NHTSA Complaint #10968345 — 2012 VOLVO XC70

RECENTLY, MY HUSBAND'S VOLVO XC70 BEGAN LEAKING WATER. WE TOOK IT TO OVERLAND PARK VOLVO FOR A DIAGNOSTIC CHECK. THEY STATE THE WINDSHIELD SEAL HAS BROKEN AND THAT IS WHY IT IS LEAKING WATER. IT IS A FACTORY INSTALLED WINDSHIELD. THEY STATED IT IS NOT COVERED UNDER WARRANTY AND THAT A GLASS REPAIR COMPANY WOULD NEED TO FIX IT. SO, WE TOOK IF TO SAFELITE. ALTHOUGH OUT INSURANCE IS COVERING REPLACING THE WINDSHIELD, BECAUSE THEY CANNOT SIMPLY RESEAL IT, SAFELITE STATES THEY DO NOT UNDERSTAND WHY VOLVO DIDN'T COVER IT UNDER THEIR WARRANTY DUE TO DEFECTIVE INSTALLATION. IN ADDITION, THE SERVICE ADVISOR AT THE VOLVO DEALERSHIP ADVISED US AND SAFELITE THAT THE SEALS ROUTINELY BREAK ON VOLVOS AND CAUSE WATER TO LEAK IN THE VEHICLE. THERE IS NO REASON WHY THE SEAL SHOULD NOT LAST THE LIFETIME OF THE WINDSHIELD OR LIFESPAN OF THE VEHICLE, BECAUSE THERE ARE PRODUCTS ON THE MARKET THAT GUARANTEE THIS WILL NOT HAPPEN. WHILE WE ARE FORTUNATE TO HAVE A $0 GLASS DEDUCTIBLE, OTHER VOLVO CUSTOMERS THAT DO NOT HAVE THIS DEDUCTIBLE WILL HAVE TO PAY OUT-OF-POCKET TO REPAIR VOLVO'S DEFECTIVE WORKMANSHIP. IN ADDITION, WATER LEAKING INTO A VEHICLE CAN CAUSE ALL TYPES OF CORROSIVE DAMAGE. IN OUR VEHICLE ALONE, THE WATER LEAKED ALL OVER THE FLOORBOARD, ALL OVER THE LEATHER SEATS, ALL OF THE GEAR SHIFTING MECHANISM, ETC. IF THE WATER WERE TO GO INTO THE GEAR SHIFTING MECHANISM, IT COULD COST THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS IN DAMAGES. SAME GOES FOR COMPONENTS THAT ARE LOCATED UNDER THE FLOOR BOARD. IT COULD ALSO POSE AS A SAFETY HAZARD ON THE HIGHWAY IF THE SEAL IS BROKEN OR IF THE VEHICLE MECHANICALLY FAILS DUE TO CORROSIVE PARTS.