VOLVO Complaints

IN SEPTEMBER OF 2004, I BEGAN EXPERIENCING PROBLEMS WITH MY VOLVO S40 SEDAN. THE VEHICLE WOULD SHUT OFF WHILE I WAS OPERATING IT FOR NO APPARENT REASON. I TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER TWICE AND THEN CONTACTED THE VOLVO CUSTOMER CARE DEPARTMENT FOLLOWING AN INCIDENT WHEN THE VEHICLE SHUT OFF WHILE I WAS IN A VERY BUSY INTERSECTION IN TOWN. I NARROWLY AVOIDED A VERY SERIOUS CRASH. THEY SENT A REGIONAL TECHNICIAN TO THE VOLVO DEALER. VOLVO HAD THE CAR FOR AN EXTENDED PERIOD OF TIME AND SAID WHILE THEY COULD NOT DETERMINE THE PROBLEM, THEY REPLACED SEVERAL PARTS. I EXPERIENCED NO FURTHER PROBLEMS UNTIL JUNE OF 2005 WHEN THE EXACT PROBLEM RESURFACED. WHEN I TOOK THE CAR BACK TO THE DEALER AND CONTACTED VOLVO CUSTOMER CARE, THEY INDICATED TO ME THAT THEY STILL COULD NOT TELL WHAT WAS WRONG WITH THE CAR AND SO THEY WOULD NOT "THROW PARTS" AT A CAR. MY HUSBAND AND I ARE BOTH IN LAW ENFORCEMENT AND KNOW FIRSTHAND THE DEVASTATION OF CAR CRASHES. WE FELT SO UNSAFE IN THE VEHICLE, THAT WE DECIDED TO TRADE IT IN JULY OF 2005....A VERY COSTLY AND FINANCIALLY DEVASTATING RESULT. (WE LOST OVER $4,300) HOWEVER, I FELT TOO GUILTY TO SELL THE CAR TO ANYONE PRIVATELY. I WAS SO DISAPPOINTED THAT VOLVO REFUSED TO DEAL WITH THIS PROBLEM AND LEFT ME NO OTHER CHOICES THAN TO DRIVE IN A VERY UNSAFE CAR, OR FACE FINANCIAL DEVASTATION. *JB

CAR WAS DAMAGED GOING OVER A SPEED BUMP (ON PUBLIC RD) AT ABOUT 5 MPH. THERE IS A RECALL IN EUROPE TO FIX THIS PROBLEM (BY REMOVING A BRACKET THAT PRODUCED BELOW THE CARD AND CAN BE FORCED UPWARDS DAMAGING THE EXHAUST AND DRIVESHAFT. THE RECALL HAS NOT BEEN MADE IN USA PLEASE SEE THIS WEBLINK (THAT HAS A COPY OF THE EUROPEAN RECALL NOTICE) HTTP://WWW.SWEDEDEMON.COM/PHPBB2/VIEWTOPIC.PHP?T=385&HIGHLIGHT=P+N+30647428 I HAVE COPIED SOME TEXT FROM THE RECALL BELOW (IT HAS PICTURES ON THE SITE WHICH EXPLAINS THE SITUATION WELL) ISSUED FOR R VEHICLES BUT GOES FOR ALL P2X AWD MODELS. DATED JANUARY 2004. DESCRIPTION, THERE HAVE BEEN REPORTS ABOUT THE FACT THAT S60R AND V70R VEHICLES CAN BE DAMAGED AT THE UNDER SIDE OF THE VEHICLE WHEN DRIVING OVER SPEED BUMPS. THIS IS CAUSED BY A BRACKET (P/N 30647428) (SEE ATTACHMENT) WHICH IS MOUNTED UNDER THE VEHICLE. THE BRACKET IS ONLY USED FOR PRODUCTION PURPOSE TO KEEP THE EXHAUST SYSTEM IN PLACE AND SERVES NO OTHER FUNCTION. BECAUSE OF THE LOWER RIDE HEIGHT OF THE R VEHICLES THE BRACKET CAN TOUCH THE GROUND IN EXTREME SITUATIONS. WHEN THE BRACKET TOUCHES THE GROUND IT CAN BEND (SEE ATTACHMENT IMAGE) AND SUBSEQUENTLY DAMAGE THE EXHAUST SYSTEM AND THE DRIVE SHAFT (CARDAN). PRODUCT CHANGES, INVESTIGATING IF PRODUCT CAN BE CHANGED IN PRODUCTION. PART RETURN, NO TECHNICAL REPORT, NO SERVICE, VOLVO ADVISES TO REMOVE THE BRACKET WHEN PRESENT ON R VEHICLES DURING SERVICE. THIS TO PREVENT FUTURE DAMAGE. REMARK, THESE BRACKETS ARE PRESENT UNDER ALL P2X AWD VEHICLES. IF THERE IS A CONCERN FOR PROBLEMS THE BRACKET CAN BE REMOVED WITHOUT CONSEQUENCES. *JB

