Faults:

Timing belt and front brakes needed replacing after only 69,00 kilometres. The build quality is generally poor - lots of rattles, rough-idling engine. Just recently, the engine has been overheating despite an assurance from a mechanic that there was nothing wrong. The overheating occurs within a 4 kilometre drive. The ergonomics are poor and the ride is harsh.

General Comments:

This car is a waste of money. It offers nothing to compensate for the poor quality and I cannot see any reason to buy a Volvo 440 when Japanese equivalents offer vastly improved reliability. My 1990 Toyota 4-Runner (3.0 petrol) had 350,000 kilometres on it, was driven off-road and through Canadian winters yet it was still in very good mechanical shape (no major parts replacements) despite being 5 years older and having about 6 times the mileage as the Volvo.

Faults:

Nothing mechanical has failed on the car, but it runs with a slight misfire (probably HT leads, ignition coil, plugs...)

The only problems have been a temperamental immobiliser, and key-code radio.

General Comments:

Very disappointed with this car.

I had previously owned an older 440 with the 1.7 litre engine. This newer car with the larger engine is far slower, and not as smooth.

Having said that it is reliable and fairly comfortable, though loud.

Also looks OK in the dark metallic blue and alloys.

An older 1.7 version would probably be a better buy, it's quicker, doesn't have the horrifically light power steering, and tolerated being bounced of the rev-limiter for a year when it already had 120,000 miles on the clock, without ever failing.

Faults:

Central locking on all five motors were burnt out apparently for no reason - expensive fix!

Exhaust - difficult for high street fitters to locate the correct parts - job best done by a Volvo garage.

Water pump just replaced.

Rev counter fails to work during winter time - needs replacing.

Loads of bulb failures - not unusual as most of them remain on during daylight.

Sunroof rattle and very noisy when open for ventilation only (not fully open), according to the Volvo dealer, a design fault!

General Comments:

Sports pack - hence the ride is very choppy, otherwise excellent motorway performance/ride for an automatic.

Extras very handy and reasonable economy in urban driving, again the automatic gear change is excellent.

I don't know what the replacement is like (S40), but if Volvo has ironed out the electrical problems then they have a winner - the engine is excellent.

Faults:

* Automatic transmission seized up and had to be fully reconditioned.

* Front brake rotors seized twice.

* Rear CV joints replaced 3 times.

* Dashboard lights not working and faulty.

* Loose gasket (replaced within warranty).

* Rust in the front door (found within 3 months of buying the car).

General Comments:

The car has been an example of being a lemon. I must have spent more than 8000AUD in replacing "non regular servicing" parts and labour. At this rate I could have used the extra money to buy a BMW 318i (as a competing car in the Australian market). One of the main faults being the automatic transmission.

That said the car has good interior packaging and can fit a mountain bike and carry three people at the same time which is handy and practical. It is also relatively a good motorway cruiser and city parker.

Performance in hilly country with a full load is acceptable, but the fuel efficiency real life city with peak hour traffic is about 13.0L/100km which is not the best, but not bad either.

Steering is not light like a Japanese car, but can be a bit wooly and jittery at the centre.