VOLVO Complaints

I PURCHASED THIS VOLVO S 80 CAR AS A SECOND OWNER WHEN IT HAD 35,500 MILES WITH 19,500 MILES REMAINING ON THE 50,000 NEW CAR WARRENTY. THE CAR HAD BEEN SERVICED FAITHFULLY. AT 57,00 MILES THE SERPENTINE BELT FAILED AND THE CAR QUIT. THE CAR WAS TOWED TO BYERS VOLVO,COLUMBUS,OH. THE SERPENTINE BELT CAUSED THE TIMING BELT TO GET OUT OF TIME WHICH CAUSED ALL THE INTAKE VALVES TO BE BE BENT. I WAS ADVISED THAT THE SERPENTINE BELT WAS SCHEDULED TO BE REPLACED AT 60,000 MILES AND THAT SINCE THE CAR WAS OUT OF WARRANTY, THAT I SHOULD CONTACT VOLVO OF AMERICA. AGAIN I WAS TOLD THAT EVEN THOUGH THE BELT WAS NOT DUE TO BE REPLACED UNTIL 60,000 MILES , THE CAR WAS STILL OUT OF WARRANTY AND SINCE I DID NOT PURCHASE IT FROM THE VOLVO DEALER, THERE WAS NOTHING THEY COULD DO. I TOOK THE CAR TO AN INDEPENDENT GARAGE AND HAD THE CAR REPAIRED. I AGAIN CONTACTED VOLVO AND RECEIVED THE SAME RESPONSE. I FEEL THAT SINCE THE BELT THAT CAUSED THE PROBLEM WAS NOT SUPPOSED TO BE REPLACED FOR ANOTHER 30000 MILES THAT THERE WAS AN IMPLIED WARRENTY AND VOLVO SHOULD BE HELD RESPONSIBLE.

1996 VOLVO 850'S ARE PLAGUED WITH REAR MAIN SEAL FAILURES WHICH CAUSE OIL TO LEAK ONTO CLUTCHES AS WELL AS ON TO THE EXHAUST SYSTEMS, CREATING THE POTENTIAL FOR FIRES. 1996 VOLVO 850'S ARE ALSO PLAGUED WITH ABS CONTROL MODULE FAILURES IN THAT THE ABS AND TRACTION CONTROL SYSTEMS FAIL TO OPERATE AT TIMES. THIS IS DUE TO A DEFECTIVE COMPUTER MODULE. VOLVO 850'S ARE ALSO PLAGUED WITH POOR DRIVERS SIDE WIPER DESIGNS THAT RESULT IN A LARGE PORTION OF THE WINDSHIELD NOT BEING SWEPT BY THE WIPER, WASHER NOZZLES RETURN VALVES ALSO FAIL FREQUENTLY, PREVENTING WASHER FLUID FROM RECAHING THE WINDSHIELD.

CONTINUOUS AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT. CAR DIES ON ROAD. GET FIXED, THEN AIR BAG LIGHT COMES ON AGAIN. RAN INTO A PERSON WHO VOLVO AIRBAGS DEPLOYED WITHOUT REASON AND SHE WAS INJURED. AFTER EXITING HIGHWAY, CAR "DIED." I AM LUCKY TO BE ALIVE AS THE WHEEL STIFFENED UP & I HAD TO RELY ON THE PARKING BRAKE TO SLOW DOWN. HAD TO GET A "JUMP START" TO GET HOME. CAR IS UNSAFE. RETURNED TO VOLVO. ALSO HAD STEERING WHEEL THAT SHAKES AT HIGWAY SPEEDS, ALARM THAT WENT OFF WHILE DRIVING, & WOULDN'T START, REMOTE DOOR OPENER DOESN'T ALWAYS WORK, SERVICE ENGINE LIGHT FLICKERED ON & OFF -- SAID IT WAS AN EMISSIONS PROBLEM.

