NHTSA Complaint #10055370 — 2002 VOLVO V70

DURING OPERATION OF THE VEHICLE DURING COLD WEATHER, THE DRIVER NOTICED A HESITATION WHEN APPLYING PRESSURE TO THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL AND HEARD A SLIGHT "CRUNCHING" SOUND. AT A LATER DATE, CONSUMER WAS DRIVING APPROX. 35-45 MPH ON A ROAD WITH HILLS (UP AND DOWN). WHILE DRIVING UP AN INCLINE, THE DRIVER EXPERIENCED SAME HESITATION AND HEARD A HORRIBLE "PUNCHING" SOUND. THE VEHICLE CAME TO A COMPLETE STOP WHILE ANOTHER VEHICLE RAPIDLY APPROACHED FROM THE REAR. THE OTHER VEHICLE HAD TO SWERVE SUDDENLY TO AVOID HITTING CONSUMER'S VEHICLE. THE CONSUMER & PASSENGER HAD TO ROLL VEHICLE DOWN THE HILL AND CALL FOR HELP. DEALER EXAMINED VEHICLE AND DETERMINED THAT THE LEFT AXLE HAD PULLED OUT OF THE TRANSMISSION (DUE TO A PIN THAT HAD BROKE). THE DEALER PERFORMED A TEMPORARY FIX BY BANGING AXLE BACK INTO THE TRANSMISSION. ALSO, DEALER FOUND THAT THE LEFT BALL JOINT WAS BROKEN (UNKNOWN WHEN THIS OCCURRED). DEALER LATER REPLACED ENTIRE TRANSMISSION. *MJJ CONSUMER WOULD LIKE TO KNOW IF THERE ARE OTHER REPORTS REGARDING SAFETY RELATED ISSUES ON VOLVO V70. *LA