Complaints
112
Crashes
16
Fires
6
Injuries
9
Fatalities
—
Recalls
0
Worst 2001 Volvo S40 Problems
Top 3 most-reported issues with average mileage at failure.
#19 complaints
Unintended Acceleration
Avg mileage:96,557 mi
Crash-related:1
#27 complaints
Electrical Faults
Avg mileage:55,997 mi
Crash-related:1
Fires:1
#37 complaints
Hydraulic Brakes
Avg mileage:61,500 mi
Crash-related:2
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All Problems by Category
Every NHTSA complaint category for the 2001 Volvo S40.
| Component | Complaints | Crashes | Fires | Avg Mileage | Volume |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Unintended Acceleration | 9 | 1 | — | 96,557 mi | |
| Electrical Faults | 7 | 1 | 1 | 55,997 mi | |
| Hydraulic Brakes | 7 | 2 | — | 61,500 mi | |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Foundation Components:Disc:Pads | 6 | — | — | 11,082 mi | |
| Engine Problems | 5 | — | 2 | 87,056 mi | |
| Engine & Cooling | 5 | — | 1 | 63,504 mi | |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip | 4 | 1 | — | — | |
| Sunroof/Moonroof | 4 | — | — | — | |
| Airbags | 3 | 2 | — | — | |
| Air Bags:Frontal | 3 | 3 | — | — | |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Exhaust System:Emission Control | 3 | — | — | — | |
| Exterior Lighting:Headlights | 3 | 1 | — | — | |
| Fuel System | 3 | 1 | — | — | |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Power Assist:Vacuum | 3 | 1 | — | — | |
| Body Structure | 3 | — | 1 | — | |
| Air Bags:Side/Window | 2 | 1 | — | — | |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Gasoline | 2 | — | — | — | |
| Equipment:Appliance:Air Conditioner | 2 | — | — | — | |
| Automatic Transmission | 2 | — | — | — | |
| Seat Belt Issues | 2 | 1 | — | — | |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Foundation Components | 2 | — | — | — | |
| Steering Defects | 2 | — | — | — | |
| Wheel Issues | 2 | — | — | — | |
| Electrical System:12v/24v/48v Battery | 1 | — | — | — | |
| Electrical System:Ignition | 1 | — | — | — | |
| Electrical System:Wiring:Front Underhood | 1 | — | 1 | — | |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine | 1 | — | — | — | |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Exhaust System | 1 | — | — | — | |
| Other Equipment | 1 | — | — | — |
Unintended Acceleration
9
complaints
Crashes
1
Fires
—
Avg Miles
96,557
Electrical Faults
7
complaints
Crashes
1
Fires
1
Avg Miles
55,997
Hydraulic Brakes
7
complaints
Crashes
2
Fires
—
Avg Miles
61,500
Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Foundation Components:Disc:Pads
6
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
11,082
Engine Problems
5
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
2
Avg Miles
87,056
Engine & Cooling
5
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
1
Avg Miles
63,504
Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip
4
complaints
Crashes
1
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Sunroof/Moonroof
4
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Airbags
3
complaints
Crashes
2
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Air Bags:Frontal
3
complaints
Crashes
3
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Engine And Engine Cooling:Exhaust System:Emission Control
3
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Exterior Lighting:Headlights
3
complaints
Crashes
1
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Fuel System
3
complaints
Crashes
1
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Power Assist:Vacuum
3
complaints
Crashes
1
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Body Structure
3
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
1
Avg Miles
—
Air Bags:Side/Window
2
complaints
Crashes
1
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Gasoline
2
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Equipment:Appliance:Air Conditioner
2
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Automatic Transmission
2
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Seat Belt Issues
2
complaints
Crashes
1
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Foundation Components
2
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Steering Defects
2
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Wheel Issues
2
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Electrical System:12v/24v/48v Battery
1
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Electrical System:Ignition
1
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Electrical System:Wiring:Front Underhood
1
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
1
Avg Miles
—
Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine
1
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Engine And Engine Cooling:Exhaust System
1
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Other Equipment
1
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Search Owner Complaints
Read what owners actually reported to NHTSA for the 2001 Volvo S40. Type a keyword (e.g. “transmission”, “stalling”, “brakes”) to filter.
Other Volvo S40 Years
2001 Volvo S40 — FAQ
Answers based on real NHTSA complaint and recall data for this specific model year.
Is the 2001 Volvo S40 reliable?
Verdict: Above Average Complaints. The 2001 Volvo S40 has 112 NHTSA complaints, 16 crash-related, and 0 recall campaigns. The most common issue is Unintended Acceleration with 9 complaints. Source: NHTSA via VinItel.
What are common problems with the 2001 Volvo S40?
Top reported problems: Unintended Acceleration (9 complaints, avg 96,557 mi); Electrical Faults (7 complaints, avg 55,997 mi); Hydraulic Brakes (7 complaints, avg 61,500 mi). Every complaint is filed by an owner with NHTSA — this is raw reported data, not editorial opinion.
At what mileage do problems start on the 2001 Volvo S40?
The weighted average mileage at time of complaint is about 64,379 miles. Some components fail earlier, some later — check the "All Problems by Category" table above for per-issue averages.
How safe is the 2001 Volvo S40?
NHTSA complaints for the 2001 Volvo S40 include 16 crash-related reports, 6 fire reports, 9 injuries, and 0 fatalities. These are owner-reported incidents, not official crash-test ratings — a complaint being filed doesn't confirm a defect, but clusters around specific components are worth investigating.
Does the 2001 Volvo S40 have any recalls?
No NHTSA recall campaigns have been issued for the 2001 Volvo S40 as of the latest data sync. Verify by VIN for the most current status — new recalls can be issued years after a model year ships.
Should I buy a 2001 Volvo S40?
Slightly worse than average. Most owners are fine; problem clusters are concentrated around specific components. Check the issues table below and match against the specific car's mileage.
Source: NHTSA (National Highway Traffic Safety Administration) complaint and recall databases, aggregated by VinItel.
Wider context: See the full Volvo S40 reliability report with year-by-year comparison and generation analysis.
Check Your Specific 2001 Volvo S40
Real owner complaints tell you about the model. The VIN tells you about your specific car — accidents, title issues, odometer fraud.
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