NHTSA Complaint #10108192 — 2004 VOLVO VHD

ON MAY 9TH, WE PURCHASED A NEW VOLVO V 40 STATION WAGON FROM PUTNAM VOLVO IN BURLINGAME, CALIFORNIA. ON MAY 17 2004 THIS BRAND NEW CAR STALLED DEAD WHILE MOVING FORWARD IN TRAFFIC, A WEEK AFTER IT WAS PURCHASED. WE CALLED THE DEALERSHIP AND THEY BLEW US OFF AND SAID THEY HAD NEVER HEARD OF SUCH A PROBLEM AND THAT IT WAS PROBABLY "BAD GAS." A FEW WEEKS LATER IN JULY 2004 ITT STALLED DEAD AGAIN WHILE MAKING A TURN AT A BUSY INTERSECTION (MILEAGE 3,612). WE COULD HAVE BEEN KILLED! WE TOOK IT IMMEDIATELY INTO THE DEALERSHIP AND SAID IT WAS UNSAFE TO DRIVE. TWO WEEKS WENT BY AND THE PUTNAM VOLVO DEALERSHIP WHERE WE PURCHASED IT SAID THEY COULD NOT FIND A PROBLEM. THE MECHANIC IN SERVICE LET IT SLIP THAT THEY HAD SEEN 4 OTHER VOLVOS WITH THIS PROBLEM. WE THINK THIS IS A VERY SERIOUS, LIFE THREATENING PROBLEM AND WONDER IF SOMEONE HAS TO DIE BEFORE THIS IS MADE PUBLIC AND CORRECTED. WE HAVE LOST FAITH IN THE SAFETY OF THIS CAR WHICH IS THE SOLE REASON WE PURCHASED A VOLVO. VOLVO FINALLY DEMANDED THAT WE PICK UP THE CAR EVEN THOUGH THEY NEVER COULD REPLICATE THE PROBLEM NOR WOULD THEY GUARNATEE THAT IT WAS FIXED. I HAVE TO COMMUTE ON HIGHWAY 5 AND OBVIOUSLY THIS KIND OF PROBLEM WOULD BE DEADLY IF IT STALLED DEAD ON ME IN THIS SITUATION. IN THE PAST WE HAVE BOUGHT HONDAS BECAUSE OF THEIR MECHANICAL RELIABILITY BUT THE NEWS MEDIA HAS LEAD US TO BELIEVE THAT VOLVOS WERE THE SAFEST CAR.*AK