VOLVO Complaints

FRONT UNDER CARRIAGE AIR DAM/SPLASH PANEL ABRUPTLY PULLED AWAY FROM CHASSIS WHILE TRAVELING AT HIGH SPEED (PASSING). THIS RESULTED IN PIECES OF HEAVY DUTY PLASTIC BREAKING OFF AND BOUNCING UNDER THE CAR, CATCHING ON THE PAVEMENT. DISCONCERTING--I THOUGHT AT FIRST I BLEW A TIRE (LOUND NOISE AND THEN SUSTAINED WIND NOISE). IT APPEARED THE PLASTIC BECAME FATIGUED AND PULLED AWAY FROM THE ANCHORING BOLTS. DEALER PARTS MANAGER REPORTS THAT HE HAS REPLACED SEVERAL OF THESE...*AK

I AM CURRENTLY DRIVING A 2003 VOLVO S40. IT HAS BEEN EXPERIENCING A TRANSMISSION SLIP BETWEEN 2ND AND 3RD GEARS. I HAD TAKEN THE CAR BACK TO THE DEALER FOR TWO TIMES DUE TO THE ABOVE PROBLEM. THE ONLY THING THEY DID WAS UPGRADING THE PROGRAM, WHICH IT DID NOT HELP AT ALL. THE MAJOR PROBLEM IS I ALMOST GOT IN A MAJOR ACCIDENT ON 6/27/2003 WHILE I WAS MAKING A LEFT TURN AND THE CAR LOST POWER IN THE MIDDLE OF THE ROAD. THE ON COMING TRAFFIC BARELY MISSED RUNNING INTO MY VOLVO. THIS TRANSMISSION SLIPPING USUALLY LAST FOR 2 TO 3 SECS AND THIS LOST OF POWER CAN PUT ME INTO MAJOR ACCIDENT EASILY. I ASKED VOLVO TO TAKE MY CAR BACK, BUT THEY SAID THEY COULD NOT REPRODUCE THE PROBLEM WHILE THE CAR WAS IN THE SHOP, THE TURTH IS, THE PROBLEM DOES NOT HAPPEN EVERYDAY. I AM EXTREMLY MAD THAT VOLVO DOES NOT CARE ABOUT THE LIFES OF THEIR CUSTOMERS. IN FACT, THIS IS A KNOW PROBLEM EVEN VOLVO HAS A TECH NOTE FOR THIS. BUT I GUESS AS LONG AS THEY CANNOT REPRODUCE THE PROBLEM, THEY DONT CARE EVEN WE ARE TAKING ABOUT POTENTIAL MAJOR ACCIDENTS HERE. PLEASE HELP. THANKS.*AK

FALURE OF ABS CONTROL MODUAL FOR 1997 VOLVO 850 GLT. THERE ARE A HUGE AMOUT NOF FAILURES FOR 1996-1998 AND SHOULD BE A SAFTEY RECALL.*AK

NO BRAKES UPON INITIAL START AND SHORTLY THERAFTER, VEHICLE IDLED FOR APPROXIMATELY 6 HOURS. DEALER RESET CHECK VALVE AND SAID THEY DO NOT HAVE TO REPLACE ASSEMBLY, COMPUTER SAID OKAY. *AK

TRANSMISSION SLIPS, RPM/SPEED INCREASES AT APPROX 30 MPH INTERMITTENTLY AND AFTER A TURN FOR APPROX 1-2 SECONDS, CAUSING AN UNSAFE, AND ALARMING EXPERIENCE. *AK

THE DRIVER'S SIDE SEAT BELT LOST TENSION WHILE DRIVING AND COMPLETELY UNROLLED AND WAS NO LONGER FUNCTIONAL. I CONTACTED MY NEAREST DEALER WHICH IS 30 MILES AWAY AND THEY ADVISED THAT THEY DID NOT FEEL THE VEHICLE WAS SAFE TO DRIVE AND TO CONTACT VOLVO ON CALL. I DID THIS AND WAS TOLD THAT BECAUSE THE VEHICLE WAS STILL DRIVEABLE IT WOULD NOT BE TOWED. VOLVO CUSTOMER SERVICE ADVISED THE SAME. I FOLLOWED UP WITH AN EMAIL TO VOLVO CUSTOMER SERVICE AND TO DATE I HAVE NOT RECEIVED ANY RESPONSE DESPITE RECEIPT OF CONFIRMATION OF MY E-MAILS. ON 7-10-03, I FINALLY DROVE THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER WITH NO SEAT BELT. THE VEHICLE HAD BEEN PARKED SINCE 7-7-03. THE PART WAS ORDERED AND WILL BE AVAILABLE 7-14-03. IT SEEMS VOLVO HAD NO CONCERN FOR MY SAFETY OR THE FACT THAT I WAS DRIVING THE VEHICLE IN VIOLATION OF FL STATUTES - A COMPANY SUPPOSEDLY "COMMITTED TO SAFETY."*AK

WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED AND WITHOUT ANY INDICATION, THE VEHICLE CAUGHT ON FIRE FROM THE ENGINE. MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED, BUT NOTHING WAS DONE, THEY CLAIM THE CAUSE OF THE FIRE COULDN'T BE DETERMINED. THE ENGINE WAS SEVERELY MELTED. *AK *CB *JB

BRAKE POWER ASSIST FAILED. DEALER NOTIFIED. *AK THE BRAKES WERE SOFT UPON COLD STARTS AND WAS DISFUNCTIONAL UNTIL THE VEHICLE HAD WARMED UP. THE BRAKE WAS DEPRESSED MULTIPLE TIMES. THE DEALER ATTEMPTED ON FIVE OCCASIONS TO CORRECT THE PROBLEM AND REPLACED THE VACUUM HOSE TWICE. A REPRESENTATIVE OF VOLVO RECOMMENDED NEW WIRING AND IT SEEMED TO HAVE REMEDIED THE PROBLEM. *SCC *JB

HEADLIGHT SWITCH FELL APART CAUSING US TO LOOSE LIGHTS WHILE ON HIGHWAY. THOUGH A RECALL IS LISTED FOR THIS YEAR AND THIS PROBLEM, VOLVO REFUSES TO ACKNOWLEDGE IT APPLIES TO THIS VEHICLE OR DO THE REPAIR PER THE RECALL. RECALL CAMPAIGN # 99V235000. *AK

VEHICLE HAS VERY POOR SUSPENSION. CAR IS UNSTABLE WHEN IT HITS EVEN THE SMALLEST OF BUMPS AND CONTINUALLY BLOWS OUT TIRES AND REQUIRES REPLACEMENT OF WHEELS. VERY HARD RIDE, UNSTABLE, AND CONTINUALLY IN THE SHOP.*AK