37 of the 677 complaints filed about the Volvo S40 are about the glass, mirrors and wipers — 5% of everything owners reported. The worst model year for it is 2001.
37
Complaints
5%
Share of all complaints
2
Crashes
0
Fires
VISIBILITY/WIPER
The adhesive and seal on the entire top of my windshield has failed. The glass is shaking while driving and rattles severely if a small bump is driven over on the road. This is a huge safety concern since my window could break or fall off at any given moment.
NHTSA complaint #11469496 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
VISIBILITY:SUN/MOON ROOF ASSEMBLY
The contact owns a 2008 Volvo S40. The contact stated while his spouse was driving 70 MPH, the moon roof exploded. The vehicle was driven back to the residence. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not informed of the failure. The failure mileage was 133,000.
NHTSA complaint #11467728 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
VISIBILITY/WIPER
The windshield is coming unglued at the top center and right . I am concerned that the windshield could come out on the highway, I plan to contact a windshield shop and see if they can repair it.
NHTSA complaint #11431520 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
VISIBILITY/WIPER
ON OR ABOUT 12/04/2019 DURING A FLASH RAIN STORM LAST WINTER, MY HUSBAND AND I WAS HEADED HOME ON THE 215 FWY NORTHBOUND IN SAN BERNARDINO, CA WHEN THE CENTER DOME AREA AND THE ELECTRIC SUNROOF INSIDE OUR CAR BEGIN POURING IN HUGE AMOUNTS OF VERY COLD RAIN WATER ON US AND ON THE DASHBOARD, STEREO CONSOLE, GEAR SHIFTER, FLOOR AND SEATS. UNTIL IT WAS SAFE TO EXIT THE FREEWAY, MY HUSBAND TRIED TO SOAK UP AS MUCH OF THE LEAKING RAINWATER AS HE COULD WITH HIS COAT BUT THE WATER CONTINUED TO POURING INTO THE CAR. ONCE IT WAS SAFE TO EXIT THE FREEWAY, WE PULLED INTO A GAS STATION AND EXAMINE THE SUNROOF TO MAKE SURE IT WAS SHUT PROPERLY, WHICH IT WAS, NOT UNDERSTANDING WHY THIS WAS HAPPENING, HE AND I USED AS MANY PIECES OF NAPKINS AND CLOTH THAT WE COULD FIND TO SOP UP AS MUCH WATER AS WE COULD AND AS BEST AS WE COULD. WE DROVE ON THE STREETS THE REMAINING FEW MILES TO GET HOME BECAUSE IT WAS MUCH SAFER TO DO SO AT THIS POINT. LATER, WE RESEARCHED AS MUCH AS WE COULD FIND OUT ABOUT THE PROBLEM VIA ONLINE COMPLAINTS AND REVIEWS FROM OTHER VOLVO OWNERS. WE THEN TRIED ONE OF THE FIXES OFFERED: CLEARING POTENTIAL DEBRIS FROM THE SUNROOF DRAIN HOSES. HOWEVER, WHEN WE TOOK THE CAR TO A DRIVE-THRU CARWASH SHORTLY AFTERWARDS, THE EXACT SAME THING HAPPEN. WE ARE LOOKING FORWARD TO SELLING THE VOLVO, BUT DUE TO THE LEAKY CENTER DOME AND SUNROOF, THERE IS NO WAY WE WILL CONSIDER SELLING THE CAR WITHOUT DISCLOSING THIS SAFETY ISSUE TO THE NEXT BUYER, EVEN THOUGH WHEN WE PURCHASED THE CAR IN 2013, THE DEALER WHO SOLD IT TO US DID NOT TELL US ABOUT THE SAFETY DEFECT. UNDOUBTEDLY, IF CAUGHT OFF GUARD WHILE DRIVING (I.E. WITHOUT A PASSENGER'S HELPING HAND), NOT KNOWING ABOUT THE DEFECT MAY RESULT IN A MAJOR ACCIDENT OR FATALITY. PLEASE HELP!!!
NHTSA complaint #11360366 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
VISIBILITY/WIPER
I BOUGHT A 2001 VOLVO S40 FROM TOM BLEVINS OWNER OF POPPLES GARAGE. THE ODOMETER QUIT WORKING AS SOON AS I BOUGHT IT. THE KEY WOULD GET STUCK IN THE IGNITION AND WOULD HAVE TO BE LEFT IN THE IGNITION. THE DRIVERS SIDE WINDOW GOT STUCK IN THE DOWN POSITION BECAUSE OF A FAULTY CONTROLLER. THE HOOD HYDRAULIC ARM THAT HOLDS THE HOOD UP WHEN IT'S RAISED DOES NOT WORK AND HAS TO BE PROPPED UP WITH A WOOD BLOCK. HEADLIGHTS AND TURN SIGNALS DO NOT WORK. THERE ARE MORE PROBLEMS TO DISCUSS BUT I AM OUT OF SPACE.
