NHTSA Complaint #10744213 — 2006 VOLVO V70

THE TWO BOLTS THAT ATTACH THE BALL JOINT TO THE KNUCKLE SOMEHOW WORKED LOOSE AND FELL OUT, CAUSING THE FRONT RIGHT WHEEL TO FALL OFF THE CAR. FORTUNATELY THE SEPARATION HAPPENED AT LOW SPEED, BUT IF THE CAR HAD BEEN TRAVELING AT NORMAL ROAD OR HIGHWAY SPEEDS THE FAILURE WOULD HAVE BEEN CATASTROPHIC. NONE OF THE PARTS HAD ANY PRIOR DAMAGE, ALL WERE ORIGINAL TO THE CAR, AND THE MECHANICS COULD NOT UNDERSTAND WHY THE BOLTS WORKED LOOSE. VOLVO USA HAD NO INTEREST IN INVESTIGATING OR UNDERSTANDING THIS FAILURE, WHICH IS REMARKABLE GIVEN ITS NATURE AND POTENTIAL FOR CAUSING A MAJOR ACCIDENT. NOR WERE THEY WILLING TO PAY FOR THE REPAIR OR RELATED DAMAGE. I RECOVERED AND HAVE POSSESSION OF THE BALL JOINT, KNUCKLE AND BOLTS, AS WELL AS PHOTOS DETAILING THE FAILURE AND DAMAGE (INCLUDING ROAD SKID MARKS FROM THE DRAGGING WHEEL), AND RECEIPTS FOR THE REPAIR WHICH TOTALED OVER $1,000 EXCLUDING BODY DAMAGE.