VOLVO Complaints

BRAKES FAILED (2ND TIME) WHEN BEING CUT-OFF ON THE ROAD. IF I TURN RIGHT AND HIT THE BRAKES QUICKLY, THEY FAIL AND SKID FOR A WHILE.*AK

A CRACK DEVELOPED ON THE "HIGH STRENGTH STEEL SAFETY CAGE" ADJACENT TO THE AREA WHERE THE DRIVER'S DOOR STOP IS WELDED TO IT. I HAVE REQUESTED THAT THE CRACKED DOOR PILLAR PORTION OF THE "HIGH STRENGTH STEEL SAFETY CAGE" BE REPLACED. VOLVO CARS OF NORTH AMERICA, INC.'S RESPONSE HAS BEEN THAT IT IS NOT THEIR PROBLEM. I HAVE ALSO REQUESTED THAT IT BE COVERED BY THE EXTENDED WARRANTY I PURCHASED, BUT THEY HAVE MADE SEVERAL ATTEMPTS TO CALL THE CRACKED AREA THINGS THAT WOULD NOT BE COVERED BY THEIR LIBERAL BETWEEN THE LINES INTERPRETATION OF THE CONTRACT WHICH IS ALSO WITH VOLVO CARS OF NORTH AMERICA, INC. THEIR FINAL RESPONSE WAS, "WHILE WE REGRET YOU MAY NOT CONCUR, VOLVO CARS OF NORTH AMERICA, INC., WILL NOT RESPOND OR CONSIDER THIS MATTER FURTHER". THE DEALER BODY SHOP ADVISOR ESTIMATED THE REPAIR AT OVER $1,200.00. REPLACEMENT REQUIRES REMOVAL OF THE DRIVER'S DOOR, WINSHIELD, AND DASHBOARD.*AK

THE VEHICLE STALLED WHILE DRIVING, VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER, AND THE PROBLEM WAS DETERMINED THAT THE IDLE CONTROL VALVE NEEDE TO BE REPLACED, CONSUMER STATES WHILE DRIVING, VEHICLE STALLED AGAIN AND VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO ANOTHER DEALERSHIP, COINCIDENTALLY CONSUMER RECEIVED A RECALL NOTICE (01V-169) FOR A DEFECTIVE DIODE IN THE ELECTRONIC CONTROL MODULE OF THE CLIMATE CONTROL SYSTEM, VEHICLE STALLED AGAIN FOR THE THIRD TIME AND THE PROBLEM WAS TRACED TO THE AIR MASS METER.*YH

UPON STARTING UP VEHICLE ENGINE WOULD NOT START. A NEIGHBOR STARTED YELLING FOR HER HUSBAND TO GET OUT OF VEHICLE. VEHICLE HAD CAUGHT ON FIRE, AND FLAMES WERE COMING FROM BELOW THE VEHICLE WHILE ENGINE ATTEMPTED TO START, EVEN THOUGH THE KEY WAS REMOVED FROM IGNITION. NO DETERMINATION HAS BEEN MADE AS TO CAUSE OF THIS FIRE. INSURANCE COMPANY WAS GOING TO HAVE VEHICLE REMOVED. *AK AREA OF FIRE ORIGIN WAS IN THE ENGINE ARE, POSSIBLE ENGINE FAILURE. *SLC

CONSUMER RECEIVED RECALL (RVXX0103B, HOWEVER IS UNHAPPY THAT VOLVO IS ONLY CHANGING THE TIRES, RIMS, AND THE LABEL, CONSUMER STATES THE FAWR ON THE DOOR LABEL IS 11,670, THE TRUCK CONTAINS A GENERATOR BUT WAS ADDED AFTER THE PURCHASE OF THE TRUCK, CONSUMER STATES THAT WHEN FULLY FUELED AND LOADED THE FRONT AXLE WEIGHT AVERAGES 13,400 PLUS, CONSUMER STATES CHANGING THE TIRES WILL NOT HELP, THE ORIGINAL SPEC SHEET WHICH SHOWS THE FRONT AXLE AS A 13,200 LB AXLE, BUT LABEL SAYS 11,670, AFTER THE RECALL IS ACCOMPLISHED, THE VEHICLE WILL EXCEED THE STEER AXLE WEIGHT IN CERTAIN STATES. *JB

