VOLVO Complaints

CONSUMER HEARD A GRINDING SOUND COMING FROM THE DRIVER'S DOOR. SEVERAL DAYS LATER CONSUMER WAS HAVING PROBLEMS GETTING IN AND OUT OF THE VEHICLE. VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER, WHO INFORMED THE CONSUMER THAT THE DOOR NEEDED REWELDING, AND THE REWELDING WAS DONE BY THE DEALER. *AK

PROBLEMS WITH VOLVO HEAVY DUTY TRUCK: SINCE THE VERY FIRST WEEK OF OWNERSHIP WE HAVE HAD NOTHING BUT PROBLEMS WITH OUR BRAND NEW $130,000 RIG. IN A NUT SHELL HERE IS A LIST OF THE MAJORITY OF PROBLEMS THAT WE HAVE HAD SINCE MARCH 2001: -5 ALTERNATORS...THE FIRST TWO ACTUALLY FELL OFF WHILE DRIVING DOWN THE HIGHWAY!!?? -3 CAM SHAFTS (DETROIT DIESEL)... THE FIRST ONE WENT @ APPROXIMATELY 40,000 MILES -MAJOR VIBRATION/LOUD RATTLE COMING THROUGH THE GEAR SHIFTER **HAS BEEN CONSTANT SINCE I DROVE IT OFF OF THE LOT...THEY SAY THAT IT IS NORMAL?? -DESPITE THE LARGE RED WARNING LABEL ON THE TRUCK THAT STATES THAT PRE-MATURE WEAR WILL OCCUR, THE VOLVO MECHANICS HAVE ADJUSTED THE DRIVELINE ANGLES NUMEROUS TIMES. EVEN IF THEY EVER DID GET THE NOISE TO GO AWAY, DAMAGE HAS ALREADY OCCURRED! -TRANSMISSION WILL NOT SHIFT PROPERLY... VOLVO MECHANICS SAY IT SHIFTS NORMAL AND THAT IT IS ALL IN MY HEAD!!!!!!? (TRUST ME, MANY MECHANICS WHO DO NOT WORK FOR THE MANUFACTURER AGREE WITH ME!!) -2 ECM COMPUTERS -3 ON BOARD DISPLAY COMPUTERS -3 SETS OF STEER TRIES (FIRST SET LASTED 90,000 MILES) -2 SETS OF WHEEL BEARINGS. EVEN THOUGH THEY HAVE BEEN ADJUSTED AT THE SPECIFIED INTERVALS! -THE PAINT ON THE HOOD BEGAN PEELING OFF BEFORE I GOT THE TRUCK HOME!! -PASSENGER SIDE DOOR LOCKS MALFUNCTIONED ON THE FIRST TRIP OUT!! -4 NEW BATTERIES HAD TO BE BOUGHT 1 DAY AFTER THE 1 YEAR WARRANTY EXPIRED!!! I HAD PROBLEMS WITH THE BATTERIES PRIOR TO THE WARRANTY EXPIRING, HOWEVER MANY VOLVO MECHANICS TOLD ME THAT THEY TESTED FINE...I HAVE PROOF THAT THEY WERE NOT OK! ...AND VOLVO SAYS THAT THIS IS NORMAL??!!

MY ENTIIRE TRANSMISSION FAILED AND HAD TO BE REPLACED BY THE MANUFACTURER. MY TURBO HAS NOW FAILED AND WARRANTY RECENTLY EXPIRED. THE CURRENT QUOTE IS $1000.00 OR MORE TO REPAIR THIS. THE AIRBAG DID NOT DEPLOY ON 2 OCCASIONS WHEN IT SHOULD HAVE. THE DEALERSHIP REFUSED TO CHECK IT BECAUSE IT WAS TOO EXPENSIVE. WHEN I BOUGHT THE CAR AT 7500 MILES, THE ANTENNA MOTOR WAS BROKEN. MY SALESPERSON TOLD ME THEY WOULD REPAIR IT ON MY NEXT SERVICE APPOINTMENT. THIS PROMISE WAS NOT HONORED, THEY LATER CLAIMED THAT WAS MY FAULT AND NOT COVERED UNDER WARRANTY. THIS SEEMS LIKE A LOT OF PROBLEMS FOR A CAR OF THIS CALIBER. I AM EXTREMELY DISSAPPOINTED WITH VOLVO SERVICE AND QUALITY. I HAD A HONDA FOR 7 YEARS AND NEVER HAD PROBLEMS LIKE THESE. I WILL GO BACK TO HONDA NOW.

