2000 Volvo S40 problems

Filed Jun 30, 2021 · Airbags · PA · crash · 1 injury

This is to describe airbag injuries. My car performed well. If not for the airbag and good construction of this Volvo I would not be here to ask for your help. I am wondering why we still use explosive materials and a device that causes so many injuries. There has to be another device to absorb the force of impact than an explosive device that injures, maim, and can kill people. I want to send images of my injuries which are extensive. Is this what happens each time the airbags ignite? I was close due to my small stature. The bag hit me in the chest and face. Volvo is a safe car. I was traveling at 55mph, a woman stopped her car in the passing lane feet in front of me, everyone was doing 55 mph and more. There was nowhere to go to escape the impact. Frederick, MD Hwy 15 South at 7th Street has many oncoming ramps, there needs to be warning about oncoming and stopped vehicles. The speed limit is 65mph before these fast-moving on-ramps. A flashing light would also help.

Filed Aug 8, 2018 · Acceleration, Brakes · 148,800 miles · CA

The car has problems starting and takes a few tries before starting up. Have also had a problem where the car was in park with the parking brake engaged and the car was revving on its own. There have also been problems while the car has been slowing down on the freeway, specifically when the brakes are being engaged the car will attempt to move forward as though it is trying to push pass the fact that the brakes are being engaged. As well as the car will accelerate faster than the gas pedal is being pushed e.g when the gas pedal is slightly pushed the car will accelerate quickly as though the gas pedal was being pushed upon firmly.

Filed Jan 29, 2016 · Electrical, Fuel system · 103,000 miles · WA

This happened yesterday 1/28/16 and in april 2015 (the dealership "fixed it" but it didn't work!!!!) yesterday, while driving home from work, the car did the scariest thing I've ever experienced while driving. All the lights on the dash, all the warning lights flashed several times and the car came to a complete standstill. No power at all. It didn't slow to a stall, no weird sounds...it just literally stopped in it's tracks. Right there, in the road. All of a sudden my car shut off. When I say shut off I mean the headlights, dome lights, engine....anything that was electrical completely shut off. This would include the steering wheel locking up. Imagine driving on the freeway/highway in the middle of the night with traffic around you and your lights going out, steering wheel locking and having no way to control the vehicle. This could have killed me and my baby. Last night, I has nightmares all night long of that happening on the freeway or the trestle with my baby. Where I drive frequently. Had that have happened there, I could have been killed especially if a semi truck was behind me, as is often the case. They can't stop that fast. Most people can't stop that fast going 55-75 MPH. I had been on the trestle about 15 minutes before it happened. And I am petrified to think what could have happened since I often have my baby in the car. The car is at the dealership in service. They cannot find anything wrong with it. The check engine light didn't come on, so there are no codes. They cannot get it do it again.

Filed Dec 17, 2014 · Acceleration · 99,900 miles · MD

Tl* the contact owns a 2000 volvo s40. The contact stated that while driving at various speeds, the vehicle accelerated independently without warning. The contact mentioned that the brake pedal was depressed in order to slow down or stop the vehicle. The failure occurred on multiple occasions. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 99,900.

Filed Apr 25, 2013 · Brakes, Engine · 151,000 miles · MA · crash

I was stopped at a red light behind several cars. The light turned green and I took my foot off the brake, but did not put my foot on the accelerator. The car engine revved up and lurched forward despite me attempting to brake heavily. The brakes would not fully decompress causing me to rear end the vehicle in front of me. I purchased the car used with 134,100 miles. I noticed about 5 months after purchase that the engine would rev and the RPM's would remain high without pressing on the accelerator and the car will move approximately 10-15 MPH without pressing on the accelerator. When roads are wet or when it has been raining, the car is difficult in braking and the brakes often "freeze" where the brake pedal cannot be depressed. Brakes were replaced, but the issue persists. Also, at times, the car engine continues to rev when pressing on the brakes. Lastly, the engine light came on, it was indicated via a diagnostic test that there was a misfire with one of the spark plug coils. All spark plugs and coils/ignition coils were replaced, engine light persisted. At the time the temp sensor and the thermostat was replaced as the ignition coils and spark plugs did not alleviate the issue. When a following diagnostic test was performed indicated that the coolant temp sensor has low voltage. Sometimes the car engine will turn, but the car will not fully turn on and I need to wait about 10 minutes (or until the fan turns off) before being able to attempt to start the car. Due to the issues with the car, the car cannot get an inspection sticker, and it does not seem safe to drive. Due to massachusetts car laws, we cannot sell the car due to lemon law and the car is worth more than scraping. We also had a broken axel and coil that were replaced after hitting a pothole.

Filed Oct 9, 2012 · Acceleration · 95,000 miles · NY

Tl* the contact owns a 2000 volvo s40. The contact stated that while traveling 30 MPH the vehicle's speed erroneously increased to 55 MPH. The contact firmly depressed the brake pedal to stop the vehicle. The contact merged to the side of the road to restart the vehicle. The vehicle then functioned as normal. The vehicle was taken to a mechanic where it was found that the coolant temperature sensor had failed. The vehicle was repaired. The failure recurred several times after the repair. The failure mileage was 95,000 and the current mileage was 96,828. Updated 11/13/12 *cn the idle control valve as replaced to correct the problem. However, the consumer continued to experience problems. Updated 11/19/12

Filed May 4, 2012 · Brakes · 151,278 miles · CA · crash · 1 injury

It was close to 9pm. I had exited the freeway to stop in a parking lot to check directions. I had been driving for about an hour, so I got out to walk around and buy a cup of coffee. I came back a few minutes later and drove out of the lot. The on ramp was about 200 yards away and there was a red light at the intersection, so I was only moving at around 20mph. I was the only car in my lane, so about 100 feet away from the intersection I pressed down on my brake pedal, but the for some reason it the car kept rolling. I tried again, but the brakes were no help as I kept rolling. Frantically, I stomped hard, floored the brakes, and my car started to slow down a little, but that time it was too late. I tried to turn to the right to avoid the flow of traffic, but an instant later I had hit an oncoming car. I don't know what went wrong. I am pretty good at maintaining the car and it had been serviced at the volvo dealer fairly recently. It's only garaged about half the time, but I live in southern california so it's never been exposed to an extreme climate or anything. There was a thunderstorm that morning, and the roads were very wet earlier in the day, but the storm broke around noon: 7 or 8 hours before I left home that night. By that time all of the roads had dried.

Filed Mar 29, 2012 · Acceleration · 74,000 miles · CA

Tl* the contact owns a 2000 volvo s40. The contact stated that the vehicle would accelerate abnormally without depressing the accelerator pedal. The failure occurred intermittently whether driving in reverse or going forward, as well as when sitting at a complete stop. The vehicle was taken to the dealer who advised that they need to repair the electronic throttle control, idle control valve and the brake system. The repairs were not completed. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 74,000.

Filed Nov 25, 2011 · 100,000 miles · OH

While driving the vehicle the rear of the vehicle swayed & there was a clunking sound that was heard. Upon inspection the rear coil springs were broken on both sides. While driving the car last week with just 130,000 miles the front end started clunking. Upon inspection the front coil springs were also found broken.

Filed Aug 25, 2011 · Acceleration · 130,000 miles · WA

Tl* the contact owns a 2000 volvo s40. The contact stated with his foot on the brake pedal there was an increase in engine rpms and the vehicle lunged forward. The vehicle was not taken to the dealer for diagnostic testing. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure and current mileage was 130,000.