Volvo S40 Complaints

491 consumer complaints on file.

#10055161January 29, 2004
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DISC:PADS
I HAD MY VOLVO S40 INTO THE DEALER I BOUGHT IT FROM (KEYSTONE, PA) 5 TIMES FOR A SQUEAK IN THE REAR OF THE CAR. EACH TIME WE WERE TOLD THEY COULDN'T LOCATE THE PROBLEM BUT THEY COULD HEAR THE SQUEAK. ON THE 6 VISIT THEY GAVE US A LOANER AND TOOK THE CAR FOR A COUPLE OF DAYS AND THEN CALLED US AND TOLD US THEY FOUND THE PROBLEM.... THE REAR BRAKES NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. ALL THOSE VISITS AND THEY JUST FIGURED OUT IT WAS THE BRAKES PLUS THE CAR ONLY HAS 14,000 MILES. WHAT KIND OF SMALL, LIGHT SPORTS CAR NEEDS REAR BRAKES AT 14,000. THIS CAR IS ONLY DRIVEN BY MY WIFE TO HER JOB THAT IS ABOUT 5 MILES AWAY. AFTER ALL THIS MESS I WILL BE TRADING IN MY S40 AND NEVER RECOMMEND OR PURCHASE A VOLVO AGAIN. SO MUCH FOR VOLVO'S REPUTATION. I READ OTHER PEOPLE'S COMPLAINTS ABOUT THE BRAKES ON THIS SITE AND IT ONLY STRENGHTHEN THE CONSUMERS CASE ABOUT THE BRAKE PROBLEMS. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10054022January 14, 2004
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
WHEN ENGINE IS COLD, AND THE BRAKES ARE APPLIED DRIVER HAS TO APPLY A LOT OF PRESSURE TO BRAKE PEDAL TO STOP THE VEHICLE. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10053041January 13, 2004
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:POWER ASSIST
POWER BRAKES DON NOT WORK WELL
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10052703January 8, 2004
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:POWER ASSIST:VACUUM
VOLVO MODEL S40 VACUUM BRAKE FAILURE. MY 28 YEAR OLD DAUGHTER WAS MAKING A LOW SPEED TURN AT INTERSECTION AND BRAKES FAILED AND SHE HIT A TELEPHONE POLE. IN 2003 SHE WAS COMING TO A STOP BEHIND ANOTHER CAR AND THE SAME THING HAPPENED. SUBSEQUENTLY THEY REPLACED THE VACUUM PUMP AT THE 30,000 MILE SERVICE ON 8/14/03. WE JUST READ ABOUT RECALL ON VEHICLES MADE DURING 2000. *LA
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10053451January 6, 2004
EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HEADLIGHTS, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:ALTERNATOR/GENERATOR/REGULATOR, EXTERIOR LIGHTING:TAIL LIGHTS, EXTERIOR LIGHTING:TURN SIGNAL
DEALER REPLACED, IN THE PAST TWO YEARS, HEADLIGHTS/ALTERNATOR/TAIL LIGHTS, AND SIGNAL LIGHTS, BUT THE PROBLEM WAS STILL OCCURRING. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10052437January 5, 2004
TIRES
TO WHOM IT MAY CONCERN:I WOULD LIKE TO REPORT A COMPLAINT THAT ONE OF THE MICHELIN TIRES ON MY NEW VOLVO S40 (BOUGHT ON JAN 25, 2003: [XXX]) BLEW OUT WHILE I WAS DRIVING TO WORK. FORTUNATELY, I WAS NOT IN AN ACCIDENT AS I WAS DRIVING AT ABOUT 25MPH. ON THE SAME DAY FRIDAY (DEC 12, 03) I CONTACTED THE VOLVO DEALER WITH A REQUEST TO FIX THIS PROBLEM. THEY REFUSED TO EVALUATE THE TIRE AND ONLY TOLD ME TO CALL MICHELIN. ON DEC 15, 03, I CALLED MICHELIN AND WAS TOLD THAT VALLEY FORGE TIRE AND AUTO CENTER WAS THE CLOSEST CERTIFIED MICHELIN DEALER IN MY AREA. I MADE AN APPOINTMENT WITH THEM AND WENT THAT DAY. THEIR REPRESENTATIVE TOLD ME THAT THIS TIRE WAS NOT FAULTY, AND COULD NOT BE COVERED UNDER WARRANTY. I HAD TO REPLACE THE TIRE ANYWAY BECAUSE I WAS GOING TO EUROPE, AND I NEEDED THE CAR TO GET TO THE AIRPORT IN NEW JERSEY. (I WAS IN PENNSYLVANIA AT THAT TIME) AFTER I RETURNED