2004 Volvo S40 Brakes Problems
- Complaints
- 12about this part
- Share
- 25%of 48 total for the year
- Median mileage
- 42,000miles
- Trend
- Not enough dataFewer than 15 complaints, too few for a reliable trend.
NHTSA recorded 12 complaints about the brakes of the 2004 Volvo S40, 25% of the 48 complaints for this model year. Where a mileage was given, the median is 42,000 miles. 2 of these say a crash was involved and 1 a fire, according to the filers. 1 recall campaign on record is filed under a similar system.
Fewer than 15 complaints name this part, so treat the figures as a rough indication only.
Example complaints
Selected from NHTSA records; personal details are removed. They are consumer reports, not findings.
“Brake pedal is too close to accelerator pedal. Whenever I operate the gas pedal, the side of my shoe also activates the brake. The problem is aggravated by the center tunnel carpet intruding on the minimal accelerator pedal space.”
NHTSA complaint #10908871, filed 2016-09, 42,000 miles“For the past two mornings my car has no brakes when I first start my car, once I have been driving for a few minutes it's okay, but first thing the past two mornings I haven't had brakes!”
NHTSA complaint #10641123, filed 2014-10, 163,000 miles“During a frontal drivers side crash the drivers side airbag did not deploy causing injury to the driver. However the passenger side airbag did deploy, but no passengers were present at the time of the accident. The impact of the crash was mostly drivers side. I also believe the braking system failed since my car failed to slow like a car should during braking.”
NHTSA complaint #10130085, filed 2005-07, 19,215 miles“I am writing to officially inform you of a problem that continues to need to be replaced on my 2004 S40. I have owed the car since 2006 and am about to bring it in for the forth (4) time to have the hydraulic brake valve pump and hoses replaced. Only this time it is not under warranty because I have 65k miles on the car. So I have to pay for this unwillingly. The brakes lock and the car continues to slide. I have had one mini-fender bender due to this issue, but my insurance won't acknowledge that it was because of the car. …”
NHTSA complaint #10310851, filed 2010-02, 45,000 miles“Consumer is experiencing on going problems with applying the brake pedal and the accelerator pedal simultaneously. The condition causes the vehicle to accelerate when applying the brakes. The vehicle has been to the dealer. The dealer informed the consumer that nothing was wrong and the vehicle meets NHTSA specification .”
NHTSA complaint #10113589, filed 2005-03, 20 milesRelated recalls
- 04V493000Oct 14, 2004On certain passenger vehicles, the non-return valve may crack due to a poor weld causing a vacuum leak.Covers: Volvo S40 2004, V40 2004
Related service bulletins
- 10157889Feb 14, 2019This is a Technical Journal: When sensitive information, like vehicle speed, brake usage, etc. (customer behavoiur information) of a car is required from Volvo Car Corporation…
- 10167828Dec 3, 2016This is a Technical Journal: When sensitive information, like vehicle speed, brake usage, etc. (customer behavoiur information) of a car is required from Volvo Car Corporation…
- 10037240Oct 27, 2010Volvo: the abs light is on with four possible toruble codes.
- 10033816May 14, 2010Volvo: unnecessary brake control module (bcm) replacements. When diagnosing diagnostic trouble codes (dtc's) for brake control system, technician must always follow complete…
- 10033807May 5, 2010Volvo: park assist does not work; not possible to read dtc from pam via vida. A new pam (parking assistance module) was introduced 2009w23, but due to pam warranty replacements…
- 10030360Jan 13, 2010Volvo: complaints regarding an illuminated abs warning lamp in the dim (driver information module). *pe updated 8/27/10.
- 10032910Oct 27, 2009Volvo: brake control module (bcm), not in prog mode after replacement of bcm. Vida may give the error bcm not in prog mode when trying to perform a bcm reload. Work is ongoing to…
- 10032645Jul 1, 2009Volvo: anti skid service required message, swm-0201, bcm-0109, eps-0080. New swm software has been implemented into production after the chassis range in the header.
- 10030425Apr 27, 2009A service kit has been developed to reduce the current through the vacuum switch for the brake vacuum pump. *pe updated 12/30/09.
Brakes: other model years
Other parts of the 2004 Volvo S40
11 complaintsElectrical system
11 complaintsFuel system
8 complaintsEngine cooling
5 complaintsSteering
4 complaintsVehicle speed control
4 complaintsEngine
2 complaintsExterior lighting
2 complaintsLatches, locks and linkages
2 complaintsOther or unknown
2 complaintsBody and structure
2 complaintsVisibility (wipers, defrost, mirrors)
2 complaints
← All problems reported for the 2004 Volvo S40
About this data. Data from NHTSA (ODI) complaints, recalls, TSBs and investigations, updated Oct 30, 2026. Complaints are unverified consumer reports and may be duplicated or inaccurate.
To check a specific vehicle for open recalls, use its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls. Methodology