NHTSA Complaint #11104042 — 2004 VOLVO XC70

THIS COMPLAINT IS FOR A 2004 VOLVO XC70. THIS CAR HAS SOME SERIOUS PROBLEMS WITH ITS VARIOUS MODULES. WHEN DRIVING ON A BUSY INTERSTATE HIGHWAY, THE CAR JERKED AS IF THE TRANSMISSION WAS SLIPPING. AFTER THIS A WARNING LIGHT STATING "BRAKE FAILURE; PULL OVER SAFELY" ILLUMINATED. CAR WENT INTO LIMP MODE WHILE ON THE HIGHWAY IN FAST-MOVING TRAFFIC. GOT CAR TO A PARKING LOT AND WAITED ABOUT 30 MINUTES. CAR STARTED AND I WAS ABLE TO DRIVE IT HOME, ALTHOUGH BEING ABOUT 50 MILES AWAY. CAR WENT IN TO LIMP MORE AGAIN DURING DRIVE AND LOST ALL DASH INDICATORS, INCLUDING TURN SIGNALS, SPEEDOMETER AND ODOMETER. LIGHT FOR "CHECK ENGINE" WAS ILLUMINATED. AFTER MECHANIC RESET CODES, HE STATED THAT IT MIGHT BE THE ECM OR TCM. I SENT OFF THE ECM FOR DIAGNOSIS AND IT CAME BACK WITHOUT ANY ERRORS. I THEN SENT OFF THE TCM AND LEARNED THAT IT NEEDED REPAIR. AFTER RECEIVING THE REPAIRED TCM UNIT, WE RE-INSTALLED AND CAR DROVE FOR A COUPLE OF DAYS. I TOOK THE CAR FOR A 6-HOUR ROUND TRIP DRIVE THIS PAST WEEKEND AND HAD ONE INCIDENT OF THE JERKING, BUT WITHOUT ANY OTHER ISSUES. AFTER LETTING THE CAR SIT IN THE DRIVE FOR AROUND 20 MINUTES, I TRIED STARTING IT ONLY TO GET ANOTHER "CHECK ENGINE" LIGHT AND INOPERABLE DASH INDICATORS (SPEEDOMETER, ODOMETER, TURN SIGNALS, ETC.). TOOK THE CAR TO A VOLVO DEALERSHIP TODAY FOR A DIAGNOSIS. THEY STATED THAT THERE WAS NO CONTACT OCCURRING WITH THEIR COMPUTER DIAGNOSTIC SYSTEM. THEY RECOMMENDED A REPLACEMENT OF THE CEM AS A FIRST STEP WITH NO GUARANTEE THAT THE PROBLEM RESIDES IN THE THAT MODULE. THAT PART INSTALLED IS OVER $1,100. THIS IS MY FIFTH VOLVO, AND UNDOUBTEDLY, THE WORST YET. I AM CONSIDERING JUNKING IT AND LEAVING VOLVO IN MY PROVERBIAL REAR VIEW. IT IS ASTOUNDING THAT VOLVO HAS NOT OFFERED A RECALL AS THIS IS CLEARLY A SAFETY HAZARD. PERHAPS IT TAKES PEOPLE DYING FOR CAR COMPANIES TO OWN UP TO FAULTY BUILDING.