Used Volvo V40 Estate 1996 - 2004 reliability review
The Volvo V40 is an adequate family car, but it's not an estate car in the great Volvo tradition
- Volvo V40 Estate (96 - 04)
What should I look for in a used Volvo V40?
As the V40 and its S40 saloon sister were jointly developed by Volvo and Mitsubishi, one would expect a high degree of reliability, but that certainly wasn't the case with early models. Rattling dashboards and electrical faults were far from uncommon. While things improved throughout the V40's life, it was never quite as good as it should have been.
The Mitsubishi GDI petrol engine can give problems as the miles mount, particularly if it has been run on something other than the recommended high-octane fuel.
On top of that, wiring looms can be prone to corrosion on all models, suspension ball joints wear out very rapidly and, if the car has a towbar fitted, it's essential to check that the rear suspension is still in strong working order.
It's also important to check the Vehicle and Operator Safety website, because the V40's recalls include the risk of the detachable towbar working loose.