VOLVO DEALER, UNDER WARRANTY REPLACED ALL 4 DISC BRAKE ROTORS & PADS DUE TO WARPING OF ROTORS & RESULTING VIBRATION WHEN SLOWING DOWN FROM 65 MPH TO 50 MPH ON HIGHWAY. THIS WORK WAS DONE ON 11/14/00 AT 39,024 MILES ON THE CAR. IT IS NOW 6/29/01 AND THE CAR ONLY HAS 43,500 MILES ON IT, IE. ONLY 4,500 ADDITIONAL MILES ON IT. THIS HAS NOT BEEN A PROBLEM ON OUR OTHER CARS, SO IT SHOULD NOT BE ATTRIBUTED TO DRIVER ERROR OR OTHER DRIVER-RELATED CHARACTERISTICS. IN FACT, WE GET VERY GOOD BRAKE WEAR AND DURABILITY ON OUR OTHERS CARS WITH THE SAME DRIVERS. IN THE APRIL, 2001 ISSUE OF CONSUMER REPORTS MAGAZINE, THIS CAR FOR THE 1997 MODEL YEAR RECEIVED THE WORST AVAILABLE RATING FOR THE BRAKES RELATIVE TO FREQUENCY OF REPAIRS FROM OWNER SURVEYS CONDUCTED BY THE MAGAZINE. I STRONGLY BELIEVE THAT THIS VIBRATION DUE TO DISC ROTOR WARPAGE CAN LEAD TO FURTHER DAMAGE IN THE BRAKING SYSTEM AND ULTIMATELY CAUSE A SAFETY RELATED FAILURE. I WOULD LIKE TO BE CONTACTED TO DISCUSS THIS FURTHER AND TO INQUIRE IF YOU HAVE FOUND THIS TO BE A PROBLEM ON OTHER VOLVO 960'S OF SIMILAR VINTAGE AS CONSUMER REPORTS HAS FOUND AND ALSO AS I HAVE PERSONALLY FOUND TO BE THE CASE. *AK

WHILE TRAVELING 15-20MPH FRONT AXLE BROKE AWAY FROM THE VEHICLE. DEALER WAS CONTACTED, AND INFORMED CONSUMER THAT A TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETINS TP6001201SECTION AND 79606470-77,FRONT END STEERING 850-992, HAD BEEN ISSUED FOR THAT PROBLEM. BUT, REFUSED TO REMEDY PROBLEM AT NO COST. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER DETAILS. *AK

CONSUMER WAS TRAVELING 55MPH ON HIGHWAY AND NOTICED THAT ANTI-LOCK BRAKING SYSTEM LIGHT CAME ON PANEL. DEALERSHIP WAS AWARE PROBLEM, BRAKES WILL NOT GRAB. *AK

LEFT FRONT WHEEL SEPARATED FROM VEHICLE WHILE DRIVING, NO INJURY WAS REPORTED. DEALER WAS NOTIFIED. PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION.*AK

WHILE DRIVING AT 15 MPH CONSUMER WAS INVOLVED IN A MINOR COLLISION. UPON IMPACT, FRONT OF VEHICLE CAUGHT ON FIRE, MELTING THE WIRES IN ENGINE AND ELECTRICAL SYSTEM. AFTER INSPECTION OF VEHICLE, IT WAS DETERMINED THAT FIRE STARTED IN TURN SIGNAL LIGHT. MANUFACTURER HAS BEEN NOTIFIED. PLEASE PROVIDE ADDITIONAL INFORMATION. *AK