VOLVO Complaints

THE IGNITION TURNS TO THE ACCESSORY POSITION IF THE KEY IS BUMPED, WHILE THE VEHICLE IS IN GEAR. THE VEHICLE LOSES POWER STEERING AND POWER BRAKES. THIS HAS HAPPENED TWICE IN THE LAST YEAR. *TR

WHILE DRIVING, CAR STOPPED ACCELERATING AND URGENT TRANSMISSION REQUIRED LIGHT CAME ON. TOOK IT TO DEALERSHIP TODAY AND WAS TOLD A NEW TRANSMISSION IS NEEDED; TOTAL COST $6800. I KNOW THIS YEAR AND MODEL VEHICLE HAS HAD SEVERAL ISSUES WITH TRANSMISSION. WHEN I CALLED VOLVO, THEY SAID NOTHING COULD BE DONE. *TR

SOME MODELS HAD A RECALL NOTICE FOR A CRACKED LEAKING FUEL PUMP (PE09039). THIS EXACT THING HAPPENED TO OUR CAR. VOLVO REFUSES TO COVER THE VEHICLE UNDER THE RECALL BECAUSE IT WAS NOT SOLD IN ONE OF THE STATES LISTED. THE PROBLEM IS EXACTLY AS DESCRIBED IN THE RECALL. THIS DOESN'T SEEM RIGHT AS IT THE SAME SAFETY ISSUE. PLEASE LET ME KNOW IF THERE IS ANY FURTHER ACTION THAT CAN BE TAKEN. *TR

THERE IS FABRIC COVER TO COVER UP AN OVERHEAD WINDOW TOWARDS THE TOP INTERIOR OF CAB COMPARTMENT. IT IS ONLY HELD IN PLACE BY A SMALL SUCTION CUP. NUMEROUS TIMES THIS HAS FALLEN ON ME WHILE I'M DRIVING. I HAVE TRIED TAPING IT AND EVEN THE TAPE WON'T STICK BECAUSE OF THE HEAT/COLD FROM THE WINDOW. AT THE WRONG MOMENT A DRIVER WILL HAVE THIS FALLING AND INTERFERING WITH HIS CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE! *TR

THE WEST COAST MIRRORS DON'T EXTEND FAR ENOUGH FROM THE SIDES OF THE TRUCK. A DRIVER CAN'T ADJUST THESE MIRROR ARMS TO SUFFICIENTLY OBSERVE TRAFFIC IN THE LANE IMMEDIATELY BEHIND THE TRUCK. I HAVE OVER 45 YRS EXPERIENCE & KNOW HOW TO PROPERLY ADJUST MIRRORS. IF ADJUSTED TO OBSERVE FAR ENOUGH BACK IN THE ADJACENT LANE, 1/2 THE MIRROR SPACE IS THE NOSE OF THE TRAILER AND SIDE OF THE CAB. AT THIS POSITION YOU CAN'T SEE THE REAR MARKER LIGHT OF THE TRAILER! TO FIND THE REAR TRAILER MARKER LIGHT THE DRIVER MUST LEAN HARD TO THE LEFT WHEN LOOKING IN THE MIRROR. A DISTRACTION THAT CONSUMES SECONDS OF FOCUSING FROM DRIVING. SERIOUS PROBLEM DRIVING IN HARD RAIN/SNOW BECAUSE YOU DON'T WHERE THE BACK OF THE TRAILER IS. IN THIS CIRCUMSTANCE WHEN YOU DO FIND THE TRAILER REAR THE TRAILER IT IS AT AN ANGLE AND APPEARS TO BE ALREADY JACKNIFING! A TENNESSEE HIGHWAY PATROL WAS BEHIND ME JUST WANTING TO PERFORM A RANDOM ROADSIDE INSPECTION. HE REMARKED "WELL IT TOOK YOU LONG ENOUGH TO PULL OVER". I EXPLAINED TO HIM WITH THE NEW VOLVO I CAN'T SEE YOU BACK THERE WHEN PERFORMING NORMAL MIRROR SCANNING WITHOUT PURPOSELY LEANING OVER TO SEE ANYONE BEHIND ME EVEN WITH FLASHING LIGHTS. WE SHOULD BE ABLE TO SEE THAT DURING OUR CONSTANT MIRROR SCANNING (SMITH SYSTEM ADVISE THIS ABOUT EVERY 7 SECONDS) OTHER DAYS I START TO MAKE A LANE CHANGE AND ANOTHER CAR OR TRUCK WILL SUDDENLY APPEAR ATTEMPTING TO PASS ME WANTING TO DO THE SAME. I SHOULD HAVE BEEN AWARE OF THAT CAR OR TRUCK BUT BECAUSE OF THE LIMITED MIRROR ARM ADJUSTMENTS ON THESE TRUCKS I CAN'T DETERMINE THEIR PRESENCE THROUGH TYPICAL MIRROR SCANNING. WHEN STARTING A PASS I CAN'T BE SURE WHERE THE BACK END OF MY TRAILER IS BECAUSE I CAN'T SEE THE REAR SIDE MARKER LIGHT. AM SURE I HAVE PULLED IN FRONT OF OTHERS MAYBE TOO CLOSE. OR TAKE MY EYES OFF FORWARD DRIVING TO BE SURE. A CAUSE OF LANE CHANGE ACCIDENTS? YES. *TR

