NHTSA Complaint #10184160 — 2001 VOLVO V70XC

IN DEC 2005, MY VOLVO WAS SERVICED AT THE DEALERSHIP. VEHICLE HAD 48,300 MI. DEALERSHIP NOTED THAT FRONT AND REAR SUSPENSION NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. VEHICLE HAS NEVER BEEN DRIVEN OFF ROAD. IT IS PRIMARILY A SHORT DISTANCE COMMUTER CAR. AT TIME, COULD NOT AFFORD REPAIRS. WAITED ONE YEAR (FEB 2007 - 54,000MI) AND TOOK VEHICLE TO INDEPENDENT REPAIR SHOP WHERE THEY VERIFIED THAT THE FRONT LOW CONTROL ARM BUSHINGS WERE BROKEN OFF, REAR SWAY BAR LINK WAS BROKEN, ALL PARTS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. AT THE SAME TIME, REPAIR SHOP NOTICED THAT THE REAR DIFFERENTIAL HAD FAILED. OIL WAS LEAKING INTO THE EXHAUST AND CAR WAS DEEMED TO BE INOPERABLE AT ANY MOMENT. UPON CALL TO VOLVO TO PURCHASE PART, IT WAS LEARNED THAT THE DEALERSHIP WAS AWARE OF THE ISSUE W/ FAULTY REAR DIFFERENTIAL. DEALERSHIP WAS OUT OF STOCK ON THE PART DUE TO THE NUMBER OF DIFFERENTIALS THAT NEEDED REPLACING. MY PART WAS SPECIAL ORDERED. AUTO REPAIR SHOP INFORMED ME THAT IT WAS HIGHLY UNLIKELY FOR A REAR DIFFERENTIAL TO FAIL ON A VEHICLE W/ SUCH LOW MILEAGE. IN ADDITION, I WENT BACK THROUGH PREVIOUS SERVICE RECORDS AND FOUND THAT VOLVO HAD PATCHED A LEAK IN THE DIFFERENTIAL JUST PRIOR TO WARRANTY EXPIRING. IN TOTAL, THE REPAIRS FOR THE SUSPENSION AND DIFFERENTIAL COST $4,600 AND I WAS W/O A VEHICLE FOR 4 DAYS. *JB