1999 VOLVO S80 Complaints

MY CAR HAS A DESIGN FLAW REGARDING THE AIR INTAKE TUBE. IT PROTRUDES APPROXIMATELY 3" BELOW THE SURFACE OF THE CAR. I HAVE READ ACCOUNTS BY OTHER OWNERS WHO, WHILE PARKING THEIR CARS, GENTLY STRUCK THE CEMENT BLOCK WHILE PULLING INTO A PARKING SPOT. THIS CAUSED THE AIR INTAKE TUBE TO BE FORCED UPWARDS, INTO THE SERPENTINE BELT, CAUSING IT TO JUMP OFF THE TRACK AND ULTIMATELY CAUSE MASSIVE ENGINE DAMAGE TOTALLING OVER $3,000. I HAVE VERIFIED THAT NEW 2002 VOLVO S80'S FEATURE A COMPLETELY REDESIGNED AIR INTAKE TUBE, SIGNALING THE MANUFACTURER'S RECOGNITION OF THE DESIGN FLAW. I CONTACTED MY DEALER, BUT HE WAS UNWILLING TO PERFORM THE SIMPLE OPERATION OF CUTTING THE PROTRUDING TUBE AND SECURING IT AS IT IS NOT A VOLVO-AUTHORIZED REPAIR. I REALLY HOPE THAT NHTSA WILL FORCE VOLVO TO RECALL AFFECTED CARS AND MAKE A SIMPLE MODIFICATION THAT IS PREVENTATIVE AND COULD SAVE OWNERS THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS IN UNNECESARY REPARIS. NLM

WHILE DRIVING FRONT DRIVER'S SIDE WHEEL CAME OFF AS A RESULT OF BALL JOINT FAILURE. CONSUMER HAD VEHICLE FIXED UNDER PREVIOUS BALL JOINT RECALL 00V238000. SINCE RECALL REPAIRS, CONSUMER HAS HAD TO REPLACE FRONT BALL JOINTS TWICE. *AK

COMPUTER FAILED EXCESSIVELY RESULTING IN INTERMITTENT WORKING OF SUNROOF/ AIR CONDITIONING, AND POWER WINDOWS. ALSO VEHICLE STALLED FREQUENTLY.*AK

ENGINE SUFFERS COMPLETE SHUTDOWN AT 30-40MPH. OCCURS 3-4 TIMES A WEEK AND HAS BEEN HAPPENING FOR LAST 3-4 MONTHS. DEALER CAN FIND NO PROBLEM AND HAS NEVER HEARD OF SUCH A PROBLEM HOWEVER I SEE SEVERAL REFERENCES TO THIS EXACT PROBLEM AT THIS DATABASE AND ALSO WWW.CARREVIEW.COM. ENGINE WILL RESTART WITH NO PROBLEM HOWEVER OBVIOUSLY WHEN ENGINE STOPS ALL POWER TO BRAKING AND STEERING SYSTEM IS LOST. ALWAYS HAPPENS WHEN COASTING, TYPICALLY DOWN LOW GRADE, AND TAKING A CORNER. I BELIEVE ISSUE IS TIED TO POWER STEERING, CLIMATE CONTROL AND LOW RPM (OR COMBO THEREOF) AS AT THIS SPEED THE TACHOMETER SWINGS WILDLY BETWEEN 400 AND 1200 RPM THOUGH SPEED IS STEADY (POSSIBLE EMISSION CONTROL ISSUE).*AK

WHILE DRIVING HEARD NOISE COMING FROM VEHICLE. SUDDENLY VEHICLE LURCHED TO RIGHT, AND HIT A PARKED CAR. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION.*AK

THE VEHICLE CAUGHT FIRE AND BURNT DUE TO OVERHEATING. THE CONSUMER RECEIVED RECALL (02V-096) NOTICE AFTER THE VEHICLE HAD BURNT. *YH