NHTSA complaint #11243446 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
VISIBILITY:SUN/MOON ROOF ASSEMBLY
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 VOLVO S40. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 40 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED AND FAILED TO RESTART. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC, WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE SUN ROOF DRAINAGE SYSTEM WAS CLOGGED AND WATER ENTERED INTO THE VEHICLE WHICH CAUSED DAMAGE TO THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 65,000.
NHTSA complaint #10779853 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
VISIBILITY:SUN/MOON ROOF ASSEMBLY
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 VOLVO S40. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE SUN ROOF WAS LEAKING WATER INTO THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN A FRONT END COLLISION WHILE DRIVING 25 MPH. THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. THERE WAS A WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. THE DEALER STATED THAT WATER MAY HAVE STOPPED THE AIR BAGS FROM DEPLOYING. THERE WERE NO INJURIES AND A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 73,000.
NHTSA complaint #10743995 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
VISIBILITY:SUN/MOON ROOF ASSEMBLY
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 VOLVO S40. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE SUNROOF LEAKED WATER CAUSING THE ELECTRICAL FUNCTIONS TO FAIL. THE FAILURE OCCURRED ON NUMEROUS OCCASIONS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE DRAIN HOSE FAILED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 89,000. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE.
NHTSA complaint #10676796 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
VISIBILITY:DEFROSTER/DEFOGGER/HVAC SYSTEM
THE COOLING SYSTEM AND DEFROST SHUT DOWN AFTER DRIVING FOR A WHILE. TURNS OUT THE CLUTCH WENT BAD ON THE COMPRESSOR. AFTER RESEARCHING FURTHER ONLINE, THERE ARE MANY COMPLAINTS ABOUT THIS FAILURE. UNFORTUNATELY, THIS IS A VERY EXPENSIVE REPAIR THAT I CANNOT AFFORD.
NHTSA complaint #10662337 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
VISIBILITY:SUN/MOON ROOF ASSEMBLY
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 VOLVO S40. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WATER WAS LEAKING INTO THE REAR PASSENGER SIDE FLOOR BOARD. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE THE TECHNICIAN DIAGNOSED THAT THE SUN ROOF LINES NEEDED TO BE CLEANED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED AND THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 34,500 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 34,900. UPDATED 06/24/14*LJ UPDATED 06/25/2014
NHTSA complaint #10576913 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
VISIBILITY:SUN/MOON ROOF ASSEMBLY
CAR WAS PARKED IN THE DRIVEWAY AT MY HOUSE OVERNIGHT. WHEN I OPENED THE DRIVER'S DOOR TODAY MID-DAY, I SAW GLASS ALL OVER THE FRONT SEATS. THE SUNROOF HAD EXPLODED UPWARD. THE EDGES OF THE GLASS STILL REMAINING IN THE SUNROOF ARE CLEARLY PUSHED UP AND OUTWARD, NOT DOWNWARD INTO THE CAR AS IT WOULD BE IF SOMETHING HAD FALLEN THROUGH THE SUNROOF FROM THE OUTSIDE. OTHER THAN SHATTERED GLASS, THERE WAS NOTHING UNUSUAL (SUCH AS A BRANCH OR ROCK) INSIDE THE CAR. NUMEROUS SIMILAR INCIDENTS ARE POSTED ON CARCOMPLAINTS.COM, INCLUDING ANOTHER VOLVO S40.
NHTSA complaint #10551542 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
VISIBILITY:SUN/MOON ROOF ASSEMBLY
2005 VOLVO S40. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO DEFECTIVE SUN ROOF DRAINAGE THAT LEAD TO VEHICLE ELECTRICAL DAMAGE. *SMD THE CONSUMER NOTICED WATER LEAKING IN THE VEHICLE AND SOAKING THE FLOOR MATS BEHIND THE DRIVER'S SEAT. YEARS LATER, THE DEALER INFORMED THE CONSUMER THERE WAS KNOWN DEFECT IN THE SUNROOF DRAINS, THAT CAUSED THEM TO BECOME CLOGGED AND FLOOD THE FLOOR, WHERE ELECTRICAL COMPONENTS WERE STORED. ALTHOUGH, THE DRAINAGE CLOGS COULD BE CLEARED, IT WOULD ONLY BE A TEMPORARY FIX DUE TO THE DEFECT, AND THE DEALER INFORMED THE CONSUMER THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM WAS LIKELY ALREADY DAMAGED FROM ALL THE LEAKING AND IT WOULD COST $5,000 TO FIX. THE CONSUMER STATED OVER THE YEARS, HE NOTICED RELATIVELY MINOR PROBLEMS DUE TO THE LASTING WATER DAMAGE, SUCH AS REDUCED AND INCONSISTENT PERFORMANCE, AND RANDOM ERROR MESSAGES APPEARING AND DISAPPEARING .
