VOLVO Complaints

THE STARTER KEEPS GETTING STUCK IN THE FORWARD POSITION, I HAVE TO MANUALLY TURN IT BACK TO THE CORRECT POSITION. ALSO, IT IS TAKING ABOUT 5 SECONDS TO START THE CAR. *JB

TL*- THE CONTACT OWNS A1988 VOLVO 240 DL. THE REAR CAMSHAFT SEAL FAILED. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING AT 45 MPH UNDER DRY CONDITIONS WHEN HE SMELLED SMOKE. THE CONTACT THEN PULLED OVER AN LOOKED UNDER THE HOOD AND SAW OIL LEAKING ON THE EXHAUST SYSTEM. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO HIS HOME WHERE HE FOUND THAT THE REAR CAMSHAFT SEAL HAD FAILED. THE CONTACT ORDERED THE PART FROM THE DEALER AND REPAIRED IT. *AK UPDATED 02/13/07. *JB

XENON HEADLIGHTS ON VOLVO XC90 ARE UNSAFE IN THAT THEY FAIL TO ILLUMINATE THE ROAD AHEAD ADEQUATELY AND RESULT IN A BLACK CURTAIN EXTENDING HALFWAY DOWN THE WINDSHIELD. *NM

THE IDLE ON MY CAR WAS ROUGH, AND AFTER A MECHANIC FAILED TO TURN UP THE CAUSE I FOUND A REASON ON A VOLVO FORUM ON THE WEB. THE PROBLEM WAS A DIRTY THROTTLE BUTTERFLY VALVE. I CLEANED IT IN ACCORDANCE TO THE VOLVO SERVICE BULLETIN. FIVE THOUSAND MILES LATER I AM DRIVING MY CAR IN STOP AND GO TRAFFIC AND THE CAR STARTS SPUTTERING, RACING, AND THE ENGINE IS GENERALLY BEHAVING POORLY. I FOUND THAT I COULD EVEN OUT THE IDLE AND KEEP THE CAR FROM STALLING IN TRAFFIC BY KEEPING MY RIGHT FOOT DEPRESSING THE ACCELERATOR AT ALL TIMES, AND USING MY LEFT FOOT FOR THE BRAKE. I WAS NOT IN ANY ACCIDENTS, BUT ALMOST GOT REAR ENDED AT LEAST ONCE. *NM

IN REGARD TO A 2004 S60 VOLVO 2.5 AWD-T WE NOTICED A SEAT BELT PROBLEM WITH THE BACK SEAT CENTER SEAT BELT. WE SECURED OUR INFANT CAR SEAT BASE WITH THE CENTER SEAT BELT, AND HAVE BEEN DOING SO SINCE SHE WAS BORN. THE LOCAL POLICE STATION HAD A SERVICE THAT DEMONSTRATED PROPER INSTALLATION AND INSURED WE WERE ABLE TO DO IT OURSELVES. THE OFFICER THEN INSTALLED IT FOR US WITH NO PROBLEM. TODAY WE NOTICED THE BASE WAS REALLY LOOSE! I TRIED TO REINSTALL THE SEAT BY ATTACHING IT TO THE SEAT BELT IN THE USUAL FASHION. HOWEVER, I DISCOVERED THAT THE SEAT BELT DID NOT HOLD THE BASE TIGHTLY AS IT DID BEFORE!!! IN SUMMARY- NORMAL USE LED UP TO THE FAILURE OF THE THREE POINT SAFETY BELT IN THE REAR CENTER SEAT POSITION TO PROPERLY HOLD THE BASE OF AN INFANT CAR SEAT SAFELY. WE ARE GOING TO CALL THE DEALER FIRST THING IN THE MORNING AND HAVE IT FIXED. *JB

THIS CAR HAS SEVERAL RECURRING PROBLEMS THAT I HAVE NEVER SEEN ON ANY CAR BEFORE. 1) ELECTRONIC THROTTLE HAS BEEN REPLACED 2 TIMES AS WELL AS OXYGEN SENSORS. 2) SUSPENSION PARTS REPLACED 3 TIMES, BALL JOINTS, STRUTS, STRUT MOUNTS, FRAME BUSHINGS. THE CAR STILL SQUEAKS. *JB

TL* - THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE AIR BAG OFF LIGHT STAYED ON WHEN THEREWAS A PASSENGER IN THE SEAT. THIS HAPPENSEDINTERMITTENTLY, AND HAS BEEN HAPPENING SINCE SEPT 1, 2006. THE VEHICLE CURRENTLY HAS 9000 MILES. THE FAILURE DID NOT HAPPEN AT ANY PARTICULAR SPEED, IT NORMALLY OCCURRED WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS FIRST STARTED. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER ON 1/3/07, AND THEY WERE IN THE PROCESS OF DIAGNOSING THE PROBLEM.*AK

ABS BRAKE UNIT FAILED AT 60K MILES; ALL SERVICE WAS DONE AT DEALER. DOZENS AND DOZENS OF OWNERS HAVE REPORTED THIS TO NHTSA FOR EXACT SAME MAKE AND MODEL. NHTS SEEMS POWERLESS TO TAKE ON THIS ISSUE. HOW MANY DEATHS WILL IT TAKE TO GET SOME ACTION? VOLVO DEALERS AND FORD KNOW WELL THE PROBLEM -- JUST COUNT THE CASH THEY ARE MAKING ON THE REPLACEMENTS, AND THEN MULTIPLY BY 10 BECAUSE MOST ARE NOT WILLING TO PAY $1,000 FOR A $200 PART. *NM

TL* - THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE TIRE FAILED WHILE DRIVING 40 MPH. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE WEATHER WAS VERY COLD, AND IT WAS RAINING ON AND OFF. HE WAS TOLD BY THE DEALER THAT THE TIRE PSI WAS 35 WHEN IT IS ACTUALLY WAS 38 PSI. THE CONTACT STATED THAT HE HAD BEEN DRIVING FOR OVER A YEAR AT 35 PSI. THERE WAS A S RECALL ON THE TIRE LABEL 110, S161A120106. OTHER THAN DRIVING FOR A YEAR UNDER INFLATED HE HAD NO OTHER PROBLEMS WITH THE TIRES. ALSO, THE CONTACT ALSO DAMAGED THE RIM BECAUSE HE COULDN'T GET OFF THE ROAD QUICKLY. *AK UPDATED 1/29/2007 - *NM

DEALER NOTICED PROBLEM DURING ROUTINE SERVICE, UPPER ENGINE MOUNT BROKEN-REPLACED. HIGHWAY DRIVING. *NM