FROM MY VACATION, I CONTACTED AN EXPERT AND WAS TOLD THAT THE BLOWOUT WAS THE FAULT OF THE MANUFACTURER BECAUSE: 1. ON THE INSIDE LAYER OF THE TIRE THE RUBBER WAS PEELING (THE RUBBER WAS COMING OFF OF THE TIRES LIKE SCALES) 2. IN ANOTHER PLACE ALSO ON THE INSIDE OF THE TIRE THE WHITE THREADS THAT MAKE UP THE TIRE UNDER THE RUBBER WERE SHOWING, I WAS TOLD THAT THE TIRE WOULD HAVE BLOWN OUT IN THIS POINT IF NOT IN THE OTHER. IN THIS SITUATION I WOULD LIKE TO REPLACE ALL FOUR OF MY TIRES THIS WEEK TO GOODYEAR. PLEASE ADVISE ME HOW YOU PLAN TO DEAL WITH THIS SITUATION. I BOUGHT A NEW CAR AND SPECIFICALLY THE VOLVO BECAUSE I WAS PLANNING TO DO A LOT OF DRIVING THIS YEAR AND NEEDED A SAFE AND RELIABLE CAR. I TRUSTED VOLVOS REPUTATION FOR SAFETY AND RELIABILITY, BUT NOW I AM VERY DISAPPOINTED. [XXX]. *AK UPDATED 07/30/2012 *JS INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10045641November 7, 2003
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS
REAR BRAKES WORN OUT AT 20,000 MILES AND 5 HEADLIGHT BULBS ALREADY REPLACED. 2 BRAKE SHOPS TOLD ME I WAS LUCKY TO GET THIS MUCH OUT OF THEM! *LA
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10042382November 5, 2003
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:HORN
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
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10043536October 24, 2003
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DISC:PADS, SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DISC:ROTOR, ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
I HAVE VOLVO S40 2000 WHICH I PURCHASED IN OCTOBER 1999. I BROUGHT MY CAR TO SERVICE REGULARLY, IT WAS SERVICED WHILE IN WARRANTY BY THE ROYAL MOTOR SALES WHO SOLD ME THIS CAR. ON THE SECOND SERVICE I HAVE BEEN TOLD THAT MY REAR BRAKES COMPLETELY WORN OUT AND THEY HAVE TO CHANGE NOT ONLY BRAKE PADS BUT ALSO ROTORS AND SOMETHING ELSE, I ENDED UP PAYING $1000+ FOR THAT "SERVICE". INTERESTINGLY ENOUGH I HAVE BEEN TOLD AT DEALERSHIP THAT IT IS VERY COMMON PROBLEM FOR MY CAR KIND TO HAVE REAR BRAKE PADS WEAR OUT QUICKLY AND THEY HAVE TO BE CHANGED EVERY 5000-7000 MILES (NO INFORMATION ON THAT IN THE OWNERS MANUAL, EITHER NOBODY WARNED ME ABOUT THAT ON THE FIRST SERVICE, BETTER YET THEY DID NOT EVEN CHECKED REAR BRAKE PADS NOR TELL ME HOW MUCH OF IT LEFT). NOW WHEN MY WARRANTY IS OVER I NOTICED VERY LOUD METALLIC BANGING NOISE THAT COMES FROM UNDER THE HOOD. I TOOK THE CAR TO INDEPENDENT VOLVO MECHANIC SINCE I DO NOT TRUST DEALER ANY MORE. MECHANIC FIXED ACTUALLY 2 DIFFERENT PARTS THAT WERE MAKING SOME NOISE. I PAID $330 AND TOOK MY CAR HOME, JUST TO FIND THAT LOUD NOISE IS STILL THERE WHEN I WAS GOING OVER BUMPS IN THE ROAD. I TOOK MY CAR BACK AND MECHANIC ORDERED YET ANOTHER PART WHICH ONLY CAME 2 WEEKS LATER. NOW MY CAR IS AT THE MECHANIC'S WHO CALLED AND TOLD ME THAT THERE MORE PARTS TO BE CHANGED AND THAT HIS FRIEND AT DEALERSHIP TOLD HIM THAT IT IS VERY COMMON WARRANTY REPAIR ON MY CAR KIND. WELL THEY GOT LUCKY IN MY CASE, I AM OVER ON MY WARRANTY BY 2000 MILES. BUT WILL I BUY VOLVO EVER AGAIN? - NO WAY!!! WILL I SUGGEST TO ANYONE TO BUY A VOLVO? - ONLY TO SOMEONE I DISLIKE!. *LA
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10038234October 1, 2003
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
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
