURRED. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10082461July 22, 2004
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
WHILE DRIVING, VEHICLE WILL LOOSE ELECTRICAL POWER AND SHUT OFF. SOMETIMES PRIOR TO THIS HAPPENING LIGHTS WILL DIM AND FLICKER. SOMETIMES THE ENGINE WILL STUMBLE. THIS SEEMS TO HAPPEN MORE WHEN IT IS HOT OUTSIDE AND THE AC IS ON. THIS HAPPENS MOSTLY WHEN CAR IS AT IDLE OR LOW SPEEDS. CAR WAS TAKEN TO DEALER AND THEY CANNOT DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10080471July 6, 2004
EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HEADLIGHTS:CONCEALMENT DEVICES
BOTH HEADLAMP UNITS NEED REPLACEMENT BECAUSE THE ADJUSTMENT MECHANISIM HAS BROKEN OUT OF EACH UNIT. ONLY REPAIR IS TOTAL REPLACMENT OF HEAD LAMP UNITS.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10075313June 13, 2004
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE:BELTS AND ASSOCIATED PULLEYS
A SLIGHT SQUEAKING OR SQUEALING NOISE COULD BE HEARD FROM UNDER THE HOOD OF THE CAR, NO VISIBLE DEFECTS APON INSPECTION. THE SOUND WAS THE WATER PUMP FAILING. AS I WAS TAKING THE CAR TO THE MECHANIC THE WATER PUMP FAILED (CEASED) AND CAUSED THE BELT DRIVING THE WATER PUMP TO SNAP. THE WATER PUMP WAS DRIVEN BY THE TIMING BELT. I AM TOLD THAT WHEN THE TIMING BELT SNAPS THAT SERIOUS DAMAGE OCCURS TO THE ENGINE. I CANNOT UNDERSTAND WHY A FAILURE OF SUCH AN ORDINARY PART CAN CAUSE SUCH DAMAGE. VOLVO STATED THAT THE REPAIRS CAN RUN FROM 3-6 THOUSAND DOLLARS. I HAD TO HAVE THE CAR TOWED, FERRIED AND TOWED AGAIN TO GET TO THE CLOSET DEALER. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10074974June 8, 2004
AIR BAGS:SIDE/WINDOW
I WAS DRIVING NORTH ON THE GARDEN STATE PARKWAY WHEN THE SIDE CURTAIN AIRBAG ON THE DRIVER'S SIDE OF THE CAR SPONTANEOUSLY DEPLOYED. THE CAR WAS A LEASE THAT I HAD JUST AGREED TO BUY THAT MORNING, SO I CALLED VOLVO CONSUMER AFFAIRS THE NEXT DAY (4/16/04) AND WAS TOLD TO BRING IT TO THE SMYTHE DEALERSHIP SO THAT THEY COULD SEND AN INSPECTOR TO INVESTIGATE. I ALSO TOLD VOLVO THAT I HAD NO INTENTION OF BUYING THE CAR ANYMORE SINCE THE CAR WAS DEFECTIVE. I LEFT THE CAR AT THE SMYTHE DEALERSHIP ON 4/17/04 AND EXPLAINED TO THEM THE SITUATION AND THAT VOLVO WOULD BE SENDING AN INSPECTOR. I CALLED VOLVO ON 4/19/04 TO LET THEM KNOW THE CAR WAS THERE AND AVAILABLE FOR INSPECTION. I WAS TOLD IT WOULD TAKE 10 DAYS TO INVESTIGATE. IT TOOK VOLVO UNTIL THE FIRST WEEK OF JUNE TO GET BACK TO ME WITH RESULTS OF THE INVESTIGATION. I FOLLOWED UP WITH THEM SEVERAL TIMES AND THEY GAVE ME SEVERAL DIFFERENT EXCUSES LIKE THEY DID NOT KNOW THE CAR WAS AT THE DEALERSHIP AND THAT THE DEALER MISTAKENLY SENT THE CAR TO MILWAUKEE. IN THE END ONCE THEY FOUND THE CAR AND INVESTIGATED, VOLVO TOLD ME THAT THEY COULD NOT DETERMINE THAT IT WAS PRODUCT FAILURE BECAUSE THE CAR HAD PASSED THROUGH TOO MANY HANDS. I SAID THAT IT WAS THEIR FAULT IT PASSED THROUGH TOO MANY HANDS. I ALSO SAID AN AIRBAG SHOULD NOT DEPLOY UNLESS THEIR IS IMPACT. THEY SAID THAT THIS WAS UNTRUE AND SOMETIMES THEY