2013 Volvo V40 problems and owner complaints
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
1 owner complaints analyzed
0 distinct recall campaigns
1,000 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 2013 model year. Data updated: . 1 complaints include usable failure mileage. View data status.
This selection has limited data. It remains available for lookup but is excluded from search indexing.
Most common problems
Unknown Or Other is the most frequently named component, appearing in 1 of 1 complaints (100.0%). A complaint can name multiple components.
Component breakdown
Number of unique complaints naming each component. Top eight shown.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Unknown Or Other | 1 |
Unknown Or Other: 1
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 1 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 0 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 0 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 0 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 0 |
| 150,000 and above | 0 |
Under 25,000: 1; 25,000 to 49,999: 0; 50,000 to 74,999: 0; 75,000 to 99,999: 0; 100,000 to 149,999: 0; 150,000 and above: 0
Under 25,000 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (1). 0 complaints have missing, zero or invalid mileage.
Complaints over time
Year the complaint was filed, not the vehicle model year or incident year. The snapshot year is partial.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| 2019 | 1 |
2019: 1
Pattern summary
Unknown Or Other leads the component reports. Use these patterns to inspect individual reports and prepare questions for a mechanic.
Calculated from recorded counts. An AI narrative has not been published for this selection.
Complaint evidence
Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.
Vehicle analysis explorer
Inspect model-year patterns, reported mileage, monthly activity and the evidence behind each signal.
Data completeness
1 unique complaints in this selection. Analysis snapshot: 2026-09-30.
Missing, zero and invalid mileage is excluded. Dates after the snapshot are excluded. Examples are limited selections, not a representative sample.
Problems by model year
Model-wide comparison of the eight most reported components across the model. Cells show counts and shares within each model year. Open a cell for source examples.
| Component | 2000 | 2001 | 2002 | 2003 | 2004 | 2013 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip | 714.0%ODI 10011979WHEN THE DRIVER APPLIED THE ABS BRAKES THEY LOCKED UP RESULTING IN EXTENDED STOPPING DISTANCE. *NLM | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. |
| Engine And Engine Cooling | 510.0%ODI 10011976WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE JERKED AND THEN THE ENGINE LIGHT ILLUMINATED AND STAYED ON THE REMAINDER OF THE TIME VEHICLE WAS BEING OPERATED. DEALER NOTIFIED. *NLM | 19.1%ODI 10201268 · 56,000 mi2005 (SEP/NOV/DEC): ENGINE CHECK LIGHT ON 3 TIMES. DEALER REPAIRED ALL 3 TIMES AND FOLLOWING MONTHS, WHICH IS 2006, HAVING SUDDEN SHIFTING/ACCELARATING AT LOW SPEED. DEALER FIXED 2 TIMES AND 1 TIME COULDNOT FIND THE ISSUE. AUG. 18, 2007: CONTINUED HAVING SAME PROBLEMS PLUS CAR WAS JERKING ON FWY SPEED. TWO DAYS LATER, I COULDN'T START THE CAR. DEALER REPLACE NEG. BATTERY CABLE AND #4 IGNITION COIL. AUG.21, 2007: CALLED TO INFORM VOLVO NORTH AMERICA AND THEY SUGGESTED THAT I SHOULD TALK TO DEALER SERVICE MANAGER. AUG. 27, 2007: THE CAR … | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic | 36.0%ODI 10031964MOISTURE IN THE VACUUM SYSTEM CAUSED THE VACUUM PUMP TO FAIL. WHEN IT WAS COLD THE VEHICLE'S BRAKES DIDN'T FUNCTION AT ALL. THE REAR BRAKES FAILED DUE TO A DEFECT IN THE BRAKE SYSTEM. THE MANUFACTURER REFUSED TO PAY TO REPLACE THE SYSTEM *AK *NM | 218.2%ODI 10023457 · 17,002 miVOLVO 2001 V-40 SATION WAGON: REAR BRAKE PADS COMPLETELY GONE BY 17000 MILES, LEADING TO ROTOR DAMAGE AND UNSAFE BRAKING. INSPECTION AT 15200 MILES SHOWED NO BRAKE RELATED ABNORMALITIES. VOLVO CUSTOMER RELATIONS SAID FAST WEARING OUT OF BRAKES IS COMMON IN THIS MODEL. *NLM | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 150.0%ODI 10331101 · 30,000 mi"2003 VOLVO V40 COLD START BRAKE FAILURE" ON COLD WINTER MORNINGS, WHEN TEMPERATURE IS BELOW FREEZING, AFTER THE ENGINE IS STARTED AND AS I BACK OUT OF MY GARAGE, THE BRAKE IS SO WEAK THAT I CANNOT EFFECTIVELY STOP THE VEHICLE. I WOULD NEED TO PRESS THE BRAKE PEDAL AS HARD AS I CAN AND THE CAR WOULD STOP IN ABOUT A FULL CAR'S LENGTH. IT'S QUITE SCARY. THE PROBLEM ALWAYS GOES AWAY IN ABOUT 1 TO 2 MINUTES. THIS ONLY HAPPENS OCCASIONALLY, ABOUT 2 TO 3 TIMES A MONTH IN THE WINTER, BUT I AM NOT ABLE TO PREDICT