1999 Volvo V40 from North America - Comments

Oil gasket leaking at 50,000.

Thermostat for climate control not working at 54,000.

Engine coolant sensor not working at 54,000.

Front brakes replaced every 20,000 miles. I'm on my second replacement set.

Front rotors gone at 54,000.

Rear brakes replaced last November and already 1/2 finished.

I am frustrated with this model of Volvo. I traded a Villager with 80,000 for a smaller, runaround town car and find the performance of the Volvo unsatisfactory. While most of the repairs were covered under either the new car warranty or the used car warranty, I have already spent over $1500.00 in repairs. I hate to think about what the future will bring.

Specifically, I find the replacement of brakes so often unacceptable. Of course, they look to the driving habit and the driver. These have not changed and on no car I've owed have I gone through brakes like this particular car does. In the 6 years I owned my Villager I replaced brakes twice.

Now the rotors! I've never replaced rotors on any vehicle. I also own a Ford Explorer with 84,000 miles and the rotors have never needed replacements.

I've tried to talk with the dealership about my concerns. They really don't want to hear it. I have, however, been told told by the service rep that I should have purchased the S60 or S80 because the brake system is different. Not sure how much to believe this, but I can infer lots of negative things from his comment.

Never again!

I have owned two V40s, both from new. Both were the most reliable cars I've ever owned. The first was ordered as 'silver', but on delivery was a disappointing muddy silver. It had leather seats which I slid about on, but which were otherwise very comfortable and supporting. After a couple of years I changed it to a bright red V40 with a smaller engine that often isn't quite powerful enough, but what do you expect from a mere 1600ccs? I have now owned this car longer than any previously and in four years it had developed only one fault, that eventually cured itself. It has been incredibly reliable and now fits like a well worn pair of shoes, but it is evident that we drive lower mileages in UK than in North America- hardly surprising in view of the differing areas! Front tyres( English spelling) do about 24000 miles. I've always liked the look of this car and the only grumble is something I knew about before I bought it- the high sill to the boot. Otherwise I love it.