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2001 Volvo S40 Recalls, Complaints & Specs

2 safety recalls list the 2001 Volvo S40, and owners have filed 84 complaints with NHTSA. Check your own VIN below.

2
safety recalls
84
owner complaints to NHTSA
11 / 4
complaints citing a crash / fire
23
MPG combined (EPA)

2 safety recalls for the 2001 Volvo S40

Most recent first. Recall repairs are free at any authorised dealer. Click a recall for the full defect, consequence and remedy text.

  1. Labels (equipment)

    NHTSA 03V284000 Reported 220,407 vehicles potentially affected VOLVO CARS OF N.A. LLC.

    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.

    Remedy: 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…

  2. Air conditioner (equipment)

    NHTSA 01V169000 Reported 19,000 vehicles potentially affected VOLVO CARS OF NA, INC.

    Vehicle description: sedan and wagon passenger vehicles. A diode in the electronic climate control system may have a reduced service life.

    Remedy: Dealers will install an adapter with a diode fitted to the heater fan motor. Owner notification began june 11, 2001. Owners who take their vehicles to an authorized dealer on an agreed upon service date and do not…

84 owner complaints filed with NHTSA

Owners of the 2001 Volvo S40 have filed 84 complaints with NHTSA; 11 describe a crash and 4 describe a fire. Reports cite 5 injuries and 0 deaths. The average mileage at failure in those reports is 70,774 miles. Complaints peaked in 2001 with 14 filed that year.

Most-reported components

What owners are reporting

“Me an my husband was driving the car an it started to run hot so we went an got the part to go on the car an when when we got back to my father in law house the car cut off an started to smoke real ba”

Owner complaint to NHTSA, July 16, 2020 · Structure

“I bought a 2001 volvo s40 from tom blevins owner of popples garage. The odometer quit working as soon as i bought it. The key would get stuck in the ignition and would have to be left in the ignition.”

Owner complaint to NHTSA, August 13, 2019 · Fuel/propulsion system

Fuel economy and specs

EPA ratings for the 2001 Volvo S40 (S40 FWD). Ranges cover every tested configuration.

Combined23 mpg
City / Highway20 / 29
FuelPremium
EPA classCompact Cars
Engine4 cyl, 1.9 L
TransmissionAutomatic 5-spd

Compare Volvo S40 model years

Recall and complaint counts for every Volvo S40 model year in NHTSA's database.

Model yearRecallsComplaints
2000 Volvo S401122
2001 Volvo S40284
2002 Volvo S40127
2003 Volvo S40218
2004 Volvo S40648
2005 Volvo S40369
2006 Volvo S40358
2007 Volvo S40225
2008 Volvo S40216
2009 Volvo S40310
2010 Volvo S4029
2011 Volvo S4025

Checking a specific 2001 Volvo S40

How do I know if my 2001 Volvo S40 has an open recall?

Enter your 17-character VIN above. The VIN is on the driver's side dashboard (visible through the windshield), the driver's door jamb sticker, and your registration or insurance card. The check runs against NHTSA's live database and tells you which campaigns list your vehicle. 2 campaigns currently list the 2001 Volvo S40; your car may already have been repaired under some of them.

Is the recall repair free?

Yes. Under federal law, manufacturers must fix safety recalls at no charge for vehicles up to 15 years old from the date of sale to the first owner. Contact any authorised Volvo dealer with your VIN and the NHTSA campaign number (for example 01V169000).

What is the difference between a recall and a complaint?

A recall is a safety campaign filed by the manufacturer or ordered by NHTSA, with a defined defect and remedy. A complaint is a report an owner sent to NHTSA; it is not verified, but patterns of complaints are what trigger NHTSA investigations and, eventually, recalls.

Other Volvo models

Source: NHTSA recall and complaint databases and EPA fuel economy data, October 2026. Complaint counts are owner reports to NHTSA, not verified defects. Recall counts are safety campaigns that list this model year; whether a particular car was already repaired depends on its VIN. How this data is compiled.