NHTSA Complaint #11006627 — 2015 VOLVO S60

WE PURCHASED THIS CAR NEW FROM THE DEALER AND ITS GREAT. HOWEVER, AS I HAND WASH ALL OF OUR CARS, I COULDN'T HELP BUT NOTICE THAT THE RIGHT FRONT WHEEL ALWAYS HAS AN UNUSUAL DISCOLORATION, A MIX OF SOME KIND OF FLUID WITH THE BRAKE DUST. THE OTHER 3 WHEELS EXHIBIT ONLY THE USUAL BRAKE DUST; BUT ON THE RIGHT FRONT THIS MIX OF FLUID AND DUST DOESN'T JUST WASH OFF. ROTATE WHEELS, THE NEW WHEEL ON THE RIGHT FRONT EXHIBITS THE SAME DISCOLORATION. THE DEALER INSISTS IT IS ONLY BRAKE DUST. NOW, 2 YEARS ON, MOST OF WHATEVER FLUID WAS SECRETING TO THE RIGHT FRONT WHEEL SEEMS TO BE GONE BUT, AFTER RETRIEVING THE CAR FROM ITS 20K SERVICE, I COULDN'T HELP BUT NOTICE A RUMBLE COMING FROM THE RIGHT FRONT. SOUNDS LIKE A WHEEL BEARING TO ME (IN MY DAY, I'VE REPLACED EM). THE DEALER SAYS ITS THE TIRES; CONTINUES TO SAY THAT THE DISCOLORATION ON ONLY THE RIGHT FRONT, IS BRAKE DUST. EVEN SAID IT MIGHT BE RUST FROM THE DISC BRAKES. OK, FINE, THEN WHY NONE ON THE FRONT LEFT? OR EITHER OF THE REARS? WHY ONLY THE RIGHT FRONT. I HAVE TAKEN SWABS OF ALL 4 WHEELS AND HAVE THEM IN SEPARATE LABELED ZIP LOCK BAGS IF ANYONE WANTS TO RUN THEM THROUGH A SPECTROMETER. I'VE NEVER REPORTED ANYTHING TO THE NHTSA BEFORE BUT, IN LIGHT OF THEIR INSISTENCE THAT IT IS ONLY BRAKE DUST ... WELL, I'VE REBUILT MY SHARE OF BRAKE SYSTEMS, WORKED ON A RACE TEAM ETC., AND I'M FINDING THIS ALL A BIT INSULTING IF NOT DISMISSIVE. THIS CAR IS PRIMARILY USED AS MY WIFE'S DAILY COMMUTER (30 MILES ROUND TRIP) IN THE SUBURBS WITH AN OCCASIONAL ROAD TRIP ON THE BOOKS. *BF*JB 'PARTS OF THIS DOCUMENT HAVE BEEN REDACTED TO PROTECT PERSONALLY IDENTIFIABLE INFORMATION PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6).'*JB