VOLVO Complaints

I FILED A COMPLAINT WITH VOLVO CARS NORTH AMERICA DUE TO A LEAK AT THE HOSE AND MY POWER STEERING RESERVOIR. I STATED THE FOLLOWING: IS MY CAR ELIGIBLE FOR RECALL REPAIR OF POWER STEERING LEAK? MY POINTS OF REFERENCE ARE AUTOMD.COM AND HTTP://WWW.AUTOSAFETY.ORG/NODE/39837 POST FOR 2001 VOLVO V70 FAILING COMPONENT(S): 016000 STEERING:ELECTRIC POWER ASSIST SYSTEM, BULLETIN 229826 NHTSA: 10022614, ACTION NUMBER: 10022614, SERVICE BULLETIN #: 229826 ON 08/27/07. ALSO, UNDER A WARRANTY CLAIM - LABOR OP 64357-2, LABOR DESCRIPTION "RELPACE SUCTION HOSE, FLUID RESERVOIR, PS PUMP," WITH .4 HOURS LABOR. THEY RESPONDED AS SUCH, YET MY CAR IS EXPERIENCE THE EXACT SAME SYMPTOM THAT HAS BEEN IDENTIFIED AS A SAFETY ISSUE: WE HAVE RESEARCHED YOUR 2001 VOLVO XC70, VIN- XXXXX AND MAY CONFIRM THERE ARE NO OUTSTANDING RECALLS ON YOUR VEHICLE. YOUR VEHICLE WAS MARKED FOR TWO RECALLS WHICH HAVE BEEN COMPLETED, DETAILS LISTED BELOW. RECALL 141 FOR AN ELECTRIC COOLING FAN; COMPLETED 09/01/05 AT RICKENBAUGH VOLVO. RECALL 155 FOR A SOFTWARE UPGRADE FOR THE ELECTRONIC THROTTLE SYSTEM; COMPLETED 01/17/07 AT RICKENBAUGH VOLVO. WE HOPE THIS INFORMATION HAS BEEN HELPFUL. [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR

I SMELLED SOMETHING LIKE ACETONE AND DID NOT KNOW WHAT IT WAS. THE DRIVER'S SIDE SEAT HEATER NEARLY BURNED MY LEG BEFORE IT WENT COLD ON THE LEFT HALF. THE LEATHER WAS BURNT AND PUCKERED ON THE LEFT OUTSIDE. WHEN I WENT TO MY MECHANIC, I HAD THEM UNPLUG THE ELEMENT SO FURTHER DAMAGE OR INJURY WOULD NOT OCCUR IF THE SEAT HEATER WERE ACCIDENTALLY TURNED ON. PEDERSEN VOLVO WANTS AT LEAST $230 TO REPAIR DAMAGE I DID NOT INDUCE OR CAUSE WEAR TO AN EXTREME OUT OF ABNORMAL USE. VOLVO SHOULD HONOR THE QUALITY OF THE CARS IT SELLS BY REPAIRING THIS DANGEROUS MECHANISM THAT SHOULD SIMPLY WORK SAFELY IN GOOD FAITH FOR FREE. THIS HAS BEEN A PATTERN FOR MANY VOLVO OWNERS, OFTEN INCLUDING SIGNIFICANT INJURY. HTTP://FORUMS.SWEDESPEED.COM/SHOWTHREAD.PHP?156901-SEAT-WARMER-AND-HEATED-SEAT-DEFECT-RECALL-(PLEASE-RESPOND)/PAGE4. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 VOLVO V70. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 15 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED AND THE CHECK ENGINE WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A DEALER WHERE IT WAS ADVISED TO THE CONTACT THAT THE ELECTRONIC THROTTLE MODULE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 06V441000 (VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL). THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 73,280 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 77,000. *TR UPDATED 4/29/13 *CN

