2003 VOLVO S40 — Problems, Recalls & Safety Data
N/A
Safety Rating
23
Owner Complaints
2
Recalls
2
Service Bulletins
0
Investigations
Overview of the 2003 VOLVO S40
The 2003 VOLVO S40 has received a total of 23 safety complaints filed with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). There have been 2 recall campaigns affecting this vehicle, covering issues with FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE, EQUIPMENT:OTHER:LABELS. 2 technical service bulletins have been issued by Volvo Car USA, LLC for this model year. The most commonly reported problems involve the Power Trainautomatic Transmission (4 complaints), Electrical System (2 complaints), and Fuel System Gasolinefuel Injection Systemfuel Rail (2 complaints).
Recalls for the 2003 VOLVO S40
NHTSA has recorded 2 recalls for the 2003 VOLVO S40, potentially affecting up to 235,474 vehicles.
Recall 03V424000 — FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE
| 15,067 vehicles affected
Defect: ON CERTAIN SEDANS AND STATION WAGONS, THERE MAY BE A FUEL LEAK FROM THE FUEL RAIL DUE TO INADEQUATE WELDING.
Consequence: FUEL LEAKAGE IN THE PRESENCE OF AN IGNITION SOURCE COULD RESULT IN A FIRE.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSTALL A V-CLAMP TO THE FUEL RAIL. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN ON JANUARY 28, 2004. OWNERS SHOULD CONTACT VOLVO AT 1-800-458-1552.
View full details →Recall 03V284000 — EQUIPMENT:OTHER:LABELS
| 220,407 vehicles affected
Defect: CERTAIN PASSENGER CARS FAIL TO COMPLY WITH THE REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 225, "CHILD RESTRAINT ANCHORAGE SYSTEMS." THE SECOND ISOFIX GUIDE WAS NOT INSTALLED IN THESE VEHICLES AND, IN CERTAIN CASES, THE OWNER'S MANUAL ISOFIX INFORMATION IS INCORRECT.
Consequence: THIS DOES NOT MEET THE REQUIREMENTS OF THE STANDARD.
Remedy: OWNERS WILL RECEIVE A LETTER/PACKAGE CONSISTING OF THE SECOND ISOFIX GUIDE WITH INSTALLATION INSTRUCTIONS, AND IN CERTAIN CASES, THE CORRECTED OWNER'S MANUAL MAY BE PROVIDED. IF THE OWNER WANTS TO TAKE THEIR VEHICLE TO A VOLVO DEALER FOR INSTALLATION OF...
View full details →Owner Complaints for the 2003 VOLVO S40
23 complaints have been filed with NHTSA for the 2003 VOLVO S40. Below is a breakdown by vehicle component.
| Component | Complaints | Crashes | Fires | Injuries | Deaths |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Power Trainautomatic Transmission | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Electrical System | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Fuel System Gasolinefuel Injection Systemfuel Rail | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Tires | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Electrical System Instrument Clusterpanel | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Engine | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Engine And Engine Coolingcooling System | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Engine And Engine Coolingengine | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Equipmentotherlabels | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Fuel System Other | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Power Train | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Power Trainautomatic Transmissioncontrol Module Tcmpcmtecm | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Suspension | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Suspensionfrontspringsair Suspensionlines And Fittings | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Unknown Or Other | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
Most Recent Complaints
Engine light stays on. I have had 2 mechanics check it out. They don't know why the light is on. I am very concerned about the fuel line problem.
THE REAR STRUT/SHOCKS CONTINUE TO BREAK/CRACK OVER AND OVER. I HAVE GONE THROUGH 3 NEW STRUTS AND SHOCKS AND THEY CONTINUE TO BREAK. I ALSO HAVE GONE TO THE JUNKYARD AND ALL OF THE S40 AND V40'S HAVE ALL OF THEIR STRUTS/SHOCKS BROKEN. I'VE WITNESSED OVER 6 S40 OR V40'S LIKE THIS NOW. MY CAR HAS FAILED INSPECTION BECAUSE OF THIS AND IT IS A SAFETY CONCERN. IT SEEMS THIS IS A COMMON ISSUE ON EVERY S40 AND V40 FROM THE YEARS 2001-2004. IT'S ABSOLUTELY RIDICULOUS THAT THESE STRUTS/SHOCKS CONTINUE TO BREAK. THERE SHOULD DEFINITELY BE A RECALL.
