2001 VOLVO V70XC Complaints

I PURCHASED MY CAR NEW. AT 95,000 MILES, THE TRANSMISSION FAILED. BECAUSE MY EXTENDED WARRANTY REFUSED TO REPLACE THE FAILED TRANSMISSION WITH A NEW ONE, I TOOK IT TO AAMCO TO INSTALL A USED TRANSMISSION. THE CAR NOW HAS 120,000 MILES AND THE TRANSMISSION HAS FAILED AGAIN. I HEAR CONSISTENTLY FROM OWNERS, THE LOCAL DEALER PARTS DEPARTMENT, AND MY REPAIR SHOP THAT THIS FAILURE IS COMMON IN THIS MODEL AND YEAR. MY WIFE WAS DRIVING THE CAR AND THE TRANSMISSION APPEARED TO BE DYSFUNCTIONAL. *TR

TRANSMISSION DISENGAGES AT LOW RPM (AT ABOUT 20MPH) WITH SLIGHT PRESSURE ON THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL - FEELS LIKE THE CAR WANTS TO UPSHIFT TO THE NEXT HIGHER GEAR (POSSIBLY 2ND GEAR), TRANSMISSION THEN DISENGAGES...THE ENGINE RPMS SURGE TO 3,000-4,000 AND THEN THE TRANSMISSION ENGAGES WITH A HUGE CLUNK AND SURGES FORWARD. WHEN COMING TO A STOP WITHOUT ANY GAS PEDAL PRESSURE, TRANSMISSION DOES NOT DISENGAGE, BUT SEEMS TO SHIFT INTO THE LOWEST GEAR AND SURGES FORWARD WHILE TRYING TO STOP THE CAR AT A TRAFFIC LIGHT OR STOP SIGN. AGAIN, THERE IS NO PRESSURE ON THE GAS, THE CAR AUTOMATICALLY DOWNSHIFT MAKING A LOUD CLUNK AND THEN THE ENGINE SURGES AND PULLS THE CAR FORWARD. AFTER A FEW SECONDS OF THE CAR TRYING TO PULL FORWARD WITH THE BRAKES APPLIED, THE TRANSMISSION DISENGAGES THE GEAR AND RETURNS TO A "NEUTRAL" SETTING WHILE THE CAR IS STOPPED. TRANSMISSION DISENGAGEMENT AND ENGINE SURGING ARE CONSISTENT WHETHER THE CAR IS HOT OR COLD AND THE PATTERN IS CONSISTENT - ALWAYS AT LOW RPMS WHEN THE CAR'S AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION EITHER WANTS TO SHIFT UP OR DOWN IN GEARS. IT SEEMS LIKE THE ISSUE IS ALWAYS BETWEEN 1ST AND 2ND GEARS. AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS THE CAR SEEMS FINE. *TR

TRANSMISSION DISENGAGES AT LOW RPM (AT ABOUT 20MPH) WITH SLIGHT PRESSURE ON THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL - FEELS LIKE THE CAR WANTS TO UPSHIFT TO THE NEXT HIGHER GEAR (POSSIBLY 2ND GEAR), TRANSMISSION THEN DISENGAGES...THE ENGINE RPMS SURGE TO 3,000-4,000 AND THEN THE TRANSMISSION ENGAGES WITH A HUGE CLUNK AND SURGES FORWARD. WHEN COMING TO A STOP WITHOUT ANY GAS PEDAL PRESSURE, TRANSMISSION DOES NOT DISENGAGE, BUT SEEMS TO SHIFT INTO THE LOWEST GEAR AND SURGES FORWARD WHILE TRYING TO STOP THE CAR AT A TRAFFIC LIGHT OR STOP SIGN. AGAIN, THERE IS NO PRESSURE ON THE GAS, THE CAR AUTOMATICALLY DOWNSHIFT MAKING A LOUD CLUNK AND THEN THE ENGINE SURGES AND PULLS THE CAR FORWARD. AFTER A FEW SECONDS OF THE CAR TRYING TO PULL FORWARD WITH THE BRAKES APPLIED, THE TRANSMISSION DISENGAGES THE GEAR AND RETURNS TO A "NEUTRAL" SETTING WHILE THE CAR IS STOPPED. TRANSMISSION DISENGAGEMENT AND ENGINE SURGING ARE CONSISTENT WHETHER THE CAR IS HOT OR COLD AND THE PATTERN IS CONSISTENT - ALWAYS AT LOW RPMS WHEN THE CAR'S AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION EITHER WANTS TO SHIFT UP OR DOWN IN GEARS. IT SEEMS LIKE THE ISSUE IS ALWAYS BETWEEN 1ST AND 2ND GEARS. AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS THE CAR SEEMS FINE. *TR

AFTER A SIDE IMPACT THE SIDE/CURTAIN AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. IMPACT TO THE PASSENGER REAR AND FRONT DOOR. THE IMPACT WAS BETWEEN 30-35 MILES PER HOUR. *TR

