IllustrationTL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 VOLVO V40. WHILE DRIVING 15 MPH, THE BRAKES MALFUNCTIONED. THE CONTACT DEPRESSED THE BRAKE PEDAL TO THE FLOORBOARD IN ORDER TO STOP THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED NOR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 44,000.
2004 Volvo V40
Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations
Limited comparison data
There is not enough comparable history to draw a useful model-year comparison.
About this comparison →How this year compares
Owner complaints by model year
Compare all V40 years →Counts vary with age, sales and reporting. They are not failure rates.
What owners reported most
Tap a category to read its complaints. One report may name several components.
When problems were reported
Mileage at the reported incident
Limited mileage data: 2 of 4 reports include usable mileage. There isn’t enough coverage to show a useful chart.
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.
- Air Bags. Review the 1 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Service Brakes. Review the 1 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Service Brakes, Hydraulic. Review the 1 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
1 crash reports0 fire reports0 injury reports
What owners actually said
4 reportsTHE DRIVER'S SIDE AIRBAG HAS FAILED FOR NO APPARENT REASON. THE COST OF REPAIR WILL BE AROUND $900.00 THE CAR WAS PURCHASED 4 YEARS AGO. THAT IS A VERY COSTLY REPAIR FOR A RELATIVELY YOUNG VEHICLE. I ASKED THE SERVICE REPRESENTATIVE AT MY AUTHORIZED VOLVO REPAIR SHOP IF I SHOULD EXPECT THE RIGHT SIDE TO FAIL AS SOON AS I REPAI…
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THE DRIVER'S SIDE AIRBAG HAS FAILED FOR NO APPARENT REASON. THE COST OF REPAIR WILL BE AROUND $900.00 THE CAR WAS PURCHASED 4 YEARS AGO. THAT IS A VERY COSTLY REPAIR FOR A RELATIVELY YOUNG VEHICLE. I ASKED THE SERVICE REPRESENTATIVE AT MY AUTHORIZED VOLVO REPAIR SHOP IF I SHOULD EXPECT THE RIGHT SIDE TO FAIL AS SOON AS I REPAIR THE LEFT ONE. HE SAID "NO, THE RIGHT NEVER GOES OUT." "I HAD ONE IN JUST LAST WEEK- EXACT SAME PROBLEM AS YOURS." *TR
DT: CONSUMER STATES WHEN THERE IS A SUN GLARE ON THE DASHBOARD THERE ISN'T ENOUGH ILLUMINATION. THE CONSUMER WAS UNABLE TO SEE THE INSTRUMENTS ON THE DASHBOARD. THE CONSUMER TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALERSHIP AND WAS TOLD THERE WAS NOTHING THAT COULD BE DONE ABOUT IT.*AK THE CONSUMER STATED A FLASH LIGHT MUST BE USED TO SEE …
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DT: CONSUMER STATES WHEN THERE IS A SUN GLARE ON THE DASHBOARD THERE ISN'T ENOUGH ILLUMINATION. THE CONSUMER WAS UNABLE TO SEE THE INSTRUMENTS ON THE DASHBOARD. THE CONSUMER TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALERSHIP AND WAS TOLD THERE WAS NOTHING THAT COULD BE DONE ABOUT IT.*AK THE CONSUMER STATED A FLASH LIGHT MUST BE USED TO SEE THE INSTRUMENTS ON THE PANEL. *JB
ON APRIL 13, 2005 AT APPROXIMATELY 4 PM, I WAS BACKING MY V40 VOLVO 2004 WAGON OUT OF A PARKING SPACE AT THE KOSSMAN GARAGE, LIBERTY AVENUE,PITTSBURGH, PA, GOING SLOWLY BECAUSE IT WAS A TIGHT SPACE, WHEN MY BRAKES DID NOT WORK, AT ALL. DESPITE PUSHING MY BRAKES AS FAR AS THEY WOULD GO, THE CAR DID NOT STOP, AND CRASHED INTO A CO…