PRIOR TO LATEST INCIDENT, THE CAR HAD OCCASIONALLY GONE INTO "LIMP" MODE, STICKING IN 3RD GEAR BUT DRIVABLE. THAT PROBLEM WOULD GO AWAY AFTER A DAY OR SO. LOCAL SHOP COULDN'T FIND ANYTHING DEFINITIVE. BIGGER PROBLEM WAS YESTERDAY EVENING'S LOSS OF THROTTLE CONTROL AND MULTIPLE ELECTRICAL ISSUES. IDLE THROTTLE SETTING (EG STOPPED AT LIGHTS) BECAME UNSTABLE, OCCASIONALLY REVVING UPTO TO ~2000RPM. MOMENTS LATER ON SUBURBAN DIVIDED MAIN STREET, THROTTLE STUCK AT ~2200RPM WHICH MEANT I WAS DOING 45MPH (STRAIGHT LINE) WITHOUT ANY PRESSURE APPLIED TO GAS PEDAL. SLOWED ON THE BRAKES UNTIL I SHIFTED INTO NEUTRAL AT WHICH TIME EVERYTHING DIED (ELECTRICAL) AND CAME TO A STOP, SHORT OF TRAFFIC LIGHTS. TIME OF INCIDENT APPROX 8PM EST (DARK), ROADWAY FULLY LIT THANKFULLY. CAR WAS PUSHED OFF STREET. SOME ELECTRICS CAME BACK ON WHEN TRIED BUT FULL CHRISTMAS TREE LIGHTS (IE EVERYTHING) ACROSS ENTIRE DASH. TOWED HOME. REMOVED IGNITION KEY (WAS INSERTED TO ENSURE STEERING WAS UNLOCKED) BUT RADIATOR COOLING FAN REMAINED ON (ENGINE HADN'T RUN FOR 2.5 HOURS BY THAT TIME). PULLED A FUSE UNDER THE HOOD TO STOP IT DUMPING THE BATTERY. CAR IS NO YOUNGSTER, MANUF 2003 IN NETHERLANDS, PURCHASED SECOND HAND IN 2005 WITH APPROX 20,000 MILES ON THE CLOCK. CURRENTLY AT 108,000 ISH. OTHER ISSUES WITH CAR (NOT SAFETY RELATED) MEANS I WONT BE HAVING IT FIXED GIVEN ITS AGE AND GENERAL COSMETIC CONDITION. IT WILL BE DONATED FOR SCRAP.
PRIOR TO LATEST INCIDENT, THE CAR HAD OCCASIONALLY GONE INTO "LIMP" MODE, STICKING IN 3RD GEAR BUT DRIVABLE. THAT PROBLEM WOULD GO AWAY AFTER A DAY OR SO. LOCAL SHOP COULDN'T FIND ANYTHING DEFINITIVE. BIGGER PROBLEM WAS YESTERDAY EVENING'S LOSS OF THROTTLE CONTROL AND MULTIPLE ELECTRICAL ISSUES. IDLE THROTTLE SETTING (EG STOPPED AT LIGHTS) BECAME UNSTABLE, OCCASIONALLY REVVING UPTO TO ~2000RPM. MOMENTS LATER ON SUBURBAN DIVIDED MAIN STREET, THROTTLE STUCK AT ~2200RPM WHICH MEANT I WAS DOING 45MPH (STRAIGHT LINE) WITHOUT ANY PRESSURE APPLIED TO GAS PEDAL. SLOWED ON THE BRAKES UNTIL I SHIFTED INTO NEUTRAL AT WHICH TIME EVERYTHING DIED (ELECTRICAL) AND CAME TO A STOP, SHORT OF TRAFFIC LIGHTS. TIME OF INCIDENT APPROX 8PM EST (DARK), ROADWAY FULLY LIT THANKFULLY. CAR WAS PUSHED OFF STREET. SOME ELECTRICS CAME BACK ON WHEN TRIED BUT FULL CHRISTMAS TREE LIGHTS (IE EVERYTHING) ACROSS ENTIRE DASH. TOWED HOME. REMOVED IGNITION KEY (WAS INSERTED TO ENSURE STEERING WAS UNLOCKED) BUT RADIATOR COOLING FAN REMAINED ON (ENGINE HADN'T RUN FOR 2.5 HOURS BY THAT TIME). PULLED A FUSE UNDER THE HOOD TO STOP IT DUMPING THE BATTERY. CAR IS NO YOUNGSTER, MANUF 2003 IN NETHERLANDS, PURCHASED SECOND HAND IN 2005 WITH APPROX 20,000 MILES ON THE CLOCK. CURRENTLY AT 108,000 ISH. OTHER ISSUES WITH CAR (NOT SAFETY RELATED) MEANS I WONT BE HAVING IT FIXED GIVEN ITS AGE AND GENERAL COSMETIC CONDITION. IT WILL BE DONATED FOR SCRAP.
