2000 Volvo V40

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 VOLVO V40. THE CONTACT SHIFTED INTO REVERSE WITH THE BRAKE PEDAL ENGAGED WHEN THE VEHICLE UNINTENTIONALLY ACCELERATED AND DROVE OVER A PLASTIC TRASH RECEPTACLE, CERAMIC POT AND THEN CRASHED INTO THE SIDE OF A NEARBY HOUSE. THERE WAS NO PERSONAL INJURY AND THE EXTERIOR SIDE OF THE HOUSE SUSTAINED MINOR DAMAGE. A POLICE REPORT WAS NOT FILED. THE REAR BUMPER COMPLETELY DETACHED AND THE VEHICLE WAS IN THE PROCESS OF BEING TOWED TO A COLLISION CENTER. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNAVAILABLE. UPDATED 10/04/11*LJ UPDATED 3/22/12 *CN

2000 VOLVO V40 - VERY WELL MAINTAINED, 2ND OWNER, APPROXIMATELY 83,000 MILES. I STARTED NOTICING THAT THE CAR WOULD SURGE ON THE HIGHWAY WITH THE A/C ON AND WHEN I HAD STEADY PRESSURE ON THE ACCELERATOR (I.E. ICRUISING AT A STEADY SPEED). THE SURGE IN RPM'S WOULD BE RHYTHMIC, VERY SUBTLE (100-200 RPMS) AND CONTINUE INDEFINITELY UNTIL I TURN THE A/C OFF - AT WHICH TIME THEY WOULD CEASE. THEY WOULD SOMETIMES RESUME WHEN I TURNED THE A/C COMPRESSOR BACK ON. THIS HAPPENED INFREQUENTLY OVER THE PAST MONTH (IT'S JUNE IN CT, MY STATE OF RESIDENCE) AND WOULD NOT HAPPEN EVERY TIME I RAN THE A/C - BUT ONLY OCCURRED WHEN THE A/C COMPRESSOR WAS RUNNING. THEN A REMARKABLE THING HAPPENED TODAY - WHILE CRUISING ON THE HIGHWAY AND WITH THE A/C COMPRESSOR ON - THE CARE SUDDENLY AND VIOLENTLY SURGED IN A WAY THAT IT HAD NEVER DONE PREVIOUSLY. THE INCREASE IN RPM'S WAS SIGNIFICANT ENOUGH TO CAUSE THE AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION TO DOWNSHIFT INTO THE NEXT LOWEST GEAR. FORTUNATELY, I HAD ENOUGH SPACE BETWEEN MY CAR AND THE CAR IN FRONT OF ME TO ALLOW ME TIME TO RESPOND WITHOUT HAVING AND ACCIDENT. I IMMEDIATELY PUT THE CAR IN NEUTRAL AND THE RPM'S STARTED SPIKING TO ALMOST 4,000 THEN QUICKLY BACK DOWN TO 1,000. THE RPM'S CONTINUED TO THIS RAPID BACK AND FORTH SPIKING AND DIPPING FOR ALMOST 30 SECONDS. I TURNED OFF THE A/C/ BUT THAT DIDN'T HAVE AN IMMEDIATE AFFECT (AS WAS THE CASE IN THE PREVIOUSLY MENTIONED EPISODES WHEN THE SPIKES AND DIPS WERE MUCH MORE SUBTLE). WHEN TURNING OFF THE A/C DIDN'T DO THE TRICK ((AS IT HAD IN THE PAST) I THEN IMMEDIATELY CHECKED THE CRUISE CONTROL - IT WAS OFF. I THEN STABBED AT THE ACCELERATOR WITH MY FOOT SEVERAL TIMES BEFORE IT FINALLY SETTLED DOWN. AND I HAVE THE FACTORY VOLVO RUBBER MATS THAT ARE SECURED TO THE FLOOR BY A POSITIONING PIN (I'M METICULOUS ABOUT MY CAR THE MAT WAS NO WHERE NEAR THE ACCELERATOR). I AM NATURALLY VERY WARY OF THIS CAR NOW, ESPECIALLY AFTER READING THE MANY COMPLAINTS ABOUT UNINTENDED ACCELERATION FOR THIS MODEL. WHY NO RECALL? *TR

