2001 Volvo S40
2 recalls and 86 owner complaints on record for this model year.
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Decode a VIN2 recalls and 86 owner complaints on record for this model year.
This page describes the model. To see how one particular car is equipped, and whether its identifier is valid, decode its VIN.
Decode a VINAlmost all of this describes the model year, not the individual car. Nothing here can tell you about this vehicle’s mileage, accidents or ownership — no identifier encodes those.
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.
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.
VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: SEDAN AND WAGON PASSENGER VEHICLES. A DIODE IN THE ELECTRONIC CLIMATE CONTROL SYSTEM MAY HAVE A REDUCED SERVICE LIFE.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSTALL AN ADAPTER WITH A DIODE FITTED TO THE HEATER FAN MOTOR. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN JUNE 11, 2001. OWNERS WHO TAKE THEIR VEHICLES TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER ON AN AGREED UPON SERVICE DATE AND DO NOT RECEIVE THE FREE REMEDY WITHIN A REASONABLE TIME SHOULD CONTACT VOLVO AT 1-800-458-1552.
Published by model year, not by VIN — may not apply to this vehicle, or may already have been done. Confirm with a dealer.
I'VE CONTACTED VOLVO AND DEMANDED MY MONEY BACK AND THEY REFUSED, THIS IS MY NEXT STEP BEFORE TAKING THEM TO COURT FOR A MEASILY 2,500. THIS CAR HAS CAUSED ME A HEADACHE UNLIKE ANY OTHER, THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM FAILS IN THIS CAR AND PASSES THROUGH IT MALFUNCTIONING ONE THING AFTER THE NEXT, MY BACK WINDOW WENT UP AND DOWN ON ITS OWN, HEATING AND COOLING SYSTEMS DO WHACKY THINGS WHICH RUINED THE CAR MAKING IT OVERHEAT EVEN AFTER SHOPS REPLACE SENSORS AND RADIATORS, THE MAIN SAFETY CONCERN WHICH VOLVO IS SUPPRESSING IS THAT THE ELECTRICAL GHOST ALSO AFFECTS THE BRAKING SYSTEM AND ACCELERATES, THIS IS A MAIN CONCERN WHEN YOU'RE ON AN EXPRESSWAY ESPECIALLY, IT ACCELERATES AND YOU CANNOT HOLD THE BRAKE DOWN HARD ENOUGH TO SLOW DOWN, AND IT'LL DO IT AT RANDOM, AND I KNOW THIS IS A PROBLEM WITH THIS YEAR VOLVO BECAUSE I HAVE A 1990 WHEN IT WAS VOLVO AND NOT BOUGHT MY AN AMERICAN COMPANY AND THAT CAR IS PERFECT, AND A COP TALKED TO ME FOR ABOUT AN HOUR JUST BEFORE THESE BIGGER ISSUES STARTED HAPPENING, HE'D OWNED A DEALERSHIP AND SAID THIS YEAR VOLVO HAS NOTHING BUT PROBLEMS, AND AT THAT TIME I KNEW HE WAS ONTO SOMETHING BECAUSE THE AIR AND HEAT BUTTONS WERE DOING ALL KINDS OF STRANGE THINGS, I WAS EVEN IN AN ACCIDENT ONCE, A LITTLE FENDER BENDER THANKFULLY JUST ON A SIDE STREET, MY CAR WOULDN'T SLOW DOWN AND IT SKIDDED ALL T HE WAY TO THE LIGHT AND I DENTED SOMEONE'S BUMPER, THEY LET ME SLIDE BECAUSE THEIR CAR WAS A JALOPY, BUT I'VE HAD THIS SAME ELECTRICAL FAILURE HAPPENING ON EXPRESSWAYS AT VARIOUS SPEEDS
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 VOLVO S40. THE CONTACT WAS TRAVELING 40 MPH AND CRASHED HEAD-ON INTO ANOTHER VEHICLE. UPON IMPACT, THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. THE CONTACT SUSTAINED HEAD AND NECK INJURIES. THE POLICE WERE NOTIFIED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A PRIVATE MECHANIC WHERE THE CONTACT WAS AWAITING DIAGNOSIS. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT CONTACTED ABOUT THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 300,000. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2001 VOLVO S40. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE DRIVER WAS TRAVELING APPROXIMATELY 35 MPH WHEN THE BRAKES WERE APPLIED BUT THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT STOP UNTIL CRASHING INTO ANOTHER VEHICLE. THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY AND THE SEAT BELT FAILED TO RETAIN THE DRIVER. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED AND THE DRIVER SUFFERED SERIOUS INJURIES. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED AND TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT REPAIR SHOP, BUT THE CAUSE OF FAILURE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 114,000. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE.