DURING HIGHWAY DRIVING, THE CAR BEGAN TO SURGE AND BUCK. I WAS UNABLE TO MAINTAIN A CONSISTENT SPEED. I PULLED OFF THE HIGHWAY AND TURNED OFF THE IGNITION AND RESTARTED. SAME PROBLEM RESUMED WITH ETS (ELECTRONIC THROTTLE SYSTEM) DASH WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. CURRENTLY I AM UNABLE TO ACCURATELY CONTROL THE THROTTLE VIA FOOT PEDAL. I HAVE JUST VISITED THE BORTON VOLVO DEALERSHIP AND THE SERVICE MANAGER INFORMED ME THAT THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM AFFECTING VOLVOS 1999-2001 REQUIRING REPLACEMENT OF ETCS ( ELECTRONIC THROTTLE CONTROL SYSTEM) MODULE AT $1000.00+. *JB

DT: THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 VOLVO S80. THE VEHICLE STALLED/DIED, AN DLOST CONTROL ON AUGUST 11, 2005 WHILE DRIVING AT 55-60 MPH. *AK

I OWN A 1995 VOLVO 940 TURBO WAGON. IN THE PAST 6 MONTHS, WE HAVE HAD RANDOM INCIDENTS OF THE CAR LOSING POWER WHILE DRIVING. THE SPEED AT THE TIME OF THE INCIDENT RANGES - ANYTHING FROM 35 TO 70. THERE IS NO INDICATION, SOUND OR VIBRATION TO INDICATE IT IS ABOUT TO CUT OFF. IF THE CAR SITS FOR 10-15 MINUTES FOLLOWING THE "CUT OFF", IT WILL CRANK WITH NO PROBLEM. IF YOU ATTEMPT TO CRANK THE CAR AS SOON AS IT DIES, IT'S AS IF YOU'VE FLOODED THE MOTOR. WHEN THIS STARTED, IT WAS VERY RANDOM AND VERY RARE. WE WERE TOLD TO CLEAN OR REPLACE THE FUEL FILTER, WHICH WE DID, AND WE WERE FAIRLY SUCCESSFUL WITH THAT. HOWEVER, THIS HAPPENED AT A TIME THAT I WAS NO LONGER DRIVING THE CAR AS MUCH AS I WAS OUT OF SCHOOL FOR THE SUMMER. IN THE PAST WEEK, THE CAR HAS "QUIT" ON 3 OCCASIONS, ONCE WHEN STOPPED AT A LIGHT, ONCE WHEN PULLING OUT ONTO A HIGHWAY, AND ONCE WHILE TRAVELING 50+ MPH ON A HIGHWAY. WE SAW ON THE NEWS A REPORT THAT NHTSA WAS INVESTIGATING REPORTS OF THIS HAPPENING IN OTHER VOLVOS, BUT ONLY 1999 AND FORWARD MODELS. IN TALKING WITH OTHER VOLVO OWNERS IN AUTO CHAT ROOMS, BULLETIN BOARDS, ETC., WE HAVE NOT TAKEN THE CAR IN FOR SERVICE AS IT SEEMS THE CONSENSUS THAT OTHERS HAVE SPENT A CONSIDERABLE AMOUNT OF MONEY IN ATTEMPTING TO FIX THIS PROBLEM, BUT TO NO AVAIL. WE CONTACTED OUR LOCAL VOLVO DEALER - MAXWELL VOLVO OF BURLINGTON, (336-227-2727), BUT WERE INFORMED THAT THEY KNEW NOTHING OF AN INVESTIGATION INTO THIS PROBLEM AND HAD NOT SERVICED ANY VEHICLES FOR IT EITHER. WE WERE HOPING THAT YOUR INVESTIGATION WOULD DISCOVER THE PROBLEM AND THEN WE WOULD HAVE THE CAR REPAIRED TO AVOID ANY UNNECESSARY REPAIRS AND COSTS. MY QUESTION IS: IF THERE IS A RECALL, WILL IT ONLY INCLUDE 1999 AND FORWARD? AND, IF A RECALL IS ANNOUNCED THAT WILL INCLUDE OUR 1995 MODEL, DO WE NEED TO BE ON SOME "RECORD" WITH A VOLVO DEALER AS HAVING REPORTED THIS PROBLEM OR THAT AN ATTEMPT WAS MADE TO FIX IT? NOTE: THE INCIDENT DATE ON THIS REPORT IS THE "LAST TIME" THIS HAPPENED. *NM