BRAKES FAILED COMING INTO MY DRIVEWAY. ABLE TO STOP CAR BY USING EMERGENCY BRAKE. COULD HAVE CAUSED A CRASH. BROUGHT TO BE SERVICED. MECHANIC REPORTED THAT IT WAS FAILED LEFT FRONT BRAKE HOSE DUE TO SPRING SUPPORT RUBBING THROUGH. THIS HOSE HAS BEEN REPLACED AND THE OLD PART IS AVAILABLE. MECHANIC ALSO REPORTED THAT RIGHT FRONT BRAKE HOSE NEEDS TO BE REPLACED BECAUSE OF SAME REASON. AN APPOINTMENT FOR THIS HAS BEEN SCHEDULED AND PART WILL BE AVAILABLE. HE FEELS THIS WILL BE A DESIGN ISSUE. *TR

VEHICLE IDLE INCREASE ON BRAKING TO ABOUT 1500 RPMS. WHEN PUT IN PARK, IDLE INCREASED TO 4500 RPMS. I TRIED TAPING THE GAS TO SEE IF RPMS WOULD GO DOWN. INSTEAD RPMS INCREASED EVEN HIGHER TO OVER 5500 RPMS. TURNED THE CAR OFF. TRIED TO RESTART CAR AND RPMS IMMEDIATELY WENT HIGH AGAIN. TURNED THE CAR OFF A SECOND TIME. COULD NOT RESTART THE CAR. A SIMILAR INCIDENT HAPPENED 36 HOURS LATER AFTER THE CAR HAD BEEN AT THE REPAIR SHIP. THAT INCIDENT HAPPENED AFTER DRIVING AROUND A PARKING LOT LOOKING FOR A SPACE. RPM'S INCREASED. WHEN PUT IN PARK THE RPM'S INCREASED TO OVER 4000 RPMS. CAR TOWED TO REPAIR SHOP. *TR

FAILURE OF UPPER STRUT MOUNT BUSHINGS CAUSING LOSS OF SUSPENSION / STEERING. REPLACED FOR THE THIRD TIME ON 2000 V-40 VOLVO. RECENTLY VOLVO OFFERED A NEWLY DESIGNED HEAVY DUTY MOUNT AT THREE TIME THE REPLACEMENT COST DEMONSTRATING THAT ORIGINAL EQUIPMENT MOUNT WAS SEVERELY UNDER DESIGNED. *TR

EVER SINCE I BOUGHT THE 2000 VOLVO V40 STATIONWAGON FROM A PRIVATE DEALERSHIP I'VE HAD NOTHING BUT PROBLEMS TRYING TO START THE CAR. WHEN TRYING TO CRANK UP VEHICLE IT TAKES A COUPLE OF SECONDS BEFORE THE CAR ACTUALLY STARTS AND IT SMELLS LIKE GAS AFTERWARDS. I'VE TAKEN IT TO THE MECHANICS AND THEY HAVE GIVEN IT A FULL TUNE UP AND REPLACED THE INJECTORS BUT STILL I HAVE THE SAME PROBLEM. *TR

ON JULY 19,2008, OUR 2000 VOLVO V40 LOST POWER WHILE DRIVING 65 MPH ON US 29 IN VIRGINIA. THE CAR WAS STILL RUNNING, BUT IT DID NOT RESPOND TO THE ACCELERATOR. WE WERE ABLE TO SAFELY PULL OFF THE ROAD, AND HAVE CAR TOWED TO OUR MECHANIC. WE WERE TOLD THE PROBLEM WAS A SENSOR FAILURE. ACCORDING TO OUR SERVICE RECORDS, THE BOOST PRESSURE SENSOR AND CAMSHAFT RESET VALVE WAS REPLACED. THREE DAYS LATER, ON JULY 26, 2008, THE SAME THING HAPPENED - THIS TIME IN THE MIDDLE OF A BUSY INTERSECTION. AGAIN, FORTUNATELY, THE CAR REMAINED RUNNING AND SEEMED TO LIMP ALONG TO GET OUT OF THE WAY OF TRAFFIC. AGAIN, THE CAR WAS TOWED TO OUR MECHANIC, WHERE THEY HAVE BEEN UNABLE TO DIAGNOSE THE PROBLEM. A LITTLE INTERNET SEARCH ON OUR PART UNCOVERED A SERIES OF SIMILAR COMPLAINTS REGARDING WHAT APPEARS TO BE THE PROBLEM - AN ETM FAILURE. WE ARE IN THE PROCESS OF WORKING WITH OUR MECHANIC TO GET THIS FIXED. *TR

