2002 Volvo S40: Reliability Data

Source: NHTSA — 34 complaints
34
Total Complaints
42,000mi
Median Mileage
EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HEADLIGHTS
Top Issue
5
Crash Reports

When Do Complaints Happen?

Distribution of NHTSA complaints by vehicle mileage at time of report.

13,000 25th Percentile
42,000 Median Mileage
109,400 75th Percentile

What Fails?

Most reported component issues from NHTSA complaints.

EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HEADLIGHTS
3
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
3
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL
2
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DISC:PADS
2
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
2
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
2
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
2
SUSPENSION
2
SEAT BELTS:FRONT
1
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:HORN
1

Severity Assessment

5
Crashes
0
Fires
3
Injuries
0
Deaths

Sample Complaint Reports

"ANITI-LOCK BRAKES ARE NOT WORKING PROPERLY, DO NOT GRAB LIKE THEY SHOULD AND CLICK. CONTACTED DEALER. THIS WAS COMMON PROBLEM.*AK"
"THERE IS A DANGEROUS REFLECTION OF THE TAUPE DASH OFF THE WINDSHIELD OF MY NEW VOLVO, WHICH THE COMPANY HAS REFUSED TO ACKNOWLEDGE. OTHERS HAVE NOTICED THIS AS WELL: SEE WWW.VOLVOSPY.COM. THIS CREATES A VERY DANGEROUS SITUATION IN DAYLIGHT, SO MUCH SO THAT THE GLARE IN DAYLIGHT, PRESENT WHEN THE SUN..."
"WHILE DRIVING 35 MPH THE CONSUMER WAS INVOLVED IN A FRONTAL COLLISION BUT THE AIRBAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. THE MANUFACTURER INDICATED THAT THE SYSTEM WORKED PROPERLY. *JB *NLM"

Source: NHTSA ODI Complaints Database. Names and identifying details omitted.

Data source: View this vehicle on NHTSA.gov | NHTSA ODI Complaints Database. Public domain.

Methodology: Complaint counts and mileage distributions are computed directly from consumer-reported NHTSA complaints. This data represents reported issues, not failure rates — vehicles without complaints are not represented. Full methodology.

Data through: 2026-03-28