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2001 Volvo S40

Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations

Similar to other model years

Owner complaints for the 2001 Volvo S40 do not stand out strongly from the model-year median of 26.

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When problems were reported

Mileage at the reported incident

49 reports with mileage · 35 unknown

NHTSA’s mileage field refers to the reported incident, not necessarily the filing date. This shows report counts, not the likelihood of a failure.

What to inspect

Issues worth paying extra attention to based on owner reports.

  • Service Brakes, Hydraulic. Review the 25 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Engine And Engine Cooling. Review the 12 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Electrical System. Review the 10 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

11 crash reports4 fire reports5 injury reports

Engine complaints

5 reports
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15,000 miles · Jul 16, 2020
Electrical SystemEngineStructureFire

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 …

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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.

NHTSA ODI #11339721

67,000 miles · Jun 6, 2019
Electrical SystemEngine

IGNITION KEY WILL NOT TURN PAST POSITION 2 ALLOWING FOR ENGINE STARTING. THE VEHICLE WITH STATIONARY IN PARK.

NHTSA ODI #11218386

93,000 miles · Jan 12, 2016
EngineFire

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,…

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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.

NHTSA ODI #10819591

153,280 miles · Apr 21, 2013
EngineWheels

MY CAR VIBRATES WHENEVER I REACH 60 MPH AND CONTINUES TO VIBRATES IF I TRY TO ACCELERATE BUT STOPS WHEN I DECELERATE. I WAS TOLD IT COULD BE A BALANCE PROBLEM BUT WHY WOULD THE WHOLE CAR VIBRATE? I WAS ALSO TOLD IT MAY BE WORN OR OLD MOTOR MOUNTS, WHICH I BELIEVE THAT MORE THAN IT BEING A BALANCE PROBLEM. I JUST NEED TO KNOW FOR…

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MY CAR VIBRATES WHENEVER I REACH 60 MPH AND CONTINUES TO VIBRATES IF I TRY TO ACCELERATE BUT STOPS WHEN I DECELERATE. I WAS TOLD IT COULD BE A BALANCE PROBLEM BUT WHY WOULD THE WHOLE CAR VIBRATE? I WAS ALSO TOLD IT MAY BE WORN OR OLD MOTOR MOUNTS, WHICH I BELIEVE THAT MORE THAN IT BEING A BALANCE PROBLEM. I JUST NEED TO KNOW FOR CERTAIN SO I KNOW WHAT TO HAVE REPLACED AND HOW MUCH I MAY HAVE TO SPEND. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10509003

107,000 miles · Aug 1, 2012
Engine

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 VOLVO S40. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING 35 MPH WHEN THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO RESTART THE VEHICLE. THE ENGINE RPMS INCREASED EXCESSIVELY AS THE VEHICLE STALLED A SECOND TIME. THE FAILURE RECURRED SEVERAL TIMES. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE VIN WAS U…

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 VOLVO S40. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING 35 MPH WHEN THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO RESTART THE VEHICLE. THE ENGINE RPMS INCREASED EXCESSIVELY AS THE VEHICLE STALLED A SECOND TIME. THE FAILURE RECURRED SEVERAL TIMES. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 107,000.

NHTSA ODI #10468802

Official recalls

2

03V284000 · Equipment:other:labels

Aug 1, 2003

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.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: THIS DOES NOT MEET THE REQUIREMENTS OF THE STANDARD.

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.

01V169000 · Equipment:appliance:air Conditioner

May 21, 2001

VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: SEDAN AND WAGON PASSENGER VEHICLES. A DIODE IN THE ELECTRONIC CLIMATE CONTROL SYSTEM MAY HAVE A REDUCED SERVICE LIFE.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: IF THE DIODE FAILS, THE HEATER FAN STOPS OPERATING AND THE DEFROSTER FUNCTION IS AFFECTED.

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.

Model-level recall history does not show whether a particular VIN is affected or has received a repair. Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗

NHTSA investigations

1

EA02026 · Volvo S40/V40 My 2000-2001

Opened Sep 10, 2002 · Closed Nov 21, 2003

Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Service Brakes, Hydraulic

IN A NOVEMBER 6, 2003 SAFETY DEFECT REPORT, VOLVO INDICATED THAT THEY WILL CONDUCT A SAFETY-RELATED DEFECT RECALL OF THE 2000 MODEL YEAR (MY) SUBJECT VEHICLES (ABOUT 36,000 VEHICLES).VOLVO WILL ALSO CONDUCT A SERVICE CAMPAIGN OF ABOUT 31,000 2001 MY SUBJECT VEHICLES.ODI INVESTIGATED BOTH THE 2000 AND 2001 MY VEHICLES AND DETERMINED THAT THE 2001 MY VEHICLES EXPERIENCED SUBSTANTIALLY LOWER RATES OF FAILURES BASED ON THE NUMBER OF OWNER REPORTS AND WARRANTY CLAIMS SUBMITTED TO ODI.ODI BELIEVES THAT THE PROPOSED ACTION IS SUFFICIENT TO RESOLVE THIS INVESTIGATION'S SAFETY ISSUES. FOR THE CRASHES, IN ADDITION TO THE 22 SUBMITTED BY VOLVO, ODI FOUND 10 ADDITIONAL CRASH ALLEGATIONS IN THE OWNER REPORTS, FIELD REPORTS, AND WARRANTY CLAIMS SUBMITTED BY VOLVO.OF THESE 32 CRASHES, ODI BELIEVES THAT 10 ARE CLEARLY RELATED TO THE ALLEGED DEFECT, AND 5 APPEAR TO BE RELATED.OF THE 17 REMAINING CASES, TWO DID NOT INVOLVE A CRASH AND THE OTHER 15 COULD NOT BE DIRECTLY CONNECTED TO THE ALLEGED DEFECT.ODI WILL SUPPLEMENT THIS RESUME WITH A CLOSING REPORT AND ADDITIONAL TECHNICAL DETAILS CONCERNING THE DEFECT.