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ON APRIL 13, 2005 AT APPROXIMATELY 4 PM, I WAS BACKING MY V40 VOLVO 2004 WAGON OUT OF A PARKING SPACE AT THE KOSSMAN GARAGE, LIBERTY AVENUE,PITTSBURGH, PA, GOING SLOWLY BECAUSE IT WAS A TIGHT SPACE, WHEN MY BRAKES DID NOT WORK, AT ALL. DESPITE PUSHING MY BRAKES AS FAR AS THEY WOULD GO, THE CAR DID NOT STOP, AND CRASHED INTO A CONCRETE SUPPORT BEAM, CRASHING IN THE ENTIRE BACK WINDOW AND DENTING THE BACK BUMPER VERTICALLY WHERE THE TALL CONCRETE BEAM HIT IT. THANK GOODNESS, NO PEOPLE WERE HURT, AND I WAS NOT INJURED EITHER. NO OTHER VEHICLES WERE DAMAGED, BECAUSE THE BEAM WAS DIRECTLY BEHIND ME, THANK GOODNESS. THE VOLVO HEADQUARTERS INSPECTED THE CAR AND SAID THERE WAS NOTHING WRONG, BUT THERE WAS INDEED SOMETHING WRONG WITH THE BRAKES. THROUGH MY INSURER, AMICA, I BECAME AWARE OF THE REPORTED HYDRAULICS PRO BLEM WITH BRAKES ON CERTAIN V40 VOLVO 2004 CARS. I ALSO FOUND A WEBSITE SHOWING A NOVEMBER, 2004 RECALL NOTICE REQUIRED TO BE SENT BY THE NATIONAL TRAFFIC AND MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY ACT TO OWNERS OF SUCH VEHILCES, BUT I NEVER RECEIVED SUCH A NOTICE. WHAT IS MORE, EVEN AFTER MY ACCIDENT, THE COMPANY HAS NEVER TOLD ME OF SUCH A PROBLEM. I FOUND OUT TODAY ABOUT THIS, THANKS TO MY INSURER WHO RESEARCHED THIS. THE CAR IS NOW BEING REPAIRED, AT MY AND MY INSURERS EXPENSE, ALTHOUGH IT MAY BE DUE TO THE FAULTY BRAKES NOTED IN THE RECALL. I THINK THERE IS SOME RESPONSE NEEDED FROM VOLVO FOR NOT INFORMING ME OF THIS RECALL, FOR INDICATING IT WAS MY FAULT, AND FOR NOT BEING WILLING TO EVEN SEND ME A MEMO BASED ON THEIR EVALUATION OF MY CAR. MY INSURER IS ALSO WANTING TO KNOW WHAT THEIR RESPONSE IS.
Official recalls
304V493000 · Service Brakes, Hydraulic:power Assist:vacuum:hoses, Lines/piping, And Fittings
Oct 14, 2004
ON CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES, THE NON-RETURN VALVE MAY CRACK DUE TO A POOR WELD CAUSING A VACUUM LEAK.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: IF THIS OCCURS, MORE BRAKE PEDAL FORCE MAY BE REQUIRED TO STOP THE VEHICLE AND/OR MAY EXPERIENCE A ROUGH ENGINE IDLE, WHICH COULD RESULT IN A CRASH.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSPECT, AND IF NECESSARY, REPLACE THE VACUUM HOSE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON NOVEMBER 29, 2004. OWNERS SHOULD CONTACT VOLVO CARS AT 1-800-458-1552.
03V424000 · Fuel System, Gasoline
Oct 24, 2003
ON CERTAIN SEDANS AND STATION WAGONS, THERE MAY BE A FUEL LEAK FROM THE FUEL RAIL DUE TO INADEQUATE WELDING.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: FUEL LEAKAGE IN THE PRESENCE OF AN IGNITION SOURCE COULD RESULT IN A FIRE.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSTALL A V-CLAMP TO THE FUEL RAIL. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN ON JANUARY 28, 2004. OWNERS SHOULD CONTACT VOLVO AT 1-800-458-1552.
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.
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
0No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.