DEPLOY DUE TO PROBLEMS WITH THE SENSORS. I THEN SAID THAT SENSORS ARE ALSO PART OF THE PRODUCT AND IF THERE IS A PROBLEM WITH A SENSOR IT IS PRODUCT FAILURE. THEY SAID THAT EXTERNAL FORCES COULD AFFECT THE SENSORS, SO IT IS NOT PRODUCT FAILURE. THEY HAVE DONE NOTHING TO CORRECT THE FAILURE EXCEPT TELL ME THEY WOULD PAY FOR MY DISPOSITION FEE AND OVERAGE MILES IF I LEASE ANOTHER VOLVO. WHEN I HAD DECIDED TO BUY THE CAR IN APRIL, I WOULD NOT HAVE HAD TO PAY EITHER OF THOSE, SO BASICALLY VOVLO IS DOING NOTHING FOR ME BECAUSE IN THEIR OPINION THE INCIDENT WAS NOT PRODUCT FAILURE. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
1
Deaths:
0
#10068196May 3, 2004
EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HEADLIGHTS
2000 S40 PURCHASE NEW. I HAVE REPLACED 8-10 HEADLIGHTS ALREADY. VEHICLE HAS BEEN COSTLY TO MAINTAIN. DEALER HAS TAKEN A MINUMUM OF 3 VISITS TO LOCATE PROBLEMS. NONE HAS BEEN RESOLVED COMPLETELY. BRAKES PADS REPLACE AT 37K- MY COST- DELAR SAID THEY WORE THIN. I HAVE THEM CHECK THE BRAKES EVERY TIME I GET AN OIL CHANGE - TO FEEL SAFE. PROBLEMS WITH HIGH PITCH WHISTLING NOISE STARING AT 60 MPH TOOK BACK SEVERAL TIMES NOT ABLE TO STOP NOISE BEFORE WARRANTY EXPIRED. RECENTLY: VEHICLE RAN ROUGH TOOK IN TO DELAER FOR 90K TUNE-UP. DEALER SAID BUSHING ON MOTOR MOUNTS ARE GONE COST TO REPLACE IS $800. NOTICED THE DRIVERS SIDE POWER WINDOW GOING OUT NOW. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10072122April 29, 2004
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:POWER ASSIST:VACUUM
BRAKE PAD FAILURE WAS PREMATURE DUE TO THE ADDED BRAKE FORCE THAT WAS NECESSARY TO STOP THE VEHICLE. *PH THE BRAKE PAD RIVETS WERE SCRAPING THE ROTORS. THE CONSUMER NEEDED TO USE EXTRA FORCE TO APPLY THE BRAKES. THE CONSUMER REQUESTED A REBATE FOR THE AMOUNT OF REPAIR. *SC THE CONSUMER RECEIVED A RECALL LETTER IN THE MAIL REGARDING THE ISSUE. RECALL #03V474000. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10050129April 29, 2004
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP
WHILE DRIVING THE CONSUMER USED A HIGHER BRAKE FORCE THAN USUAL, RESULTING IN EXTENDED STOPPING DISTANCE. THE DEALER REPLACED THE PUMP AT OWNER'S EXPENSE OF $800.00. *AK *MR MAINTENANCE RECORD SHOW THAT ROUTINE SERVICE INCLUDING REAR BRAKE PADS AT 19580K MILES, AT 41416K MILES, FRONT PADS AT 28312K MILES AND WAS INCLUDE IN THE REPAIRS FOR INCIDENT 56739K MILES. *SC
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10071409April 23, 2004
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:FUEL INJECTION SYSTEM:FUEL RAIL
CONSUMER STATED THAT BANRIDGE VOLVO WILL NOT HONOR THE RECALL DEALING WITH THE FUEL RAIL. CONSUMER TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALERSHIP ON 04/22/2004. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10068538April 21, 2004
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP
WHEN PRESSING ON THE BRAKE PEDAL CONSUMER HEARD A GRINDING NOISE, CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO HAVE EXTENDED STOPPING DISTANCE. CONSUMER INDICATED THAT THIS PROBLEM ONLY OCCURRED WHEN VEHICLE WAS SHUT OFF FOR ALONG PERIOD OF TIME. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10065869April 9, 2004
