NHTSA Complaint #10476587 — 2004 VOLVO XC90

THE SUNROOF DRAIN HAS A DESIGN FLAW THAT CAN CAUSE WATER TO ENTER THE PASSENGER COMPARTMENT AND/OR ELECTRICAL SYSTEMS. THIS CAN PRESENT SIMPLY AS WATER ON THE FLOOR BOARDS. BUT IT CAN ALSO PRESENT IN MORE SUBTLE WAYS WITH WATER COMING IN CONTACT WITH ELECTRICAL SYSTEMS AND BEING DRAWN THROUGHOUT THE CAR THROUGH COPPER WIRES ACTING AS CONDUIT (THIS EFFECTS SPEAKER QUALITY, RADIO FUNCTION, CRUISE CONTROL FUNCTION ETC). MOST IMPORTANTLY, WATER CAN ACCUMULATE IN THE COMPARTMENT UNDER THE FRONT PASSENGER SEAT THAT HOUSES THE DYNAMIC STABILITY TRACTION CONTROL SYSTEM PUTTING SAFETY AT RISK. WE HAVE EXPERIENCED THIS WITH OUR XC90 BUT SEE MANY COMPLAINTS REGARDING OTHER VOLVO MODELS. THIS IS A SIGNIFICANT SAFETY CONCERN BUT MOST CONCERNING BECAUSE OF ITS SUBTLE NATURE, SLOW PROGRESSION, AND PROHIBITIVE COSTS TO REPAIR. MANY PEOPLE ARE DRIVING AROUND WITH COMPROMISED SYSTEMS AND ARE NOT YET AWARE, UNABLE TO RECOGNIZE THE CAUSE, OR UNABLE TO FUND THE REPAIR. *TR