INTEGRATED BOOSTER SEAT BROKE APART AT HINGE LINKING SEAT TO SEAT-BACK (SEAT BELT FUNCTIONED, BUT ONLY TO HOLD THE INTEGRATED BOOSTER SEAT IN PLACE). THE METAL HINGE BROKE INTO 4 PIECES AND COMPLETELY DISENGAGED FROM THE SEAT/BACK. THE SEAT WAS USED BY ONLY ONE CHILD, AND AT 55 LBS WELL BELOW THE WEIGHT LIMIT OF 80 POUNDS. THE INTEGRATED BOOSTER SEAT REMAINED IN THE BOOSTER-SEAT POSITION MOST OF THE TIME AND WAS NOT SUBJECT TO AN UNUSUAL AMOUNT OF OPENING AND CLOSING. THIS SUGGESTS A SERIOUS DESIGN FLAW THAT COULD JEOPARDIZE THE SAFETY AND EVEN THE LIFE OF A CHILD STRAPPED INTO THE INTEGRATED BOOSTER SEAT. IF THE STRUCTURAL INTEGRITY FAILURE WAS NOT NOTICED BY A PARENT AND THE VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN A HIGH-IMPACT CRASH, THE SEAT COULD DISENGAGE FROM THE VEHICLE ITSELF, PROPELLING THE CHILD INTO SEATS OR WINDOWS.

CAR DIED WHILE DRIVING 2 TIMES. VOLVO SAYS NOTHING WRONG WITH THE CAR. I FILLED FOR LEMON LAW. VERY BAD SERVICE AND ATTITUDE FROM BORTON VOLVO. THE WORST IS THAT I FIND OUT THAT VOLVO KNOWS ABOUT THE PROBLEM AND STILL LET PEOPLE DRIVE THEIR DEATH TRAP CARS.

I READ ABOUT YOUR COMPANY IN THIS PAST SUNDAY'S PHILADELPHIA INQUIERER. THE AIR CONDITIONING IN MY VOLVO NO LONGER WORKS, AND I NEEDED TO REPLACE THE THROTTLE BODY CONTROL. THERE ARE TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETINS ON BOTH OF THESE ITEMS. I HAVE NOT MADE THE AIR CONDITIONING REPAIR YET BECAUSE THE ESTIMATE IS $1600. I WROTE VOLVO A LETTER ON 5/15/03 ABOUT THE AIR CONDITIONING PROBLEM & ASKED THEM TO CALL ME. THEY WROTE ME A LETTER DATED 5/19/03 & ESSENTIALLY DENIED ANY RESPONSIBILITY. I REPLIED ON 6/5/03 & AGAIN ASKED THAT THEY CALL ME, BUT THEY DID NOT. I CALLED VOLVO ON 7/8/03 AND THEY SAID THEY WOULD NOT CHANGE THEIR POSITION. IN LOOKING FOR THE TSBS ON MY AIR CONDITIONING PROBLEM, I ALSO FOUND ONE ON A THROTTLE CONTROL PROBLEM THAT I HAD PREVIOUSLY REPLACED. THERE WERE DEFINITELY DRIVABILITY PROBLEMS WITH THE THROTTLE BODY BEFORE I HAD THE REPAIR MADE. THE PROBLEM WAS ONCE I STARTED GETTING UP TO AROUND 55-60 MPH, THE DRIVING WOULD HESITATE. I ORIGINALLY THOUGHT IT MIGHT BE A TRANSMISSION PROBLEM, AS THE PROBLEM DROVE SIMILAR TO A TRANSMISSION "SLIPPING". THEY REPLACED THE THROTTLE BODY, NOT CLEANED IT LIKE THE TSB MENTIONS. MY FEELING IS THAT IF THESE TWO ITEMS ARE DESIGN FLAWS, FOR WHICH THE DESIGN HAS SINCE BEEN CORRECTED, THEN VOLVO SHOULD REPAIR MY VEHICLE REGARDLESS OF THE FACT THAT IT WAS OUT OF WARRANTY. I BOUGHT MY VOLVO NEW ON 3/16/2000 AND IT CURRENTLY HAS 88,000 MILES. THE WARRANTY WAS FOR FOUR YEARS/50,000 MILES.

THE TRANSMISSION HAD TO BE REPLACED LAST WEEK AND I FEEL THAT WITH THE QUALITY OF THIS CAR AND THE REPUTATION OF VOLVO, THAT THE TRANSMISSION SHOULD NOT HAVE HAD TO BE REPLACED AT THIS EARLY POINT IN THE CAR'S LIFE. THEY ARE TOTALLY UNWILLING TO DISCUSS ANY CONSIDERATION IN THE COST OF THIS REPAIR. THE DEALERSHIP HAS WORKED WITH US A BIT, BUT NOT THE DISTRIBUTORS. PEOPLE I HAVE CHATTED WITH ARE AMAZED THAT VOLVO HAS BEEN SO UNRESPONSIVE. MY HUSBAND IS READY TO SELL IT AND BUY A BMW!

