NHTSA Complaint #10136772 — 1999 VOLVO S70

I HAVE HAD MULTIPLE PROBLEMS WITH THIS CAR: 1) ENGINE/THROTTLE SYSTEM: A) INTERMITTENTLY, THE CAR WILL NOT START WHEN THE ENGINE IS WARM, WHETHER FROM DRIVING OR IT IS A HOT DAY. I HAD IT TOWED TO THE VOLVO DEALER FROM MY GARAGE WHEN IT HAD <20K MILES AND WAS TOLD THAT I WAS NOT DRIVING IT HARD ENOUGH. THEY ADVISED THAT THE ENGINE HAD TO BE BLOWN OUT AND SUGGESTED THAT I REV-UP THE ENGINE WHILE THE CAR WAS IN PARK TO CLEAN IT OUT. THAT DID NOT HELP. I HAVE HAD THE CAR SERVICED MULTIPLE TIMES. THE PROBLEM HAD GOTTEN SO BAD, THAT THE CAR BEGAN STALLING WHILE I WAS DRIVING IT, PARTICULARLY, IF I STOPPED FOR A TRAFFIC LIGHT OR TURNED A CORNER. I PAID $1,500 IN JANUARY 2005 TO HAVE IT REPAIRED AGAIN, AND NOW THE PROBLEM IS BACK. THE VOLVO DEALER IS USELESS. B) THE ENGINE EITHER LEAKS OR BURNS OIL. I WILL INTERMITTENTLY HEAR A CLICKING NOISE TO FIND OUT THAT ALL OF THE OIL IS GONE. THE OIL LIGHT DOES NOT COME ON. I ROUTINELY HAVE TO ADD 3-4 QUARTS OF OIL. 2) SAFETY FEATURES: THE REARVIEW MIRROR BROKE OFF IN MY HAND AND I WAS TOLD BY THE DEALER THAT IT WAS A SAFETY FEATURE. WHEN IT BROKE OFF, IT LEFT A METAL SPIKE STICKING OUT THAT WOULD HAVE DONE FAR MORE DAMAGE IN AN ACCIDENT THAN THE MIRROR. THE CHILD LOCK ON THE REAR CENTER SEAT BELT FAILED. I TOOK IT TO THE DEALER AND WAS TOLD THAT I WAS PULLING THE BELT TOO TIGHT AND IT WAS SUPPOSED TO HAVE SOME "GIVE". OF COURSE, I KNOW THAT THE CHILD SEAT IS NOT SUPPOSED TO WIGGLE AROUND IN THE BACK SEAT, SO I INSISTED THAT IT BE REPLACED. BODY: THE MECHANISMS TO HOLD UP THE TRUNK LID NO LONGER FUNCTION. THE LATCH TO RELEASE THE HOOD HAS HAD TO BE REPLACED. *NM