The 2000 Volvo V40 has 1 NHTSA recall campaign affecting an estimated 36,000 vehicles. Recall repairs are always free at any authorized dealer. Owners have filed 67 complaints with NHTSA, most often about the service brakes, hydraulic. Last updated July 5, 2026.
Recall campaigns
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC03V4740002003-11-1736,000 affected
Defect
ON CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES, WATER CAN ENTER THE ELECTRICAL BRAKE VACUUM PUMP, CAUSING THE PUMP TO FAIL.
Consequence
THIS COULD RESULT IN LOSS OF POWER ASSIST AND AN INCREASE IN NEEDED BRAKE PEDAL FORCE, WHICH COULD RESULT IN A CRASH.
Remedy
DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE PUMP WITH A NEW AND IMPROVED VERSION AND MOVE THE PUMP TO A NEW LOCATION. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN ON MARCH 15, 2004. OWNERS SHOULD CONTACT VOLVO AT 1-800-458-1552.
Complaints by component
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP
7
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
5
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DISC:PADS
4
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
4
1crashes
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE
3
EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HEADLIGHTS
3
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
3
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS
3
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DISC
3
SUSPENSION:REAR:SPRINGS:COIL SPRINGS
3
Total complaints67
What owners report
Verbatim reports filed with NHTSA, lightly edited for readability and with personal
information removed.
“Tl* the contact owns a 2000 volvo v40. The contact shifted into reverse with the brake pedal engaged when the vehicle unintentionally accelerated and drove over a plastic trash receptacle, ceramic pot and then crashed into the side of a nearby house. There was no personal injury and the exterior…”
“2000 volvo v40 - very well maintained, 2nd owner, approximately 83,000 miles. I started noticing that the car would surge on the highway with the a/c on and when I had steady pressure on the accelerator (I.e. Icruising at a steady speed). The surge in rpm's would be rhythmic, very subtle (100-200…”
“2000 volvo v40 - very well maintained, 2nd owner, approximately 83,000 miles. I started noticing that the car would surge on the highway with the a/c on and when I had steady pressure on the accelerator (I.e. Icruising at a steady speed). The surge in rpm's would be rhythmic, very subtle (100-200…”
“2000 volvo v40 - very well maintained, 2nd owner, approximately 83,000 miles. I started noticing that the car would surge on the highway with the a/c on and when I had steady pressure on the accelerator (I.e. Icruising at a steady speed). The surge in rpm's would be rhythmic, very subtle (100-200…”
“2000 volvo v40 - very well maintained, 2nd owner, approximately 83,000 miles. I started noticing that the car would surge on the highway with the a/c on and when I had steady pressure on the accelerator (I.e. Icruising at a steady speed). The surge in rpm's would be rhythmic, very subtle (100-200…”
“Brakes failed coming into my driveway. Able to stop car by using emergency brake. Could have caused a crash. Brought to be serviced. Mechanic reported that it was failed left front brake hose due to spring support rubbing through. This hose has been replaced and the old part is available. Mechanic…”
“Vehicle idle increase on braking to about 1500 rpms. When put in park, idle increased to 4500 rpms. I tried taping the gas to see if rpms would go down. Instead rpms increased even higher to over 5500 rpms. Turned the car off. Tried to restart car and rpms immediately went high again. Turned the…”
“Failure of upper strut mount bushings causing loss of suspension / steering. Replaced for the third time on 2000 v-40 volvo. Recently volvo offered a newly designed heavy duty mount at three time the replacement cost demonstrating that original equipment mount was severely under designed. *tr”
Defect investigations
InvestigationEA02026 Opened 2002-09-10 · closed 2003-11-21
VOLVO S40/V40 MY 2000-2001
IN A NOVEMBER 6, 2003 SAFETY DEFECT REPORT, VOLVO INDICATED THAT THEY WILL CONDUCT A SAFETY-RELATED DEFECT RECALL OF THE 2000 MODEL YEAR (MY) SUBJECT VEHICLES (ABOUT 36,000 VEHICLES).VOLVO WILL ALSO CONDUCT A SERVICE CAMPAIGN OF ABOUT 31,000 2001 MY SUBJECT VEHICLES.ODI INVESTIGATED BOTH THE 2000 AND 2001 MY VEHICLES…
InvestigationPE02009 Opened 2002-01-29 · closed 2002-09-10
Recall, complaint, and investigation records from official NHTSA datasets (FLAT_RCL,
FLAT_CMPL, FLAT_INV), synced weekly. Counts reflect NHTSA records for the 2000 Volvo V40 as of
July 5, 2026. Complaint narratives are consumer-submitted and unverified. This page
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