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Volvo • Flaming Volvos • Fuel leak recall • Other complaints

Tessa of Norman OK (08/27/08)
I purchased a certified pre-owned S40 on May 19, 2008. Shortly after I took the car home, I began to notice a foul smell. I figured that maybe a cat had gotten into it with the previous owner, and that the smell was just a result of that and would eventually fade away, so I pushed that to the back of my mind. Toward the end of June I noticed that the car was having trouble starting. I took it into the dealership in OKC, and they told me that I needed some part to regulate the fuel pressure. Just over a week later the part was fixed, and I picked up my car on a Friday. On Saturday morning my car would not start. Monday morning I dropped off the car again, and was eventually told I needed a new fuel pump. A full two weeks later, my fuel pump finally arrived. Two weeks! I was finally able to pick up my car on a Thursday. After parking in my driveway Sunday afternoon, I noticed a huge puddle under the car, and I felt that the floorboard under the passenger seat was soaked. The following Monday I took the car back yet again. This time I was told that the air conditioner vent had become disconnected and all of the water from the air conditioner had leaked into the floorboards and molded everything. By last Wednesday afternoon I was able to pick up my car and drive home. Today (8/26) I was driving home and the car just completely shut down. I was able to coast into a parking lot away from the highway rush hour traffic, and had my car towed in. There was no warning of any sort that the car was having issues. The car has been in the shop for 30 of the last 35 days, and I haven't even made a payment on it yet. I have no idea what I am going to do when the warranty expires in December, as Oklahoma lemon laws do not cover used cars. I had purchased this Volvo as my first car because of their reliability and safety ratings, but now I really wish I had go with the less-expensive, new Toyota. This is absolutely ridiculous.

Karen of Austin, TX August 25, 2008

Karen of Austin TX (08/25/08)
Purchased a 2001 s60 volvo with 16,000 miles on it, sounds too good. I have had the tranmission replaced, lights keep going out, CV joints have been replaced and just a host of other stuff. I do not believe in Volvo's anymore.

Patricia of Redwood City, CA August 25, 2008

Patricia of Redwood City CA (08/25/08)
I did not use the car for several months due to low gas mileage -- have been using my second, more economical car. Due to disuse, battery died, so, as I always have done, I prepared to use jumper cables to get the car started. I was aware of the fact that the battery is located under the floor in the left rear of the trunk, but I had NO idea that it is physically impossible to expose the leads for purposes of jumping the battery to start it without disassembling the car. Access to one of the three bolts that secure the bracket that holds the COVERED battery in place is virtually impossible for the average person without the proper tools. Perhaps a Volvo service center has a wrench that has an angled neck, making it possible to loosen the bolt that attaches to the rear of the trunk, just inside the trunk from the bumper, but standard wrenches will not work. If I were out and about and had the need to use jumper cables on my car, it would not be possible. I doubt that all roadside services are equipped to handle this situation, either. While Volvo (now Ford...) may counter that there is some safety reason for locking the battery away so nobody can access it but, perhaps, authorized serviced centers/personnel, but I won't believe it. I have driven nothing but Volvos since 1977, and HAD vowed never to own or drive anything else. This experience, alone, and made me decide to get rid of this car as quickly as I can and purchase a different foreign made automobile. Shame on Volvo!

To expose the battery and the bolted bracket that holds it in place, I had to break several plastic pieces that look like large-headed screws that are punched through the plastic housing inside the back bumper and the felt-like molded covering that forms the walls of the trunk. The molded plastic housing still was not liberated sufficiently to provide access to the last bolt, and pushing it to try to gain access came dangerously close to cracking it. The stupidest design feature I have ever seen in a Volvo!