I HAVE HAD SEVERAL PROBLEMS WITH THIS CAR. FRAME, ENGINE, TRANSMISSION AND DRIVE SHAFT, STEERING, AND POWER LOCKS. I HAVE HAD THE TRANSMISSION REPLACED TWICE. I TOOK IT IN FOR SERVICE 6 TIMES BEFORE THEY REPAIRED THE PROBLEM. I HAVE TAKEN THE CAR IN WITH 8 BULB POSITION LIGHT COMPLAINTS, 3 STEERING COMPLAINTS, 4 COMPLAINTS REGARDING THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT COMING ON, AND THE MOST RECENT PROBLEM, THE ENGINE JUST QUITS WHILE DRIVING. I HAVE BEEN WITHOUT THIS CAR FOR OVER 7 WEEKS THIS YEAR ALONE. I AM STUCK BETWEEN THE DEALER AND THE MANUFACTURER. VOLVO HAS RESPONDED TO MY COMPLAINT THAT I FILED WITH THE NEW MOTOR VEHICLE BOARD BY SAY, "A VOLVO TECHNICAL SPECIALIST AND LAWRENCE VOLVO'S SERVICE TECH HAVE DRIVEN THE ESTES' 1999 VOLVO S80 IN EXCESS OF 500 MILES AND DETERMINED THAT NO NON-CONFORMITIES EXIST. IN AN EFFORT TO DEMONSTRATE THAT WE VALUE THE ESTES' AS OUR CUSTOMERS, LAWRENCE VOLVO WILL CONTACT THEM TO MAKE A VERY FAIR OFFER TO TRADE THEM INTO A NEW VEHICLE." I DON'T WANT ANOTHER VOLVO. I WANT MINE FIXED OR VOLVO CAN ADJUST THE PURCHASE PRICE OR BUY IT BACK. I RECENTLY RECEIVED A RECALL NOTICE ON THE CAR AND NOW FEAR EVEN MORE PROBLEMS.*AK

I HAVE HAD THE FRONT CONTROL ARM BUSHINGS REPLACED THREE TIMES IN A LITTLE OVER TWO YEARS. ALSO THE FRONT BALL JOINTS TWICE (ONCE THROUGH A RECALL). MY TIRES NEED REPLACED FOR THE SECOND TIME AND THE DEALER IS NOT WILLING TO ACCEPT ANY BLAME FOR THE RAPID WEAR OF THE TIRES DESPITE THE CONTINUAL STEERING PROBLEMS. THEY DID REALIGN IT WHEN THEY REPLACED THE TRANSMISSION AND BUSHINGS IN DEC. OF 01. BUT DID NOT DO SO AGAIN WHEN THE BALL JOINTS WERE REPLACED IN MARCH 02. NOW THEY SAY MY ALIGNMENT IS POOR BECAUSE OF MY UNEVENLY WORN FRONT TIRES.

UNDERHOOD WIRING HARNESS IS PROTECTED FROM HEAT/ELEMENTS BY A CONVOLUTED TUBING. THE CONVOLUTED TUBING HAS BECOME VERY BRITTLE, TURNED TO POWDER AND FALLEN OFF THE HARNESS LEAVING THE HARNESS UNPROTECTED. VOLVO IS APPARENTLY USING A TUBING PLASTIC UNDERHOOD THAT CANNOT WITHSTAND HEAT! THE WIRING HARNESS ON MY CAR IS NOW LEFT UNPROTECTED AND WILL LIKELY SUFFER PREMATURE FAILURE SIMILAR TO EVERY OTHER MAJOR SYSTEM ON THIS CAR.

FRONT RIGHT WHEEL COLLAPSED AND FOLDED UNDER CAR RESTING ON THE OUTSIDE RIM. POLICE WERE SUMMONED BUT MADE NO REPORT BECAUSE NO OTHER PROPERTY DAMAGE OCCURRED AND THERE WAS NO EVIDENCE OF NEGLIGENCE. I DEMANDED THAT FARMERS INSURANCE HAVE THE CAR INSPECTED BY THEIR ENGINEERING FIRM. THE ENGINEER SAID DAMAGE WAS CONSISTENT WITH HITTING A POTHOLE AT 30-40 MPH AND THERE WAS NO EVIDENCE OF EXISTING METAL FATIGUE. THERE WAS NO POTHOLE AND SPEED WAS 12 MPH (WHILE SLOWING ON A STEEP DOWNHILL FOR A RED TRAFFIC LIGHT). THERE WAS NO "IMPACT DAMAGE" TO ALUMINUM TIRE RIM (AS YOU WOULD EXPECT IF YOU HIT AN OBJECT HARD ENOUGH TO CAUSE THE WHEEL TO FOLD). ENGINEER WAS "UNABLE TO EXPLAIN THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE." I CONTINUE TO PURSUE WITH FARMERS INSURANCE BECAUSE I BELIEVE A BALL-JOINT FAILURE CAUSED THE ACCIDENT. I SEE MANY COMPLAINTS ABOUT BALL JOINTS ON NHTSA'S SITE AND I SEE THAT THERE WAS A RECALL IN SEP 2000 FOR BALL JOINT REPLACEMENTS. I NEVER RECEIVED A LETTER ABOUT THE RECALL. EITHER MY CAR WAS NOT AFFECTED OR VOLVO FAILED TO DELIVER THE LETTER TO ME. I WOULD APPRECIATE ANY INFORMATION YOU HAVE THAT WOULD HELP TO CLARIFY THE CAUSE OF THE RIGHT-WHEEL FAILURE.