NHTSA complaint #10532516 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
VISIBILITY:SUN/MOON ROOF ASSEMBLY
I WAS DRIVING DOWN THE HIGHWAY WHEN THERE WAS A LOUD BOOM IN MY CAR THAT SOUNDED LIKE A GUNSHOT. GLASS THEN CAME DOWN ON AND AROUND ME IN MY CAR. I PULLED OVER AS QUICKLY AS POSSIBLE. IT LOOKS LIKE THE GLASS FROM MY SUNROOF CAME UP AND OUT OF MY CAR. IT DID NOT APPEAR AS IF ANYTHING HIT IT. THERE IS A LARGE GAPING HOLE IN MY SUNROOF.
NHTSA complaint #10480672 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
VISIBILITY
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 VOLVO S40. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING 40 MPH DURING A SNOW STORM, THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS FAILED IMPAIRING THE CONTACTS VIEW OF THE ROADWAY. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO MOVE OFF THE ROADWAY AND THE VEHICLE WAS LEFT UNTIL THE SNOW STOPPED. THE VEHICLE WAS LATER TAKEN TO THE DEALER AND THE DEALER NOTICED THAT THE WIPER ARM HAD FRACTURED. FOUR WEEKS LATER WHILE THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING IN SNOWY WEATHER, THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO ANOTHER DEALER AND THE DEALER STATED THAT THE WIPER MOTOR FAILED. THE CONTACT DID NOT HAVE THE WIPER MOTOR REPAIRED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS UNSAFE TO DRIVE IN BAD WEATHER. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 53,000.
NHTSA complaint #10373946 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
VISIBILITY
WINDSHIELD WIPERS ARE CAUSING SCRATCHES IN THE WINDSHIELD. I FEEL THIS IS A DEFECT WITH THE WIPERBLADES CAUSING DIRT TO SCRATCH THE WINDSHIELD MAKING IT VERY DIFFICULT TO SEE.
NHTSA complaint #10366993 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 VOLVO S40. WHILE DRIVING AT SPEEDS OF 35 MPH, THE FRONT WINDSHIELD SUDDENLY CRACKED ON THE PASSENGER SIDE WITHOUT WARRANT. THE DEALER AND MANUFACTURER WERE CONTACTED AND STATED THEY WOULD NOT REPLACE THE WINDSHIELD OR HONOR THE CONTACTS WARRANTY. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 38,000.
NHTSA complaint #10330439 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
VISIBILITY:SUN/MOON ROOF ASSEMBLY
SPONTANEOUS ERUPTION( SHATTERING) OF A SUNROOF.
NHTSA complaint #10257684 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
VISIBILITY
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 VOLVO S40. WHILE DRIVING 65 MPH, THE SUN ROOF SPONTANEOUSLY SHATTERED. AS A RESULT, GLASS SHATTERED IN SMALL PIECES ALL OVER THE INTERIOR OF THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER, BUT THEY COULD NOT DETERMINE THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED AT THE COST OF $1,200. THE MANUFACTURER STATED THAT THEY HAVE NO CURRENT ISSUES ON FILE REGARDING THE SUN ROOF FAILURE; THEREFORE, NO COMPENSATION WOULD BE PROVIDED. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 42,000 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 45,000.
NHTSA complaint #10257689 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
VISIBILITY:DEFROSTER/DEFOGGER/HVAC SYSTEM:HEATER CORE
2006 VOLVO S40-2.4I AND ACCORDING TO FORUMS ABOUT OTHERS WHO HAVE THE SAME HEATER BLOWER PROBLEMS THAT CAN CAUSE AN ACCIDENT, WHEN COLD WEATHER, THE HEATER DOES NOT DEFROST THE FRONT WINDSHIELD OR SIDE MIRRORS, HEATER STOPPED WORKING LIKE OTHERS REPORTED IN THE FORUM, THERE WAS AN ACTUAL RECALL FOR 2004 MODELS WITH THE SAME PROBLEM. PLEASE ADVISE.
NHTSA complaint #10224807 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD WIPER/WASHER
WINDSHIELD WIPERS ARE INEFFECTIVE. DEALER TRIED POLISHING THE WINDSHIELD, REPLACING THE BLADES, AND EVENTUALLY REPLACED THE WINDSHIELD. WE TRIED TO INCREASE THE FREQUENCY OF CLEANING THE BLADES. THERE WAS NO IMPROVEMENT. HERE IS A LINK TO A FORUM FOR THE VOLVO S40 T5 THAT SHOWS THAT OTHERS ARE HAVING THE SAME PROBLEM. HTTP://FORUMS.SWEDESPEED.COM/ZEROTHREAD?ID=49251.
NHTSA complaint #10216664 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.