VOLVO Complaints

ABOUT TWO WEEKS AGO, I ATTEMPTED TO INSTALL A CHILD SAFETY SEAT IN MY 2002 VOLVO S-80. IN ORDER TO DO THE JOB PROPERLY, I LOOKED IN MY OWNERS MANUAL FOR THE LOCATION OF THE LOWER ANCHORAGE SYSTEM. ON PAGE 12 WAS THE ILLUSTRATION AND LOCATION OF THE ANCHORS, BUT I WAS UNABLE TO FIND THEM IN THE CAR. THE NEXT MONDAY I CALLED THE DEALERSHIP WHERE I HAD PURCHASED THE CAR AND WAS INFORMED THAT SOMETIMES VOLVO DIDN'T INSTALL THIS PART. I WAS TOLD TO LOOK IN THE WHEEL-WELL IN THE TRUNK. THE PART WAS NOT THERE. SO, I WAS TOLD TO STOP BY THE DEALARSHIP AND THEY WOULD TAKE CARE OF IT. SEVERAL DAYS LATER, I WENT TO THE DEALERSHIP, AND THE MECHANIC COULDN'T FIND THE ANCHOR EITHER. SOME DISCUSION TRANSPIRED, AFTER WHICH I WAS TOLD THAT MY OWNERS MANUAL WAS IN ERROR, AND THAT MY CAR DID NOT COME WITH THE LOWER ANCHORAGE SYSTEM. IT WAS GOING TO COST ABOUT $100 TO ORDER AND INSTALL THE PART. I WAS ANGRY. AFTERALL, MY OWNERS MANUAL SHOWED THE LOCATION OF THIS SYSTEM. HOW COULD VOLVO MAKE SUCH AN ERROR? I CALLED VOLVO CUSTOMER SERVICE TO COMPLAIN. I WAS READ THE FOLLOWING STATEMENT, "VOLVO RESERVES THE RIGHT TO MAKE MODEL CHANGES AT ANY TIME, OR TO CHANGE SPECIFICATIONS OR DESIGN, WITHOUT NOTICE AND INCURRING OBLIGATION." AS A RESULT OF THIS STATEMENT THE COMPANY CONFIRMED THAT THEY WERE NOT GOING TO RECTIFY THIS SITUATION UNLESS I PAID FOR IT, SINCE THEY ARE NOT RESPONSIBLE FOR THE CONTENTS OF THEIR OWNERS MANUAL. I LEASED THIS CAR IN MAY, 2002, MORE THAN HALFWAY THROUGH THE MODEL YEAR. I SEEMS TO ME THAT VOLVO HAS THE OBLIGATION TO SEE THAT ITS OWNERS MANUAL IS CURRENT AT THE TIME OF DELIVERY. VOLVO IS A BRAND THAT HAS EARNED ITS REPUTATION THROUGH SAFETY. I OBJECT TO THE FACT THAT THEY DODGE THEIR RESPONSIBILTY FOR SAFETY BY HIDING BEHIND SOME LEGALIZE. IT IS THE COMPANY'S OBLIGATION TO THE CONSUMER TO SEE THAT EITHER THEIR CAR IS DELIVERED AS STATED, OR TO SEE THAT ANY ERRONEOUS STATEMENT AND ILLUSTRATIONS ARE REMOVED FROM THE MANUAL. *AK

THE DRIVER AND PASSENGER SEAT BELTS BROKE FROM THE ANCHORING AT THE BOTTOM DUE TO DETERIORATION OF THE PLASTIC RELEASE BUTTON. *AK *CB *NLM

THE FUEL TANK LEAKED FUEL WHERE IT WAS BOLTED TO THE TANK. *AK *CB *NLM

THE CONSUMER'S VEHICLE WAS REAR ENDED AND THEN HIT THE VEHICLE IN FRONT HER AND THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. DEALER AND MANUFACTURE WERE CONTACTED AND THE MANUFACTURE SENT A TECHNICIAN OUT TO SEE THE VEHICLE. THE CONSUMER DID NOT KNOW WHAT THE RESULTS WERE. *AK PH. *JB

2002 VOLVO S80 WHEN STOPPED ON A HILL, FACING DOWN A DECLINE, WHEN YOU PUT THE CAR IN REVERSE, THEN TAKE YOUR FOOT OFF THE BRAKE...THE CAR 'FREELY" ROLLS FORWARD. SAME THING HAPPENS WHEN STOPPED ON AN INCLINE AND YOU PUT THE CAR IN DRIVE. ALMOST HIT THE CAR IN FRONT OF ME, AND ALMOST HIT A PEDESTRIAN.... THE TRANSMISSION "ACTS LIKE" A MANUAL ONE IN THESE SITUATIONS. YOU NEED TO USE TWO FEET IN ORDER TO GET OUT OF SITUATION WITHOUT HITTING ANOTHER CAR (WHEN IN A PARALLEL PARKED SITUATION...ETC.) COMPLAINED TO MY DEALER AND VOLVO CUSTOMER SVC.. THEY TOLD ME THAT IS THE WAY THE CAR IS AND THERE IS NOTHING I CAN DO ABOUT IT. I EXPLAINED THE POTENTIAL HAZARD, AND HE RE-ITERATED THE COMMENT. *AK

