2003 VOLVO S40

FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE

ON CERTAIN SEDANS AND STATION WAGONS, THERE MAY BE A FUEL LEAK FROM THE FUEL RAIL DUE TO INADEQUATE WELDING.

EQUIPMENT:OTHER:LABELS

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.

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.

Mileage: 120,000

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 COOL

Mileage: 108,000

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 COOL

Mileage: 108,000

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 COOL

Mileage: 108,000

I RETURNED TO MY CAR AND FOUND THAT I COULD NOT TURN THE IGNITION SWITCH AND AS A RESULT OF THE SECURITY SYSTEM MY CAR WAS TOTALLY INOPERATIVE. THE CAR HAD TO BE TOWED TO THE NEAREST DEALER, WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED WITH A BROKEN IGNITION SWITCH, SPECIFICALLY THE DEVICE THAT READS THE CHIP IN THE KEY HAS FAILED AND WILL NOT ACCEPT ANY KEY. CURRENTLY THE CAR HAS BEEN SITTING AT THE DEALER FOR OVER 4 WEEKS. BECAUSE THE KEYS AND SWITCHES ARE MATCHED WE CANNOT GET AN AFTER-MARKET REPLACEMENT SWITCH. FURTHER, THE PARTS ARE BACK ORDERED AT THE DEALER, BACK ORDERED AT VOLVO NORTH AMERICA, BACK ORDERED AT VOLVO IN SWEDEN, AND THEY CANNOT EVEN GET ME A DATE WHEN THE PART MIGHT BE AVAILABLE. AS AN RELIABILITY ENGINEER, THE IGNITION SWITCH FAILURE WOULD BE CLASSIFIED AS A CRITICALITY 1, SINGLE POINT FAILURE, IN OTHER WORDS IT RESULTS IN LOSS OF VEHICLE. THERE IS NO INDICATION OF PENDING FAILURE, AND NO WAY TO MITIGATE THE PROBLEM IF IT OCCURS. YOU ARE STRANDED WHERE EVER THE CAR WAS LAST PAR

Mileage: 125,000

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 VOLVO S40. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE SITTING AT A TRAFFIC STOP, THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED ABNORMALLY. THE CONTACT HAD HIS FOOT ON THE BRAKE PEDAL AND THEN HAD TO SHIFT INTO NEUTRAL TO GET THE VEHICLE TO SLOW DOWN. THE CONTACT PULLED THE VEHICLE OVER, SHUT OFF AND TRIED TO RESTART THE ENGINE BUT IT FAILED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A DEALER FOR INSPECTION BUT THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE WAS UNKNOWN. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED AND THEY INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT THERE WERE NO RECALLS FOR THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 94,000. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE.

Mileage: 94,000

MY 2003 VOLVO S40 HAS BEEN DRIVEN FEWER THAN 70,000 MILES. ALL VOLVO RECOMMENDED SERVICE HAS BEEN PERFORMED BY CERTIFIED MECHANICS AND IS DOCUMENTED. MY VOLVO DEALER DETERMINED THAT THE TRANSMISSION HAD TO BE REPLACED. IT IS NOT AT ALL REASONABLE TO HAVE A CATASTROPHIC TRANSMISSION FAILURE AT ONLY 70, 000 MILES. I FEEL VOLVO SHOULD BE RESPONSIBLE FOR AT LEAST THE COST OF THE REPLACEMENT TRANSMISSION. IN ADDITION TO THE COST AND INCONVENIENCE, THIS TRANSMISSION FAILURE PRESENTED A HAZARD THAT COULD HAVE RESULTED IN A SERIOUS ACCIDENT. MY VOLVO WAS BEING DRIVEN ON A FRONTAGE ROAD WITH THE INTENTION OF ENTERING A FREEWAY. WHEN THE TRANSMISSION STARTED TO SLIP, A RIGHT TURN WAS MADE FROM THE FRONTAGE ROAD TO A 4-LANE ROAD IN AN ATTEMPT TO AVOID HIGH SPEED TRAFFIC. THE TRANSMISSION WENT TO NEUTRAL DURING THE TURN AND THE VOLVO COASTED TO A STOP JUST PAST THE CORNER IN THE RIGHT LANE OF THIS BUSY ROAD. FORTUNATELY, A POLICE CAR WAS JUST A HUNDRED FEET AWAY, SAW THE VOLVO