THE FRONT SEATS HAVE BROKEN THREE TIMES. THE BAND THAT KEEPS THE BACKS IN POSITION EITHER FAILS AND THE SEAT WILL NOT RETURN TO A PREVIOUS POSITION OR IT SLIPS AND FAILS TO ADJEST THE SEATS. THIS WAS FIXED AND PAID FOR TWICE. NOW WITHIN 15 MONTHS IT HAS FAILED AGAIN AND SMYTHE VOLVO WILL ONLY OFFER A 10% REDUCTION IN THE COST. THIS SHOULD LAST MONGER THEN 15 MONTHS. I WOULD LIKE TO KNOW IF ANYONE ELSE HAS HAD THIS PROBLEM. WE WEIGH 124 AND 145 RESPECTIVELY. WE HAVEN'T ADJUSTED THE SEATS VERY OFTEN. WOULD LIKE TO KNOW HOW COMMON THIS PROBLEM IS. VOLVO SAYS IT IS NOT COMMON. WE THINK IT IS DEFECTIVE REPAIR OR DEFECTIVE DESIGN AND THEY SHARE IN THE RESPONSIBILITY. PLEASE ADVISE.

CAR DIES WITHOUT WARNING AT HIGH SPEEDS AND LOW SPEEDS, APPARENTLY VOLVO KNOWS THAT THERE IS A BAD COMPUTER CHIP IN MANY OF THE CARS BUT DOES NOT ADMIT TO IT BECAUSE IT COSTS $800 TO REPLACE THE CHIP. I FOUND THIS OUT FROM ANOTHER VOLVO DRIVER!

COOLING SYSTEM PROBLEM MESSAGE DISPLAYED AT 29,500 MILES ...DEALER FOUND AND REPLACED CRACKED HOSES THAT CAUSED COOLANT LEAK. TRANSMISSION SERVICE URGENT MESSAGE CAME UP. DEALER REPLACED TRANSMISSION VALVE BODY PER VOLVO. TRANSMISSION FAILED AGAIN 36 HOURS LATER. NOW IN SHOP HAVING COMPLETE TRANSMISSION REPLACED AT 31000 MILES! TRANSMISSION PROBLEM OCCURRED RIGHT AFTER 30,000 MILE SERVICE AT VOLVO AT COST OF $600. I ASKED VOLVO FOR DISCOUNT ON EXTENDED WARRANTEE... THEY REFUSED SAYING IF THEY DID IT FOR ME THEY WOULD HAVE TO DO IT FOR OTHERS.

EXHAUST: CATALYTIC CONVERTEWR FAILED/PLUGGED UP. TRANSMISSION: SHIFT LOCK RELEASE BUTTON ON SHIFTER LOCKED UP.

WHILE DRIVING THE STEERING WHEEL LOCKED UP. THE DRIVER WAS ABLE TO MAINTAIN CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE AND UNLOCKED THE STEERING. HE DROVE THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER FOR ANALYSIS. THE MECHANIC NOTICED THAT THE STEERING FLUID WAS LEAKING FROM UNDER THE HOOD. THE DRIVER STATED THAT THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN AT THE DEALER FOR THREE MONTHS. THE MECHANIC IS WAITING FOR A STEERING ROD. . NETMET VOLVO 153-20 HILLSIDE AVE. JAMAICA NEW YORK 11432 ***************718 523 5858 TONY JOHNSON(SERVICE MANAGER). *NM

MOISTURE IN THE VACUUM SYSTEM CAUSED THE VACUUM PUMP TO FAIL. WHEN IT WAS COLD THE VEHICLE'S BRAKES DIDN'T FUNCTION AT ALL. THE REAR BRAKES FAILED DUE TO A DEFECT IN THE BRAKE SYSTEM. THE MANUFACTURER REFUSED TO PAY TO REPLACE THE SYSTEM *AK *NM

CONSUMER COMPLAINED ABOUT A CHILD RESTRAINT ANCHORAGE SYSTEM PROBLEM. VEHICLE WAS RECALLED DUE TO FAILING TO COMPLY WITH FMVSS 225. VOLVO STATED THEY COULD NOT RETROFIT THE ANCHORAGE SYSTEM INTO THIS VEHICLE. *AK