WE PURCHASED OUR 2000 V40 FROM THE ORIGINAL OWNER AT 81K. WE NEEDED BOTH REAR SPRINGS REPLACED RIGHT AWAY. THIS WAS THE SECOND TIME THEY WERE REPLACED. DEALER SAID A COMMON FLAW WITH THE V40. WE ARE ALSO NOTICING A SHAKING IN THE FRONT END WHEN ACCELERATING BETWEEN 50-60MPH. NOT SURE WHAT THIS IS. ALSO NOTICING THAT THERE IS A SHAKE IN THE BRAKE PEDAL AND TOLD NEED NEW BRAKE PADS AND ROTORS. THEY WERE JUST REPLACED BEFORE WE GOT THE CAR AT 75K AND NOW CAR HAS 100K WHICH IS A ALL HIGHWAY MILES. WE HAVE ALSO NOTICED DIFFICULTY WITH THE BRAKING SYSTEM, SOMETIMES TROUBLE STOPPING AND BRAKES SQUEAL AFTER SITTING FOR A COUPLE OF DAYS. HEAD LIGHTS AND TAIL LIGHTS ALSO HAVE BURNT OUT QUITE FREQUENTLY. THERE ALSO SEEMS TO BE SOME MAJOR DEFECT WITH THE EXTERIOR PAINT. RUSTING IN MANY PLACES AND PAINT SEEMS TO BE RUBBING OFF AT THE TOUCH. LUCKILY NONE OF THESE HAVE CAUSED ANY ACCIDENTS OR CLOSE CALLS, HOWEVER NOT VERY SATISFIED WITH THIS VOLVO. *TR

2000 VOLVO V-40 REAR COIL SPRING FAILURE. CUSTOMER STATED THAT REAR COIL SPRINGS HAVE FRACTURED TWICE. MANUFACTURER WOULD NOT ANSWER WHEN WRITTEN TO. *KB

THE VEHICLE BOTH ACCELERATED AND DECELERATED WITHOUT INPUT, PLACING ME IN A VERY UNSAFE SITUATION. WHEN I STOPPED THE CAR THE ENGINE, WHICH HAD OVERHEATED, THE RADIATOR HOSE BLEW OUT. THE RADIATOR HOSE WAS REPLACED. I AM CURRENTLY DISCUSSING CORRECTION TO THE ELECTRONIC THROTTLE MODULE WHICH APPEARED TO BE A PROBLEM WITH THIS MAKE AND MODEL. *AK

UPON RETURNING TO THE DEALERSHIP FOR THE THIRD TIME FOR A COMPLAINT ABOUT A SUSPICIOUS SOUNDING THUMP OR CLUNK IN THE PASSENGER-SIDE REAR OF OUR 2000 VOLVO V40, IT WAS DISCOVERED THAT BOTH COIL SPRINGS HAD BROKEN. THE VEHICLE AT THE TIME OF REPAIR HAS 50,080 MILES ON IT; WHEN THE NOISE WAS FIRST REPORTED TO THE DEALER ON 12/09/04 THE CAR HAD 37,448 MILES. BOTH SPRINGS BROKE IDENTICALLY AT THE FIRST COIL WHERE THEY SIT IN THE BASE PLATE OF THE STRUT ASSEMBLY. BOTH FRACTURES ARE A SPIRAL CUT THROUGH THE COILS WIRE, LIKE A FATIGUE OR STRESS FRACTURE. THE DEALER REPLACED THE COILS AT MY EXPENSE WHICH INCLUDED THE EXTRA COST OF REPLACING BOTH CONTROL ARMS AND STRUT ASSEMBLIES BECAUSE OF THE DIFFICULTIES THEY HAD REMOVING THE BOLTS DUE TO CORROSION ($1103). AFTER MY COMPLAINT, THEY OFFERED TO COVER THE COST OF THE SPRINGS ONLY ($200) WHICH ALLOWED THEM TO KEEP THE SPRINGS. I PERSUADED THE SERVICE ADVISOR TO ALLOW ME TO HAVE ONE PIECE OF THE SPRING FOR EVIDENCE. I HAVE RESEARCHED AND FOUND OTHER OWNERS WHO HAVE HAD THIS EXACT FAILURE IN THEIR VEHICLES SUSPENSION. I BELIEVE VOLVO HAS AN ENGINEERING FLAW IN THE TEMPERED STEEL COIL SPRINGS. *JB

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING AT 55 MPH THE BRAKES FAILED RESULTING IN A CRASH. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED AT THE SCENE AND THE DRIVER AND PASSENGER SUSTAINED MINOR INJURIES. THE DEALERSHIP DETERMINED ON CERTAIN VEHICLES WATER CAN ENTER THE ELECTRICAL BRAKE VACUUM PUMP, CAUSING THE PUMP TO FAIL. THERE IS A NHTSA RECALL, # 03V474000, REGARDING THE SERVICE BRAKES HYDRAULIC POWER ASSIST VACUUM. THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL.

