7th Apr 2004, 09:56

Sounds like you've had really bad luck. Usually these cars are well built and they are excellent quality. I bought one with 93,000 miles on it. It now has over 105,000 miles and it's still as good as the brand new S40s I've driven recently. I've only had to replace oil, brake pads and 2 tires. The service I get from my local Volvo dealer is fantastic. Please read my review for more.

21st Jun 2004, 14:43

I have a 1999 S40 that at 12,000 miles required the first set of brakes and rotors, and shortly after a front strut. Now at just over 50,000 miles it require front shocks and struts, followed by a new transmission, followed by rear shocks. Mechanically by far the worst car I have ever owned.

2nd Aug 2004, 13:50

I have a 99 S40 (bought brand new) which is at 190k now. I only needed to change brakes, oil and regular stuff. I love the car. performance, reliability is superior. The best car I have ever driven is this. In the past, I had 94 BMW 3.25i which caused me lots and lots of trouble. I will buy a brand new S40 in a month!!

4th Nov 2004, 18:17

I love my 2000 volvo S40! it has a little over 50,000 miles and I have only had to replace the brake pads once. It is a great, well built reliable car.

8th Sep 2005, 11:45

I read all these issues with volvo and decided to add a comment of my own. I bought my 2002 volvo s40 with 28k miles on it. Within 7 months I have had to replace each headlight as well as each tail light. But that's not all. I just got off the phone with volvo service and it seems that I need to replace both front rotors and both rear brake pads. In addition, my turbo is shot, leaking oil, and pollution pump went haywire. Let me just let everyone know how EXCITED I am that I purchased a volvo!

28th Mar 2006, 13:50

We have a S40 and in addition to all the electrical and brake problems listed above, ours has problems with the radio. Speakers occasionally fade out, play at a low muffled volume, or quit playing altogether. Replacing the radio did not solve the problem.

The most annoying problem is the rough idling engine. It shakes the dash and cabin violently. Three dealerships and one Volvo specialty repair shop have looked at the car and declared this condition as "normal" for Volvos. Every mechanically inclined person who rides in this car immediately concludes that it has a broken motor mount. But according to Volvo, no.

This is not a fast car. Here in the USA, it qualifies as a grocery-getter only. A sports car, not even. That's just silly.

11th Apr 2006, 08:02

I would never buy another Volvo S40...our 2000 only has 34,000 miles on it and all of those were easy driving no major bumps or lumps, however besides replacing brakes and rotors and check engine problems adding up to significant expenses... we now have to replace the thermometer and sensor. Now for the vibration issue... we have to replace the engine mounts. Hope this works because the car is spending a lot of time getting the next problem fixed.

21st May 2006, 06:07

Bought my S40 new in 2000 and all I can say is what a mistake. The car is a joke, I've never had this many things go wrong with a vehicle. Radio has broken three times, driver side visor has broken, something in the steering column has broken three times, some kind of plugs in the engine (not spark plugs) have needed repair more than once, the wheel caps fall off as soon as you put them on ($50 x 4), back-passenger window won't go up, I have to replace the head lights every six months and now the car has about %75 of the pick up it used to. Three times the car has decided to die on the highway, just quit working. The dealer said it had something to do with the engine plugs problem. Funny thing is that most of this was covered by the warranty, but now that the warranty has expired I toast.

Next car will be Japanese.

24th Jul 2006, 12:50

I have to say that I wish I had never gotten the 2000 Volvo S40. As much as I love this car, since it's my first, I have had nothing, but problems, example: light bulbs, brake pads, upper engine mounts, timing belt, exhaust and regular maintenance. I am broke! And the dealer told me today that I need to get the thermostat/sensor changed because whenever I turn on my radio the temp. goes up!! And I also have to get my exhaust changed, again. This is crazy!

27th Jul 2006, 16:32

I also own a 2000 S40, which I purchased as "Certified" in 2004 with 50k miles from a local Volvo dealership.

Hoping it would be free from problems and filled with Quality, I soon realized quite the opposite. Though this car is a great ride, handles well and never fails to start, I am stunned at how many "problems" I've had since day 1.

Let's see:

· Replaced every light bulb, fronts three X. (Dealer replaced)

· Drivers side seat controls (broken) (Dealer replaced)

· Antenna up and down whenever it wants. (Dealer replaced)

· Entire front drive train replaced (yes the whole thing) (Dealer replaced)

· Started shaking violently at 60 MPH, limped back to dealer.

· Both rear coils (snapped). (Dealer replaced)

· Water reservoir cracked, lost all coolant. (Dealer replaced)

· Popped out of alignment, not once, not twice, not even three X, now going on 4X.

This car simply will not hold true. (Dealer is trying to correct, but clearly cannot).

· Front rotors in 60 days from purchase.

· Still shakes (slightly) at high speeds.

· Changed all tread, no fix.

I went back 1 year later to trade up, the same dealer offered me 5 grand!!!

He must have checked the vehicles history being that nearly all the items I listed above were covered by Warranty (lucky me).

Now, Warranty period is over and I continue to fix all the additional problems I was hoping to avoid, only this time, my nickel.

Funny thing, my mechanic (yes I have a mechanic at the dealership being that I am with them more than with my own family), he say “he feels bad for me and he is sure I got a bit taken on this ride.

Wonder if he wants to buy a slightly used S40 with tons of new parts.

Oh well, it's paid for... I guess.

22nd Jan 2007, 13:33

I have had my 2000 Volvo S40 for 4 years and it's at 90,000 miles. I, too, have had so many problems. Constant replacement of lights, fuses going out, a recall with some electric component, thermostat needed to be replaced, an oil leak, black strips on the bottom of my car falling off all the time, and now, my car is in the shop for an *unknown* cause. It keeps overheating and only overheats after driving for about 45 min. but all tests come out normal. Now my warranty is up, and many dealers have said they will only give me $3,000-$5,000. Not a bargain at all. I love my car when it drives well, but there have been too many problems. I used to own a Honda with 181,000 miles and never had this many problems.