NHTSA Complaint #11194578 — 2008 VOLVO XC70

PRIOR TO A 165 MILE ROAD TRIP THE FUEL GAUGE READ 1/4 TANK - 120 MILES TO EMPTY. I FILLED THE TANK TO FULL BEFORE HEADING OUT. AFTER REFUELING, I CLOSED THE GAS CAP BUT FORGOT TO SHUT THE FUEL DOOR. THE FUEL DOOR OPEN ERROR LIGHT CAME ON AND THE FUEL GAUGE STILL READ 1/4 TANK - 120 MILES TO EMPTY. I PULLED TO THE SIDE OF ROAD AND WITH THE VEHICLE RUNNING SHUT THE FUEL DOOR. THE FUEL DOOR OPEN ERROR LIGHT WAS STILL LIT AND THE FUEL GAUGE DID NOT CHANGE. I DROVE TOWARDS HOME ON WINDING MOUNTAIN ROADS IN HIGH SPEED L.A. TRAFFIC. THE INDICATOR READ 50 MILES TO EMPTY AND THE LOW FUEL INDICATOR CAME ON EVEN THOUGH THERE WAS STILL 3/4 OF A TANK OF GAS. AT THE APPROXIMATELY 120 MILE MARK WHILE DRIVING 65 MPH IN 5 LANES OF FAST-MOVING L.A. TRAFFIC THE VEHICLE STOPPED. I WAS ABLE TO SAFELY PULL OVER THROUGH 3 LANES OF TRAFFIC AND STOP SAFELY ON THE FREEWAY SHOULDER. THE VEHICLE FUEL GAUGE INDICATED THE TANK WAS EMPTY AND THE FUEL DOOR OPEN INDICATOR REMAINED ON EVEN THOUGH I HAD CLOSED THE DOOR. THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT RESTART AND I HAD IT TOWED TO THE MECHANIC WHO ROUTINELY SERVICES IT. I AM WAITING TO HEAR THE RESULT OF THE DIAGNOSTIC TESTS. I COULD HAVE BEEN KILLED IF THE VEHICLE HAD STOPPED ON THE WINDING MOUNTAIN ROADS WITH NO SHOULDERS AND NO WAY FOR ME TO SAFELY EXIT THE FREEWAY. AT NO TIME DID ANY OTHER VEHICLE WARNINGS DISPLAY OTHER THAN FUEL DOOR OPEN. I PURCHASED A VOLVO FOR ITS IMPECCABLE SAFETY RECORD. THIS INCIDENT CERTAINLY DOES NOT LIVE UP TO THE STELLAR VOLVO REPUTATION. I HAD NO IDEA THAT DRIVING WITH THE FUEL DOOR OPEN ERROR DISPLAYED COULD RESULT IN THE VEHICLE STOPPING ON THE HIGHWAY EVEN THOUGH THE GAS TANK REALLY WAS 3/4 FULL AND NOT EMPTY AS THE FUEL GAUGE INDICATED. THIS SHOULD DEFINITELY BE RECALLED AND OTHER DRIVERS MADE AWARE OF THE SAFETY ISSUE ASSOCIATED WITH WHAT APPEARS TO BE A MINOR NUISANCE BUT IS A MAJOR SAFETY CONCERN ULTIMATELY.