Comments: 1-15, 16-29
Several light bulbs burned out within the first 10,000 miles. The headlight reflector broke. The front right strut and strut bumper broke. The motor mount broke. The environmental system control chip malfunctioned and needed replacement twice. The brake rotors needed to be replace within the first 26,000 miles. The oil filter housing leaked. One of the oil seals in the turbocharger leaked oil onto the exhaust manifold. The drivers side seat rocked back and forth, and we were told that it was normal for the seat to be loose. The transmission selector handle broke, and needed to be replaced.
The factory warranty expired, and we thought it would be a good time to trade the car in. We were told at the second dealership we visited that the local Volvo dealer wouldn't pay any amount of money for the car. The first dealership (Ford) told us the local Volvo dealer would only give about $5000.00 for the car. We paid about $27000 for the car 3 years ago. The dealer we purchased the car from was uncooperative, and acted indifferent about helping us, although the mechanic genuinely felt bad for us. We feel that Volvo ripped us off, knew they sold a bad car to us and others, and is indifferent about how it's customers have been cheated by purchasing one of their cars. Our only hope is that someone starts a class-action suit that we can join.
Let me know when you start the class action suit. I purchased the car new. I have 100 K miles and was told that I need a $3000 transmission job. My next car will be a Honda! Volvos are a waste of money!!!
Buy a Honda over a Volvo? Read the Honda Accord reviews... not any better.
Give me a break! Your complaining about bulbs burning out. Please. The Volvo S40 is an exceptional Value. Well built and well engineered. The safety and reliability of this vehicle is exceptional. Only maintenance issues in 4 years have been brakes and tires!
Sounds like you've had really bad luck. Usually these cars are well built and they are excellent quality. I bought one with 93,000 miles on it. It now has over 105,000 miles and it's still as good as the brand new S40s I've driven recently. I've only had to replace oil, brake pads and 2 tires. The service I get from my local Volvo dealer is fantastic. Please read my review for more.
I have a 1999 S40 that at 12,000 miles required the first set of brakes and rotors, and shortly after a front strut. Now at just over 50,000 miles it require front shocks and struts, followed by a new transmission, followed by rear shocks. Mechanically by far the worst car I have ever owned.
I have a 99 S40 (bought brand new) which is at 190k now. I only needed to change brakes, oil and regular stuff. I love the car. performance, reliability is superior. The best car I have ever driven is this. In the past, I had 94 BMW 3.25i which caused me lots and lots of trouble. I will buy a brand new S40 in a month!!
I love my 2000 volvo S40! it has a little over 50,000 miles and I have only had to replace the brake pads once. It is a great, well built reliable car.
Volvo S40 with 65,000 miles, sat outside in winter weather for three years, the paint job is coming off with a wet paper towel, is anyone else having this problem? No paint left on my red s40.
I read all these issues with volvo and decided to add a comment of my own. I bought my 2002 volvo s40 with 28k miles on it. Within 7 months I have had to replace each headlight as well as each tail light. But that's not all. I just got off the phone with volvo service and it seems that I need to replace both front rotors and both rear brake pads. In addition, my turbo is shot, leaking oil, and pollution pump went haywire. Let me just let everyone know how EXCITED I am that I purchased a volvo!
We have a S40 and in addition to all the electrical and brake problems listed above, ours has problems with the radio. Speakers occasionally fade out, play at a low muffled volume, or quit playing altogether. Replacing the radio did not solve the problem.
The most annoying problem is the rough idling engine. It shakes the dash and cabin violently. Three dealerships and one Volvo specialty repair shop have looked at the car and declared this condition as "normal" for Volvos. Every mechanically inclined person who rides in this car immediately concludes that it has a broken motor mount. But according to Volvo, no.
This is not a fast car. Here in the USA, it qualifies as a grocery-getter only. A sports car, not even. That's just silly.
I would never buy another Volvo S40...our 2000 only has 34,000 miles on it and all of those were easy driving no major bumps or lumps, however besides replacing brakes and rotors and check engine problems adding up to significant expenses... we now have to replace the thermometer and sensor. Now for the vibration issue... we have to replace the engine mounts. Hope this works because the car is spending a lot of time getting the next problem fixed.
Lights that burn out after a few thousand original miles, brakes that wear very quickly, vibration associated with cracks in the spark plug coil packs, broken top engine mount, turbo feed line broken, original cd player replaced soon after purchase, otherwise a fine car... still passes smog inspection with flying colors...
Bought my S40 new in 2000 and all I can say is what a mistake. The car is a joke, I've never had this many things go wrong with a vehicle. Radio has broken three times, driver side visor has broken, something in the steering column has broken three times, some kind of plugs in the engine (not spark plugs) have needed repair more than once, the wheel caps fall off as soon as you put them on ($50 x 4), back-passenger window won't go up, I have to replace the head lights every six months and now the car has about %75 of the pick up it used to. Three times the car has decided to die on the highway, just quit working. The dealer said it had something to do with the engine plugs problem. Funny thing is that most of this was covered by the warranty, but now that the warranty has expired I toast.
Next car will be Japanese.
I purchased my 2000 Volvo S40 used with about 30k miles, from my boss. I have had too many problems to count, but here are a few. I replace a left or right headlight at least once every four months, even though I had my headlights were re-wired by Volvo, Replaced all four shocks with koni adjust-ables, and I still hear a little squeaking noise from the rear shocks when I drive, a water pump, It was really scary with this water pump problem due to the fact that the car would rev to 4000 RPM and I would have to hold the brake down as hard as I could to keep from driving into cars in front of me in traffic, all four rotors needed replacing LOL, taillight bulbs every couple of months, and when I'm on the free way it feels like the wheels are gonna fall off the car. I like this car really, but just the problems I am having with it, I baby it and it still gives me problems. I guess ford owned companies..
I have to say that I wish I had never gotten the 2000 Volvo S40. As much as I love this car, since it's my first, I have had nothing, but problems, example: light bulbs, brake pads, upper engine mounts, timing belt, exhaust and regular maintenance. I am broke! And the dealer told me today that I need to get the thermostat/sensor changed because whenever I turn on my radio the temp. goes up!! And I also have to get my exhaust changed, again. This is crazy!