Mileage: 69,650

I WAS DRIVING WHEN THE CAR START TO ACCELERATED BY ITSELF, ACCEL PEDAL WENT TO THE FLOOR. I COULD NOT KEEP A CAR EVEN BY THE HAND BRAKE, SO AS IT WAS JUMPING AHEAD. THEN THE CAR BEGAN TO BLOW BLACK AND WHITE SMOKE OUT UNDER THE HOOD. SOME HOW I TURN OFF THE ENGINE, TOOK THE KEY AND RUN AWAY FROM THE CAR IN THE MIDDLE OF THE TRAFFIC ROAD. GREEN LIQUID UNDER THE CAR. IT DIED ON THE ROAD. POLICE CAME, THE CAR TOWED. AFTER SEVERAL DAYS OF CHECKOUT : T/3.8 CHECKOUT AND REPLACED T-STAT, TEMP SENSOR, T-STAT HOUSING GASKET; BG COOLANT FLUSH ; PCV; ENGINE VENT; ENGINE MECHANICAL; BG POWER STEERING; BG BRAKE AFTER A WEEK I GOT THE SAME--JUMPING, NOT STABLE, ACCEL PEDAL GOES TO THE FLOOR. INTERNAL SHORT IN CYL 3 AND 2 COIL AND FOULED SPARKPLUGS T/1.5 REPLACED COIL PACK FOR CYL 3 AND 2 AND REPLACED SPARKPLUGS. *TR

Mileage: 85,106

I WAS DRIVING WHEN THE CAR START TO ACCELERATED BY ITSELF, ACCEL PEDAL WENT TO THE FLOOR. I COULD NOT KEEP A CAR EVEN BY THE HAND BRAKE, SO AS IT WAS JUMPING AHEAD. THEN THE CAR BEGAN TO BLOW BLACK AND WHITE SMOKE OUT UNDER THE HOOD. SOME HOW I TURN OFF THE ENGINE, TOOK THE KEY AND RUN AWAY FROM THE CAR IN THE MIDDLE OF THE TRAFFIC ROAD. GREEN LIQUID UNDER THE CAR. IT DIED ON THE ROAD. POLICE CAME, THE CAR TOWED. AFTER SEVERAL DAYS OF CHECKOUT : T/3.8 CHECKOUT AND REPLACED T-STAT, TEMP SENSOR, T-STAT HOUSING GASKET; BG COOLANT FLUSH ; PCV; ENGINE VENT; ENGINE MECHANICAL; BG POWER STEERING; BG BRAKE AFTER A WEEK I GOT THE SAME--JUMPING, NOT STABLE, ACCEL PEDAL GOES TO THE FLOOR. INTERNAL SHORT IN CYL 3 AND 2 COIL AND FOULED SPARKPLUGS T/1.5 REPLACED COIL PACK FOR CYL 3 AND 2 AND REPLACED SPARKPLUGS. *TR