WHEN IT HAPPENS. I HAVE COMPLAINE… | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 48.0%ODI 10193693 · 103,246 miTHE VEHICLE BOTH ACCELERATED AND DECELERATED WITHOUT INPUT, PLACING ME IN A VERY UNSAFE SITUATION. WHEN I STOPPED THE CAR THE ENGINE, WHICH HAD OVERHEATED, THE RADIATOR HOSE BLEW OUT. THE RADIATOR HOSE WAS REPLACED. I AM CURRENTLY DISCUSSING CORRECTION TO THE ELECTRONIC THROTTLE MODULE WHICH APPEARED TO BE A PROBLEM WITH THIS MAKE AND MODEL. *AK | 19.1%ODI 10025922TRANSMISSION SLIPS, RPM/SPEED INCREASES AT APPROX 30 MPH INTERMITTENTLY AND AFTER A TURN FOR APPROX 1-2 SECONDS, CAUSING AN UNSAFE, AND ALARMING EXPERIENCE. *AK | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Foundation Components:Disc:Pads | 48.0%ODI 735281AT 15K MILES FRONT BRAKE PADS HAD TO BE REPLACED. DEALER ADVISED THAT IS NORMAL. REAR BRAKES SHOULD LAST 30K MILES. NOT COVERED UNDER WARRANTY. *AK | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Power Assist:Vacuum | 24.0%ODI 10030825BRAKE SYSTEM IN CAR WORKS POORLY WHEN CAR IS COLD OR LEFT FOR A FEW HOURS. SIGNIFICANTLY MORE BRAKE PRESSURE IS REQUIRED TO STOP THE CAR WHEN CAR IS COLD. PROBLEM HAS BEEN "FIXED" THREE TIMES BUT HAS RETURNED AGAIN. EVIDENTLY THIS IS RELATED TO FAILURE OF A VACUUM PUMP USED TO PROVIDE ADDITIONAL BRAKE VACUUM FOR THE MASTER CYLINDER WHEN THE ENGINE IS COLD.*AK | 19.1%ODI 10025924 · 25,000 miNO BRAKES UPON INITIAL START AND SHORTLY THERAFTER, VEHICLE IDLED FOR APPROXIMATELY 6 HOURS. DEALER RESET CHECK VALVE AND SAID THEY DO NOT HAVE TO REPLACE ASSEMBLY, COMPUTER SAID OKAY. *AK | 125.0%ODI 10300349 · 90,000 miTL*THE CONTACT OWNS A USED 2002 VOLVO V40 WHICH WAS PURCHASED IN 2002. HE STATED THAT IN ORDER FOR THE VEHICLE TO STOP, HE HAD TO APPLY EXTREME FORCE TO THE BRAKE PEDAL. THE FAILURE WOULD OCCUR AT VARIOUS SPEEDS, INCLUDING 5 MPH. HE ALSO STATED THAT THE BRAKE PEDAL WOULD BE DEPRESSED TO THE FLOOR-BOARDS BEFORE THEY WOULD ACTIVATE. ALTHOUGH RECALL CAMPAIGN NUMBER 03V474000, SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC POWER ASSIST, VACUUM IS RELATED TO THE FAILURE AS A RESULT OF NHTSA ACTION NUMBER EA02026, HIS VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN IN… | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. |
| Electrical System | 24.0%ODI 10409415 · 83,000 mi2000 VOLVO V40 - VERY WELL MAINTAINED, 2ND OWNER, APPROXIMATELY 83,000 MILES. I STARTED NOTICING THAT THE CAR WOULD SURGE ON THE HIGHWAY WITH THE A/C ON AND WHEN I HAD STEADY PRESSURE ON THE ACCELERATOR (I.E. ICRUISING AT A STEADY SPEED). THE SURGE IN RPM'S WOULD BE RHYTHMIC, VERY SUBTLE (100-200 RPMS) AND CONTINUE INDEFINITELY UNTIL I TURN THE A/C OFF - AT WHICH TIME THEY WOULD CEASE. THEY WOULD SOMETIMES RESUME WHEN I TURNED THE A/C COMPRESSOR BACK ON. THIS HAPPENED INFREQUENTLY OVER THE PAST MONTH (IT'S JUNE IN CT, MY STATE OF RESIDENCE) A… | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 125.0%ODI 10243566 · 50,200 miI HAVE A 2002 VOLVO V40 AND IT HAS 50,200 MILES. MY DAUGHTER DRIVES THE CAR. I HAVE NOTICED THAT THE CAR ENGINE STALLS WHILE DRIVING AT SLOWER SPEEDS. THIS HAS HAPPENED TO ME OCCASIONALLY AND I CAN COUNT LIKE 20 TIMES. MY DAUGHTER EXPERIENCED THIS AND I DO NOT HAVE A COUNT. I CALLED CARLSEN VOLVO (650 - 493-1515 X 254) IN PALO ALTO AND THE SERVICE REP, DAN SAID THAT THE CAR HAS NO RECALL. THE CAR STALLED WHEN I DROVE IT TO COSTCO IN REDWOOD CITY FOR TIRE CHANGE ON 9/19/2008. CAN YOU TELL ME HOW I CAN RESOLVE THIS PROBLEM BEFORE A MAJOR… | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine | 12.0%ODI 10103256 · 27,227 miMOTOR MOUNTS BROKE WHILE BEING SERVICED BY THE DEALER. CONSUMER FELT THE PART WAS DEFECTIVE UPON DELIVERY. *AK THE LEFT AND RIGHT ENGINE MOTOR MOUNTS COLLAPSED. THE RIGHT AND LEFT SIDE UPPER ENGINE MOUNT WAS REPLACED. *SC *JB | 218.2%ODI 10132411 · 41,901 miOVER THE WEEKEND MY CHECK ENGINE CAME ON IN MY V40 WAGON. WHEN IDLE IT ACTED AS IF IT WAS GOING TO STALL. A FEW TIMES IT DID, WHEN IDLE AT A STOP. IT DID RESTART MOST OF THE TIME RIGHT AWAY, BUT A FEW TIMES IT TOOK A COUPLE OF TRIES AND WAITING. I MADE AN APPOINTMENT TO BRING IT IN FOR SERVICE ON 6/28. ON 6/27 I WAS TAKING MY 7 MONTH OLD BABY TO DAY CARE WHEN IT STALLED IN THE MIDDLE OF DRIVING. LUCKILY THERE WAS NO ONE BEHIND ME AND I WAS ABLE TO PULL TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. THE CAR WENT COMPLETELY DEAD WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 45 MPH. … | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. |
Darker cells indicate a larger share of submitted complaints. Components overlap. This measures complaint composition, not failure probability.
Failure mileage by component