FRONT LIGHTS GO OFF GOT A TICKET FOR THAT REASON AND ONLY THRU THAT TICKET DID I KNOW THAT THE LIGHTS GO OFF IT HAPPENS ONCE IN A WHILE AND WHEN SO I HAVE TO GO TO SIDE OF THE ROAD AND TURN CAR OFF AND TURN ON AGAIN, WONT HAPPEN FOR A PERIOD AND THEN SURPRISE IT HAPPENS AGAIN.WE BOUGHT THE CAR USED AND WE DONT KNOW IF THERE IS ANY RECALLS IT MIGHT NOT HAVE BEEN TAKEN CARE OF. *TR

FUEL LEAK AT TOP OF PUMP UNDER RECALL, INSPECTION AND REPAIR AT NO COST REFUSED BY VOLVO. MY VOLVO S80, 2005 WAS PURCHASED AS A USED VEHICLE IN SAN DIEGO CA FROM THE VOLVO DEALER ABOUT 2 YEARS AGO. THE FUEL LEAK LOCATION WAS DIAGNOSED BY INDEPENDENT SHOP AND THEY CONFIRMED THE PUMP WAS UNDER RECALL. THE INDEPENDENT SHOP RECOMMEND TAKING THE CAR TO THE LOCAL DEALER FOR REPLACEMENT AT NO CHARGE UNDER THE NHTSA RECALL NOTICE. WHEN THE CAR WAS TAKEN TO THE LOCAL DEALER NO INSPECTION WAS PERFORMED AND I WAS TOLD THE RECALL NOTICE DID NOT APPLY TO MY VIN. I REQUESTED THE DEFECTIVE PART RETURNED TO ME AND ONLY THEN VOLVO DISTRICT SAID THEY WOULD PROVIDE THE PART (APPROX $500) BUT WANTED ME TO PAY FOR LABOR (APPROX $250). THEY ALSO WANTED THE DEFECTIVE PUMP RETURNED TO THEM. I REFUSED VOLVO'S OFFER, TOOK PICTURES OF THE DEFECTIVE PUMP AND CONFIRMED IT MATCHED DESCRIPTION IN THE NHTSA RECALL NOTICE AND THE INDEPENDENT SHOP DIAGNOSES. THE PUMP FUEL LEAK IS UNDER THE REAR SEAT WHERE CHILDREN IN SAFETY SEATS ARE EXPOSED TO INTENSE FUMES. EVERYBODY IN THE CABIN IS EXPOSED TO HIGH LEVELS OF FUMES FROM RESIDUE FUEL AT ALL TIMES FROM WHEN THE ENGINE WAS LAST OPERATED. THE DEALER FAILED TO FOLLOW THE RECALL NOTICE PROCEDURE FOR INSPECTION. THE NOTICE DOES NOT LIST A VIN RANGE. IF MY VIN AND/OR PUMP MODEL IS NOT INCLUDED IN THE ORIGINAL RECALL IT SHOULD BE! IT APPEARS VOLVO IS LIMITING THE RECALL SCOPE OR DENYING LEGITIMATE CLAIMS FOR A SERIOUS SAFETY RECALLED ITEM. I HAVE REQUESTED THE DEALER RETAIN ALL PARTS, RECORDS AND DOCUMENT THE ISSUE OF THE FUEL LEAK ON MY VEHICLE. I PLAN ON PICKING UP THE CAR NO LATER THAN MARCH 6 2013 REPAIRED BY VOLVO AT NO COST OR NOT. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 VOLVO S80. THE CONTACT STATED THAT AFTER PARKING THE VEHICLE AND EXITING, THE DRIVER'S SIDE, PASSENGER'S SIDE AND THE CURTAIN AIR BAGS DEPLOYED INADVERTENTLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER FOR DIAGNOSIS BUT THE TECHNICIANS COULD NOT DETERMINE A CAUSE FOR THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED AND AGREED TO COVER THE COST OF THE REPAIRS. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 120,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 135,000.

