I've noticed two kinda disturbing things with my 01 S40:

1) While bumping down very rough roads, I have noticed that the BRAKE warning indicator flashes on occasionally (and this is NOT the parking brake indicator). It flashes only momentarily--so fast that I only notice it at night. I've checked, and the fluid in the master cylinder is at the 'max' line when the lid is off.

2) When hitting a bump while braking, often the anti-lock brakes will engage at times that seem unneccessary. (E.g. when going down an incline in my parking garage there is a speed bump, I will feel the brake pedal pulsing, even though I do not appear to be in a skid situation.) Often the resulting anti-lock engagement at slow speeds seems to prevent the car from stopping with the accuracy I normally expect. (When the the brakes pulse after hitting the speed bump, it seems to take way too long to actually stop.)

Any thoughts?

I love my Volvo, and would not trade it except for another one with a higher number on the rear deck (or a Bentley). I've had it for three years and have never lost control of it. When it was in the body shop after a collision (someone rear-ended it), the rental I got was a new pickup. I drove the truck for 8 days, and on 3 of those days I lost control of it while cornering. It truly made me grateful for my safe, well-engineering sedan.

Arro Smith
Austin, Tex.