2002 Volvo S40 from North America - Comments

After two weeks of owning this S40 Volvo, my transmission failed. I called the dealer and a tow truck was sent for my car. A replacement wagon was sent for me to drive. The service department quickly fixed the fuse for the transmission at no cost. They even washed my car for me to pick it up. About six months after owning the car, my child spilled a drink on the cloth seat. I remembered that the salesman had comforted this fear by saying that a cleaner would remove a stain from these seats with no problems. I insisted on leather, but I changed my mind due to his persistence that these seats were easy to clean. I tried to clean the seats as directed, but I soon found out that cleaners left a water ring on the seats. I paid someone fifty dollars to clean the seats. They looked brand new until the seats dried. It left water and dirt spots all over the seats. This car now looked like it was 10 years old! I still haven't gotten the seats straighted out. Recently, the trunk latch jammed and I could not get into my trunk. This has happened twice. I even had to crawl through the trunk to get my teaching supplies. My fourth problem came tonight as I tried to refuel. The fuel door won't unlatch. I called the service on-call number, but they said that they could only tow it to a dealership.

For a new car, I have been stranded twice since May. We originally bought this car because of its safety features, but I will never buy another Volvo. I have tried to trade this car with the dealership that sold it to me. I paid $25,000 for this car and the trade-in value was only $17,000. How can a car lose value that fast from April to November? This was my first big clue that I had given away a lot of hard earned money to a dealer that didn't care that I was having problems with the car they had sold me. I even tried trading for another Volvo, but I quickly got the message that a trade was not what they had in mind. They made the trade in value so low that I left the lot. The great customer service in the beginning seemed too good to be true; I found out the hard way.

I understand your problem with the transmission, but you can't fault Volvo or the dealership about your car seats.

I am looking to purchase an S40 and I heard a lot of great things about this car. We've driven a Volvo (91 740se Turbo) for years and had no complaints and it's still going today with 104000 miles on it and counting.

I've owned my 2002 Volvo S40 for 17 months. I should have know that I was in trouble when it had to be towed back to the dealership before the license plates arrived!

The first towing was a result of a loose connection. I forget which one was loose, but they took care of it.

The next mishap was the electrical on the driver's side seat adjustment froze. They took care of it too.

Not too long after that a rock hit the headlight and I had to buy another headlight and pay for installation.

That all happened within the first 3 months of ownership.

We seemed to have a good spell until recently when the A/C went out (it's 100 degrees plus right now in So. Calif). I took it into the dealership and it was a couple of rocks in the A/C condenser! I don't know if any of you S40 owners have noticed, but that gaping opening in the front bumper doesn't have any road debris deflectors. Not a grid or anything. Hence rocks flew right into the condenser and cost me an additional $750 for parts and labor.

Here's the kicker! I picked up my Volvo today with the fixed A/C. Drove it out of the repair shop lot and immediately noticed (it would be hard not to) that the transmission was haywire. It would get up to 2 RPM's and it would revvv like a son-of-a-gun. Hello tow truck, again back to Volvo. Well, as it turns out my 2002 Volvo S40 needs a new transmission. I'll be lucky to get it back this week.

I can honestly say that I heard Volvo's were a good, safe, reliable car. I am in sales and I need a car that is a lot more reliable than the S40!

As far as depreciation, if I were to try and get rid of my Volvo today I would have to eat approx. $10k at the financing table. This has been a very expensive experience.

My next vehicle will be from the far more reliable Nissan/Lexus family of cars.

I bought my 2002 Volvo S40 in July of 2003-- it was used with about 12,00 miles on it. Now I know why the previous owner got rid of it after only one year.

The engine failed about 11 days after I purchased the vehicle. The dealership refused to let me return the car, which I realized was a lemon. Instead, they fixed the vehicle, and it ran reasonably well for the next three years that I owned it.

It's just a very annoying car. The check engine light would shine, even after I had taken the car to get serviced.

Engine and wind noise are pretty loud. Good pick-up from the turbo engine, but there is a jarring transition when the turbo kicks in.

It does get good mileage, though the tank only holds about ten gallons of gas.

Also, note that the back seat was built not for adults, but for munchkins and hobbits. A truly minuscule amount of rear leg room.

I think in the history of the automobile this car joins the Ford Pinto and the Renault Le Car in the museum of moving crap, only this car resides in the luxury wing due to the expense of owning and operating the S40.

One note: though the 2002 S40 sucks,the seats are unbelievably comfortable and ergonomically supportive. Driving the S40 is definitely sucking in comfort.