2001 VOLVO V70XC WITH SERIOUS TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS. CONSUMER STATES THAT THE TRANSMISSION WILL LOSE POWER WHILE SHIFTING. CONSUMER STATES THAT IT COULD BE VERY DANGEROUS WHEN IT HAPPENS WHILE MAKING A LEFT HAND TURN. *KB THE CONSUMER STATED THE TRANSMISSION FAILED MOMENTARILY BETWEEN SECOND AND THIRD GEAR. *JB

2001 VOLVO V70XC WITH TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS. CONSUMER STATES THAT THE VEHICLE FELT LIKE IT PULLED BACK AND WENT FORWARD. SECOND INCIDENT THE VEHICLE DECREASED IN SPEED AND WENT FROM ABOUT 65 MPH TO 40 MPH AND THEN LUNGED FORWARD. *KB THE CONSUMER STATED THE SECOND TIME THE INCIDENT HAPPENED, THERE WAS NO THIRD GEAR. AT A COMPLETE STOP, THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT ACCELERATE THROUGH FIRST, SECOND OR THIRD GEAR. IT WOULD START OUT IN FOURTH GEAR WHICH WAS TOO SLOW TO ACCELERATE INTO TRAFFIC.

WAS NEARLY HIT IN REAR WHEN COMING TO A STOP AT A STOP SIGN DUE TO FAILURE OF BRAKE LAMPS TO LIGHT AND WARN DRIVER BEHIND ME. DRIVER BEHIND ME SKIDDED OFF TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. HE FLAGGED ME DOWN TO ADVISE ME THAT THE BRAKE LIGHTS ON MY 2001 VOLVO XC70 DID NOT WORK. FOR THIS I WAS THANKFUL. INVESTIGATION AS TO WHY THE BRAKE LAMPS FAILED TO LIGHT, LED TO REPLACEMENT OF BOTH LOWER LAMPS AND CHECKING THE BRAKE LIGHT SWITCH FOR PROPER CONTINUITY. BRAKE LIGHTS STILL DO NOT WORK. APPLICATION OF THE BRAKE PEDAL RESULTS IN NO POWER BEING APPLIED TO THE BRAKE LAMPS. THE SWITCH IS SUPPLYING POWER BUT NOT TO THE LAMPS. FURTHER INVESTIGATION HAS SHOWN THAT THERE IS A RECALL FOR THE SAME IDENTICAL PROBLEM FOR THE 2002 MODEL, NHTSA CASE 04V051000, VOLVO RECALL R131. THE RESOLUTION IS THE REPLACEMENT OF RELAYS MANUFACTURED BY TYCO ELECTRONICS WHICH DO NOT MEET THE ORIGINAL VOLVO DESIGN SPECIFICATIONS. MY COMPLAINT IS THAT MY VEHICLE AND OTHERS HAVE PROBABLY BEEN EQUIPPED WITH THESE SAME DEFECTIVE RELAYS AND, AFTER CALLING VOLVO CUSTOMER CARE, VOLVO REFUSES TO RESOLVE THIS SERIOUS SAFETY ISSUE BY NOT INCLUDING MY VEHICLE IN THIS RECALL, WHICH IS THE FIRST YEAR OF THIS MODEL DESIGN CHANGE OVER. I AM GOING TO FOLLOW THROUGH ON MAKING THE APPROPRIATE REPAIRS FOR THE SAFETY OF MY FAMILY. *TR

THE LEFT & RIGHT BRAKE LIGHTS FAIL TO COME ON WHEN THE BRAKE IS PRESSED. THE HIGH POSITION LIGHT STILL COMES ON. THIS FAILURE OF THE BRAKES LIGHTS CAN RESULT IN A WRECK. VOLVO REPLACED A FAULTY RELAY WHICH CORRECTED THE PROBLEM. THIS PROBLEM IS THE EXACT PROBLEM THAT IS ADDRESSED IN A VOLVO RECALL (SEE BELOW) FOR 2002 MODELS OF THIS VEHICLE.THE RECALL SHOULD BE EXTENDED TO INCLUDE THE 2001 MODEL. THE REAR LEFT AND RIGHT BRAKE LIGHT RELAYS MAY NOT FUNCTION WHEN THE BRAKE PEDAL IS DEPRESSED OR MAY STAY ON CONTINUOUSLY. THE HIGH POSITIONED BRAKE LIGHT AND ALL OTHER TAIL LIGHTS WILL NOT BE AFFECTED. CONSEQUENCE: IF THE BRAKE LIGHTS FAIL TO COME ON, THERE WILL BE NO LOWER BRAKE LIGHTS TO INDICATE TO FOLLOWING VEHICLES THAT THE VEHICLE IS DECELERATING, WHICH COULD RESULT IN A CRASH. REMEDY: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE BRAKE LIGHT RELAY WITH TWO RELAYS OF A MODIFIED DESIGN. VOLVO RECALL NO. R131. *CN

