Reliability, what owners report, and what it costs to keep.
AVOIR's read: the numbers are mixed and the complaint record is worth reading before you commit.
Owners have filed 53 complaints with NHTSA about the 2000 Volvo V40, and it carries 1 recall. These are owner allegations rather than confirmed defects, but the pattern of what people complain about is the most useful signal a used buyer has.
| Area | Complaints | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Service brakes | 19 | 36% |
| Engine and engine cooling | 6 | 11% |
| Suspension | 6 | 11% |
| Wheels | 3 | 6% |
| Exterior lighting | 3 | 6% |
| Vehicle speed control | 2 | 4% |
| Electrical system | 2 | 4% |
| Engine and engine cooling | 1 | 2% |
| Steering | 1 | 2% |
| Engine and engine cooling | 1 | 2% |
Verbatim from NHTSA complaint records, trimmed for length.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 VOLVO V40. THE CONTACT SHIFTED INTO REVERSE WITH THE BRAKE PEDAL ENGAGED WHEN THE VEHICLE UNINTENTIONALLY ACCELERATED AND DROVE OVER A PLASTIC TRASH RECEPTACLE, CERAMIC POT AND THEN CRASHED IN
NHTSA complaint: Vehicle speed control
2000 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
NHTSA complaint: Engine and engine cooling
BRAKES FAILED COMING INTO MY DRIVEWAY. ABLE TO STOP CAR BY USING EMERGENCY BRAKE. COULD HAVE CAUSED A CRASH. BROUGHT TO BE SERVICED. MECHANIC REPORTED THAT IT WAS FAILED LEFT FRONT BRAKE HOSE DUE TO SPRING SUPPORT RUBBI
NHTSA complaint: Service brakes
VEHICLE IDLE INCREASE ON BRAKING TO ABOUT 1500 RPMS. WHEN PUT IN PARK, IDLE INCREASED TO 4500 RPMS. I TRIED TAPING THE GAS TO SEE IF RPMS WOULD GO DOWN. INSTEAD RPMS INCREASED EVEN HIGHER TO OVER 5500 RPMS. TURNED THE C
NHTSA complaint: Vehicle speed control
FAILURE OF UPPER STRUT MOUNT BUSHINGS CAUSING LOSS OF SUSPENSION / STEERING. REPLACED FOR THE THIRD TIME ON 2000 V-40 VOLVO. RECENTLY VOLVO OFFERED A NEWLY DESIGNED HEAVY DUTY MOUNT AT THREE TIME THE REPLACEMENT COST D
NHTSA complaint: Steering
EVER SINCE I BOUGHT THE 2000 VOLVO V40 STATIONWAGON FROM A PRIVATE DEALERSHIP I'VE HAD NOTHING BUT PROBLEMS TRYING TO START THE CAR. WHEN TRYING TO CRANK UP VEHICLE IT TAKES A COUPLE OF SECONDS BEFORE THE CAR ACTUALLY S
NHTSA complaint: Engine and engine cooling
ON JULY 19,2008, OUR 2000 VOLVO V40 LOST POWER WHILE DRIVING 65 MPH ON US 29 IN VIRGINIA. THE CAR WAS STILL RUNNING, BUT IT DID NOT RESPOND TO THE ACCELERATOR. WE WERE ABLE TO SAFELY PULL OFF THE ROAD, AND HAVE CAR TOWED
NHTSA complaint: Engine and engine cooling
WE PURCHASED OUR 2000 V40 FROM THE ORIGINAL OWNER AT 81K. WE NEEDED BOTH REAR SPRINGS REPLACED RIGHT AWAY. THIS WAS THE SECOND TIME THEY WERE REPLACED. DEALER SAID A COMMON FLAW WITH THE V40. WE ARE ALSO NOTICING A S
NHTSA complaint: Suspension
NHTSA lists 1 recall campaign for the 2000 Volvo V40. Recalls are free to have fixed at a franchised dealer regardless of who owns the car now, but only if they were never done, so check the VIN of the specific car rather than trusting the model.
ON CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES, WATER CAN ENTER THE ELECTRICAL BRAKE VACUUM PUMP, CAUSING THE PUMP TO FAIL.
Risk: THIS COULD RESULT IN LOSS OF POWER ASSIST AND AN INCREASE IN NEEDED BRAKE PEDAL FORCE, WHICH COULD RESULT IN A CRASH.
Fix: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE PUMP WITH A NEW AND IMPROVED VERSION AND MOVE THE PUMP TO A NEW LOCATION. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN ON MARCH 15, 2004. OWNERS SHOULD CONTACT VOLVO AT 1-800-458-1552.
| Reliability raw | 85 | excellent |
|---|---|---|
| Longevity est. | 77 | good |
| Maintenance | 80 | excellent |
| Depreciation | 52 | average |
| Performance | 51 | average |
| Efficiency | 37 | below average |
Percentile ranks against other wagons in the catalog.
What stands behind each score for this car:
Owners have filed 53 complaints with NHTSA for this model-year, and service brakes is the most reported area with 19 of them (36%). There is 1 recall on record. Check any specific car against its VIN before buying.
AVOIR scores its reliability 85/100 (excellent) from NHTSA recall campaigns and complaint density. That figure is a raw complaint count, not yet adjusted for sales volume, so a high-volume model scores worse than it deserves.
AVOIR scores its longevity 77/100, but that figure is an estimate built from the powertrain and the brand's record, not a measurement. A 2000 car has no 200,000-mile population to observe yet, so treat it as a prior rather than evidence.
AVOIR's read: be careful, because the numbers are mixed and the complaint record is worth reading before you commit. Its overall ownership score is 69/100. Condition, mileage and service history still matter more than any score, so get a pre-purchase inspection on the specific car.
Sources: NHTSA recalls and complaints, EPA fuel economy, IIHS awards, and live market listings. A score describes a model-year, not the individual car in front of you. Get a pre-purchase inspection.