NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
What owners actually said
84 reports107,000 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
Mileage unknown · Mar 1, 2012
Service Brakes, HydraulicVehicle Speed Control
I PURCHASED A VOLVO FOR THEIR REPUTATION ON SAFETY. SO WHY DOES OUR VOLVO HAVE AN ACCELERATION PROBLEM? I COULD BE AT A STOP LIGHT AND THE CAR REVS UP TO 2000 RPM'S AND STARTS TO GO WITH MY FOOT ON THE BRAKE WITH ME ALMOST HITTING THE CAR IN FRONT OF ME THEN WHEN WE FIRST START UP THE CAR THE BRAKES DON'T WORK? THE CAR STILL ROL…
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I PURCHASED A VOLVO FOR THEIR REPUTATION ON SAFETY. SO WHY DOES OUR VOLVO HAVE AN ACCELERATION PROBLEM? I COULD BE AT A STOP LIGHT AND THE CAR REVS UP TO 2000 RPM'S AND STARTS TO GO WITH MY FOOT ON THE BRAKE WITH ME ALMOST HITTING THE CAR IN FRONT OF ME THEN WHEN WE FIRST START UP THE CAR THE BRAKES DON'T WORK? THE CAR STILL ROLLS. WHAT'S GOING ON WITH VOLVO THEIR MAKING ME THINK THEIR JUST AS BAD AS TOYOTA! *TR
NHTSA ODI #10449907
51,334 miles · Dec 10, 2011
Electrical SystemFuel System, Gasoline
ENGINE STALLED WHILE THE CAR WAS IN A MOVING MOTION. A CRACKED CASE OF THE BREATHER SENSOR DAMAGED IDLE AIR CONTROL VALVE AND BLOWN THE FUSE FOR THE ENGINE SENSORS.THIS IS A VERY SERIOUS PROBLEM. LUCKILY, I WAS NOT ON HIGH WAY AND RUNNING 65 MILES A HOUR. MY SON AND I WOULD BE KILLED. WITHOUT WARNING, ONE FAILED SENSOR BLOWN OTH…
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ENGINE STALLED WHILE THE CAR WAS IN A MOVING MOTION. A CRACKED CASE OF THE BREATHER SENSOR DAMAGED IDLE AIR CONTROL VALVE AND BLOWN THE FUSE FOR THE ENGINE SENSORS.THIS IS A VERY SERIOUS PROBLEM. LUCKILY, I WAS NOT ON HIGH WAY AND RUNNING 65 MILES A HOUR. MY SON AND I WOULD BE KILLED. WITHOUT WARNING, ONE FAILED SENSOR BLOWN OTHER ENGINE SENSORS' FUSE THAT ON THE SAME CIRCUIT. NO DOUBT THERE IS AN ELECTRICAL DESIGNING PROBLEM WITH THIS KIND CAR. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10439280
146,400 miles · Sep 2, 2011
Vehicle Speed Control
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 VOLVO S40. WHILE ATTEMPTING TO PARK AT APPROXIMATELY 1 MPH, THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY ACCELERATED. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO REMOVE THE KEY FROM THE IGNITION TO SHUT THE ENGINE OFF YET THE FAILURE RECURRED INTERMITTENTLY AND THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED UP TO 80 MPH. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE…
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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 VOLVO S40. WHILE ATTEMPTING TO PARK AT APPROXIMATELY 1 MPH, THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY ACCELERATED. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO REMOVE THE KEY FROM THE IGNITION TO SHUT THE ENGINE OFF YET THE FAILURE RECURRED INTERMITTENTLY AND THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED UP TO 80 MPH. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND SUGGESTED THAT THE VEHICLE BE TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTICS. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTICS OR REPAIRS. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 146,400.
NHTSA ODI #10422998
114,000 miles · May 27, 2011
Air BagsSeat BeltsService Brakes, HydraulicCrashInjury
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 SUFFERE…
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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.
NHTSA ODI #10402992
186,788 miles · Apr 14, 2011
Unknown Or Other
2001 VOLVO S40 SUDDENLY STARTS ACCELERATING ON ITS OWN REGARDLESS OF THE SPEED I AM TRAVELLING. IT CAN HAPPEN AT SLOW SPEEDS OR HIGHWAY SPEEDS. IT HAPPENS REGARDLESS OF WHETHER THE CRUISE CONTROL IS ON OR OFF. IT HAPPENS REGARDLESS OF WHETHER MY FOOT IS ON THE BREAK OR THE ACCELERATOR. IN OTHER WORDS, I CAN HAVE MY FEET COMP…
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2001 VOLVO S40 SUDDENLY STARTS ACCELERATING ON ITS OWN REGARDLESS OF THE SPEED I AM TRAVELLING. IT CAN HAPPEN AT SLOW SPEEDS OR HIGHWAY SPEEDS. IT HAPPENS REGARDLESS OF WHETHER THE CRUISE CONTROL IS ON OR OFF. IT HAPPENS REGARDLESS OF WHETHER MY FOOT IS ON THE BREAK OR THE ACCELERATOR. IN OTHER WORDS, I CAN HAVE MY FEET COMPLETELY OFF BOTH PEDALS AND THE CAR WILL ACCELERATE. THE ONLY WAY TO STOP THE CAR IS BY BREAKING EXTREMELY HARD - AND THAT BARELY STOPS THE CAR. THIS IS EXTREMELY DANGEROUS. WHEN I FINALLY AM ABLE TO STOP THE CAR AND PUT IN IN PARK, THE CAR ACCELERATES EVEN MORE. THE CARE ACCELERATES INTO THE 7,000 TO 8,000 RPM RANGE.
NHTSA ODI #10396500
86,000 miles · Nov 5, 2010
Engine And Engine CoolingFire
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…
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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
NHTSA ODI #10364167
125,000 miles · Sep 16, 2010
Vehicle Speed Control
MY 2001 VOLVO S40 HAS ACCELERATING ON IT'S OWN, WHETHER IT IS IN PARK, DRIVE OR NEUTRAL MODE. THIS HAS BEEN HAPPENING ON AND OFF BUT MOST RECENTLY FOR THE PAST TWO WEEKS. MY MECHANIC HAS NOT BEEN ABLE TO RESOLVE THE ISSUE. VERY DANGEROUS SITUATION. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10355937
90,000 miles · Jul 6, 2010
Wheels
2001 VOLVO S40 SEVERAL TIMES WITHIN THE LAST YEAR OR TWO THE LUG NUTS ON THE TIRES HAVE WORKED THEIR WAY LOOSE TO THE POINT OF ALMOST HAVING THE TIRE FALL OFF DESPITE WORK PERFORMED AT EXPERIENCE VOLVO DEALERSHIPS OR MECHANIC SHOPS. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10341534
63,000 miles · Feb 19, 2010
Service Brakes, Hydraulic
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 VOLVO S40. WHENEVER THE VEHICLE WAS COLD, THE BRAKES WOULD NOT WORK UNLESS THE PEDAL WAS ENGAGED 6 TIMES. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE BRAKE VACUUM NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 63,000. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 74,000.
NHTSA ODI #10312216