1999 Volvo V40 from North America
Faults:
Anyone have a miss issue that cannot be diagnosed or fixed?
General Comments:
Funny, I found this board again after seven years and was reading away on someone's entry. Wow, that sounds just like my car!!! Lo and behold, it was my entry from 2001.
I still own my 2000 Volvo V40. It's been paid for, for many years.
Volvo had a recall and installed some type of pump, which resulted in brakes not having to be replaced every 15,000 miles or so. Last time my mechanic changed the brakes, he stated the rotors really required replacing too, but we eeked out another set of pads without replacing them.
My struts have been fully replaced.
About 3 years ago, the check engine light came on. Took it to a Volvo dealership and they said it was the valves and wanted to do complete engine/valve job $2,000+. Husband drove it out of there for a 2nd opinion. Needless to say, it's 3 years later and we never have replaced the valves.
Last year something broke on the exhaust/converter that was a Volvo only part, no longer under warranty. My mechanic would have been able to get a part from somewhere in CA for $637.36. Merlin wanted about $1,000 to replace it. Another mechanic shop just did a weld and, knock on wood, so far it's held up.
Both of my rear springs are broken. I haven't fixed them, mechanic said not necessary.
But, the thing that is really bothersome. All of a sudden my car got extremely loud and began running rough. Mechanic was able to fix it, the noise component of things, but for over a year now, I have dealt with the miss on start-up, some days worse than others. The car never shuts off, just misses a bit on idle, never on acceleration or during driving. This morning, the check engine went back on, but car appears to be running okay. Will take back to mechanic and I'm certain he'll tell me I need to have a brake job and those back springs are still broken and need replacing. All in all, paying $1,200 a year for maintenance is better than a new car payment.
Would I buy a Volvo ever again, no way!!!
Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? No
Review Date: 3rd January, 2008
15th Aug 2009, 15:39
My wife has a 2000 V40. We've had it for 4 or 5 years now and it has roughly 95K.
It's been a turd right from the beginning. Incredibly loud car. Road noise like you can't believe.
Motor mounts failed, which of course made even more noise. Replaced them only to have them fail again.
Front sway bar bushing failed. Entire engine cradle has to be dropped to replace a simple bushing.
Started running rough shortly after she got it. Dealer installed new fuel pump.. worked for a brief time. Back to serious miss on acceleration. The wife drives it gingerly and she doesn't notice the miss too much.
A/C system has developed a leak.
Turbo started spewing oil out of a return line.
Brakes, just like an S70 that I used to own, must be replaced far too often. Was told by dealer on my S70 that the factory pads are quite hard and cause excessive rotor wear.
About the only good thing I can say about it, is with all of its problems, it's paid for and it continues to run, and we'll drive it right into the ground and then purchase anything other than a Volvo.
4th Jan 2008, 11:55
By the sounds of it, all these bodge jobs are taking their toll on the car. The car has obviously has had a hard life. I am now on my second V40 and continue to be impressed with how well built and engineered it is! My last one - 1998 had well over 100,000 miles and never gave grief. My current 2001 has almost 90,000 miles and is running great! Go Volvo - I will not drive anything else.