It was close to 9pm. I had exited the freeway to stop in a parking lot to check directions. I had been driving for about an hour, so I got out to walk around and buy a cup of coffee. I came back a few minutes later and drove out of the lot. The on ramp was about 200 yards away and there was a red light at the intersection, so I was only moving at around 20mph. I was the only car in my lane, so about 100 feet away from the intersection I pressed down on my brake pedal, but the for some reason it the car kept rolling. I tried again, but the brakes were no help as I kept rolling. Frantically, I stomped hard, floored the brakes, and my car started to slow down a little, but that time it was too late. I tried to turn to the right to avoid the flow of traffic, but an instant later I had hit an oncoming car. I don't know what went wrong. I am pretty good at maintaining the car and it had been serviced at the Volvo dealer fairly recently. It's only garaged about half the time, but I live in southern California so it's never been exposed to an extreme climate or anything. There was a thunderstorm that morning, and the roads were very wet earlier in the day, but the storm broke around noon: 7 or 8 hours before I left home that night. By that time all of the roads had dried.

- Placentia, CA, USA

3/6/2007. Volvo S40 2000. Contact has a concern with the brakes and the headlights. The headlights and brakes failed.

- Ridge , NY, USA

2000 Volvo S40 would not stop when applied pressure to brakes. The consumer felt that she have plenty of distance between her vehicle and the other vehicle to stop but the vehicle just wouldn't stop. As a result the consumer's vehicle crashed into the other vehicle. Six months after the accident the consumer received a recall notice on the brake pump which described the failure the consumer experienced. The consumer request reimbursement for all expenses incurred.

- Saint Clair Shores, MI, USA

Bought a new 2000 Volvo S40 in April of 2000. The car now has 60,000 miles on it....light driving by most standards. At 18,000 miles rear brakes and rotors were replaced at a cost of more than $400. Front and rear brakes have been replaced another time since then. On 9/21/05, I have now also had to replace the alternator at a cost of $600. This car only has 60,000 miles on it. I have read a lot of other discussions online from other 2000 Volvo S40 owners who also complain about the car running through brakes every 15-20,000 miles.

- Broken Arrow, OK, USA

The driver noticed while in cold weather when the vehicle warming up the brake pedal went to the floor. There were times when the vehicle would not when the brake was applied. The consumer drove to the dealer. The mechanic was unable to duplicate the problem. Please fill in additional information.

- Madison Heights, MI, USA

I own a 2000 Volvo S40. We just had our fifth trip to the dealer to correct knocking noise/rattle in the front suspension. Problem started at 44,191 miles. Now at 59,800. Two sets of control arm bushings and two sets of sway bar bushings replaced. Noise returns within 2000 mi of service. Also, I have had the rear brakes go out at 17,500 miles. Pads wore thin and cut into the rotors. That one cost $335. Also, air conditioner went out at 9000 miles. I paid the extra money to get a Volvo because I keep my cars for a long time. (I also own a 18 year old Audi 4000.) I bought Volvo for one word: Reliability. I have found that Volvo does not stand behind their products. This S40 is hugely expensive to maintain. I am making far too many trips to the dealer to keep trying to get defects fixed.

- Venetia, PA, USA

When engine is cold, and the brakes are applied driver has to apply a lot of pressure to brake pedal to stop the vehicle.

- Westlake, OH, USA

Vehicle serviced for brake noise. No action taken by dealer.

- West Bloomfield, MI, USA

The vehicle was taken for an oil change when the consumer found out the rear brakes were completely gone. The rear brake pads and rotors had to be replaced. The total cost for all repairs were $545.61. Also the seat belt had to be replaced.

- Bloomington, IN, USA

When the brakes were applied, the vehicle experienced extended stopping distance.

- Huntington Station, NY, USA