Median and middle 50% of usable owner-reported mileages. Ranges require at least five records.
| Component | Mileage range (25th–75th percentile) | Median | Usable records | Examples |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Unknown Or Other | Too few reports for a range | 1,000 mi | 1 (sparse) | ODI 11180205 · 1,000 miHELLO . I APPOLOGIZE FROM MY BROKEN ENGLISH. THERE IS URGENT AND IMPORTANT SAFETY ISSUE ABOUT VOLVO 2014 V40 AND PROPABLY SIMILAR VOLVO 2014 MODELS . ALL V40 S , IN NIGHT LIGHT , NIGHT TIME DARKNESS, LOOSE THEIR COLLISION WARNING SYSTEM EVERY EXACTLY 18 MINUTES OF ENGINE RUNING TIME . YOU MUST STOP ENGINE , SWITCH OFF ENGINE AND START AGAIN TO SOLVE THE PROBLEM TO ANOTHER 18 MINUTES TIME . IT IS OBVIOUSLY SOFTWARE MALFUNCTION . WE HAVE 3 VOLVO V40 S IN OUR FAMILY , 2 IS MINE. EVERY 3 V40 S HAVE SAME PROBLEM. IN DAY LIGHT WORKS VERY GOOD . IN N… |
Complaint and recall timeline
Explore monthly filing activity alongside recall announcements. Up to ten years of monthly history is available.
Solid line: filed complaints. Dashed amber lines: recall announcement dates for this vehicle selection; markers include all recall components. The latest month is partial. Temporal proximity does not establish causation.
Monthly counts, recall campaigns and complaint examples
| Month | Complaints | Campaigns announced | Examples |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2024-10 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2024-11 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2024-12 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2025-01 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2025-02 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2025-03 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2025-04 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2025-05 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2025-06 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2025-07 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2025-08 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2025-09 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2025-10 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2025-11 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2025-12 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2026-01 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2026-02 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2026-03 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2026-04 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2026-05 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2026-06 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2026-07 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2026-08 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2026-09 (partial) | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
Emerging complaint spikes
Complete months in the latest six months with at least 10 complaints, at least twice the preceding 12-month average, and at least three square-root deviations above that average.
This is a descriptive screening rule, not a statistical defect finding. Publicity and reporting changes can increase submissions.
No complete months meet the spike thresholds for this selection.
Equal-age model-year comparison
Model-wide cumulative reports during the first three or five calendar years, starting with the model year (age 0). Only fully elapsed windows are compared.
2004: 2 complaints · 2013: 0 complaints
| Model year | Through age 0 | Through age 1 | Through age 2 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2004 | 1 | 2 | 2 |
| 2013 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Date coverage across each selected cohort
| Year | Incident dates used | Filing date fallbacks | Excluded dates |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2004 | 4 | 0 | 0 |
| 2013 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
Incident date is preferred when valid and no later than filing; otherwise filing date is used. Model year approximates age. Equal observation time does not adjust for sales, distance driven or reporting delays. One complaint linked to multiple model years can appear in each cohort.
Components reported together
Each cell counts unique complaints naming both components. Open a nonzero cell for examples.
| Component | Unknown Or Other |
|---|---|
| Unknown Or Other | — |
Co-reporting does not establish that one component caused another concern.
Recurring narrative patterns
Specific keyword mentions beyond broad component labels. Matching includes negations and comparisons and does not confirm a diagnosis.
0 patterns with matching reports.
No narratives match the published patterns.