2003 Volvo S40 Problems, Complaints & Recalls
- Compared with other S40 years
- Fewer complaints than other years 8th of 12 for complaints
- Safety recalls
- 2 recalls: check your VIN
- NHTSA crash rating
- Not rated
Owners have filed 18 complaints with NHTSA about the 2003 Volvo S40. That ranks 8th out of 12 S40 model years for complaints. The most reported problem area is power train (6 complaints, 33%), typically at around 48,000 miles. Complaints mention 1 fire. There are 2 safety recalls covering this model year.
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- 18owner complaints
- 2safety recalls
- 0NHTSA investigations
- 0complaints mentioning a crash
Complaints are unverified owner reports and are not adjusted for sales volume.
Most common 2003 Volvo S40 problems
Complaints grouped by the part of the car owners reported, with the median mileage when the problem happened.
| Problem area | Complaints | Share | Median miles | Owners mention most | Typical repair cost |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Power Train | 6 | 33% | 48,000 | — | — |
| Electrical System | 3 | 17% | 116,500 | — | — |
| Fuel System, Gasoline | 2 | 11% | — | — | — |
| Suspension | 2 | 11% | 120,000 | — | — |
| Tires | 2 | 11% | — | — | — |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 2 | 11% | 101,000 | — | — |
| Engine | 1 | 6% | — | — | — |
| Engine and Engine Cooling | 1 | 6% | 85,106 | — | — |
| Equipment | 1 | 6% | — | — | — |
| Fuel System, Other | 1 | 6% | 85,106 | — | — |
| Unknown or Other | 1 | 6% | 85,106 | — | — |
One complaint can list several problem areas, so shares can add up to more than 100%.
Complaints by year received
2003 Volvo S40 recalls (2)
Tap a recall to see the problem, the risk and the fix.
Fuel system, gasoline
Problem: On certain sedans and station wagons, there may be a fuel leak from the fuel rail due to inadequate welding.
Risk: Fuel leakage in the presence of an ignition source could result in a fire.
Fix: 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.
Equipment:other:labels
Problem: 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.
Risk: This does not meet the requirements of the standard.
Fix: 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 the guide, it will be performed at no charge to the owner. Owner notification began on december 19, 2003. Owners should contact volvo at 1-800-458-1552.
To see whether a specific car still has an open recall, enter its VIN on NHTSA's official recall lookup. You can also decode a VIN here.
Recent owner reports
Short excerpts of the latest complaints filed with NHTSA, with personal details removed. Full reports can be searched on NHTSA.gov.
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…
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…
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…
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…
Other Volvo S40 years
| Year | Complaints | Recalls |
|---|---|---|
| 2011 S40 | 5 | 2 |
| 2010 S40 | 9 | 2 |
| 2009 S40 | 10 | 3 |
| 2008 S40 | 16 | 2 |
| 2007 S40 | 25 | 2 |
| 2006 S40 | 58 | 3 |
| 2005 S40 | 69 | 3 |
| 2004 S40 | 48 | 6 |
| 2003 | 18 | 2 |
| 2002 S40 | 27 | 1 |
| 2001 S40 | 84 | 2 |
| 2000 S40 | 122 | 1 |
See all Volvo S40 problems by year, every Volvo model, or the Volvo VIN decoder.
Similar Volvo models
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Frequently asked questions
What are the most common problems with the 2003 Volvo S40?
Owners most often report power train, electrical system, fuel system, gasoline problems. The top one, power train, accounts for 6 complaints.
Was there a recall on the 2003 Volvo S40?
Yes, 2 safety recalls. Enter your VIN at NHTSA.gov to check whether the repairs were done on your car.
Was the 2003 Volvo S40 a good year?
Complaint data can't fully answer that, because counts aren't adjusted for sales. Compared with other S40 model years, the 2003 has fewer complaints than most years. Always get a pre-purchase inspection and check the VIN for open recalls.