NHTSA Complaint #10259980 — 2004 VOLVO S40

DEAR SIR OR MADAM, I BOUGHT THE VOLVO S40 FOR ITS SAFETY RECORD. THIS ONE IS A 2004 VOLVO S40. AT THAT TIME, IT HAD ABOUT 43K MILES ON IT. NOW, IT HAS 53K MILES ON IT. ON 23RD FEBRUARY 2009, THE STEERING WHEEL COMPLETELY FROZE UP ON THE INTERSTATE MAKING IT VERY DIFFICULT TO CHANGE LANES, ETC. WITH GREAT DIFFICULTY, WE MANAGED TO BRING IT HOME. THE NEXT DAY, IT WAS STILL FROZEN AND WE COULD NOT TURN THE STEERING WHEEL AT ALL. I BELIEVE THIS MAY BE A SAFETY ISSUE SINCE I TRAVEL WITH MY KIDS IN THIS CAR. I WANT TO BRING THIS TO YOUR ATTENTION TO SEE IF: 1. VOLVO SHOULD BE ASKED TO RECALL AND FIX THIS PROBLEM IF IT PERTAINS TO ALL THEIR CARS. 2. A SAFETY WARNING SHOULD BE ISSUED TO ALERT THE PUBLIC. I HAVE HAD THE CAR TOWED TO A REPAIR SHOP AND THEY DON'T SEEM TO UNDERSTAND HOW OR WHY IT HAPPENED. I SEARCHED ONLINE BUT FOUND VERY LIMITED REFERENCES TO THIS TYPE OF PROBLEM. I AM REQUESTING YOU TO KINDLY TAKE THE NECESSARY ACTION AT YOUR EARLIEST CONVENIENCE IN ORDER TO PREVENT ANY UNTOWARD INCIDENT FROM OCCURRING BECAUSE OF THIS PROBLEM. *TR