2004 VOLVO V70 Complaints

MY 2004 VOLVO V70 WAGON SPEWED AND SPIT GAS WHEN BEING FILLED WITH GASOLINE. WHEN THE AUTOMATIC SHUT OFF FROM THE GAS PUMP ENGAGED, GAS FROM THE TANK AND THE FILLER LINE GUSHED AND POURED OUT OF THE TANK. THIS HAPPENED ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS INCLUDING THE VERY FIRST TIME I FILLED THE VEHICLE WITH GAS. IT ALSO OCCURRED WHEN I ATTEMPTED TO FILL THE GAS TANK SLOWLY SO THAT PRESSURE WOULD NOT EJECT GASOLINE FROM THE TANK. THE CAR WAS BROUGHT TO THE DEALER WHERE IT WAS PURCHASED (SMITH CO. MOTORS - CHARLESTON, WV) FOR THE PROBLEM TO BE FIXED ON MARCH 31, 2004. AFTER INSPECTING VALVES IN THE GAS TANK AND FUEL FILLER TUBE, THE DEALER CONTACTED ME TO TELL ME NO PROBLEM HAD BEEN FOUND. I ASKED THE DEALER SERVICE MANAGER IF THE TANK HAD BEEN FILLED WITH GAS TO MAKE SURE GASOLINE DID NOT CONTINUE TO GUSH FROM THE TANK. THE DEALER THEN FILLED THE TANK AND CALLED TO ME TO CONFIRM THAT THE PROBLEM HAD NOT BEEN FIXED. THE CAR WAS THEN AT THE DEALER AND OUT OF SERVICE UNTIL APRIL 8, 2004, WHEN A VOLVO REPRESENTATIVE DISCOVERED THAT THE CAR HAD A MANUFACTURING DEFECT. I WAS TOLD THE DEFECT WAS THAT A VALVE HAD NOT BEEN INSTALLED ON THE CAR AT THE FACTORY. ON APRIL 12, 2004 I RETURNED HOME FROM WORK AND PULLED INTO MY DRIVEWAY. I LEFT THE CAR RUNNING IN MY DRIVEWAY. AFTER 1 TO 2 MINUTES INSIDE, I NOTICE A STRONG SMELL OF GASOLINE. THE CAR HAD STOPPED RUNNING AND WAS FREELY SPILLING GALLONS OF GASOLINE INTO MY DRIVEWAY. THE DEALER DISCOVERED A NEW GAS TANK HAD NOT BEEN PROPERLY INSTALLED BY THE SERVICE TECHNICIAN. I AM INTERESTED IN NHTSA INVESTIGATING IF THE REPEATED FAILURES OF MY FUEL SYSTEM ARE RELATED. I AM FURTHER INTERESTED IN NHTSA DETERMINING IF OTHER 2004 VOLVOS WITH SIMILAR FUEL SYSTEM COMPONENTS COULD HAVE ALSO LEFT THE FACTORY WITHOUT A COMPLETELY ASSEMBLED FUEL SYSTEM. I ENCOUNTERED A VERY SERIOUS SAFETY PROBLEM THAT COULD HAVE RESULTED IN A CATASTROPHIC ACCIDENT.*AK

THE NUT SECURING THE FRONT CONTROL ARM TO THE SPINDLE MAY LOSE ITS INITIAL AXIAL TENSION WHICH COULD CAUSE THE STEERING WHEEL TO GO OUT OF ALIGNMENT. *PH IT ALSO LEADS TO A POTENTIAL FRONT END NOISE. CONSUMER RECEIVED RECALL REGARDING THE NUT; HOWEVER, AS CONSUMER CALLED DEALER AND SAID THAT THEY CAN PERFORM REPAIRS AS PER AGREEMENT WITH NHTSA. CONSUMER IS JUST ASKING TO GET THE NUT AND LET A LOCAL MECHANIC PERFORM THE REPLACEMENT. *LA

THE FRONT TIRE ON MY VOLVO V70 DEVELOPED A CRACK ON THE SIDE WALL BY THE WHEEL RIM UNDER NORMAL USAGE CONDITIONS LESS THAN A MONTH AFTER I BOUGHT THE CAR. I TOOK THE CAR BACK TO SMYTHE VOLVO OF SAN JOSE WHERE THE PURCHASE WAS MADE. THE SALES MANAGER, MICHAEL, REFUSED TO ADDRESS THE PROBLEM OR EVEN TAKE A LOOK AT MY CAR, AND INITIATED A CHALLENGE FOR ME TO SUE VOLVO. THE SERVICE MANAGER INITIALLY PROMISED TO LOOK INTO RESOLVING THE PROBLEM FOR ME WITH VOLVO CORPORATE, BUT ULTIMATELY FELL THRU. I ESCALATED THE ISSUE ALL THE WAY UP TO THE CEO OF VOLVO NORTH AMERICA, AND THEY SAID THAT THEY DON'T COVER THE TIRE UNDER THE WARRANTY. THE TIRE MANUFACTURER, PIRELLI, HAS ALSO REFUSED SERVICE SO FAR. THE PROBLEM IS WITH THE DESIGN OF THE TIRE. I DID A BRIEF RESEARCH ON THE INTERNET, AND PULLED UP 18 PAGES OF MOSTLY COMPLAINTS FROM OTHER VOLVO AND AUDI OWNERS WHO HAVE HAD SIMILAR PROBLEMS WITH THEIR TIRES. THE SIDE WALL OF THIS PIRELLI P6 TIRE DEVELOPS BUBBLES AND CRACKS EASILY IF IT RUNS INTO ANY ROAD IRREGULARITY. I DID A SEARCH ON OTHER TIRES OF SIMILAR CONFIGURATION AND FOUND NO SUCH PROBLEM. PIRELLI DESIGNED AND MANUFACTURED THE TIRE. VOLVO ENGINEERS AND MANAGEMENT CHOOSE THE TIRE TO PUT ON ITS V70 WAGON AS AN OEM. NOW BOTH OF THEM ARE DISCLAIMING RESPONSIBILITY VIA FINGER POINTING AND TECHNICALITIES ON THEIR WARRANTIES. THEY HAVE GIVEN ME THE USUAL RUN-AROUNDS, AND IN ONE CASE, OUTRIGHT RUDE TREATMENT.*AK

WHEN THE CONSUMER ATTEMPTED TO TAKE HER THREE-YEAR-OLD CHILD OUT OF THE CHILD SEAT LAP AND SHOULDER BELTS TIGHTENED ON THE CHILD. THE CONSUMER WAS ABLE TO RELEASE THE CHILD FROM THE SEAT BELT. *AK