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10037199September 4, 2003
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DISC:PADS
AT 19,600 MILES THE REAR BRAKE PADS WORE OUT ON MY WIFE'S 2001 S40 VOLVO SEDAN. WE WERE TOLD BY THE DEALER THIS IS NORMAL AND THAT THEY HAVE SEEN SOME S40S WEAR THE REAR BRAKES OUT AS EARLY AS 12,000 MILES. BASED ON A REASONABLE PERSONS EXPERIENCE THIS IS MUCH TOO EARLY FOR BRAKE PADS, ESPECIALLY THE REAR ONES TO BE WEARING. THIS MUST BE A DESIGN DEFECT AND SHOULD BE COVERED UNDER WARRANTY OR BETTER QUALITY PADS SHOULD BE INSTALLED ON THE CAR. SEARCHING THE WEB I HAVE THIS IS A COMMON COMPLAINT ABOUT S40S. BELOW IS ONE EXAMPLE I FOUND:*AK 9TH MAY 2002, 14:41JUST HAD MY VOLVO REAR BRAKE PADS REPLACED AT LESS THAN 20,000 MILES (AT MY COST!). AT INSPECTION THE REAR PADS HAD 0% REMAINING, WHILE THE FRONT STILL HAD 70%. WHEN I TOLD THE DEALER THAT THIS WAS UNACCEPTABLE, THEY SAID "THIS IS NORMAL FOR THE VOLVO S40". SO MY RESPONSE WAS, AND STILL IS, "IF IT IS NORMAL TO HAVE TO REPLACE BRAKE PADS ON THE VOLVO S40 EVERY 15,000 TO 20,000 MILES, THEN THE THE VOLVO S40 IS UNACCEPTABLE". VOLVO REFUSED TO COVER THIS ABNORMAL WEAR UNDER WARRANTY. PLEASE REGISTER MY COMPLAINT WITH VOLVO AND ADD THIS COMPLAINT TO YOUR GROWING LIST OF PRODUCT DEFECTS. THANKS.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10037898August 28, 2003
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
WHEN BRAKING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS BRAKES WOULD INTERMITTENTLY WORK, RESULTING IN EXTENDED STOPPING DISTANCE.*AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10033856August 13, 2003
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:FUEL INJECTION SYSTEM:FUEL RAIL
2002 VOLVO S40 EXPERIENCED MECHANICAL FAILURE OF THE ENGINE FUEL LINE. *MR *CB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10031061August 8, 2003
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
RECENTLY PURCHASED USED 2000 VOLVO S40 SEDAN. THE HORN IS VERY DIFFICULT TO OPERATE, WHICH I CONSIDER TO BE A DANGEROUS SAFETY PROBLEM. WHEN I POINTED THIS OUT TO THE SERVICE TECHNICIAN, HE TOLD ME THAT IT WAS A DESIGN FLAW IN THE PLACEMENT OF THE AIRBAG MODULE IN THE STEERING COLUMN.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10030802August 5, 2003
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DISC:PADS
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
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10024955July 24, 2003
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
THE VEHICLE EXPERIENCED SUDDEN ACCELERATION, WHILE THE BRAKE WAS APPLIED. THE CONSUMER HAD TO SHUT OFF THE ENGINE, TO STOP THE VEHICLE. *A *TS *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10028698July 21, 2003
SUSPENSION
VEHICLE PULL. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10028700July 21, 2003
SUSPENSION
VEHICLE PULLS (ALIGNMENT CONDUCTED 1088 MILE AGO). *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10028701July 21, 2003
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
VEHICLE SERVICED FOR BRAKE NOISE. NO ACTION TAKEN BY DEALER. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10028703July 21, 2003
EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HEADLIGHTS
HEADLAMP BULD BURNED OUT (12380 MILES). *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

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