2000 VOLVO V40 FRONT WHEELS BECOME LOOSE. (1) CAR WAS TAKEN TO DEALERSHIP FOR RECALL ON BRAKING SYSTEM. (2) DEPARTING DEALERSHIP, RUMBLE FROM FRONT WAS NOTED. TWO MILES FROM DEALERSHIP, EXTREME VIBRATION CAUSED ME TO STOP. THE PASSENGER FRONT WHEEL HAD NEARLY COME OFF. (3) CAR WAS RETURNED TO DEALERSHIP. I WAS INFORMED THE LUGS: NUTS MUST HAVE BECOME LOOSE. I POINTED OUT THAT TECHNICIAN HAD TAKEN THE WHEEL OFF AND MUST HAVE FORGOTTEN TO TIGHTEN IT. SERVICE MANAGER SAID THIS WAS NOT POSSIBLE. A WEEK AFTER MY COMPLAINT THE DEALER AGREE TO INSPECT THE CAR FOR PROBLEMS. SERVICE MANAGER SAID NO PROBLEMS WERE FOUND. AFTER LEAVING THE DEALERSHIP THE WHEEL BECAME LOOSE AGAIN AFTER 75 MILES OF TRAVEL. I RETIGHENED THE FRONT PASSENGER WHEEL. ALSO, LOOSE WERE THE FRONT DRIVER WHEEL AND THE REAR PASSENGER WHEEL. IS THERE A PROBLEM WITH THE LUGS: NUTS ON THE V40 SERIES? THERE ARE ONLY 4 PER WHEEL. I REGULARLY MUST CHECK ALL LUGS: NUTS. IS THE DEALERSHIP USING INCORRECT METHODS/TOOLS TO ENSURE PROPER TORQUE ON WHEELS? THEY DENY ANY WRONG DOING. *AK

MOTOR MOUNTS BROKE WHILE BEING SERVICED BY THE DEALER. CONSUMER FELT THE PART WAS DEFECTIVE UPON DELIVERY. *AK THE LEFT AND RIGHT ENGINE MOTOR MOUNTS COLLAPSED. THE RIGHT AND LEFT SIDE UPPER ENGINE MOUNT WAS REPLACED. *SC *JB

THE REAR SUSPENSION WAS ROUGH FOR ABOUT A YEAR. FOUND BOTH REAR COIL SPRINGS CRACKED AT 65,000 MILES, AND REPLACED. *AK

RECALL NOTICE REGARDING 2000 VOLVO V-40 BRAKE SYSTEM.*MR

MOISTURE IN THE VACUUM SYSTEM CAUSED THE VACUUM PUMP TO FAIL. WHEN IT WAS COLD THE VEHICLE'S BRAKES DIDN'T FUNCTION AT ALL. THE REAR BRAKES FAILED DUE TO A DEFECT IN THE BRAKE SYSTEM. THE MANUFACTURER REFUSED TO PAY TO REPLACE THE SYSTEM *AK *NM

REAR SPRINGS CRACKED ON 2000 VOLVO V40 WITH ONLY 63805 MILES. *AK

BRAKE SYSTEM IN CAR WORKS POORLY WHEN CAR IS COLD OR LEFT FOR A FEW HOURS. SIGNIFICANTLY MORE BRAKE PRESSURE IS REQUIRED TO STOP THE CAR WHEN CAR IS COLD. PROBLEM HAS BEEN "FIXED" THREE TIMES BUT HAS RETURNED AGAIN. EVIDENTLY THIS IS RELATED TO FAILURE OF A VACUUM PUMP USED TO PROVIDE ADDITIONAL BRAKE VACUUM FOR THE MASTER CYLINDER WHEN THE ENGINE IS COLD.*AK

THE WHEEL BEARING SNAPPED CAUSING THE TIRE TO WOBBLE. DEALER NOTIFIED. *NLM