1999 VOLVO S80 Complaints

CAR WAS PARKED IN MY DRIVEWAY RUNNING, I WAS IN THE PASSENGER SEAT, MY HUSBAND GOT OUT TO RETRIEVE AN ITEM IN THE HOUSE & SHUT THE DOOR, ALL DRIVER SIDE AIRBAGS DEPLOYED. THE FUMES/SMOKE FROM THE AIRBAGS BURNED MY THROAT, I HAVE HAD THROAT DISCOMFORT FOR 5 DAYS. THE COST TO PUT THE CAR BACK TOGETHER IN WORKING ORDER IS $3000. ONE PERSON AT VOLVO SERVICE IN THOUSAND OAKS, CA. SAID THAT IT SHOULD NOT HAVE HAPPENED BUT OUT OF WARRANTY SO I HAVE TO PAY THE $3000 IF I WANT IT REPAIRED. *NM

WHILE DRIVING A GRINDING NOISE WAS HEARD COMING FROM THE FRONT. CONSUMER NOTICED A LIQUID LEAKING FROM UNDERNEATH THE VEHICLE WHILE PARKED. THE DRIVER WAS ABLE TO DRIVE IT TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION. MECHANIC DETERMINED THAT RACK AND PINION STEERING NEEDED REPLACED. *AK

LID TO GAS TANK FELL OFF. SINCE THIS HAPPENED TO MINE I HAVE SEEN 4 OTHER S80 VOLVOS MISSING THE LIT TO THE GAS TANK.*AK

FUEL PUMP CRACK CAUSING GAS TO BE SPRAYED ON UNDERSIDE OF AUTO WHEN IGNITION IS ON. GAS FUMES IN GARAGE FOLLOWING PARKING OF AUTO. MAJOR RISK OF FIRE/EXPLOSION POSSIBLE CAUSED BY DEFECTIVE FUEL PUMP. AUTO IS FIVE + YEARS OLD WITH 37,100 MILES. VOLVO DEALER REPLACED FUEL PUMP AT CHARGE OF $592. *JB

CHECK ENGINE LIGHT HAS COME ON 5 TIMES IN LESS THAN 7 MONTHS TOOK TO DEALER AND THEY SAID IT WAS A LOOSE GAS CAP.(WHICH IT WAS NOT) THE LAST TIME IT WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER 9-26-04 AND JUST OUT OF THE EXTENDED WARRANTY PERIOD THEY SAY IT IS NOW A BAD THROTTLE BODY WITH A REPAIR EST OF 950.00. THROTTLE BODYS DO NOT GO BAD IS THERE INFORMATION THAT THE DEALER DOSE NOT HAVE ON THE REPAIR (CLEANING OF THE THROTTLE BODY) *AK

WHILE APPLYING THE BRAKES, THE DRIVER'S FRONT SEAT ROCKED BACK AND FORTH. THE CONSUMER DROVE THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION. THE CONSUMER INFORMED THE MECHANIC THAT THIS PROBLEM OCCURRED MORE THAN ONCE, AND THE PROBLEM STILL HAD NOT BEEN RESOLVED. *AK *SC *JB

AIR BAG DEPLOYED AFTER RUNNING OVER MANHOLE COVER ON RTE 4 WEST ON MONDAY SEP 20, 2004 APPROXIMATELY 7:20 AM EST. ROADWORK IN PROCESS ON RTE 4 TRAVELLING APPROX 15-20 MILES PER HOUR MORNING TRAFFIC, AIR BAG DEPLOYED. *AK

