KnownCarProblems2001 Volvo S40 Problems and Recalls
Owners filed 84 complaints with NHTSA about the 2001 Volvo S40, most often about the brakes (31% of complaints, typically around 58,500 miles). It is the 2nd most complained-about S40 model year since 2000 and has 2 recalls.
Most common 2001 Volvo S40 problems
Brakes
26 complaints · 31%Half of these problems showed up before 58,500 miles. Parts named most often: foundation components, antilock/traction control/electronic limited slip, power assist, pedals and linkages.
Brakes do not stop the car for the first few applications. Pedal does not fade. Excessive pedal pressure required. Some other years of this model are being recalled for the same complaint. No crash, injuries or accident as a result of failure.
Tl contact owns a 2001 Volvo S40. Each morning, the brakes would fail. The contact had to leave the vehicle running for approximately five minutes before the brakes became operational. He took the vehicle to the dealer and they stated that the pump needed to be replaced and the VIN was not included in NHTSA campaign…
Engine
17 complaints · 20%Half of these problems showed up before 67,000 miles. Parts named most often: exhaust system, engine.
Consistent engine problems with 2001 Volvo S40 resulting in engine delays, idling, pausing, over heating and burning while on the freeway and at both accelerated (65 MPH) and residential (35 MPH) speeds.
: the contact stated the windshield wiper linkages are out of sync and lock together which causes a loss of visibility. This problem occurred on both the driver and passenger side windshield wiper linkage arms. After the first incident the contact called the manufacturer's customer service department. They instructed…
Electrical
10 complaints · 12%Half of these problems showed up before 44,500 miles. Parts named most often: 12v/24v/48v battery, ignition, wiring.
When accelerating vehicle would down shift gears. The dealership will be notified. The dealer have not been able to duplicate the problem. The transmission jerking occurred, the engine light would come on. There would be a burning oil smell, the gear shifter would not release and would stick intermittently, the…
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…
Speed control
9 complaints · 11%Half of these problems showed up before 90,000 miles.
I'd like to report unintended acceleration in my Volvo S40. It started last summer and occurred sporadically until winter and has not occurred since then. No repairs were made during this time and I have not taken it to the dealer. Several times last summer I experienced sudden acceleration that required extra hard…
: the contact stated the vehicle lost power while driving 50 MPH and entered the limp home mode. The vehicle was taken to a private repair shop, who was unable to determine the problem. The manufacturer was also notified. There was a NHTSA recall #06v441000, which pertains to the vehicle speed control. The vehicle was…
Air bags
7 complaints · 8%Parts named most often: frontal, side/window.
Dt: consumer was driving on the highway at 75-80 MPH and rear ended the vehicle in front. When this happened the driver side air bag did not deploy.
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…
Fuel system
6 complaints · 7%Parts named most often: fuel injection system.
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…
I've contacted Volvo and demanded my money back and they refused, this is my next step before taking them to court for a measily 2,500. This car has caused me a headache unlike any other, the electrical system fails in this car and passes through it malfunctioning one thing after the next, my back window went up and…
Visibility and wipers
6 complaints · 7%Parts named most often: sun/moon roof assembly, windshield, windshield wiper/washer.
When accelerating vehicle would down shift gears. The dealership will be notified. The dealer have not been able to duplicate the problem. The transmission jerking occurred, the engine light would come on. There would be a burning oil smell, the gear shifter would not release and would stick intermittently, the…
: the contact stated the windshield wiper linkages are out of sync and lock together which causes a loss of visibility. This problem occurred on both the driver and passenger side windshield wiper linkage arms. After the first incident the contact called the manufacturer's customer service department. They instructed…
Body and structure
5 complaints · 6%Parts named most often: body, frame and members.
Something, possibly a rail, flew off of my Volvo S40 (2001) on the highway. Subsequently, the sunroof was unable to close because of getting hung up on the sunshade. When I brought it into the shop, I learned that the rails which had held the sunroof in place had become detached from the glass because the glue applied…
Me an my husband was driving the car an it started to run hot so we went an got the part to go on the car an when when we got back to my father in law house the car cut off an started to smoke real bad then went into flames an when we first got the car we got everything fix on it an then when you plug the montior to…
Complaints are owner reports to NHTSA, not verified defects. One complaint can name several components, so shares add up to more than 100%.
2001 Volvo S40 recalls
Equipment: labels
Risk: This does not meet the requirements of the standard.
Fix: 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.
Full defect summary
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.
Equipment: air conditioner
Risk: If the diode fails, the heater fan stops operating and the defroster function is affected.
Fix: Dealers will install an adapter with a diode fitted to the heater fan motor. Owner notification began june 11, 2001. Owners who take their vehicles to an authorized dealer on an agreed upon service date and do not receive the free remedy within a reasonable time should contact volvo at 1-800-458-1552.
Full defect summary
Vehicle description: sedan and wagon passenger vehicles. A diode in the electronic climate control system may have a reduced service life.
Recall repairs are free at any franchised dealer. Enter your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see which recalls are still open on your car.
NHTSA defect investigations
Volvo s40/v40 my 2000-2001
Summary
In a november 6, 2003 safety defect report, volvo indicated that they will conduct a safety-related defect recall of the 2000 model year (my) subject vehicles (about 36,000 vehicles).volvo will also conduct a service campaign of about 31,000 2001 my subject vehicles.odi investigated both the 2000 and 2001 my vehicles and determined that the 2001 my vehicles experienced substantially lower rates of failures based on the number of owner reports and warranty claims submitted to odi.odi believes that the proposed action is sufficient to resolve this investigation's safety issues. For the crashes, in addition to the 22 submitted by volvo, odi found 10 additional crash allegations in the owner rep
Questions about the 2001 Volvo S40
- What are the most common problems with the 2001 Volvo S40?
- By NHTSA owner complaints: brakes (26 complaints, typically around 58,500 miles); engine (17 complaints, typically around 67,000 miles); electrical (10 complaints, typically around 44,500 miles).
- How many recalls does the 2001 Volvo S40 have?
- 2 recalls listed by NHTSA, the latest from August 1, 2003 (equipment). Check your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see which ones are still open on your car.
- Is the 2001 a bad year for the Volvo S40?
- It is the 2nd most complained-about S40 model year since 2000, with 84 complaints. Complaint counts are not adjusted for how many cars were sold, so popular years collect more of them, and the newest years have had less time to.