The Volvo V40 has 5 NHTSA recall campaigns on record covering 2000–2004. On average a defect was admitted 0.86 years after the car was built, the slowest took 3 years. The most recalled system is Equipment (2 campaigns). Owners also filed 53 complaints on this model — see what breaks.
What was recalled on the Volvo V40
Grouped by system. Open any row for the campaigns themselves — what failed, what it risks and how the dealer fixes it, straight from the NHTSA filing.
Equipment 2 Read
What's wrong. 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…
What's wrong. 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…
What's wrong. 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…
Service Brakes, Hydraulic 2 Read
What's wrong. On certain passenger vehicles, the non-return valve may crack due to a poor weld causing a vacuum leak
Risk. If this occurs, more brake pedal force may be required to stop the vehicle and/or may experience a rough engine idle, which could result in a crash
Fix. Dealers will inspect, and if necessary, replace the vacuum hose. The recall began on november 29, 2004. Owners should contact volvo cars at 1-800-458-1552
What's wrong. On certain passenger vehicles, water can enter the electrical brake vacuum pump, causing the pump to fail
Risk. This could result in loss of power assist and an increase in needed brake pedal force, which could result in a crash
Fix. 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
Fuel System, Gasoline 1 Read
What's wrong. 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
What's wrong. 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
How long a defect stays unadmitted
Campaign numbers encode the year of the announcement, so each recall on this model can be dated against the car it applies to.
| Measure | Value |
|---|---|
| Average gap before admission | 0.86 years |
| Slowest campaign | 3 years |
| Admitted 5+ years later | —% |
| Campaigns on record | 5 |
Which V40 years were recalled most
Campaigns per model year. A year with more campaigns is not automatically worse — it may simply have sold in far greater numbers.
| Model year | Campaigns | Most recalled system |
|---|---|---|
| 2004 | Equipment | |
| 2003 | Equipment | |
| 2002 | Equipment | |
| 2001 | Equipment | |
| 2000 | Service Brakes, Hydraulic |
Check your own car
Each of these 5 campaigns covers a range of production, not every Volvo V40 ever built — two cars of the same year can differ by a single week at the plant. Whether yours is among them, and whether the free repair was already carried out, is answered only by the number on its windscreen: check this V40 by VIN.
| Step | What you get |
|---|---|
| Enter the VIN above | Open campaigns for that exact vehicle, straight from NHTSA |
| Check the repair status | Whether the free fix has already been carried out on this car |
| Book at any franchised dealer | Recall work is free regardless of age, mileage or owner |
A campaign on one model says little about the brand as a whole — see how the Volvo V40 compares in the full recall check by make and model →
A campaign covers a production range. Yours is one car.
- Check whether this exact VIN is affected — and whether the fix was done
- Alerts if a new campaign lands on a car in your garage
- Full research report as a PDF you can hand to a mechanic
- Decode a whole list of VINs at once
- No ads, on every page
- No ads, no tracking — and much more
Frequently asked questions
How many recalls does the Volvo V40 have?
5 NHTSA campaigns on record, covering 2000–2004. Not every campaign applies to every car — coverage is by production range, so check your VIN.
Is recall work free?
Yes. Safety recall repairs are free at any franchised dealer regardless of the car's age, mileage or how many owners it has had. That is a federal requirement, not a courtesy.
How do I know if my V40 still has an open recall?
Enter its VIN above. We show campaigns that apply to that exact vehicle and whether the repair has already been recorded as done.
Why did a defect take years to be recalled?
On this model the average gap between the car being built and the defect being admitted is 0.86 years, and the slowest campaign came 3 years later. Defects usually surface as they accumulate in the field: complaints pile up, an investigation opens, and only then is a campaign issued.
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