NHTSA Complaint #11156652 — 2005 VOLVO XC70

MY CHECK ENGINE LIGHT FLASHED WHILE DRIVING ON TUESDAY NOVEMBER 20TH AT ABOUT 4:45PM. I WAS NEAREST MY LOCAL MECHANIC SHOP (ELDORADO AUTOMOTIVE) AND THE TECH PLUGGED IN THE COMPUTER GADGET THAT READS WHAT IS HAPPENING AND TOLD ME A HOUSING UNDER THE HOOD NEEDED TO BE REMOVED TO INVESTIGATE FURTHER. I TOOK THE CAR IN THE NEXT MORNING AND FOUND OUT THE MY TIMING BELT WAS ABOUT 1/2 SHREDDED AND READY TO BREAK AT ANY MOMENT. I WAS TOLD I COULDN'T DRIVE IT AND THAT THE REPAIRS WOULD NOT BE COMPLETED UNTIL TUESDAY NOVEMBER 27 FOLLOWING THE THANKSGIVING HOLIDAY. I HAVE A 2005 WAGON AND THE TIMING BELT WAS REPLACED BY VOLVO AT 125K. THE CAR NOW HAS 165K MILES. I WAS VERY LUCKY THAT I DID NOT HAVE A CATASTROPHIC FAILURE AND A RUINED ENGINE. IT WAS JUST COINCIDENCE THAT THIS UNRELATED ISSUE REQUIRED A MORE THOROUGH INVESTIGATION OF THE HOUSING WHERE THE TIMING BELT IS. TIMING BELTS ARE NOT WARRANTIED BY THE VOLVO 2015 LIFETIME WARRANTY PLAN (NO SURPRISE THERE) BUT AN AVERAGE BELT LASTS UPWARDS OF 100K MILES AND IS RECOMMENDED TO BE REPLACED AT/NEAR THAT TIME. I HAVE ALL DOCUMENTS SHOWING WHEN THE BELT WAS REPLACED AND YET VOLVO IS NOT STANDING BEHIND THIS PRODUCT. I DON'T SEE ANY GREY AREA HERE. THIS COULD IN NO WAY BE SOMETHING THAT WAS DONE BY ME. IT LOOKS AS THOUGH THE LOCAL VOLVO DEALER EITHER DID NOT INSTALL THE BELT AT 125K OR IT WAS CLEARLY A FAULTY UNIT. I SUBMITTED A CLAIM TO VOLVO CORPORATE FOR REIMBURSEMENT AND WAS DENIED. I HAVE REQUESTED A WRITTEN ACCOUNTING OF WHY THE CLAIM WAS DENIED. I HAVE BEEN UNABLE TO SPEAK WITH ANYONE OTHER THAN A CUSTOMER SERVICE REP WHO HAS ZERO AUTHORITY TO DO ANYTHING. I HAVE ALSO REQUESTED NAMES OF THE PERSONS IN MANAGEMENT WHO MADE THE DECISION. FEELS LIKE A HUGE SAFETY RISK. THANKS IN ADVANCE FOR YOUR HELP.