SUSPENSION:FRONT:SPRINGS:AIR SUSPENSION:LINES AND FITTINGS
THE FOLLOWING IS A SYNOPSIS OF ORIGINAL E-MAIL I SENT TO VOLVO CARS OF NORTH AMERICA FOR YOUR RECORDS. *AK ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- I FINALLY HAD MY 2003 VOLVO S40 SERVICED FOR EXCESSIVE BUMPY RIDE PROBLEM THAT IVE COMPLAINED ABOUT SINCE THE TIME I BOUGHT IT FROM HOWARD ORLOFF IN MAY 2003. IM APPALLED TO LEARN THAT FOLKS AT HOWARD ORLOFF LEFT THE SPRING SPACERS IN PLACE ALONG THE FRONT SUSPENSION WHEN THEY SOLD ME THE CAR; AND AFTER SEVERAL COMPLAINS (OF WHICH YOU FOLKS HAVE ALL THE RECORDS OF MY E-MAIL COMMUNICATIONS) AND TEN MONTHS, VOLVO OF LISLE FINALLY FIGURED THE ISSUE OUT. I DONT KNOW WHAT KIND OF DAMAGE THIS MAY HAVE CAUSED TO MY CAR FOR ALL THESE MANY MONTHS. AS OF WRITING THIS MESSAGE, MY CAR IS DANGEROUS AND PRECARIOUS MORE THAN EVER. AFTER ALMOST LITTLE OVER A WEEK OF DRIVING SINCE I GOT MY CAR BACK, THE CARS RIDE IS WORST THAN EVER; THE STEERING WHEEL HAS BECOME EXTREMELY SENSITIVE AND DOES NOT AFFORD CONTROL OF THE CAR; QUITE OFTEN DASHBOARD ICONS FLASH AS I HIT EVEN THE SLIGHTEST BUMP ON THE ROAD; THE REAR RIGHT WHEEL SEEMS TO GET AIRBORNE WHILE THE LEFT FRONT END STAYS DIPPED INTO THE PAVEMENT. BEFORE VOLVO OF LISLE ADDRESSED THE SPRING SPACER PROBLEM, THE CD-PLAYER KEPT SKIPPING THE TRACK INCLUDING THE TUNER MODE CHANGED FROM CD TO TAPE OR AM/FM MODE 3 OR 4 TIMES SOLELY DUE TO THE CAR HITTING A BUMP WHILE DRIVING. AT THIS RATE, IM AFRAID IT IS GOING TO CAUSE MORE DAMAGE TO TIRES, WHEEL RIMS, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, ENGINE AND OTHER INTERIOR AND EXTERIOR COMPONENTS OF MY CAR. IM DEFINITELY CONCERNED AND EVEN SCARED ABOUT THE SAFETY OF MY FAMILY AND MYSELF ALONG WITH OTHERS ON THE ROAD WHEN DRIVING THIS CAR. IN LIGHT OF THE SAME RECURRING PROBLEM, VOLVO SHOULD REPLACE MY CAR WITH A NEW ONE AT NO EXTRA COST TO ME. I LOOK FORWARD TO HEARING FROM YOU BY MONDAY, APRIL 12, 2004 OR SOONER.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10065516April 5, 2004
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:POWER ASSIST:VACUUM
THE CONSUMER RECEIVED A RECALL LETTER#03V474000 REGARDING THE ELECTRIC BRAKE VACUUM PUMP. THE DEALERSHIP STILL DOES NOT HAVE THE PARTS AVAILABLE TO CONDUCT THE RECALL. *NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10066717March 31, 2004
SEAT BELTS:FRONT, AIR BAGS:FRONTAL
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
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
1
Deaths:
0
#10065131March 26, 2004
SERVICE BRAKES, AIR
WHILE DRIVING 45 MPH, THE DRIVER APPLIED THE BRAKES AND IT WENT DOWN TO THE FLOOR CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO CRASHED INTO ANOTHER VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER. THE MECHANIC REPLACED THE BRAKES THREE TIMES. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER DETAILS.