NO SPARE TIRES IN NEW CARS PUTS US CONSUMERS IN DANGER YOU SHOULD BE AS DEEPLY CONCERNED, AS I AM, OF THE GROWING TREND AMONG CAR MANUFACTURERS TO LEAVE OUT SPARE TIRES. IN FACT THEY DON'T EVEN HAVE SPACE TO CARRY THEM. *TR DISCOUNTING THE QUESTIONABLE BENEFIT TO THEIR BOTTOM LINE THIS IS A TREND THAT PUTS US DRIVERS IN CONSIDERABLE DANGER. IT ALSO LEAVES THE US CONSUMER AT THE MERCY OF TOW TRUCK OPERATORS AND PRICE GOUGING BY THE DEALERS WHERE THE CAR IS TOWED. INSTEAD OF A SPARE THEY PROVIDE A FORM OF ?FIX-A-FLAT? THAT PUMPS A SEALANT AND AIR INTO THE PUNCTURED TIRE. THIS WILL ONLY WORK WITH TIRES WITH A SMALL PUNCTURE IN THE TREAD NOT ON LARGER HOLES OR SIDEWALL DAMAGE. IT ALSO CAUSES IRREPARABLE DAMAGE TO POSSIBLY SALVAGEABLE TIRE. THE ONLY OTHER OPTION IS TO CALL AND WAIT FOR EMERGENCY HELP, WHICH COULD TAKE HOURS, DAYS OR BE NON-EXISTENT IN MANY AREAS. YOU CAN EASILY IMAGINE MANY SCENARIOS WHERE THE LACK OF A SPARE TIRE, AND WAITING HOURS FOR A TOW, COULD BE MORE THAN A BIG INCONVENIENCE, BUT A THREAT TO LIFE. A FLAT TIRE ON A LONG DESERTED STRETCH OF ROAD LATE AT NIGHT. A FLAT IN A BAD SECTION OF THE CITY OR A SECTION WHERE ROAD DEBRIS CAUSES MULTIPLE VEHICLES TO GET FLATS AT THE SAME TIME OVERWHELMING EMERGENCY SERVICES. FOR THE SAFETY OF US DRIVERS SPARE TIRES MUST BE SUPPLIED AS STANDARD EQUIPMENT ON ALL CARS SOLD IN THE UNITED STATES.

TRAVELING NORTH ON 495 IN MASSACHUSETTS ON MY WAY HOME FROM WORK AT APPROXIMATELY 70 MPH IN HEAVY TRAFFIC, MY CAR STARTED LOSING SPEED. I PUSHED HARDER ON THE GAS PEDAL, BUT IT KEPT SLOWING DOWN. I IMMEDIATELY TURNED MY BLINKER ON AND PULLED TO THE SLOW LANE, THINKING I MAY BE ABLE TO GET OFF THE HIGHWAY AT THE NEXT EXIT. I WAS ABLE TO PULL TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD ALMOST INTO THE BREAKDOWN LANE. MY CAR STALLED. I WAS AT THE TURN OFF FOR THE EXIT - IN HEAVY TRAFFIC. I CALLED AAA FOR ASSISTANCE. A STATE POLICE OFFICER STOPPED AND SET UP FLARES TO HELP AVOID A COLLISION. FIRST LOOK FROM MY MECHANIC INDICATES A FUEL PUMP MODULE PROBLEM. THERE HAS BEEN A RECALL IN OTHER 2006 VOLVO MODELS FOR THIS ISSUE BUT NOT FOR THE XC 70. I LIVE IN NH SO THE CAR IS EXPOSED TO SALT/WATER. THERE WAS FLOODING ON THE WAY IN TO WORK THAT MORNING. THIS IS A VERY CONCERNING SAFETY ISSUE, AS MY CAR LITERALLY QUIT IN HEAVY TRAFFIC ON 495. *TR