Mileage: 85,106

I WAS DRIVING WHEN THE CAR START TO ACCELERATED BY ITSELF, ACCEL PEDAL WENT TO THE FLOOR. I COULD NOT KEEP A CAR EVEN BY THE HAND BRAKE, SO AS IT WAS JUMPING AHEAD. THEN THE CAR BEGAN TO BLOW BLACK AND WHITE SMOKE OUT UNDER THE HOOD. SOME HOW I TURN OFF THE ENGINE, TOOK THE KEY AND RUN AWAY FROM THE CAR IN THE MIDDLE OF THE TRAFFIC ROAD. GREEN LIQUID UNDER THE CAR. IT DIED ON THE ROAD. POLICE CAME, THE CAR TOWED. AFTER SEVERAL DAYS OF CHECKOUT : T/3.8 CHECKOUT AND REPLACED T-STAT, TEMP SENSOR, T-STAT HOUSING GASKET; BG COOLANT FLUSH ; PCV; ENGINE VENT; ENGINE MECHANICAL; BG POWER STEERING; BG BRAKE AFTER A WEEK I GOT THE SAME--JUMPING, NOT STABLE, ACCEL PEDAL GOES TO THE FLOOR. INTERNAL SHORT IN CYL 3 AND 2 COIL AND FOULED SPARKPLUGS T/1.5 REPLACED COIL PACK FOR CYL 3 AND 2 AND REPLACED SPARKPLUGS. *TR

Mileage: 85,106

I WAS DRIVING WHEN THE CAR START TO ACCELERATED BY ITSELF, ACCEL PEDAL WENT TO THE FLOOR. I COULD NOT KEEP A CAR EVEN BY THE HAND BRAKE, SO AS IT WAS JUMPING AHEAD. THEN THE CAR BEGAN TO BLOW BLACK AND WHITE SMOKE OUT UNDER THE HOOD. SOME HOW I TURN OFF THE ENGINE, TOOK THE KEY AND RUN AWAY FROM THE CAR IN THE MIDDLE OF THE TRAFFIC ROAD. GREEN LIQUID UNDER THE CAR. IT DIED ON THE ROAD. POLICE CAME, THE CAR TOWED. AFTER SEVERAL DAYS OF CHECKOUT : T/3.8 CHECKOUT AND REPLACED T-STAT, TEMP SENSOR, T-STAT HOUSING GASKET; BG COOLANT FLUSH ; PCV; ENGINE VENT; ENGINE MECHANICAL; BG POWER STEERING; BG BRAKE AFTER A WEEK I GOT THE SAME--JUMPING, NOT STABLE, ACCEL PEDAL GOES TO THE FLOOR. INTERNAL SHORT IN CYL 3 AND 2 COIL AND FOULED SPARKPLUGS T/1.5 REPLACED COIL PACK FOR CYL 3 AND 2 AND REPLACED SPARKPLUGS. *TR

Mileage: 85,106

INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6) ON FEB 12, I HAD A PERIODIC MAINTENANCE DONE AT THE DEALERSHIP AND THEY ADVISED ME THAT MY TIRES WERE BAD. I HAD ONLY HAD THE TIRES A SHORT WHILE SO I BROUGHT THE CAR TO WHERE I BOUGHT THEM (SEARS) AND WAS ADVISED THAT THE TREAD WAS GOOD BUT THERE WAS ROT BETWEEN THE TREAD. THE TIRES ARE BF GOODRICH TRACTION T/A TIRES (MY MODEL P21550V16) AND WERE SOLD NATIONWIDE BY SEARS. BF GOODRICH DID GIVE ME A 45% CREDIT BUT I FEEL THESE TIRES ARE DANGEROUS SINCE I WAS TOLD THEY COULD SHRED AT ANY TIME (SOUNDED LIKE FIRESTONE ALL OVER AGAIN). BF GOODRICH NO LONGER MAKES TRACTION T/A TIRES BUT SINCE THE TIRES ARE 60,000 MILE TIRES AND I ONLY GOT 35,000 ON THEM AND HAD THEM LESS THAN 3 YEARS I THOUGHT YOUR AGENCY SHOULD INVESTIGATE FOR A POSSIBLE RECALL. MANY PEOPLE COULD BE DRIVING AROUND ON THEM WITHOUT KNOWING HOW DANGEROUS AND HAZARDOUS THEY ARE. I INITIALLY SENT A LETTER TO YOUR AGENCY USING THE

