Total Complaints
2 filings
VOLVO V40 · model year
2003 VOLVO V40
2 NHTSA complaints, and 2 active recalls for this specific cohort.
NHTSA overall rating
Not crash-tested
New Car Assessment Program
The 2003VOLVOV40 carries 2 consumer safety complaints in NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation database for this specific model-year cohort. Within that volume, owners reported 0 crashes, 0 fires, 0 injuries, and 0 fatalities. No NCAP 5-star crash-test rating is available for this model year in the federal database.
Component-level analysis is where model-year complaints become actionable: the top complaint category for the 2003 V40 is seat belts:front:buckle assembly with 1 filings, followed by service brakes, hydraulic (1). Concentration in one or two component groups is the classic signature of a systemic defect; a flat distribution usually reflects normal aging, warranty complaints, or isolated build-plant variability. This model year has 2 active recall campaigns, which means the manufacturer is obligated to remedy the covered defect at no charge for the life of the vehicle — the full NHTSA campaign numbers are listed below.
NHTSA currently has 28 investigation files overlapping the 2003 V40. Owners comparing this cohort against neighboring years should pair the counters above with the complaint-by-year trend on the parent model page — a spike in a single year often tracks to a platform refresh, a new transmission supplier, or an updated ECU calibration. Use the related-complaint feed below to read raw owner narratives before deciding whether any pattern here affects your specific use case.
2
Complaints
0
Crashes
0
Fires
0
Injuries
0
Deaths
Crashes Reported
0 reports
Source
NHTSA ODI
Federal complaints database
Complaints vs. fleet median (215)
At or below the fleet median complaint volume.
Complaints by Component
| Component | Count |
|---|---|
| SEAT BELTS:FRONT:BUCKLE ASSEMBLY | 1 |
| SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC | 1 |
Recalls (2)
03V42400024/10/2003
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE
ON CERTAIN SEDANS AND STATION WAGONS, THERE MAY BE A FUEL LEAK FROM THE FUEL RAIL DUE TO INADEQUATE WELDING.
03V28400001/08/2003
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.
Recent Complaints
20100518SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
"2003 VOLVO V40 COLD START BRAKE FAILURE" ON COLD WINTER MORNINGS, WHEN TEMPERATURE IS BELOW FREEZING, AFTER THE ENGINE IS STARTED AND AS I BACK OUT OF MY GARAGE, THE BRAKE IS SO WEAK THAT I CANNOT EFFECTIVELY STOP THE VEHICLE. I WOULD NEED TO PRESS THE BRAKE PEDAL AS HARD AS I CAN AND THE CAR WOULD STOP IN ABOUT A FULL CAR'S LENGTH. IT'S QUITE SCARY. THE PROBLEM ALWAYS GOES AWAY IN ABOUT 1 TO 2 MINUTES. THIS ONLY HAPPENS OCCASIONALLY, ABOUT 2 TO 3 TIMES A MONTH IN THE WINTER, BUT I AM NOT ABLE TO PREDICT WHEN IT HAPPENS. I HAVE COMPLAINED TO MY VOLVO DEALERSHIP AND LEFT MY CAR THERE OVERNIGHT. BUT THEY WERE NOT ABLE TO REPRODUCED THE FAILURE. THEY SUGGESTED ME TO REPLACE THE BRAKE VACUUM BOOSTER PUMP. SO I DID AND PAID FOR A NEW BRAKE VACUUM BOOSTER PUMP. HOWEVER THE PROBLEM WAS NOT SOLVED OR ALLEVIATED. KNOWING THIS COULD HAPPEN ANY TIME, I AVOID USING MY VOLVO IN THE WINTER AND USE EXTRA CAUTION DURING OTHER TIMES. *TR
Mileage: 30,000
20040607SEAT BELTS:FRONT:BUCKLE ASSEMBLY
SEAT BELTS ARE DEFECTIVE. WHEN PULLING ON THE SEAT BELTS THEY WILL NOT REACH THE BUCKLE. THUS, MAKING IT IMPOSSIBLE TO ATTACH AND RIDE. CONSUMER INDICATES THAT THIS DEFECT WAS REPAIRED BY THE DEALERSHIP IN MAY 2004. CURRENTLY, THEY LOCKED UP AGAIN. *AK
Mileage: 18,000
Compare 2003VOLVOV40 to Similar Vehicles
NHTSA Investigations
Frequently Asked Questions
How many complaints does the 2003 VOLVO V40 have?▼
The 2003 VOLVO V40 has 2 NHTSA complaints, 0 crashes, 0 fires, 0 injuries, and 0 deaths reported.
Are there any recalls for the 2003 VOLVO V40?▼
Yes, the 2003 VOLVO V40 has 2 recall(s). The most common affected component is FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE. Recalls are issued by NHTSA and manufacturers must provide a free remedy.
What are the most common problems with the 2003 VOLVO V40?▼
The most-complained component for the 2003 VOLVO V40 is SEAT BELTS:FRONT:BUCKLE ASSEMBLY with 1 complaints. Other frequently reported areas include SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC.
Is the 2003 VOLVO V40 safe to buy?▼
Review the complaint history, crash and fire reports, safety ratings, and recall status on this page to make an informed decision. No NHTSA crash test rating is available for this model year. Compare with other model years using the links above.
Where does this data come from?▼
All complaint, recall, and safety rating data is sourced from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). Complaints are filed by vehicle owners through NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation.
Vehicle Safety Guides
Data as of 2025. Sources: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) complaints database, NHTSA recall campaign API, NHTSA NCAP crash-test ratings, and NHTSA FARS for fatality cross-reference.
Read our methodology — how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.