Edmunds.com | Inside Line | Auto Observer Your Account | Help | Directory
You are here:
![[F]](http://a332.g.akamai.net/f/332/936/12h/www.edmunds.com/media/townhall/webxicons/site.gif){kind=small}
Forums
Wagons Older Volvo Wagons Volvo V40 - Information & Experiences
197 messages, Last post on Nov 10, 2009 at 11:25 AM
You are in the Older Volvo Wagons Forum. Your Host is kcram
Join other Volvo enthusiasts in Edmunds.com Volvo Owners Club!
|
I have a 2004 V40 with 38k miles on it. I have had many of the problems people here have been talking about. Here is my list: -The leather on the steering wheel just started bubbling and peeling away. Took the car to Volvo and they replaced the steering wheel. -The leather on the seats is wearing away also and I predict that I will be forced to either have the seat re-upholstered or buy a new seat by next year. -The paint is not very resistant to nicks and dings... or the clear coat is of low quality. I have a 97 4Runner with over 150k miles on it and it does not have near to the amount of nicks in the paint as the 1 year old Volvo does. -When first starting the car in the morning (I park my car in the garage every night) The breaks barely work. The first time this happened I took it into our dealer and they said they could not find a problem. The problem still persists. I have found there is a 'RECALL' for this exact same problem. -For some reason, at various times, the steering wheel shakes/shimmies. Does not appear to be out of alignment. When I let go of the wheel the car maintains a straight path. Feels like the front end is shaking or almost like the engine is working very hard. -The head lights have both been hit by rocks and at near to $500 a light... I can not really afford that, waiting for one to end up in a junk yard or 3rd party light. I did find that Volvo sells a plastic cover for the lights to help protect them from this. If your lights are still in crack free, you might want to rush out and by these 'sticker' type covers. I am hoping for some kind of after market hard plastic cover someday. -I live in a wet area (Olympia, WA)and taking off on a hill, the front end slides out. I have not predicted a time when using the 'W' button in advance before starting off and spinning tires on the street. Also if the road is just a bit wet or even slippery, the front end will give out and so far I've managed to gain control before crashing (so now we drive very carefully in these situations) -I have one break light that keeps burning out. I burned out my first one after three months; Volvo replaced it and checked the electrical. Good to go until about 7 months of ownership. Took it to Volvo, replaced it, good to go. Now at 13 months of ownership the light that says my break light is going out goes on occasionally. But the break light is good. I don't understand. -There was this plastic piece that sits on the end of track that the seat slides back and forth on. It fell off and I guess it broke off. That was after 2 months of ownership. I think they ordered a new one? -I was disappointed that I was not notified of the recalls to my vehicle. I will call the number on Monday. -One of the rear seat belts is having a problem at the buckle. 3 out of 5 attempts to insert the belt into the buckle results in a fail to secure. -The dealer in Fife, Wa. has always been excellent. But the dealer in Olympia (which has won all kinds of awards for customer satisfaction) has been miserable and unfriendly. I agree with an earlier post that if you are unhappy with one dealer go to another. I drive a good 40 miles to go to the Fife dealer where the Olympia dealer is about 10 miles away. -Fuel Economy is also decreasing, the trip meter says I am getting from 28 to 32. But on paper, it is closer to 18 to 24. Normal Driving. I have been on time with every service interval. -The factory radio is dangerous while driving because you MUST look (not just a quick glance) at it when making adjustments. -The 12 Volt DC receptacle can only handle 20Amps and I wish it could handle 30Amps so I could plug in 30Amp DC to AC converter that I bought from Radio Shack. AND I can not find one that is less than 30Amps -Some times the door locks on the car just open. And other times, the rear door locks will not open with-out pushing the lock and unlock and lock and unlock sequence on the button. -The plastic on the key is breaking over the buttons. At times I like the car and at times I don't. I did like it when I drove it off the lot, but a little over year later, I am not very happy with my choice. If the car was 5 years old, then I would be more understanding; thinking wear and tear. I don't think I will be buy another Volvo... Nor am I recommending them when people ask me my opinion. I tell them my experience with my V40. I admit I mostly bought the car based on Volvo's reputation and I am disappointed. I understand this is a long entry. I contemplate daily now if it will be worth the effort writing to Volvo expressing my experiences, disappointment, and troubles I have had with my V40. This blog came in handy in clearing my thoughts. AND this is my own account with my V40 that cost me $28K (A lot of money for me). I have been very satisfied with the service I have received from the Volvo Dealer in Fife, and this next visit will be the first time I will have to pay. Enough for now... Perhaps after next week when I take my car to the dealer and get ready to fork over the big bucks for a one year old car for things that normally don't go wrong on a one year old car with 38K miles on it, I will post the results here.
