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KLUNK
KLUNK

2001 Volvo V40

The Verdict

98 Smooth Ride

The 2001 Volvo V40 has 11 owner complaints filed with NHTSA. The most reported issues are brakes (4 complaints) and engine (3 complaints). With a Klunk Score of 98/100, it earns a "Smooth Ride" rating. If you're shopping for a Volvo V40, consider the 2004 model year which has 63% fewer complaints.

Safe Bet

The 2004 has 63% fewer complaints

View the 2004 Volvo V40 dashboard →

98

Klunk Score: Smooth Ride

This vehicle year has significantly fewer complaints than average. A reliable choice.

How is this calculated?

The Klunk Score ranks this vehicle year against all others in our database based on total owner complaints filed with NHTSA. 100 = fewest complaints (top tier), 0 = most complained-about. Scores above 60 are better than average; below 40 means more problems than most.

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Under the Hood

Each number is a complaint. Darker = bigger problem.

YearBodyBrakesElectricalEngineTransmission
200015216101
200114132
200232110
200321002
200412100

By Category

Brakes
4
Engine
3
Transmission
2
Body
1
Electrical
1

By Severity

1
4
2
6
4
1

Worst Problems

Complaints

Brakes 2

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 VOLVO V40. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING HE HAD TO APPLY EXTREME PRESSURE TO THE BRAKE PEDAL IN ORDER TO STOP THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS INSPECTED BY AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO ADVISED HIM THAT THE FAILURE WAS CAUSED BY THE POWER ASSIST VACUUM. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AND OFFERED NO ASSISTANCE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 154,000. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE.

183mo ago
Engine 2

2005 (SEP/NOV/DEC): ENGINE CHECK LIGHT ON 3 TIMES. DEALER REPAIRED ALL 3 TIMES AND FOLLOWING MONTHS, WHICH IS 2006, HAVING SUDDEN SHIFTING/ACCELARATING AT LOW SPEED. DEALER FIXED 2 TIMES AND 1 TIME COULDNOT FIND THE ISSUE. AUG. 18, 2007: CONTINUED HAVING SAME PROBLEMS PLUS CAR WAS JERKING ON FWY SPEED. TWO DAYS LATER, I COULDN'T START THE CAR. DEALER REPLACE NEG. BATTERY CABLE AND #4 IGNITION COIL. AUG.21, 2007: CALLED TO INFORM VOLVO NORTH AMERICA AND THEY SUGGESTED THAT I SHOULD TALK TO DEALER SERVICE MANAGER. AUG. 27, 2007: THE CAR IS HAVING SAME ISSUE: SUDDEN SHIFTING @ LOW SPEED & JERKING ON FWY SPEED. THIS IS VERY DANGEROUS TO DRIVE AND I DON'T KNOW WHEN THE CAR IS GOING TO STALL MIDDLE OF FWY. I TOLD THE DEALER THAT THE CAR SYMPTONS ARE VERY MUCH LIKE ETM PROBLEM (RECALL) ON OTHER MODELS. AUG. 29,2007: DEALER REPLACED ANOTHER #3 IGNITION COIL AND SPARK PLUG. I DON'T KNOW HOW MANY TIMES I WILL HAVE TO GO BACK TO THE DEALER FOR REPEAT REPAIR. THE DEALER DIDN'T BOTHER TO CHECK ETM UNIT. SO FAR, I AM LUCKY THAT I HAVEN'T GOTTEN ACCIDENT. (SAME DEALER SERVICE MY CAR SINCE 2001)

229mo ago
Engine 2

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 VOLVO V40. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 105000. THE CHECK ENGINE WARNING INDICATOR LIGHT TURNS ON. THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN TAKEN TO BOTH VOLVO REPAIR SHOPS AND LOCAL MECHANICS NUMEROUS TIMES FOR THIS FAILURE. THEY ARE ABLE TO TURN THE LIGHT OFF; HOWEVER, IT USUALLY COMES BACK ON WITHIN THREE WEEKS. THE DEALER IS UNABLE TO DIAGNOSE THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 25,000. THE ENGINE SIZE IS UNKNOWN. THE VIN WAS PROVIDED BUT APPEARS TO BE INVALID.