PRIOR TO LATEST INCIDENT, THE CAR HAD OCCASIONALLY GONE INTO "LIMP" MODE, STICKING IN 3RD GEAR BUT DRIVABLE. THAT PROBLEM WOULD GO AWAY AFTER A DAY OR SO. LOCAL SHOP COULDN'T FIND ANYTHING DEFINITIVE. BIGGER PROBLEM WAS YESTERDAY EVENING'S LOSS OF THROTTLE CONTROL AND MULTIPLE ELECTRICAL ISSUES. IDLE THROTTLE SETTING (EG STOPPED AT LIGHTS) BECAME UNSTABLE, OCCASIONALLY REVVING UPTO TO ~2000RPM. MOMENTS LATER ON SUBURBAN DIVIDED MAIN STREET, THROTTLE STUCK AT ~2200RPM WHICH MEANT I WAS DOING 45MPH (STRAIGHT LINE) WITHOUT ANY PRESSURE APPLIED TO GAS PEDAL. SLOWED ON THE BRAKES UNTIL I SHIFTED INTO NEUTRAL AT WHICH TIME EVERYTHING DIED (ELECTRICAL) AND CAME TO A STOP, SHORT OF TRAFFIC LIGHTS. TIME OF INCIDENT APPROX 8PM EST (DARK), ROADWAY FULLY LIT THANKFULLY. CAR WAS PUSHED OFF STREET. SOME ELECTRICS CAME BACK ON WHEN TRIED BUT FULL CHRISTMAS TREE LIGHTS (IE EVERYTHING) ACROSS ENTIRE DASH. TOWED HOME. REMOVED IGNITION KEY (WAS INSERTED TO ENSURE STEERING WAS UNLOCKED) BUT RADIATOR COOLING FAN REMAINED ON (ENGINE HADN'T RUN FOR 2.5 HOURS BY THAT TIME). PULLED A FUSE UNDER THE HOOD TO STOP IT DUMPING THE BATTERY. CAR IS NO YOUNGSTER, MANUF 2003 IN NETHERLANDS, PURCHASED SECOND HAND IN 2005 WITH APPROX 20,000 MILES ON THE CLOCK. CURRENTLY AT 108,000 ISH. OTHER ISSUES WITH CAR (NOT SAFETY RELATED) MEANS I WONT BE HAVING IT FIXED GIVEN ITS AGE AND GENERAL COSMETIC CONDITION. IT WILL BE DONATED FOR SCRAP.
Safety Rating for the 2003 VOLVO S40
NHTSA has not yet tested the 2003 VOLVO S40 in its New Car Assessment Program.
Technical Service Bulletins for the 2003 VOLVO S40
Volvo Car USA, LLC has issued 2 technical service bulletins (TSBs) for the 2003 VOLVO S40. TSBs are notices sent by manufacturers to their dealers describing a known issue and the recommended repair procedure.
S10303 — UNKNOWN OR OTHER
Volvo Cars USA LLC and Volvo Car Canada LTD on behalf of the Volvo Car Corporation has decided to launch Service Action S10303 on certain model year 2025 EX90 vehicles. Volvo Car Investigations have identified that there is a pairing issue with the key fob. As a result, there is...
3636 — ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
REMOTE LOCKING LOGIC. *TT
NHTSA Investigations for the 2003 VOLVO S40
There are no NHTSA defect investigations on record for this vehicle.
Other Model Years of the VOLVO S40
- 2000 VOLVO S40 — 166 complaints
- 2001 VOLVO S40 — 112 complaints
- 2002 VOLVO S40 — 34 complaints
- 2003 VOLVO S40 (current)
- 2004 VOLVO S40 — 75 complaints
- 2005 VOLVO S40 — 91 complaints
- 2006 VOLVO S40 — 81 complaints
- 2007 VOLVO S40 — 36 complaints
- 2008 VOLVO S40 — 27 complaints
Other VOLVO Models
- VOLVO XC90 — 2,131 total complaints
- VOLVO S60 — 1,655 total complaints
- VOLVO S80 — 1,320 total complaints
- VOLVO V70 — 1,177 total complaints
- VOLVO XC60 — 846 total complaints
- VOLVO S70 — 780 total complaints
- VOLVO 850 — 732 total complaints
- VOLVO V70XC — 521 total complaints