NHTSA Complaint #10559598 — 2009 VOLVO V70

I HAVE A WINDSHIELD PROBLEM: THE SEAL THAT SECURES THE WINDSHIELD TO THE ROOF OF THE CAR HAS FAILED ALONG THE ENTIRE LENGTH OF THE TOP OF THE WINDSHIELD. THIS WAS FOUND DURING TROUBLESHOOTING A LEAK PROBLEM -- WATER WAS ENTERING THE CAR WHEN IT RAINED, LEAKING FROM THE REAR-VIEW MIRROR AND THE LIGHT ABOVE IT (NOTE - MY V70 WAGON DOES *NOT* HAVE A SUNROOF). UPON INSPECTION BY AN AUTO GLASS TECHNICIAN, THE WINDSHIELD EASILY LIFTED AWAY FROM THE CAR WHEN IT WAS PUSHED FROM INSIDE THE CABIN. THE TECHNICIAN TOLD ME THAT THIS IS A MAJOR SAFETY PROBLEM. WITHOUT A PROPER SEAL ON THE WINDSHIELD, THE ENTIRE STRUCTURAL DESIGN SAFETY OF THE CAR IS COMPROMISED. IF THE CAR WAS IN AN ACCIDENT, ESPECIALLY A FRONT-END COLLISION, THE WINDSHIELD WOULD NOT ABSORB ANY OF THE IMPACT AS IT WAS DESIGNED TO, RESULTING IN GREATER DAMAGE TO THE VEHICLE AND MAKING IT UNSAFE. I WAS ADVISED NOT TO OPERATE THE VEHICLE UNTIL IT WAS REPAIRED. I LOOKED AT SOME ONLINE VOLVO FORUMS AND NOTED THAT OTHER VOLVO OWNERS HAVE HAD THIS PROBLEM. THE TECHNICIAN ALSO STATED THAT HE HAS NOTICED THIS PROBLEM ON OTHER VOLVO VEHICLES, AND WAS REPLACING ABOUT 2 OR 3 A MONTH. HE BELIEVES IT IS A MANUFACTURING DEFECT AND THAT VOLVO SHOULD ISSUE A RECALL TO CORRECT THIS PROBLEM. *TR