232mo ago
Engine 2

OVER THE WEEKEND MY CHECK ENGINE CAME ON IN MY V40 WAGON. WHEN IDLE IT ACTED AS IF IT WAS GOING TO STALL. A FEW TIMES IT DID, WHEN IDLE AT A STOP. IT DID RESTART MOST OF THE TIME RIGHT AWAY, BUT A FEW TIMES IT TOOK A COUPLE OF TRIES AND WAITING. I MADE AN APPOINTMENT TO BRING IT IN FOR SERVICE ON 6/28. ON 6/27 I WAS TAKING MY 7 MONTH OLD BABY TO DAY CARE WHEN IT STALLED IN THE MIDDLE OF DRIVING. LUCKILY THERE WAS NO ONE BEHIND ME AND I WAS ABLE TO PULL TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. THE CAR WENT COMPLETELY DEAD WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 45 MPH. I HAD A BIT OF TROUBLE RESTARTING IT - BUT IT EVENTUALLY RESTARTED. I WAS VERY NERVOUS THE REST OF THE WAY TO THE DAY CARE, BUT I MADE IT WITHOUT IT STALLING. I WAS ABLE TO LEAVE THE DAY CARE AND DECIDED TO GET TO WORK AND HAVE IT TOWED TO THE DEALERSHIP. IT STALLED AGAIN. AFTER MANY TRIES AND 30 MINUTES LATER IT STARTED AND I MADE IT TO WORK. I HAD IT TOWED TO VOLVO. THEY FOUND A POWER SUPPLY INTERRUPTION CODE -ECM30 AND REPLACED THE MASS AIRFLOW SENSOR. PICKED UP THE CAR LATER THAT DAY AND ON MY WAY HOME FROM WORK THE CHECK ENGINE CAME ON AGAIN. AS I PULLED INTO MY DRIVEWAY IT STARTED STALLING AGAIN. TOOK IT BACK TO VOLVO ON 6/28. THEY WORKED ON IT FOR 5 HOURS WHILE I WAITED. THEY REPLACED THE FRONT OXYGEN SENSOR, STILL HAD PROBLEMS, REPLACED THE REAR OXYGEN SENSOR, THE LIGHT STILL CAME BACK ON. REPLACED BOTH SENSORS AGAIN AND LOADED SOFTWARE. THAT SEEMED TO DO THE TRICK. I HAVEN'T HAD THAT SAME PROBLEM AGAIN SO FAR. BUT I AM NOTICING THAT MY V40 SOMETIMES SLOWS (RPMS REV UP TO AROUND 4,000) WHEN ACCELERATING. THIS WAS VERY DANGEROUS BECAUSE WHEN I NEEDED TO ACCELERATE INTO TRAFFIC, VEHICLE SLOWED DOWN. WHEN I READ IN THE PAPER ABOUT OTHER VOLVO MODELS HAVE SIMILAR OCCURRENCES, I WANTED TO MAKE SURE SOMEONE NEW OF THE SAME TYPE OF PROBLEM HAPPENING IN THE 2001 V40 WAGON. EVERY REPAIR WAS UNDER WARRANTY AND DID NOT COST ME ANYTHING THANK GOODNESS. MY WARRANTY IS UP THIS WEEK -SURE HOPE THIS DOESN'T HAPPEN AGAIN.*JB

254mo ago
Transmission 1

TRANSMISSION SLIPS, RPM/SPEED INCREASES AT APPROX 30 MPH INTERMITTENTLY AND AFTER A TURN FOR APPROX 1-2 SECONDS, CAUSING AN UNSAFE, AND ALARMING EXPERIENCE. *AK

280mo ago
Brakes 1

NO BRAKES UPON INITIAL START AND SHORTLY THERAFTER, VEHICLE IDLED FOR APPROXIMATELY 6 HOURS. DEALER RESET CHECK VALVE AND SAID THEY DO NOT HAVE TO REPLACE ASSEMBLY, COMPUTER SAID OKAY. *AK

280mo ago
Brakes 2

VOLVO 2001 V-40 SATION WAGON: REAR BRAKE PADS COMPLETELY GONE BY 17000 MILES, LEADING TO ROTOR DAMAGE AND UNSAFE BRAKING. INSPECTION AT 15200 MILES SHOWED NO BRAKE RELATED ABNORMALITIES. VOLVO CUSTOMER RELATIONS SAID FAST WEARING OUT OF BRAKES IS COMMON IN THIS MODEL. *NLM

280mo ago
Brakes 1

WHILE BACKING VEHICLE OUT OF GARAGE IN MORNING THE BRAKES SOMETIMES BECOME VERY DIFFICULT TO PUSH (HENCE, DIFFICULT TO STOP THE VEHICLE). PRIOR TO VERY RECENTLY, THE PROBLEM ONLY OCCURRED WHILE BACKING OUT OF OUR GARAGE DOWN THE DRIVEWAY (1-2% GRADE, ONLY). RECENTLY, THE PROBLEM IS BEGINNING TO OCCUR WHILE TRAVELING FORWARD, AGAIN IT IS ONLY WHEN THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN SITTING FOR HOURS AND JUST STARTED. I HAVE YET TO CALL VOLVO. THE PROBLEM HAS BEEN SO INTERMITTENT UP TO THIS POINT I KNOW WHAT WILL HAPPEN: WE WILL BE WITHOUT A CAR FOR A WEEK WHILE VOLVO DRIVES IT AND FINALLY REPORTS TO US THAT THERE IS NO PROBLEM. HAVE YOU FOLKS HEARD ANYTHING ON THIS PECULIAR PROBLEM???? DT

288mo ago
Body 2

WHILE DRIVING IN A SNOWSTORM WINDSHIELD WIPERS FAILED.*AK

298mo ago
Transmission 1

WHILE DRIVING 5 MPH ON A SNOWY HILL TRACTION CONTROL FAILED. VEHICLE WAS UNMOVEABLE. VEHICLE TOWED TO DEALER, SENSOR WAS REPLACED. PLEASE ADD FURTHER INFORMATION.*AK

298mo ago
Electrical 4

IN A MINIMAL ACCIDENT WITH NO PASSENGER IN THE PASSENGER SEAT AIR BAGS DEPLOYED CAUSING EXCESSIVE AND NEEDLESS DAMAGE TO THE CAR. *AK

302mo ago
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