2003 Volvo V40 Problems, Complaints & Recalls
- Compared with other V40 years
- Not enough data 5th of 6 for complaints
- Safety recalls
- 2 recalls: check your VIN
- NHTSA crash rating
- Not rated
Owners have filed 2 complaints with NHTSA about the 2003 Volvo V40. That ranks 5th out of 6 V40 model years for complaints. The most reported problem area is seat belts (1 complaints, 50%), typically at around 18,000 miles. There are 2 safety recalls covering this model year.
- 2owner 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 V40 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Seat Belts | 1 | 50% | 18,000 | — | — |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic | 1 | 50% | 30,000 | — | — |
One complaint can list several problem areas, so shares can add up to more than 100%.
Complaints by year received
2003 Volvo V40 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.
"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…
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
Other Volvo V40 years
See all Volvo V40 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 V40?
Owners most often report seat belts, service brakes, hydraulic problems. The top one, seat belts, accounts for 1 complaint.
Was there a recall on the 2003 Volvo V40?
Yes, 2 safety recalls. Enter your VIN at NHTSA.gov to check whether the repairs were done on your car.
Was the 2003 Volvo V40 a good year?
Complaint data can't fully answer that, because counts aren't adjusted for sales. Compared with other V40 model years, the 2003 has too little data to compare. Always get a pre-purchase inspection and check the VIN for open recalls.