MAJOR SAFETY PROBLEMS AND POSSIBLE FIRE HAZARD: THE 1999 IS HARD TO START AND HAS TO BE CRANKED FOR ABOUT A MINUTE BEFORE IT STARTS, AND WE ALSO SMELL GAS WHEN WE STOPPED THE CAR (BY THE FUEL FILLER).*AK I TOOK THE CAR TO UNION PARK SPENT $300. THINKING IT NEEDED A TUNE UP. STILL THE PROBLEM EXISTS. I TOOK THE CAR BACK TO UNION PARK AND I WAS ADVISED THAT THE PROBLEM IS A LEAK IN THE VENT TUBE OFF THE GAS TANK. WHEN THE KEY IS TURNED ON, THE ELECTRIC FUEL PUMP PRIMES THE LINE. HOWEVER, SINCE THERE IS A LEAK IN THE VENT TUBE THIS SUCKS IN AIR AND PREVENTS THE GAS FROM GOING TO THE FUEL INJECTORS, THEN THE FUMES EXIT OUT THE VENT. I WAS ADVISED THAT THE VENT TUBE IS NOT A REPLACEABLE PART AND THAT I WILL HAVE TO BUY A NEW GAS TANK WITH VENT TUBE AT THE COST OF $1,081.30. I FEEL THAT THIS IS A DESIGN PROBLEM AND SHOULD BE PAID FOR BY VOLVO. OTHER VEHICLES HAVE THIS AS A TWO PIECE UNIT AND THE TUBE CAN BE REPLACED AT A LOWER EXPENSE, LESS THAN $150.00. I ALSO FEEL THAT THIS IS A SAFETY PROBLEM; IF SOME ONE WAS SMOKING NEAR THE REAR OF THE CAR A FIRE COULD START. I HAVE REPORTED THIS TO THE NATIONAL DOT SAFETY BOARD. FRONT END PARTS, STEARING I HAVE ALSO HAD PROBLEMS WITH THE FRONT END PARTS, BALL JOINTS REPLACED, UPPER STRUT BUSHING REPLACED AND NOW THEY TELL ME THAT THE SWAY BAR LINKS NEED TO BE REPLACED AT A COST OF $192.04, I FEEL THAT THIS CAR IS A LEMON. IN THE PAST TWO YEARS I HAVE SPENT $3000. TO FIX ITEMS WHICH SHOULD NOT HAVE BROKEN WITH NORMAL DRIVING USAGE. I ALWAYS BOUGHT VOLVO'S BECAUSE THEY WERE RELIABLE.THIS CAR IS A MAJOR HEADACHE. THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM HAS ONE PROBLEM AFTER ANOTHER. THE DOOR LOCKS NEED FIXING OR REPLACEMENT FOR THE THIRD TIME. THE PROBLEM WITH THE FUEL VALVE IS A DESIGN PROBLEM AND A HUGE SAFETY CONCERN. SINCE FORD TOOK OVER VOLVO, THE CAR HAS GONE FROM AN EXTREMELY SAFE AND RELIABLE MEANS OF TRANSPORTATION TO A CONSTANT WORRY ABOUT SAFETY AND MAINTENANCE AND A MONEY PIT.

WHILE DRIVING AT ANY SPEED VEHICLE STALLED, AND THEN WON'T START AGAIN. VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALERSHIP. FLOOR MANAGER INDICATED, A PIPE ON THE FUEL RAIL BROKE AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED AT CONSUMER'S EXPENSE OF $1200. CONSUMER INDICATED THE FUEL TANK/FUEL PUMP, AND FUEL RAIL WAS JUST ONE UNIT. *AK

REPLACE MAIN COMPUTER AFTER COMPUTER REGISTERED "URGENT, BRAKE FAILURE" CODE AND VOLVO DETERMINED IT WAS A FAULTY CODE. THREE MONTHS LATER, I HAD TRANSMISSION SLIPPAGE WHILE UP SHIFTING...GETTING EXTREMELY BAD. HAD TRANSMISSION REBUILT AT A REPUTABLE TRANSMISSION SHOP AND HE TOLD ME THE TRANSMISSION (AT 80,000M) FAILED BECAUSE IT WAS NEVER SERVICED PROPERLY. I HAVE ALL SERVICE RECEIPTS...ALL DONE AT VOLVO DEALERSHIPS THROUGH 50K WARRANTY. TRANSMISSION SHOP SAID, MY GM TRANSMISSION, UNLIKE EARLIER VOLVO TRANSMISSION NEEDS MORE SERVICING THAN A VOLVO TRANSMISSION. TRANSMISSION SHOP SAID THAT MY "TRANSMISSION FILTER HAD NEVER BEEN CHANGED!!!!"*AK CONTACTED VOLVO CONSUMER AFFAIRS AND THEY BASICALLY LAUGHED AT ME. I AM THINKING ABOUT FILING A COMPLAINT IN SMALL CLAIMS COURT FOR 2K THE COST OF MY REBUILT TRANSMISSION. PRESIDENT OF CARS SUGGESTED THAT WAS A VIABLE OPTION. *TR