NHTSA Complaint #11172830 — 2016 VOLVO XC90

THERE IS SOMETHING CALLED AN ERAD, WHICH IS ESSENTIALLY THE VEHICLE CLUTCH FOR MY ELECTRONIC PLUG-IN HYBRID XC90. IT IS THE INSTRUMENT THAT SWITCHES BETWEEN ELECTRIC AND GAS. MINE FAILED. WHEN IT FAILS, WHEN YOU HIT THE GAS ENOUGH TO PUSH IT OUT OF ELECTRIC MODE TO GAS MODE, THE CAR ESSENTIALLY HESITATES FOR 1-2 SECONDS - IT FEELS LIKE IT'S TRYING TO FIGURE OUT WHAT TO DO THEN AN OVERRIDE TO GAS MODE HAPPENS. WHEN I IDENTIFIED THE PROBLEM, I WAS TRYING TO TURN OFF OF THREE LANES OF TRAFFIC TO A SIDE STREET AND THE CAR HESITATED (TEMPORARILY DOESN'T RESPOND TO THROTTLE INPUT) AS I WAS SITTING PERPENDICULAR TO TRAFFIC. THE ALL GAS MODE THEN TURNS ON AND TAKES OVER, BUT IT HESITATES WHICH COULD BE A SERIOUS PROBLEM. I COULD'VE BEEN HURT, BUT, THANKFULLY, I WASN'T. AFTER THAT, I DROVE IT IN FULL-TIME GAS MODE UNTIL IT WAS FIXED (NO PROBLEMS WHEN I DID THAT). IF THIS WERE AN ISOLATED INCIDENT, I WOULDN'T REPORT IT, BUT THERE WERE 4 OTHER VOLVOS SUFFERING FROM THE SAME ISSUE AT MY DEALERSHIP ALONE (VOLVO CARS OF BETHESDA) SO THEY COULDN'T TAKE ME FOR 3-4 WEEKS. THEY SELL FEWER THAN 5% OF THEIR TOTAL FLEET OF THESE T8 ELECTRIC HYBRIDS, SO FOR 5 TOTAL CARS TO HAVE THE SAME ISSUE (2016 - 2018) INDICATES A MAJOR PROBLEM. I'M CONCERNED SOMEONE WHO DOESN'T NECESSARILY HAVE MY AWARENESS OF CARS WHO MAY OTHERWISE FEEL SAFE IN THE CAR'S THROTTLE RESPONSE MAY TAKE AN UNNECESSARY CHANCE AND GET INTO AN ACCIDENT. PLEASE INVESTIGATE. THANKS!