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10062393March 17, 2004
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DISC:PADS
MY 2001 VOLVO S40 HAS A LITTLE OVER 16,000 MILES. THE FRONT BRAKE PADS HAVE BEEN REPLACED 3 TIMES, ONCE BY THE DEALER UNDER WARRANTY AND TWICE AT MY EXPENSE. WE ALSO HAVE ANOTHER S40 IN THE HOUSEHOLD WITH THE SAME PROBLEM OF BRAKES NEEDING REPLACEMENT FREQUENTLY. I HAVE NOTICED ALLOT OF PEOPLE ON INTERNET SITES WITH S40'S COMPLAINING OF THE SAME FREQUENT BRAKE REPLACEMENT PROBLEM. I DO BELIEVE THERE IS SOME SORT OF BRAKE PAD DEFECT OR DESIGN DEFECT ON S40'S. THERE IS NO REASON WHY OWNERS OF THESE CARS SHOULD BE CONSTANTLY REPLACING BRAKE PADS. PLEASE CHECK INTO THIS COMPLAINT FOR ME AND THE THOUSANDS OF OTHER PEOPLE WITH THE SAME COMPLAINTS. *NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10060610March 7, 2004
SUSPENSION:FRONT, EQUIPMENT, SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC, EQUIPMENT:APPLIANCE:AIR CONDITIONER
I OWN A 2000 VOLVO S40. WE JUST HAD OUR FIFTH TRIP TO THE DEALER TO CORRECT KNOCKING NOISE/RATTLE IN THE FRONT SUSPENSION. PROBLEM STARTED AT 44,191 MILES. NOW AT 59,800. TWO SETS OF CONTROL ARM BUSHINGS AND TWO SETS OF SWAY BAR BUSHINGS REPLACED. NOISE RETURNS WITHIN 2000 MI OF SERVICE. ALSO, I HAVE HAD THE REAR BRAKES GO OUT AT 17,500 MILES. PADS WORE THIN AND CUT INTO THE ROTORS. THAT ONE COST $335. ALSO, AIR CONDITIONER WENT OUT AT 9000 MILES. I PAID THE EXTRA MONEY TO GET A VOLVO BECAUSE I KEEP MY CARS FOR A LONG TIME. (I ALSO OWN A 18 YEAR OLD AUDI 4000.) I BOUGHT VOLVO FOR ONE WORD: RELIABILITY. I HAVE FOUND THAT VOLVO DOES NOT STAND BEHIND THEIR PRODUCTS. THIS S40 IS HUGELY EXPENSIVE TO MAINTAIN. I AM MAKING FAR TOO MANY TRIPS TO THE DEALER TO KEEP TRYING TO GET DEFECTS FIXED. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10060027February 29, 2004
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP
2000 VOLVO S40 NO BRAKES UNTIL CAR IS AT OPERATING TEMPERATURE. I REPORTED THIS TO THE MANUFACTURER AND THEY SAID TO CONTINUE TO DRIVE THE VEHICLE AFTER LETTING IT WARM FOR A FEW MINUTES. I HAVE ALREADY ROLLED INTO NUMEROUS INTERSECTIONS DUE TO NO BRAKES. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10057746February 9, 2004
EQUIPMENT:OTHER:LABELS
CONSUMER INDICATED THAT THE ISOFIX GUIDE THAT THE MANUFACTURER SENT FOR RECALL 03V284000 COULD NOT FIX THE PROBLEM. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

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