OUR 2001 XC 70 VOLVO HAS HAD A STALLING PROBLEM THAT REPEATS PERIODICALLY BUT THAT THE DEALER CAN'T REPLICATE. IT BEGAN WITH A SURGING AND THE TRANSMISSION SHIFTING ERRATICALLY. THIS WAS FIXED WITH A SOFTWARE DOWNLOAD BUT STALLING CONTINUED. IT IS RANDOM OCCURRING WHEN WE ACCELERATE AT INTERSECTIONS AS WE TURN OR BEGIN. IT IS QUITE ANXIETY PROVOKING SINCE IT COULD HAPPEN WHEN WE ARE TURNING AND IF A CAR WAS COMING IT COULD STRIKE US AND CAUSE A SERIOUS ACCIDENT. IT IS NOW OFF WARRANTY BUT ON EXTENDED WARRANTY AND WHEN THE DEALER IS CONTACTED THEY DO NOT KNOW WHAT TO DO. RECENTLY, THE LOCAL SERVICE REP FOR VOLVO HERE IN FAIRBANKS, ALASKA REPLACED A TURBO LINK VALVE. IT WAS REPLACE ONLY TODAY SO WE DO NOT KNOW IF IT WILL CONTINUE TO HAVE A PROBLEM. IT HAPPENS ABOUT ONCE A MONTH. *NM

I WOULD LIKE TO ADD MY NAME TO THE NUMBER OF PEOPLE COMPLAINING ABOUT THEIR VOLVO'S ENGINE STALLING REPEATEDLY WITHOUT WARNING. I BELIEVE THIS MIGHT BE FROM THE UNIT THAT REGULATES THE AMOUNT OF AIR INTO THE VEHICLES ENGINE. I PURCHASED MY 2000 VOLVO V70XC FROM SANTA MONICA VOLVO IN OCTOBER 2001 AND IT IS STILL UNDER WARRANTY. OVER THE LAST YEAR AND A HALF MY ENGINE HAS STALLED OVER 20 TIMES WHILE DRIVING WITHOUT ANY WARNING. SEVERAL TIMES THIS OCCURRED WHILE I WAS DRIVING 65 MILES AN HOUR ON A FREEWAY THAT ALMOST RESULTED IN SERIOUS CAR ACCIDENTS. SOMETIMES I CAN RESTART THE CAR IMMEDIATELY, OTHER TIMES THE CAR HAS TO SIT FOR A WHILE, BUT FOUR TIMES I HAD TO HAVE THE CAR TOWED. THE FIRST TIME THE ENGINE DIED ON JULY 5, 2004 I HAD THE CAR TOWED TO A VOLVO REPAIR SHOP IN VALENCIA, CALIFORNIA. THE NEXT MORNING THE REPAIR SHOP CALLED AND TOLD ME THE CAR STARTED FOR THEM WITHOUT ANY PROBLEMS. SO I DROVE TO SANTA MONICA VOLVO ON JULY 7, 2004 AND THEIR SERVICE DEPARTMENT REPLACED THE BATTERY. TWO MONTHS LATER (SEPTEMBER 1, 2004) WHEN THE CARS ENGINE DIED AGAIN WHILE I WAS DRIVING, THE CAR WAS TOWED TO SANTA MONICA VOLVO AND THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT TOLD ME THAT NOTHING WAS WRONG WITH MY CAR. I TOLD THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT THAT I DID NOT WANT THE CAR BACK UNTIL THEY FOUND WHAT WAS WRONG WITH IT. THE SERVICE REPRESENTATIVE THEN SPOKE TO A MANAGER AND CALLED ME BACK TO SAY THAT MY ALTERNATOR WAS PUTTING OUT LOW VOLTAGE AND THEY REPLACED IT. THEN ON JUNE 30TH MY VOLVO LOST ALL POWER AGAIN WHILE I WAS DRIVING AND WOULDN'T START. THE CAR WAS TOWED BACK TO SANTA MONICA VOLVO WHERE I WAS TOLD THEY NEEDED TO DO A THROTTLE BODY CLEANING AND THEN REPLACE THE MASS AIR FLOW METER FOR A TOTAL OF $708. I BOUGHT MY VOLVO FOR SAFETY REASONS AND I HAVE NEVER FELT MORE UNSAFE DRIVING A CAR. I SINCERELY HOPE THAT YOUR INVESTIGATION LEADS TO A RECALL OF MY VOLVO. IT IS THE BIGGEST LEMON THAT I HAVE EVER OWNED! *JB *SC *TR

