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Volvo V40 Mk2 common problems (2012-2019)

Volvo V40 Mk2

The second-generation Volvo V40 was the first sign that the Swedish company was starting to get funky.

While the V40 Mk1 was a compact estate car version of the S40 saloon, the V40 Mk2 was a sleek, attractive hatchback. It was attractive inside as well as out, and it was well equipped. And it was based on the underpinnings of the Ford Focus of the time, so drove reasonably well.

However, the V40 has also been prone to a few annoying issues in its time, including noisy front brakes, untoward cabin smells and broken exhaust valve springs.

But don’t worry if these sound expensive, because Haynes can help you to minimise the cost of repairs by guiding you through what to do and how to do it. Just invest in the Haynes V40 Autofix products and we’ll be there with you, every step of the way.

Volvo V40
Volvo V40

What recalls has the Volvo V40 been subject to?

The Volvo V40 Mk2 has been the subject of a few recalls. One concerned a coolant leak, which could cause a fire. The cooling system caused a second recall, because air could become trapped in it, so an extra bleeding hose had to be fitted.

A software fault that could cause a rear light to fail to function had to be addressed, as did a plastic inlet manifold that was prone to melting.

Then 30,777 cars were recalled because of cracking rubber fuel hoses, after which almost 1500 cars were recalled because their airbags might not perform as they should in an accident.

Volvo V40

What common problems does the Volvo V40 Mk2 have?

A number of Volvo V40 owners have reported a droning noise from their front brakes every time the pedal is pressed.

The V40 isn’t immune to the odd cabin leak, too, which can cause a musty smell.

And Volvo V40 starting problems can often be traced to a broken exhaust valve spring. The car will also idle erratically and misfire.

Some models with the M76 manual transmission fitted have suffered a fault that makes it difficult to engage fifth gear, and other cars have fallen victim to an issue that makes the clutch pedal difficult to operate.

Volvo V40

Why are the brakes droning on your Volvo V40?

Several owners of the Volvo V40 Mk2 have reported that their cars are perfectly happy when driving along, but tend to voice their displeasure when being asked to slow down. This is because their front brakes emit an annoying droning noise when the brake pedal is pressed.

The problem has been diagnosed as a missing vibration damper on one front brake caliper, and the fix is a relatively straightforward one.

You’ll need to jack up the front of the car and set it on axle stands before removing each front wheel.

Then it’s a case of removing the upper brake caliper bolt and fitting the new vibration damper (part number: 31423727), before refitting the upper bolt and tightening everything up to the correct torque.

The Haynes V40 Autofix can guide you through each stage of the process, so all you ned to do is buy the parts, assemble the tools and get cracking!

Volvo V40

Does your Volvo V40 smell musty? Here’s why

The Volvo V40 is not immune to the odd unpleasant odour. And unfortunately, the funky smell can often be accompanied by a damp carpet.

The issue lies within the air-conditioning system, because sometime the air-con drain hose can become blocked. So, just use your Haynes V40 Autofix to find out where the affected hose is and clear it of debris. It can also be a good idea to reposition it slightly so that the problem doesn’t happen again.

Volvo V40

Is your Volvo V40 feeling slow and misfiring?

The Volvo V40 is not a slow car, even when the small 1.6-litre petrol or diesel engines are fitted. However, these engines can develop an issue that cause them to misfire. At the same time, the car’s performance drops off markedly, and when just idling the engine revs can surge and fall.

Your first port of call (literally) is the OBD socket. Plug in a fault-code reader and see what it comes up with.

If the code it generates is P0300, it signifies that there is a misfire in the engine. So, next you’ll need to remove the engine valve cover, which will allow access to the valve springs. One or more of these is likely to be broken, so you’ll need to invest in new springs then set about getting the right tools in place before you go about replacing the springs.

Just follow your Haynes V40 Autofix, which will help you along the way.

Volvo V40 Mk2

Heavy clutch in your Volvo V40?

Modern cars aren’t meant to be difficult to drive. Everything is supposed to be light and accurate and easy.

However, the Volvo V40 can make this tricky sometimes because its clutch pedal can become extremely difficult to press. Not only will it make life awkward, if there’s a traffic jam you could end up getting out with a left leg bigger than the right!

The issue lies with a faulty clutch slave cylinder, which you’ll need to replace. So invest in the new slave cylinder (part number: 31325023) and slave cylinder bleed pipe (part number: 30787651), then simply follow the steps in your Haynes V40 Autofix to remove and replace the faulty items.

Volvo V40 Mk2

Are you struggling to engage fifth in your Volvo V40?

A faulty or worn gear selector rod assembly is the source of the issue if you suddenly find that you’re struggling to engage fifth gear in your Volvo V40 Mk2.

However, Volvo is aware of the issue and has developed a spacer (part number: 32240062) that you can fit to the selector assembly.

So, just use your Haynes V40 Autofix to help you through the removal of the trim panels around the selector assembly, then fit the spacer before refitting all the trim panels you’ve removed. Then engaging fifth should be a light action once more.