I BEGAN TO NOTICE A FUEL SMELL AND DRIP MARKS UNDER THE VEHICLE AFTER PARKING THE VEHICLE IN THE GARAGE IN THE EVENING. UPON INVESTIGATION, I NOTED FUEL DRIPS ON THE UNDERBODY OF THE VEHICLE IN AN AREA SLIGHTLY IN FRONT OF THE FUEL TANK AND A DEVELOPING FUEL PUDDLE IMMEDIATELY UNDER THE VEHICLE. FOLLOWING AN INSPECTION AT THE VOLVO DEALER, IT WAS DETERMINED THAT THE ELECTRIC FUEL PUMP WAS LEAKING FUEL. IT WAS EXPLAINED TO ME THAT THE FUEL PUMP HOUSING WAS CRACKED AND LEAKING FUEL AT AN UNSAFE CONDITION. I WAS ADVISED TO REPLACE THE PUMP IMMEDIATELY DUE TO THE HIGH LEVEL OF FUEL LEAKAGE. I WAS ALSO ADVISED THAT THE FUEL TANK SENDING PUMP WAS ALSO DEFECTIVE AND REQUIRED IMMEDIATE REPLACEMENT.

MY WIFE WAS DRIVING HOME FROM A GROCERY STORE 3 MILES AWAY. A QUARTER MILE FROM THE HOUSE SHE NOTICED A BURNING SMELL. SHE THOUGHT IT WAS FROM THE OUTSIDE SINCE BRUSH FIRES ARE COMMON AROUND SOUTH FL. SHE PARKED ONTO OUR DRIVEWAY AND NOTICED SMOKE RISING FROM AROUND THE HOOD. SHE TOOK THE KEY OFF OF THE IGNITION AND THE ENGINE KEPT RUNNING. SHE CALLED THE FIRE DEPARTMENT WHILE A NEIGHBOR HELPED AND OPENED THE HOOD. IMMEDIATELY SMOKE STARTED BILLOWING AND THEY OBSERVED FIRE IN THE ENGINE.TWO FIRE ENGINES SHOWED UP AND CONTAINED THE FIRE BEFORE DOING ANY FURTHER DAMAGE. MOST OF THE VISIBLE DAMAGE IS BETWEEN THE AIR INTAKE MANIFOLD AND THE AIR FILTER HOUSING. ON THAT DRIVE NO WARNING LIGHTS CAME ON, THE CAR RADIO WAS WORKING MY WIFE SAID IT WAS UNEVENTFUL UNTIL THE SHE NOTICED THE SMOKE. MY WIFE WAS SCARED AND STRESSED BEYOND FROM WHAT SHE HAD TO GO THROUGH. THE CARS WARNING SYSTEM DID NOT WORK, THERE WAS SEVERE FAILURE FOR THIS TO HAPPEN ON A 4 YR OLD CAR. I CALLED THE LOCAL VOLVO DEALER AND THE REP I SPOKE WITH WAS TOTALLY UNHELPFUL AND DID NOT OFFER ANYTHING. I CONTACTED THE VOLVO CUSTOMER SERVICE AND SO FAR I HAVE GOTTEN A COUPLE OF EMAILS .

CAR STALLED (2 TIMES ) WHILE DRIVING IT. COULD NOT STEER OR OPERATE ANY PART OF THE CAR. ONCE I ALMOST GOT REAR ENDED MY A TRUCK ON A HIGHWAY. MY VOLVO DEALER'S SERVICE DEPARTMENT COULD NOT FIGURE OUT THE PROBLEM. (I RECENTLY READ ABOUT THE GM IGNITION PROBLEMS AND THAT SOUNDS EXACTLY LIKE WHAT WAS HAPPENING WITH THIS CAR). *TR