2005 Volvo S40: brake failure

Filed Jun 15, 2014 · Brakes, Electrical · 62,700 miles · NY

(s40 2.4i) initial car message: "brake failure, pull over safely." I continued to drive home since I was a few blocks away. Message changed to "anti skid service required" then back to brake failure again. Difficulty accelerating after stopping, felt like the parking brake was on but drove ok once accelerated. Attempted to turn off car but message changed to "immobilizer, check manual" and could not turn key to off position. From what I read in the manual, it appeared that the card didn't recognize it was in park. Turned parking brake on and off a few times and was able to turn off car. Brought to local mechanic who replaced brake pad sensor and anti-stop switch. --in and out of auto repair shop 4x over the past month w/the same issues and new symptoms: wipers turned on automatically and don't shut off and new message: engine system service urgent. --mechanic replaced some rusted wires, brought to a volvo dealer who reset computer and did not find any problems. --still having same issues. Cannot put car into drive or turn off car when brake failure or anti-skid message appear but if I wait a few minutes, I can turn the car off and on a couple of times to get to the engine system service urgent message and I can then put it into drive. Sometimes all messages go away and it is fine for a few days but then the car jerks forward as if someone bumped the car and all messages appear again. New message: power steering message flashed briefly .. Although there was no problem w/the steering. Bringing to another volvo dealer.. The saga continues. --I read prior consumer complaints on this site and I also had the sunroof leakage problem in 2013. Entire floor of car was soaked, especially passenger side. Took 3 visits, weeks and $900 to get it fixed. Volvo first cleaned out the clogged line but carpets were wet again so they then replaced the entire line.

Filed May 16, 2013 · Electrical · 84,000 miles · CA

I was in the intersection ready to make a turn when the car suddenly stalled all the dash display lights went out all gauges stopped working and the windshield wipers would not go off when I tried to restart the car the dash suddenly displayed brake failure pull over safely, and immobilizer check manual and the car would not start it had to be pushed across the intersection and it has been sitting in a parking lot since then waiting to be towed this has happened on 3 different occasions since I bought the vehicle this problem needs to be fixed at company expense each time I have been fortunate enough to be in a parking lot or a public street but on the last incident I would've been on the freeway. I hope some one will call or contact me to rectify this issue I love the volvo brand but going through this make not want to continue on with any other model.

Filed Jun 4, 2012 · Electrical · 110,000 miles · RI

While driving on the highway my car began to show signs of an electrical problem. Different warnings were coming up on the control panel, alerting me to brake fluid low, as well as my current mileage disappearing. When I pulled off the highway, shut the car off, and removed the key the windshield wipers continued to run. The display messages including "brake failure, stop car safely" and "immobilizer see manual." the brakes are fine, because they worked when stopping the car and work while this message is displayed. I believe this was an electrical problem, as I was driving the car earlier in the day and no issues were arising. When I tried to restart the car it would be start saying to see the "immobilizer see manual" and would not recognize the problem. The car is now stuck in a parking lot until it can be towed to a dealer. I would appreciate this matter being investigated and recalled if possible, as this is not the first time the car has not recognized the key.

Filed Aug 9, 2011 · Electrical · 115,000 miles · NC

I own a 2005 volvo s40 t5 which I have enjoyed thus far. However every once in a while when you insert the key, which is an electronic key the message display will display "key error try again." when this happens the car will not start at all, nothing inside the car including the radio will work either. After 20 to 30 times trying to start the car the key will eventually start the car. There are 2 keys to my car and this happens with both keys, so I know it isn't the key. I have researched this online and found it to be a common problem. This happens sporadically for example it will happen several times over a week or so and then not happen for several months. It recently started about a week ago and has happened everyday since. It is embarrassing to be in such a nice car and it not start. Sometimes when this happens, in addition to the "key error try again" message the message display will also display messages including "brake failure, stop car safely" and "immobilizer see manual." the brakes are fine, because they work on the way home and work while this message is displayed. The computer in the car was reset and that seemed to help temporarily, but I believe it is an electrical problem since the car does not recognize the key. I would appreciate this matter being investigated and recalled if possible.

Filed May 3, 2006 · Brakes · 2,899 miles · MD · crash

November 15, 2005 my volvo s40's parking brake failed to work properly. After parking my car and leaving the garage the brake "slipped" and rolled out of the spot hitting another car. My car had 2,899 miles on it. When returning to my car that night I found that my parking brake had "slipped" and my volvo had drifted down the ramp of my parking garage and struck another car. The morning of the accident, I pulled into my parking spot, set my parking brake, sat in my car a few minutes collecting my personal items from my front seat, and back seat, shut front and back door and walked down the ramp while looking back to make sure that my car was locked. The owner of the other car was already on the scene writing a report with the parking garage manager when I arrive at my car that afternoon. I went to get in my volvo and move it but before I got in it, I noticed that the parking brake was still on as I had left it that morning. I showed this to both witnesses prior to getting in my volvo, they both were already aware the parking brake was on. The police were called and arrived on the scene but didn't do a report since no one was injured per their policy. I made an appointment to take my volvo to the dealership to have the parking brake checked. The next morning I called volvo corporate critical care department and expressed my safety concern about my volvo. I was instructed to take my volvo to get checked out and I informed her that I had an appointment for november 21, 2005. I was told a specialist would look the car over. When I picked my car up on november 21st I was told that the specialist looked at my volvo and the parking brake had needed to be adjusted to manufacturer's specifications because it was not in line with specifications.