NHTSA Complaint #10748307 — 2004 VOLVO XC90

I WAS HEADING TOWARDS A SUPERMARKET ON A EXPRESSWAY ON A AN AFTERNOON WHERE THERE WAS A CLICKING SOUND NEAR THE DASHBOARD ON DRIVERS SIDE. AND THEN SUDDENLY THE DASHBOARD LIGHTS STARTED FLICKERING AND A JERK WAS FELT IN THE TRANSMISSION. SOON THE DASHBOARD GAUGES AND THE INDICATORS WENT DEAD WHILE DRIVING AND THAT TOO WITHOUT ANY WARNING. THERE WAS SEVERAL ERROR MESSAGES THAT WERE POPPING UP LIKE BRAKE FAILURE, AIRBAG FAILURE, ABS FAILURE, ENGINE FAILURE AND THEN THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON. THE POWER WAS TOTALLY CUT OFF AND THE STEERING WAS VERY HARD. IT APPEARED AS IF THE VEHICLE IS IN A LOW GEAR. IBHAD TO TAKE THE NEXT EXIT TO COME TO A SAFE STOP AS NO INDICATORS WERE WORKING. I TRIED TO TURN OFF THE IGNITION AND THEN TRIED TO RESTART. THE VEHICLE STARTED BUT ALL THE GAUGES ON THE DASH WERE DOWN. HAD TO PUSH THE GAS PEDAL HARD SINCE THE VEHICLE WAS BEHAVING AS IF IT WAS IN LOW GEAR. POWER WINDOWS, POWER STEERING, INDICATORS, LIGHTS, GEAR SHIFT INDICATOR, AUDIO WAS TOTALLY CUT OFF. I CALLED A LOCAL TECHNICIAN AND TO CHECK THE PROBLEM, BUT HE COULD NOT FIND THE FAULT. HOWEVER HE CLEARED THE ERRORS AND CHECK ENGINE MESSAGE. THE VEHICLE WAS RESTORED AFTER ALMOST 1 HOUR. THEN I TRIED TO RETURN BACK TO HOME. THE NEXT DAY, THE SAME PROBLEM OCCURRED, AND IT KEPT OCCURRING SEVERAL TIMES. I HEARD SEVERAL REVIEWS FROM SEVERAL CUSTOMERS ABOUT THE SAME ISSUE WITH 2004 XC90. AND EVERY ISSUE IS RELATED TO CEM. THE MODULE COSTS $1200+ WHICH IS A VERY HIGH COST. THIS SITUATION IS SO DANGEROUS WHILE YOU ARE ON FREEWAYS AND MAY CAUSE ACCIDENTS. VOLVO SHOULD RECALL ALL THE 2004 XC90S AND REPLACE THESE MODULES AND ALSO COMPENSATE ALL THE OWNERS WHO HAVE REPLACED THEIR CEMS.