DT: CONSUMER WAS DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY AT 75-80 MPH AND REAR ENDED THE VEHICLE IN FRONT. WHEN THIS HAPPENED THE DRIVER SIDE AIR BAG DID NOT DEPLOY. *AK
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
ME AN MY HUSBAND WAS DRIVING THE CAR AN IT STARTED TO RUN HOT SO WE WENT AN GOT THE PART TO GO ON THE CAR AN WHEN WHEN WE GOT BACK TO MY FATHER IN LAW HOUSE THE CAR CUT OFF AN STARTED TO SMOKE REAL BAD THEN WENT INTO FLAMES AN WHEN WE FIRST GOT THE CAR WE GOT EVERYTHING FIX ON IT AN THEN WHEN YOU PLUG THE MONTIOR TO THE THE CAR IT SAID WE HAD TEN CODES UP THERE AN THEY WAS THE SAME CODES THAT WAS ON THE CAR AN WE KNOW WE HAD GOT EVERYTHING FIX ON THE CAR AN WE WAS STILL HAVING PROBLEMS WITH THE CAR NO WE OUT OF A CAR CAUSE IT WENT INTO FLAMES.
CAR CAUGHT FIRE WITHOUT WARNING AS I WAS DRIVING IT. CAR HAD 93,000 AND HAD PASSED VA INSPECTION IN AUGUST. I PULLED OVER AND CALLED 911. BY THE TIME THE FIRE DEPARTMENT ARRIVED 3 MINUTES LATER, ENTIRE ENGINE WAS ENGULFED IN LARGE FLAMES. THE TEMPERATURE GAUGE NEVER INDICATED THE ENGINE WAS RUNNING HOT. USAA REMOVED THE VEHICLE, AND I DON'T KNOW WHETHER THEY WILL INSPECT IT FOR CAUSE, BUT I SUSPECT AN ELECTRICAL MALFUNCTION.
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 VOLVO S40. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING, THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY CAUGHT FIRE. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT EXTINGUISHED THE FIRE AND THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN INSPECTED FOR THE CAUSE OF THE FIRE. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE APPROXIMATELY 86,000. PRIOR TO THE FIRE, THE WATER PUMP AND TIMING BELT WERE REPLACED. UPDATED 04/19/11
DRIVING WE SMELLED AN ELECTRICAL TYPE OF SMELL, THEN BELL OWING SMOKE AND THEN WE STOPPED AND TRIED TO OPEN HOOD FIRE CAME GUSHING OUT. CALLED 911 REPORT TO FIRE DEPT. CAR TOTALLED.*AK
I BOUGHT A 2001 VOLVO S40 IN JUNE 2009. I NOTICED RIGHT AWAY THAT THE BRAKES DIDN'T SEEM TO WORK PROPERLY, AS THE STOPPING DISTANCE WAS FAR TOO LONG. THEY ASSURED ME THE BRAKES WERE BRAND NEW. AFTER DRIVING IT A FEW WEEKS, I BECAME VERY NERVOUS ABOUT THE BRAKES BECAUSE I HAD COME CLOSE TO REAR ENDING SEVERAL PEOPLE. I BROUGHT IT BACK TO THE DEALER WHERE I PURCHASED IT AND ASKED THEM TO DOUBLE CHECK THE BRAKES. THEY DID SO AND STATED THAT THEY WERE FINE. SO, I DROVE EXTRA CAUTIOUSLY FROM THEN ON. UNFORTUNATELY, THEY NEVER GAVE ME ANY DOCUMENTATION AND I NEVER ASKED FOR IT. THEY JUST CHECKED THE BRAKES AND SENT ME ON MY WAY, REASSURING ME THERE WAS NOT A PROBLEM. HOWEVER, ON DECEMBER 28TH, 2009, THE BRAKES FAILED WHEN COMING TO AN INTERSECTION. I WAS JUST BEGINNING TO SLOW DOWN (NOT EVEN TRYING TO STOP YET) AND THE BRAKE WOULD NOT GO DOWN FURTHER. I TOOK MY FOOT OFF THE BRAKE, AND IT DID NOT RELEASE. I AGAIN TRIED TO PUSH DOWN THE PEDAL, AND IT DID NOT GO DOWN. I REAR ENDED THE CAR IN FRONT OF ME. I LOOKED ONLINE AND FOUND THAT SEVERAL PEOPLE WITH MY SAME YEAR AND MODEL HAD THE SAME PROBLEMS, BOTH WITH THE STOPPING DISTANCE AND THE BRAKE FAILURE. THE NEXT MORNING, I TOOK MY CAR TO THE VOLVO DEALER IN INDIANAPOLIS. THEY INSPECTED THE