MALFUNCTIONING OF THE ELECTRONIC THROTTLE SYSTEM (ETS) ON MY 1999 VOLVO V70 STATION WAGON CAUSED ME TO LOSE POWER OR STALL COMPLETELY WHILE DRIVING. IT HAPPENED SEVERAL TIMES PRIOR TO HAVING THE ETS REPLACED. IT OCCURRED FOR ME AT LOW SPEEDS AND IN LIGHT TRAFFIC ALLOWING ME TO GET OFF THE ROAD. I WAS ABLE TO RESTART THE ENGINE AFTER A SHORT TIME INTERVAL. IT COULD HAVE BEEN A MAJOR SAFETY HAZARD IF I HAD THIS FAILURE AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS AND IN TRAFFIC. THIS OCCURRED SEVERAL MONTHS AGO AND HAS BEEN REPAIRED AT MY EXPENSE, BUT ON READING AN ASSOCIATED PRESS ARTICLE TODAY ON AN INVESTIGATION OF THIS PROBLEM BY THE NHTSA, I AM SUBMITTING THIS AS ANOTHER INSTANCE OF THE PROBLEM BEING INVESTIGATED. *NM THE AIR CONDITIONING COMPRESSOR AND POWER WINDOWS HAD TO BE REPLACED. CURRENTLY, THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT IS ON. *JB

IN JULY, 2005 I TOOK MY 2000 S80 IN FOR SERVICE COMPLAINING OF GENERAL PERFORMANCE PROBLEMS INCLUDING SURGING WHEN STOPPED, PARTICULARLY WHEN THE A/C IS RUNNING. SOMETIMES I SAW THE TACHOMETER JUMPING DURING THE SURGE ACTIVITY. RED BANK VOLVO, MY REGULAR SERVICE FACILITY, ADVISED ME THAT THE PROBLEM REQUIRED SOFTWARE UPGRADES FOR ECM AND ETM, AND IF IT PERSISTED THAT MY ALTERNATOR WOULD NEED CLEANING. THEY NEVER MENTIONED AN ETM DEFECT. BASED UPON THE ETM COMPLAINTS LISTED ON NHTSA'S WEBSITE, MY EARLY PROBLEMS SEEM SIMILAR. *NM

BETWEEN 12/2004-6/2005 MY 2003 VOLVO S60 LOST POWER/ POWER DECREASES AT VARYING SPEEDS. THE MOST SIGNIFICANT WAS ON THE HWY GOING 65 MPH. I HAD JUST ACCELERATED TO GET ONTO THE HWY IN FRONT OF A SEMI TRUCK. MY CAR REACHED 65-70 MPH AND BEGAN TO DROP SPEEDS - 65 TO 55 TO 50 TO 40 WITH IN SECONDS. THE SEMI ALMOST RAN OVER ME BECAUSE THE SPEEDS DROPPED SO FAST. I CAUSED 2 OTHER CARS ON THE HWY TO GO ONTO THE SIDE RAMP OTHERWISE IT WOULD HAVE BEEN A HORRIBLE CRASH WITH THE SEMI. I HAVE TAKEN THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER 3 TIMES COMPLAINING OF THE SAME PROBLEM. THE FINAL TIME STATING NOT TO GIVE THE CAR BACK UNTIL IT WAS FIXED. THE DEALER SAID THEY DOWNLOADED NEW SOFTWARE TO THE CAR? IF IT HAPPENS AGAIN THEY CAN INSTALL A BLACK BOX TO RECORD WHAT IS GOING ON. WHAT IF THE NEXT TIME THE SEMI DOES CRASH INTO ME? THE FIRST TIME THEY HAD THE CAR THE LABELED AS PEDAL POSITION SENSOR INSTALL/REPLACE? THE SECOND TIME THE INVOICE READS PRESSURE SENSOR INTAKE AIR REPLACED? ULTIMATELY, I SAW THE REPORT IN THE NEWS AND RECOGNIZED THE ISSUE TO EXACTLY WHAT HAPPENS TO MY CAR. I NOTICED THAT YOU DID NOT INCLUDE 2003 S60'S IN YOUR REPORT. I KNOW THESE SHOULD BE LOOKED AT AS WELL. I LOVE MY VOLVO I JUST DON'T FEEL VERY SAFE IN IT. PLEASE CONTACT ME FOR ANY QUESTIONS. *NM