NHTSA Complaint #10144517 — 2006 VOLVO V50

ON DECEMBER 3, 2005, THE CAR (A VOLVO V50 2006 WITH APPROXIMATELY 2000 MILES) WAS BEING DRIVEN IN A RESIDENTIAL AREA OF WASHINGTON DC. THE CAR WAS STOPPED FOR A LIGHT, AND THEN, UPON ATTEMPTING TO MOVE FORWARD, THERE WAS NO POWER TO THE WHEELS IN ANY GEAR. THE CAR WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER (MARTEN'S VOLVO, BETHESDA, MD). THE DEALERS REPRESENTATIVE INFORMED THE OWNER LATER THAT EVENING THAT A LINKAGE BETWEEN THE TRANSMISSION AND THE AXLE OF THE CAR HAD "SHEARED OFF" FOR NO APPARENT REASON. THE DEALER SAYS IT HAS FIXED THE CAR, BUT DID NOT EXPLAIN HOW. IT IS CLEAR THAT IF THE INCIDENT HAD OCCURRED IN TRAFFIC, THAT THERE IS A HIGH PROBABILITY THAT UPON THE SUDDEN LOSS OF POWER THAT THE CAR COULD HAVE BEEN INVOLVED IN A SERIOUS ACCIDENT RESULTING IN INJURY OR DEATH. *JB