THE DRIVER SEAT OVERHEATED, APPARENTLY FROM A MALFUNCTIONING SEAT WARMER, CAUSING COMBUSTION. THE FIRE BURNED THROUGH THE SEAT PADDING, OUTER LEATHER COVERING, AND THE DRIVER'S CLOTHING. IT BURNED INTO A WALLET IN THE DRIVER'S BACK POCKET, WHICH PROTECTED THE DRIVER FROM A BURN. THE BURN HOLE IN THE SEAT IS ABOUT THE SIZE OF A NICKEL. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 VOLVO C70. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 5 MPH, THE BRAKES BECAME HESITANT TO RESPOND. ADDITIONALLY, THE PARKING BRAKE WOULD NOT ENGAGE. THE FAILURE RECURRED INTERMITTENTLY WHEN THE CONTACT WAS TRAVELING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSIS. THE TECHNICIAN STATED THAT THE REAR CALIPER SEIZED AND WAS NOT HOLDING THE BRAKE ROTOR, AND IT NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE CONTACT REFERENCED NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 08V101000 (SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC) BUT WAS ADVISED BY THE MANUFACTURER THAT THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 48,000. UPDATED 04/03/13*LJ UPDATED 4/11/13 */CN UPDATED 04/15/13

TODAY, WE LEARNED OUR VOLVO XC90'S YAW RATE SENSOR HAS FAILED. THE ROOT CAUSE WAS WATER LEAKING INTO THE PASSENGER SIDE OF THE CAR DUE TO BLOCKED MOONROOF (I.E. SUNROOF) DRAINS, WHICH SHORTED THE YAW RATE SENSOR. THIS IMPAIRED THE ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL AND BRAKES OF OUR VOLVO, PUTTING US AT RISK OF ACCIDENT. RESEARCH SHOWS THIS IS A FREQUENT AND RECURRING PROBLEM KNOWN SINCE AT LEAST 2004. IT HAS CAUSED THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS IN DAMAGE TO NUMEROUS XC90S. VOLVO IS AWARE OF THIS ISSUE UP TO AND INCLUDING THE PRESIDENT OF VOLVO USA. EVEN THOUGH EASY AND INEXPENSIVE REGULAR MAINTENANCE WOULD PREVENT EXPENSIVE DAMAGE, NEITHER THE VOLVO USER MANUAL NOR MAINTENANCE SERVICE OPERATIONS GUIDES MENTION THE NEED. THE DAMAGE WE AND OTHERS HAVE SUFFERED WAS COMPLETELY PREVENTABLE. THE ROOT CAUSE IS A DESIGN DEFECT, WHICH VOLVO SERVICE PROVIDERS REGULARLY CORRECT BY CUTTING THE BOTTOM END OF THE HOSES. A SERVICE PROVIDER IS REPORTED AS SAYING, "THIS IS A BAD DESIGN. WE DON'T KNOW WHY VOLVO DESIGNED IT THIS WAY, SO WE JUST CUT OFF THE BOTTOM TWO INCHES OF THE HOSES." GIVEN THE RISK THIS DEFECT PUTS OWNERS AT AND VOLVO'S ONGOING FAILURE TO CORRECT THIS DESIGN DEFECT AND/OR NOTIFY OWNERS OF THIS ISSUE AND THE REQUIRED MAINTENANCE TO ADDRESS IT, I BELIEVE A RECALL OF ALL AFFECTED VOLVO XC90S IS WARRANTED AND SHOULD BE INSTITUTED IMMEDIATELY. [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 VOLVO C70. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING 80 MPH, THE ETS LIGHT ILLUMINATED AND THE VEHICLE DECELERATED TO 20 MPH INDEPENDENTLY. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED BUT OFFERED NO ASSISTANCE. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 177,000....UPDATED 05/22/13 *BF THE CONSUMER STATED THE LIMP MODE AFFECTS THE BREAKING SYSTEM, IT'S DIFFICULT TO ENGAGE THE BRAKES. UPDATED 06/505/2013 *JS