2000 VOLVO, S80 VERY BAD CAR, COMPLAINTS NEVER FIXED BY DEALER HARDLY RUNS--THIS CAR IS A LEMON-PAGES REQUIRED TO LIST ALL PROBLEMS AUTO TRANSMISSION BROKE AT 51,1000 MILES, ONE MONTH AFTER DEALER SAID ALL WAS OKAY. THIS MODEL A REAL LEMON--THE WORST RUNNING CAR I EVER OWNED.OTHER PROBLEMS; FRONT BUMPER FELL OFF WHEN CAR HAD 1200 MILES. DEFECTIVE BATTERY CABLE LINKAGE CAUSED INTERMINTENT STALLING, MOTOR DOES NOT RUN SMOOTH AND SURGES AT LOW SPEEDS. POOR WINSHIELD WIPERS THAT DEALER CAN SEEM TO FIX. INTERIOR CONTROLS BREAK OFTEN, LIGHT BULBS ARE CONSTANTLY GOING OUT--EVERY LIGHT REPLACED AT LEAST ONCE. AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION REPLACED "UNDER WARRENTY" AT 51,200--BUT MUST HAVE BEEN REPLACED WITH A REBUILT OR USED TRANSMISSION--AS IT IS VERY MUCH LOUDER AND 'WINES' WHEN SHIFTING--VERY LOUD. CAR NOT WORTH THE $36,250 THAT I WOULD HAVE PAID NEW--LUCKLY I AM JUST LEASING AND IT IS FINISHED THIS SEPTEMBER. ALSO STRANGE THINGS IN THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, DOORS THAT WON'T OPEN OR LOCK BY THEMSELVES. ABS BRAKE LIGHT CONSTANTLY GOING ON. CAR IS A LEMON WITH MANY DESIGN FLAWS, AND DEALER IS POWERLESS OR REFUSES TO FIX, DESPITE THE FACT THAT I TOOK IT IN FOR SERVICE REGULARILY TO THE SAME DEALER. THIS IS THE SECOND VOLVO FROM SAME DEALER, OTHER WAS A 240DL (1988), A WONDERFUL CAR. I WILL NEVER BUY OR LEASE ANOTHER VOLVO--PLEASE WARN OTHERS. *AK

WHILE TRAVELING ON THE HIGHWAY CHECK ENGINE LIGHT WILL APPEAR ON THE DASHBOARD. DUE TO THE GASOLINE CAP BEING LOOSE THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT WILL APPEAR ON THE DASHBOARD. CONSUMER HAS TO GO TO THE DEALER TO HAVE IT TURNED OFF.*AK

THE MILEAGE ON THE PERELLI P6 TIRES FOR VOLVO S60 T5 IS ONLY 11,000 MILES. DURING A CRUSING ON THE FREEWAY, THE DRIVER HEARD A LOUD "POP" NOISE INSIDE THE CAR. AFTER THE CAR WAS DRIVEN HOME (WITHIN 5 MILES), THE DRIVER NOTICE A FLAT TIRE SHORT TIME LATER. I WENT TO VOLVO'S DEALER SERVICE DEPARTMENT ON 6/25/03 TO SEE IF I CAN GET SOME ASSISTANCE OR EXPLAINATION ON THE CAUSES OF MY TIRE PROBLEMS. THE SAME THING HAPPENED 2 TIMES BEFORE ON THE OTHER TIRES. I WAS SURPRISED HOW LITTLE HELP I GOT FROM THE SERVICE CONSULTANT WORKING THERE. IT APPEARS THAT THEY DON'T EVEN CARE TO HEAR OR DISCUSS MY PROBLEMS. LATER ON, I FIND OUT INFORMATION FROM NHTSA THAT OTHER DRIVERS ALSO EXPERIENCED PROBLEMS WITH PIRELLI P6. SINCE I DON'T FEEL SAFE DRIVING ON THESE FACTORY INSTALLED TIRES, I DECIDE TO REPLACE THEM THE FOLLOWING DAY.*AK

THE DRIVERS SIDE DOOR HINGE MADE A TERRIBLE NOISE WHEN OPENING AND CLOSING THE DOOR. *NLM PH *JB

CONSUMER'S COMPLAINT REGARDING RECALL CAMPAIGN 112. *MR (RECALL # 02V314000) THE SEAT HEATER DID NOT OPERATE PROPERLY. THE CONSUMER RECEIVED A NOTICE WHICH INDICATED THAT IN THE INSTANCE WHERE THE SEAT HEATERS DIDN'T OPERATE, THE CORRECTIVE ACTION MAY NOT RESTORE FULL FUNCTIONALITY. THE REMEDY DID NOT RESTORE THE FULL BENEFIT OF THE VEHICLE. THE CONSUMER REQUESTED COMPENSATION. THERE WAS ALSO AN A/C PROBLEM. *SCC *JB