THE GRIEF FROM THIS CAR LITERALLY BEGAN ON THE WAY HOME FROM THE SHOW ROOM, AS THE SEAT BELTS WERE NOT FUNCTIONING. THEY REQUIRED FOUR VISITS TO THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT TO CORRECT THE PROBLEM. THE ISSUE OF THE TIRES BEING UNSAFE BECAME APPARENT WHEN THE CAR WAS TWO WEEKS OLD, WITH UNDER 1000 MILES ON THE ODOMETER FRONT & REAR BUMPERS SEPARATE FROM VEHICLE , WITH LITTLE OR NO PROVOCATION. TIRES SELF DESTRUCT AT SPEEDS OF 2-4 MPH (WHILE PARKING), IF A CURB IS TOUCHED. I'M INFORMED THAT TIRES HAVE WEAK SIDEWALLS & TO REPLACE TIRES (AT MY EXPENSE). AIR CONDITIONING REQUIRED THREE VISITS TO REPAIR SHOP & IS STILL NOT GETTING THE CAR AS COLD AS IT SHOULD IN HOT WEATHER. I SHOULD ADD THAT I'M ALSO INFORMED THAT REPLACEMENT TIRES WILL DIMINISH THE HANDLING OF THE CAR.

PROBLEM - SIDEWALL BUBBLING ON TIRES WITHIN THE FIRST 5-1/2 MONTHS OF OWNING MY NEW VOLVO STATION WAGON, I HAD TO REPLACE 2 PIRELLI TIRES DUE TO SIDEWALL BUBBLING. 5 MONTHS LATER, WITH 12,000 MILES ON THE CAR, ONE OF THOSE BRAND NEW TIRES HAS TO BE REPLACED AGAIN DUE TO THE SAME ISSUE. MY MAIN COMPLAINT IS THAT VOLVO RECOMMENDED THESE TIRES TO ME DESPITE THE FACT THAT I INDICATED THAT I LIVE IN REDDING, CT, PRIMARILY DRIVE ON BACK ROADS, AND THAT MY MAIN REASON FOR BUYING THE CAR WAS SAFETY. THEY TOLD ME I WAS BETTER OFF WITH "HIGH PERFORMANCE TIRES". I'VE CONTACTED VOLVO AND THEY REFUSED TO ACCEPT ANY RESPONSIBILITY OR DO ANYTHING TO HELP. THEY TOLD ME THAT I MUST HAVE HIT A POTHOLE SO THE DAMAGE WAS MY FAULT BUT IN 18 YEARS OF DRIVING ON THE SAME ROADS THAT I'VE BEEN DRIVING MY VOLVO ON, I HAVE NEVER HAD TO REPLACE TIRES FOR ANY OTHER REASON THAN NORMAL WEAR AND TEAR. AND SINCE THE PROBLEMS WITH ALL 3 TIRES OCCURRED AT SEPARATE TIMES, IT SEEMS APPARENT THAT THESE TIRES ARE NOT APPROPRIATE FOR THE LOCAL DRIVING CONDITIONS. LUCKILY, THIS HAS NOT YET RESULTED IN AN ACCIDENT, BUT DUE TO THE FACT THAT I SPEND A LOT OF MY DRIVING TIME SHUTTLING MY SMALL CHILDREN AROUND, I'M AFRAID TO DRIVE THE CAR FOR FEAR THAT THE TIRES WILL BLOW OUT. I'D APPRECIATE ANY HELP YOU MIGHT BE ABLE TO PROVIDE SINCE I AM VERY CONCERNED ABOUT SAFETY.

VOLVO RELUCTANTLY RELEASED US FROM OUR LEASE A COUPLE OF MONTHS AGO. OUR FIRST VOLVO EXPERIENCED ELECTRICAL AND TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS. THEY PUT US IN ANOTHER VOLVO WHICH EXPERIENCED TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS AS WELL. AFTER REPEATED ATTEMPTS ON VOLVO OF DALLAS' PART TO REPAIR OUR CAR THEY FINALLY REPLACED THE TRANSMISSION HOWEVER THE NEW TRANSMISSION WAS NOT PERFORMING PROPERLY EITHER WHEN VOLVO RELEASED US FROM THE LEASE. THE DEALERSHIP, AREA/REGIONAL DIRECTORS, AND VOLVO CORPORATION PRACTICED POOR BUSINESS ETIQUETTE ON ALL ACCOUNTS IN OUR OPINION. THEY DID RELEASE US FROM OUR LEASE HOWEVER, REFUSED TO REIMBURSE US FOR OUR INITIAL $5000.00 DOWN PAYMENT. OUR ENTIRE VOLVO EXPERIENCE DISGUSTED US SO THAT WE CHOSE NOT TO ENDURE THE LENGTHLY PROCESS OF A LAW SUIT. WE JUST WANTED TO DRIVE A SAFE, DEPENDABLE, RELIABLE VEHICLE THAT FIT OUR FAMILIES NEEDS. TOO MUCH TO ASK FROM VOLVO! IT IS A SHAME BECAUSE WHEN WE GOT INTO OUR VOLVO WE PLANNED ON BEING VOLVO CUSTOMERS "FOR LIFE." GOOD LUCK.