Most common 2003 Volvo S40 problems
Share of the 18 complaints; one complaint can involve more than one system. "~" is the median mileage when the problem started.
Volvo S40 complaints by model year
Best S40 years: 2010, 2011, 2009. Years to avoid: 2000, 2001, 2005, 2006, 2004. Compare all years →
2003 Volvo S40 recalls (2)
Fuel system, gasoline
On certain sedans and station wagons, there May be a fuel leak from the fuel rail due to inadequate welding.
Remedy: Dealers will install a v-clamp to the fuel rail. Owner notification began on January 28, 2004. Owners should contact Volvo at 1-800-458-1552.
Equipment › Other › Labels
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.
What 2003 Volvo S40 owners say
Transmission & drivetrain
Prior to latest incident, the car had occasionally gone into "limp" mode, sticking in 3rd gear but drivable. That problem would go away after a day or so. Local shop couldn't find anything definitive. Bigger problem was yesterday evening's loss of throttle control and multiple electrical issues. Idle throttle setting (eg stopped at lights) became unstable, occasionally revving upto to ~2000rpm. Moments later on suburban divided main street, throttle stuck at ~2200rpm which meant I was doing 45mph (straight line) without any pressure applied to gas pedal. Slowed on the brakes until I shifted into neutral at which time everything died (electrical) and came to a stop, short of traffic lights. Time of incident approx 8 pm est (dark), roadway fully lit thankfully. Car was pushed off street. …
My 2003 Volvo S40 has been driven fewer than 70,000 miles. All Volvo recommended service has been performed by certified mechanics and is documented. My Volvo dealer determined that the transmission had to be replaced. It is not at all reasonable to have a catastrophic transmission failure at only 70, 000 miles. I feel Volvo should be responsible for at least the cost of the replacement transmission. In addition to the cost and inconvenience, this transmission failure presented a hazard that could have resulted in a serious accident. My Volvo was being driven on a frontage road with the intention of entering a freeway. When the transmission started to slip, a right turn was made from the frontage road to a 4-lane road in an attempt to avoid high speed traffic. …
Fuel & propulsion system
I was driving when the car start to accelerated by itself, accel pedal went to the floor. I could not keep a car even by the hand brake, so as it was jumping ahead. Then the car began to blow black and white smoke out under the hood. Some how I turn off the engine, took the key and run away from the car in the middle of the traffic road. Green liquid under the car. It died on the road. Police came, the car towed. After several days of checkout : t/3.8 checkout and replaced t-stat, temp sensor, t-stat housing gasket; bg coolant flush ; pcv; engine vent; engine mechanical; bg power steering; bg brake after a week I got the same--jumping, not stable, accel pedal goes to the floor. Internal short in cyl 3 and 2 coil and fouled sparkplugs t/1.5 replaced coil pack for cyl 3 and 2 and replaced sparkplugs.
Consumer stated that banridge Volvo will not honor the recall dealing with the fuel rail. Consumer took the vehicle to the dealership on 04/22/2004.
Electrical system
Prior to latest incident, the car had occasionally gone into "limp" mode, sticking in 3rd gear but drivable. That problem would go away after a day or so. Local shop couldn't find anything definitive. Bigger problem was yesterday evening's loss of throttle control and multiple electrical issues. Idle throttle setting (eg stopped at lights) became unstable, occasionally revving upto to ~2000rpm. Moments later on suburban divided main street, throttle stuck at ~2200rpm which meant I was doing 45mph (straight line) without any pressure applied to gas pedal. Slowed on the brakes until I shifted into neutral at which time everything died (electrical) and came to a stop, short of traffic lights. Time of incident approx 8 pm est (dark), roadway fully lit thankfully. Car was pushed off street. …
I returned to my car and found that I could not turn the ignition switch and as a result of the security system my car was totally inoperative. The car had to be towed to the nearest dealer, where it was diagnosed with a broken ignition switch, specifically the device that reads the chip in the key has failed and will not accept any key. Currently the car has been sitting at the dealer for over 4 weeks. Because the keys and switches are matched we cannot get an after-market replacement switch. Further, the parts are back ordered at the dealer, back ordered at Volvo north America, back ordered at Volvo in sweden, and they cannot even get me a date when the part might be available. As an reliability engineer, the ignition switch failure would be classified as a criticality 1, single point failure, in other words it results in loss of vehicle. …
2003 Volvo S40 engines & fuel economy
| Engine | Transmission | Drive | MPG city / hwy / combined |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1.9L 4-cyl turbo | 5-speed automatic | FWD | 19 / 27 / 22 |
EPA ratings. Class: Compact car.
Frequently asked questions
Is the 2003 Volvo S40 a good car?
Based on 18 owner complaints filed with NHTSA, the 2003 S40 rates average: 36% fewer complaints than a typical year of the S40 at the same age. Complaint counts don't account for sales volume or individual maintenance, so have any used car inspected before buying.
What is the most common problem with the 2003 Volvo S40?
The transmission & drivetrain — 6 complaints, 33% of all complaints for this model year, most often about automatic transmission. Next are the fuel & propulsion system (3) and electrical system (3).
How many recalls does the 2003 Volvo S40 have?
There are 2 recalls for the 2003 Volvo S40, the most recent from October 24, 2003 (fuel system, gasoline). Recall repairs are free at any authorized dealer — check whether yours has been done with the VIN recall check.
What are the best and worst years of the Volvo S40?
The best years by complaints, compared at the same age, are 2010, 2011 and 2009. Years to avoid or approach with caution: 2000, 2001, 2005, 2006 and 2004. See the full Volvo S40 years comparison.
At what mileage do 2003 Volvo S40 problems happen?
The median mileage reported in complaints is about 85,000 miles; 33% of problems with a recorded mileage started before 50,000 miles.
Source: U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) — owner complaints through October 20, 2026, recalls and defect investigations; fuel economy from the EPA. Complaints are unverified reports and are not proof of a defect. How we rate model years.