NOTICED A RHYTHMIC RUBBING TYPE NOISE WHILE DRIVING AND INCREASES ITS TEMPO AS SPEED INCREASES. I TOOK IT TO VOLVO OF CERRITOS TO INVESTIGATE NOISE AND WAS TOLD THAT THE ANGLE GEAR ASSEMBLY THAT PROPELS THE RIGHT AND REAR WHEELS IS FAULTY SO, I TOOK IT TO AN INDEPENDENT AUTO REPAIR SHOP THAT SPECIALIZES IN VOLVO CARS FOR A SECOND OPINION AND I WAS TOLD THE SAME THING. I HAD THE ANGLE GEAR ASSEMBLY REPLACED BY THE INDEPENDENT SHOP AT A COST OF $2,565 AND I WAS TOLD THAT THE GEAR ASSEMBLY WAS BONE DRY AND RUSTY INSIDE AND THE BEARINGS WERE BROKEN. THE CAR HAS 114,600 MILES ON IT AND IT GETS THE RECOMMENDED SERVICE MAINTENANCE EVERY 7,500 MILES. THERE WAS NEVER ANY OCCASION WHERE AN OIL LEAK WAS NOTICED SO I AM ASSUMING THAT THIS WAS A MANUFACTURING DEFECT. I WONDER HOW MANY VOLVO CARS OF THIS MODEL HAVE THIS TYPE OF PROBLEM WITH THE POWER TRAIN. *TR

WHILE TRAVELING AT HIGH SPEED ON AN INTERSTATE MY CAR LOST POWER COMPLETELY. I WAS ABLE TO GET TO THE SHOULDER SAFELY AND CALL VOLVO ROADSIDE ASSISTANCE. MY CAR WAS TOWED TO THE NEAREST DEALERSHIP WHERE IT SAT FOR A MONTH BECAUSE THE PROBLEM COULDN'T BE DETERMINED. THE CAR WAS RETURNED TO ME. ABOUT SIX MONTHS LATER THE SAME EXPERIENCE OCCURRED, ONCE AGAIN WHILE TRAVELING AT A HIGH SPEED ON AN INTERSTATE HIGHWAY. THE "PROBLEM" WAS FIXED AGAIN. MY CAR HAS BEEN IN AND OUT OF THE DEALERSHIP FOR VARIOUS REASONS FOR YEARS. WHEN I WAS FINALLY FED UP WITH IT AND DECIDED TO SELL IT, IT NEEDED MORE ELECTRICAL WORK. THE SERVICE MANAGER AT A DEALERSHIP LISTENED TO THE PROBLEMS I HAD WITH THE CAR OVER THE YEARS AND FELT THAT IT WARRANTED A CALL TO THE VOLVO REP. I GAVE HIM ALL WORK ORDERS WHICH I HAVE FROM THE PURCHASE DATE OF THE CAR. HE WAS TOLD BY THE VOLVO REP THAT SINCE ALL REPAIR WORK HAD NOT BEEN DONE AT A VOLVO DEALERSHIP THEY COULDN'T HELP ME. NORMAL WORK SUCH AS OIL CHANGES, ETC. WERE DONE BY A MECHANIC WHO ONLY WORKS ON SAABS AND VOLVOS. UPON LOOKING FOR THE NAMES OF VOLVO EXECS THAT I COULD WRITE A LETTER TO I STUMBLED ON A WEBSITE ABOUT VOLVO PROBLEMS AND PEOPLE WHO WERE TRYING TO HOLD THE COMPANY ACCOUNTABLE FOR MECHANICAL FAILURES OF ANY TYPE. I WROTE TO THE INDIVIDUAL WHO STARTED THE WEBSITE AND HE SUGGESTED THAT I SEND MY E-MAIL TO STEPHEN MCHENRY AT NHTSA WHICH I DID. AFTER TRYING FOR MANY DAYS TO DO SO AND FAILING TO CONNECT BECAUSE OF SOME PROBLEM WITH THE MESSAGE TRYING TO REACH MR. MCHENRY I JUST LET IT GO. WE NEED TO SELL THE CAR BECAUSE WE CAN'T AFFORD TO FIX ALL THAT NEEDS TO BE REPAIRED. THE PROBLEM IS HOW DO I SELL A CAR THAT NEEDS OVER A THOUSAND DOLLARS OF WORK? I AM FORWARDING THE E-MAIL I TRIED TO SEND TO STEPHEN MCHENRY TO YOUR E-MAIL ADDRESS. WHAT CAN I DO? AM I TOO LATE IN REPORTING THIS? WHAT DO YOU ADVISE ME TO DO? THANK YOU FOR YOUR CONSIDERATION. SUSAN K. LUXEM *TR