NHTSA Complaint #10242192 — 2003 VOLVO S60

THE OEM JACK THAT CAME WITH MY VOLVO FAILED MISERABLY WHEN I HAD A FLAT TIRE. THE JACK WAS NEVER USED BEFORE THIS INCIDENT. WHILE THE JACK WAS PLACED ON A LEVEL SURFACE AND WAS COMPLETELY VERTICAL, THE FORCE NECESSARY TO SPIN THE JACK HANDLE CAUSED THE JACK TO VERY SLOWLY SLIDE SIDEWAYS IN AN INCREASINGLY PRECARIOUS POSITION. I STOPPED AND STARTED OVER SEVERAL TIMES ONLY TO RENDER THE SAME RESULT. AFTER SEVERAL ATTEMPTS, I WAS ABLE RAISE THE CAR HIGH ENOUGH TO ATTEMPT REMOVAL OF THE FLAT TIRE. THE JACK HOWEVER WAS VERY UNSTABLE. WHILE ATTEMPTING TO REMOVE THE TIRE, THE JACK FAILED AND THE CAR FELL TO THE GROUND. LUCKILY, THE FLAT TIRE WAS STILL ON THE CAR. SINCE I WAS IN MY PAVED DRIVEWAY, I WAS ABLE TO USE ANOTHER JACK. SINCE IT WASN'T A VOLVO JACK, I WAS ABLE TO USE WOODEN BLOCKS TO CRIB OR SECURE THE CAR BY STACKING WOOD UNDER THE CAR AS THE JACK RAISED THE CAR SO IT WOULDN'T FALL OFF THE JACK. THE VOLVO JACK IS BENT AND UNSAFE TO USE AGAIN, EVEN THOUGH IT WASN'T SAFE TO USE THE FIRST TIME. I AM REPORTING IT AS I HAVE FOUND MANY OTHER VOLVO OWNERS ON THE WEB WHO HAD THE SAME EXPERIENCE WITH THEIR VOLVOS. *TR