Angela of Agoura Hills, CA August 22, 2008

Angela of Agoura Hills CA (08/22/08)
I originally purchased my 2005 s40 Volvo at Neftin Westlake in California. I was visiting a friend in Las Vegas and was pulling into his driveway when all of a sudden every indicator light on the on electrical panel lit up and the car shut off in the middle of driving and I could not restart the car. I had the car towed by triple A to a nearby independent mechanic called Sunset Auto to have them examine my vehicle.

The next day they called and told me that the timing belt was shredded and had damaged parts of the engine which is why the car had shut off. They explained that this would be about a 2,500 repair job. They also told me that the timing belt should last and does not need to be replaced until 100,000 miles. I only had 43,000 miles on the car. They told me that I should have it taken to Volvo for repairs as it should be covered under warranty as my vehicle was covered for 50,000 miles and it was well under that.

I had the car towed to Volvo of Las Vegas to be inspected. The next day George, my service advisor, called to let me know the bad news He said that unfortunately the car was not going to be covered because I must have been in an accident. I told him I was NEVER in any front end collision and that the car just died in the driveway- I could even have the tow truck driver account for that. He insisted it would not be covered. The next day I went down to Volvo and the other service advisor whispered to me So, what did you hit? C'mon- it's okay, we know you hit something) I told him I absolutely DID NOT hit anything. They kept saying I must have been in a serious accident.

George explained I was looking at about a 3,000 repair that was not going to be covered. I told him that according to the other repair shop, the belt should not have gone out at 43,000 miles and how was that relevant to anything he was saying? I went home that evening frustrated about what to do- and called the Volvo Complaint Center, and of course received no help whatsoever.

The next day I called Volvo and George said perhaps I scraped something and I must have hit a speedbump or curb which hit the AC Compressor which caused the damage and that I should just call my insurance company Even if this was the case, what a horrible, poorly made vehicle if it cannot withstand going over a speedbump. All of sudden George said the repairs were going to cost about 5,000 or 6,000! The price went up thousands of dollars in just one day!

I called the original body shop, Sunset Auto, and they said in fact they would vouch that there was no visible damage to the AC pump at that time they inspected the vehicle. I repeatedly asked George to please email or fax me a copy of the estimate so I could have it for my records. He fought about it and was very rude and after repeatedly asking him he still NEVER sent me an invoice.

I ended up having to tow my car back to California to have my car fixed and still cost me money out of my pocket. There was no way I would ever let them have my business. I was even sent a customer survey later on my last service experience and submitted it to Volvo of North America. I never got a follow up call or anyone even addressing my ordeal. It took over 2 months to get this ordeal straightened out which was frustrating since I was making payments on a car I couldn't even drive.

I am a valued customer who pays all payments early, services my vehicle at every service suggestion and does everything by the book. I am so disappointed and angry that Volvo treats its customers like this. I will make it my quest to make sure that nobody I ever come in contact ever buys a Volvo. I will go out of my way to bring this to everyone's attention about the poor customer service and quality of their products. Shame on Volvo.

I was forced to make payments on a vehicle I wasn't even driving and had to spend more money out of my pocket just to get to work everyday, not to mention the money i had to pay out of my pocket to fix the car.

Georgina of Long Beach, CA August 21, 2008

Georgina of Long Beach CA (08/21/08)
I have taken my 2001 Volvo V70 in to have the air conditioning checked while the car was under extended warranty . They could not find anything wrong and now I am about to return with the continuing problem , the extended warranty is up. I anticipate an unseemly battle. They do send me a Birthday card with which I can fan myself . About four years ago I reported that the car was hesitating and erratic , twice leaving me in the path of oncoming traffic when making turns. I was made to feel like a delusional imbecile by Power Volvo of Cerritos . They said that there was no problem then they said that to replace the transmission would cost me a great deal . I claimed against extended warranty and it was denied . I asked them to send the letter denying the claim to a lawyer and suddenly they took care of the expensive imaginary problem. yes they took care of that problem but I had to threaten and I resent being treated in that manner.

Roxanne of Edmonton, OTHER August 18, 2008

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