MY 2003 S40 HAS BEEN SLIPPING GEAR BETWEEN 3RD AND 4TH GEAR AND OCASSIONAL HARD SHIFT BETWEEN 2ND AND 3RD GEAR. THE CAR ONLY HAS 49000 MILES. I HAVE GONE TO THE DEALER AND THEY SAID, THERE IS NO SOFTWARE UPDATE FOR THE TCM (TRANSMISSION CONTROL MODULE)AND IT NEEDS TO BE REPLACED. COST $800. THIS GEAR SLIP MAKES DRIVING VERY BOTHERSOME AND DANGEROUS ON OCCASION. IF YOU NEED TO SPEED UP TO GET OUT OF THE WAY, THE SLIP CAUSES THE CAR TO LOSE POWER. FEW SECONDS MAKES A DIFFERENCE BETWEEN LIFE AND DEATH. I HAVE TAKEN THE CAR TO ANOTHER IMPORT REPAIR SHOP AND HAD THEM REPLACE THE TCM. WHICH DID NOT HELP THE ISSUE. THEN I TOOK THE CAR BACK TO THE DEALER AND ASKED TO DO ANOTHER DIAGNOSTIC TO SEE IF THE TCM IS THE ISSUE OR NOT. THEY SAID, THE TCM COULD NOT BE FUNCTIONING PROPERLY. THEY WANT ME TO REPLACE THE TCM THROUGH THEM AND SEE IF IT WILL RESOLVE THE PROBLEM, OTHERWISE IT WILL BE A TRANSMISSION ISSUE. I HAVE RESEARCHED ON THE WEB AND THROUGH MULTIPLE FORUMS, THERE HAVE HUNDREDS OF ISSUES

Mileage: 48,000

GOT A CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ON AND TRIED TO GET A FULL DIAGNOSTIC TEST DONE, BUT THE POWER CONTROL MODULE WAS NOT COMMUNICATING WITH VEHICLE. *JB

TRANSMISSION SLIPS BETWEEN GEARS 2ND AND 3RD

2002 VOLVO S40 EXPERIENCED MECHANICAL FAILURE OF THE ENGINE FUEL LINE. *MR *CB

CONSUMER STATED THAT BANRIDGE VOLVO WILL NOT HONOR THE RECALL DEALING WITH THE FUEL RAIL. CONSUMER TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALERSHIP ON 04/22/2004. *AK

THE FOLLOWING IS A SYNOPSIS OF ORIGINAL E-MAIL I SENT TO VOLVO CARS OF NORTH AMERICA FOR YOUR RECORDS. *AK ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- I FINALLY HAD MY 2003 VOLVO S40 SERVICED FOR EXCESSIVE BUMPY RIDE PROBLEM THAT IVE COMPLAINED ABOUT SINCE THE TIME I BOUGHT IT FROM HOWARD ORLOFF IN MAY 2003. IM APPALLED TO LEARN THAT FOLKS AT HOWARD ORLOFF LEFT THE SPRING SPACERS IN PLACE ALONG THE FRONT SUSPENSION WHEN THEY SOLD ME THE CAR; AND AFTER SEVERAL COMPLAINS (OF WHICH YOU FOLKS HAVE ALL THE RECORDS OF MY E-MAIL COMMUNICATIONS) AND TEN MONTHS, VOLVO OF LISLE FINALLY FIGURED THE ISSUE OUT. I DONT KNOW WHAT KIND OF DAMAGE THIS MAY HAVE CAUSED TO MY CAR FOR ALL THESE MANY MONTHS. AS OF WRITING THIS MESSAGE, MY CAR IS DANGEROUS AND PRECARIOUS MORE THAN EVER. AFTER ALMOST LITTLE OVER A WEEK OF DRIVING SINCE I GOT MY CAR BACK, THE CARS RIDE IS WORST THAN EVER; THE STEERING WHEEL HAS BECOME EXTREMELY SENSITIVE AND D

CONSUMER INDICATED THAT THE ISOFIX GUIDE THAT THE MANUFACTURER SENT FOR RECALL 03V284000 COULD NOT FIX THE PROBLEM. *AK