NHTSA Complaint #10378836 — 2004 VOLVO XC70

COMPLAINT CENTERS ON A 2004 VOLVO XC70. AFTER A MINIMAL AMOUNT OF ONLINE RESEARCH, I FIND THAT THERE ARE MANY OWNERS WITH SIMILAR PROBLEMS. RECENTLY, AFTER DRIVING VEHICLE PAST INITIAL "WARM-UP" STAGE AN ELECTRONIC ANOMALY OCCURS AT RANDOM INTERVALS, AT SPEEDS RANGING FROM 1 - 65 MPH. THE ANOMALY ALWAYS INVOLVES A SUDDEN "JOLT" AS IF THE TRANSMISSION SLIPPED, AND IS ALSO CHARACTERIZED BY VARIOUS OTHER ELECTRONIC OCCURRENCES. THESE CAN INCLUDE "LEFT REAR DOOR OPEN" LIGHT, ALL INTERIOR LIGHTS ILLUMINATING, DRIVER'S SEAT HEATER TURNING ON, "SRS AIRBAG" URGENT MESSAGE, "BRAKE FAILURE" NOTIFICATION, AND LOSS OF ALL DASHBOARD INSTRUMENTATION INCLUDING LIGHTS AND TURN SIGNALS. ANY ONE OF THESE OCCURRENCES ARE AN IMMEDIATE ATTENTION-GRABBER WHILE BEHIND THE WHEEL AND CREATE A SITUATION DETRIMENTAL TO SAFE VEHICLE OPERATION. THIS PARTICULAR VEHICLE IS NOW AT AN AUTHORIZED VOLVO DEALER FOR THE SECOND TIME (HAD TO BE TOWED THE FIRST TIME) FOR THE SAME PROBLEM. DEALERSHIP PERFORMED SOFTWARE UPDATE FIRST VISIT WHICH DID NOT FIX PROBLEM. NOW DEALERSHIP THINKS IT MAY BE CENTRAL ELECTRONICS MODULE, A $1000+ FIX, WHICH MAY OR MAY NOT CORRECT THE PROBLEM. *TR