NHTSA Complaint #10404948 — 2007 VOLVO XC70

WHILE TRAVELING ON THE HIGHWAY WITH 3 FAMILY MEMBERS AND OUR DOG IN THE CAR THIS LAST WEEKEND, THERE WAS SUDDENLY A LOUD BANG (SOUNDED LIKE SOMETHING HAD HIT THE CAR). THE ROAD WAS SMOOTH AND WEATHER WAS GOOD. I PULLED OVER IMMEDIATELY AND COULD SEE NOTHING. CAUTIOUSLY DRIVING THE REST OF THE WAY HOME (APPROX. 15 MILES) THE CAR SEEMED TO HANDLE NORMALLY ALTHOUGH THERE WAS A NEW THUDDING NOISE WHEN ROLLING OVER SMALL ROAD BUMPS. MY WIFE TOOK THE CAR TO A MECHANIC YESTERDAY WHO PUT IT UP ON A LIFT AND DISCOVERED THAT THE RIGHT REAR COIL SPRING HAD BROKEN. HE ADVISED THAT THIS IS A SERIOUS SAFETY HAZARD, THAT WE WERE LUCKY THAT A TIRE WASN'T PUNCTURED OR CONTROL LOST WHILE DRIVING, AND THAT THE CAR SHOULD NOT BE DRIVEN UNTIL THE SPRING IS REPLACED. THIS CAR IS USED IN TYPICAL SUBURBAN FAMILY DRIVING AND HAS BEEN REGULARLY MAINTAINED. WE DO NOT SUBJECT IT TO HEAVY LOADS OR USE. I AM SHOCKED THAT THERE WAS A SUDDEN CATASTROPHIC FAILURE OF THE COIL SPRING. I AM FILING THIS COMPLAINT BECAUSE IN ALL MY YEARS OF DRIVING I HAVE NEVER HAD SUCH A SUDDEN FAILURE OF A KEY COMPONENT WITH POTENTIALLY DEADLY CONSEQUENCES. YOU WILL HAVE THE RESOURCES TO DETERMINE IF THIS WAS JUST AN ISOLATED RANDOM FAILURE OR SOME MORE GENERAL DESIGN OR MANUFACTURING DEFECT.