BRAKES AND FOUND NOTHING WRONG. THEY ALSO VERIFIED THAT THE RECALLED VACUUM PUMP HAD ALREADY BEEN REPLACED. FROM THERE I TOOK MY CAR TO THE BODY SHOP FOR AN ESTIMATE OF THE DAMAGE FROM THE ACCIDENT, WHICH WAS $2,2604.96. UPON LEAVING THE BODY SHOP, I BRAKED AT A YELLOW LIGHT, AND ONCE AGAIN, MY BRAKES WOULD NOT GO DOWN AND I WENT THROUGH THE INTERSECTION. I HAD MY CAR TOWED BACK TO THE VOLVO DEALER. I MADE A CLAIM WITH VOLVO COMPANY, WHO HAD SOMEONE LOOK AT IT AND SAID THE VACUUM PUMP AND PRESSURE VALVE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED, WHICH WOULD COST APPROXIMATELY $750. I ASKED FOR AN ESTIMATED TRADE-IN VALUE AFTER THE CAR WAS COMPLETELY FIXED. THEY STATED THAT THEY. *TR
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
CONSUMER'S VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN A FRONTAL COLLISION WHILE DRIVING AT 25MPH AND NEITHER AIR BAGS DEPLOYED. DEALER NOTIFIED. *AK
THE CONSUMER STATES THAT BOTH AIR BAGS DEPLOYED WITH OUT SUFFICIENT IMPACT WHEN THE UNDERCARRIAGE OF THE VEHICLE AND THE RIGHT FRONT TIRE STRUCK A PAVEMENT AT 40 MPH. DURING THE ACCIDENT THE FRONT WHEEL DROPPED OFF BREAKING THE TIE ROD. THE VEHICLE WAS TOTALED. *YH
I AM REPORTING THIS INCIDENT BECAUSE THE FRONT DRIVER AND PASSENGER AIRBAGS FULLY DEPLOYED WHEN THE UNDERCARRIAGE OF THE CAR AND RIGHT FRONT TIRE STRUCK PAVEMENT AT APPROX. 45 MILES PER HOUR. THE CAR DID NOT STOP, AND THE DRIVER HAD TO MANUALLY BEAT THE AIRBAGS BACK WITH HIS HANDS TO SEE AND BRING THE CAR TO A STOP. THIS INCIDENT WAS REPORTED TO VOLVO USA, THEY REMOVED THE SENSORS FOR INVESTIGATION, THEN REPORTED BACK TO ME IN WRITING THAT THEY OPERATED NORMALLY, AND THAT THERE WAS SUFFICIENT IMPACT TO THE UNDERCARRIAGE TO CAUSE DEPLOYMENT. I DISAGREE, AND FEEL THAT THE CAR IS UNSAFE TO DRIVE. EITHER THE DESIGN OF THE S40 OR IT'S SENSORS ARE DEFECTIVE. EVERYONE THAT SAW THE CAR AFTER THE INCIDENT WAS VERY SURPRISED THAT THE AIRBAGS DEPLOYED AT ALL, SINCE THERE WAS NO COLLISION INVOLVED -- DAMAGE TO THE OUTSIDE BODY OF THE CAR WAS MINOR. ALL DAMAGE WAS TO THE UNDERCARRIAGE AND INTERIOR (DUE TO THE AIRBAGS). HAD THERE BEEN ANY CARS TRAVELING IN THE OPPOSITE DIRECTION, VERY SERIOUS INJURY WOULD HAVE RESULTED SINCE THE DRIVER WAS BLINDED AND WOULD HAVE ONLY HAD THE PROTECTION OF ALREADY DEFLATING AIRBAGS HAD A HEAD ON COLLISION OCCURED WITH ANOTHER VEHICLE. I HAVE ALL DOCUMENTATION REPORTED TO VOLVO, AND THEIR WRITTEN RESPONSE.*AK
WITH THE LOW BEAMS ON, NIGHT TIME VISIBILITY IS POOR AND TREACHEROUS. I HAVE THE SAME PROBLEM WITH MY VOLVO 960 WHICH THE SERVICEMAN STATES CAN NOT BE ADJUSTED ANY BETTER. I HIT A DEER LAST WEEK IN THE S40 AND I STRONGLY BELIEVE IT WOULD NOT HAVE HAPPENED IF THE HEADLIGHTS WERE EFFECTIVE. I HAVE OWNED AND DRIVEN SEVERAL CARS BEFORE INCLUDING A MAZDA MIATA AND A FORD EXPLORER RECENTLY AND BOTH VEHICLES HAVE EXCELLENT NIGHT TIME HEADLAMP VISIBILITY. I STRONGLY BELIEVE THIS IS A VOLVO DESIGN PROBLEM. THERE IS GREATER VSIBILITY TO THE SIDE THAN TO THE FRONT OF THE VEHICLE. PLEASE INVESTIGATE THIS ISSUE BEFORE SOMEONE GETS SERIOUSLY HURT.
Filed by owners of this model year and unverified by NHTSA — one person’s account, not an established fact.