3rd Apr 2003, 12:11
I have a 2001 S40 with approximately 18,000 miles on it. At 14,000 miles, my brake late would go on and stay on until the car warmed up. Taking it to the dealer to have them "fix" the problem under the warranty, they told me that I needed brakes (at 14,000 miles!!!). After over a half hour of arguing with the customer service rep and then, his manager, I was finally able to have them replace the pads, but not properly service this pseudo brake job. (turn rotors, inspect calipers, etc).
Since I have some back yard mechanical experience, I fgured I'd do the brakes myself. The dealer wanted approximately $90.00 for a set of pads (front and back). The parts department said that they are aware of the poor quality of the material on the original pads and now replace them with better quality pads, but come on... brakes once a year??? I do most of my driving on the highway! I guess it's a good thing I know how to replace brakes myself. Otherwise, I'd be spending $600.00 - $700.00 per year to have my dealership do it. VOLVO... figure it out and get this problem recalled!!!
25th Apr 2003, 23:07
I'm glad I found this site, but I guess misery loves company. My 2000 Volvo S40 had its brakes changed twice, yet it only has 21,000 miles on it. I just hope to sell it or trade it for a Japanese import, since no one at Ford is working on this $$ problem.
7th May 2003, 09:30
I own a 2000 Volvo S40 with a little over 56,000 miles. Just recently, within the last month, my car has died while in the drive position (going about 25 mph) on three different occasions.
I took the car into the shop and they cannot find anything wrong with the car. There is no record of the car shutting off in the car's computer, so the service crew has nothing to focus on. They replaced a gasket that was dirty, but they said that might or might not have anything to do with the car shutting off.
This is a major safety factor, and I am wondering if anyone else has had this happen with their S40, or knows anyone who has had this occur. My email is benmcmann2@hotmail.com. Thanks.
8th May 2003, 15:12
On October 2001, I took delivery of a Volvo S40; year 2001; color: Atlantic Blue.
Since the purchase there had been an increasing number of noticeable flaws in either the clear coat or the car's paint.
Naturally, we tried washing and waxing the car to no avail. The "spots" actually seemed to get worse.
I took the car (still not a year old) back to the dealership to be inspected by Volvo North America's factory representative for an opinion. I was told by that representative that it was atmospheric fallout and/or mayflies laying eggs. Next, the same representative told me something must have splashed up on my car and ate through the finish (diferent explanations). The representative's response was to decline a new paint job.
With that response, I immediately wrote a letter stating the problem to the Maryland Office of the Attorney General's - Consumer Protection Division.
Naturally, by contacting the Attorney General's Office everything changed!
They (Volvo North America), reluctantly as a "goodwill customer relations gesture" authorized the car to have a quality paint job to everything except the doors. The dealership (Annapolis Volvo) even gave me a Volvo loaner for the entire week the car was being re-painted.
I highly recommend contacting your State's Attorney Generals Office of Consumer Protection for such high dollar/warranty problems. They are great to work with.
One last problem to mention. My computerized control panel went completely about two weeks after taking purchase of the car. The dealership corrected this problem in about a week without hesitation and provided a loner car.
To date I haven't had any other problems with my 2001 S40 Volvo.
Michelle Z
24th May 2003, 12:38
I own a S40 2002, in the first couple of months of ownership, the car would just stall while driving, like the transmission went into neutral. I took it in and they could not find anything wrong with it. I have not had the same problem since then, but it shifts in a jerky motion on some drives. Has anyone else experienced this? Contact me please, hlpuread@pacbell.net.
22nd Jun 2003, 21:10
Volvo 2001 V40 Station Wagon: Rear brake pads completely gone at 17000 miles. Brake inspection at 15200 miles was "normal". Pads and rotors had to be replaced at our expense, as the dealer refused to cover it under warranty. This just repeats numerous stories here concerning fast wearing out of brake pads in the S40/V40.
Elsa.
22nd Aug 2003, 15:22
Has anyone experienced a problem with sudden acceleration when not touching the accelerator? I own a 2002 S40 and it suddenly accelerated when I was pulling into a oil change shop and nearly ran the employee over! The dealer tells me there is nothing wrong. I do not feel safe driving the car should it happen again.
14th Jan 2004, 11:29
Volvo's used to be really nice and classy European cars before it was sold to Ford. Since Ford took Volvo over, the company is becoming more and more American type car company and of course the level of quality on volvos are decreasing. I would recommend all of you to buy early 90's Volvo's and enjoy the quality of Volvo. Do not ever buy anything that is affiliated with ford. This is my lesson.
9th Feb 2004, 14:25
My only advice to anyone interested in this car would be Don't BUY IT!!! I have had all the same problems, from blown out headlights to the check engine light coming on, to the brakes needing replacement very quickly to the brake light on the dashboard staying on, etc. I was told that my brakes were not disengaging properly and that may be why they were wearing down so fast. Roughly 20,000 miles and I need new calipers, rotors, and pads. This car is probably the worst car ever.
1st Apr 2003, 12:45
I purchased a 2000 S-40 in October of 1999 and have been generally pretty happy with it. It wasn't assembled in the US. I've put a lot of miles on the car--it has over 92,000 miles on it currently. I have noticed, like many others, that I've had to replace brakes several times.
I experienced the engine light problem as well--it happened three times before the dealership installed the software patch--at my expense since it was before the recall. Recently the local Volvo dealership was sold and the new owners know nothing about the car. Most of my dissatisfaction has come from repair people who don't know how to fix it. I've started taking it to my old Volvo mechanic.
My most recent problem is that I had to have the right CV axle replaced this past week--a part which cost me almost $700. Even though I didn't need the entire assembly, I was forced to purchase it--from the dealership. Volvo seems to be tightly controlling the parts distribution.
I have a 1983 DL which has over 250,000 miles on it and have never had to have anything connected with the drive train replaced. I expected the same degree of reliability with the S-40. I'm wondering if this axle issue is going to be the same as the brake one. Anything similar happening to anyone else?