|
|
is there a way to get the code for the reason that the check engine light is coming on without going to a mechanic
|
|
|
Replying to: jared1024 (Dec 14, 2005 8:07 am) You could buy an obd-II reader and pull the code. There are some universal codes, but alot are Volvo specific. Some auto parts places will pull the code for you free of charge. You would still have to have a mechanic correct whatever is wrong
|
|
|
Replying to: calvin7 (Nov 25, 2005 2:44 pm) I have always felt that none of the European brands are as reliable as perhaps one would hope. My own experience with a VW and an Opel(Catera) bear this out. European cars just seem to have a desireabitity that the Japanese brands lack. And Volvo is no different...I don't own one yet(just two months into this),but the cars do strike me very favorably. Ergonomically they seem perfect....And I do believe they are the safest brand on the road. And I can believe that they might have many niggling problems such as you have reported....They do seem very durable all the same...I've seem many recently pushing 250,000 miles..... |
|
I have a 2000 V40 that cranks for a long time before starting. Because of dealer location it is diffacult to get this car to Volvo for repair so I took it to a local forign car mechanic. He checked the car with his computer and found it had a bad crankshaft sensor. The car has 128000 miles so the timing belt and water pump were also replaced along with the sensor. The car still had the same starting problem . After another check on his computer a code came up for a bad MAP sensor. The MAP sensor was replaced and the problem still existis. After $1,300.00 and four trips back to the shop I don't know what to do! Has anyone had this problem or know how to fix it?
|
|
|
I went to fill up my gas tank the other day following some wet weather and the automatic gas tank would not unlock. While searching the spare tire area of the car, looking for a tool to manualy open the gas tank, I found about two inches of water where the spare tire sits. Anyone else have this problem?
|
|
|
Replying to: barndoctor (Sep 10, 2005 7:30 pm) |
|
Is this car and the V50 availble with factory Sirius radio or an Ipod adapter?
|
|
|
Replying to: rambo5 (Jan 19, 2006 4:45 pm) No Volvo's are available w/ factory Sirius or ipod. IPod adaptors aren't available for the S40, yet. |
|
|
Replying to: volvomax (Dec 14, 2005 8:45 am) Just signed up, have a question on the engine light. It came on a few weeks ago, went to volvo dealership and had a part replaced. Then a week later it came on again, went back to the dealership. They worked on it for 12 hours and couldn't figure out why the light was on? Only one part wasn't reading anything on the computer. They swamped parts out and placed in another V40 and everything was fine. Then the light turned OFF. I have a warranty so they replaced the entire computer. The light stayed off. Just called to come get it and they said the light came back on briefly. Anyone had problems like this or can offer advice? Seems to be running okay, they said all the techs looked at it a volvo specialists couldn't find the reason it came on. Should I drive it? Please help. Happy with the car otherwise 
|
|
You are here:
Forums
Wagons Older Volvo Wagons Volvo V40 - Information & Experiences
New? Join Now!
Forum Tools
Search Forums
Browse by Vehicle
2004 Volvo V40
Browse by Board
Browse by Topic
Today's Chats
