NHTSA Complaint #707473 — 1999 VOLVO V70

THE CAR WAS PICKED UP FROM MAJESTIC MOTORS THURSDAY 3 JUNE 1999, WITHIN 20-30 MINUTES OF DRIVING THE CAR A NOISE BEGAN WHICH SEEMED TO ORIGINATE IN THE REAR, IT PROGRESSIVELY BUILT UNTIL IT WAS EAR SHATTERING, THE CAR BEGAN TO VIBRATE FROM THE FRONT DRIVER AND PASSENGER SEATS BACK, MORE APPARENT IN THE REAR. THE DEALERSHIP WAS PHONED ON MONDAY, THE SALEMAN RETURNED MY CALL TUES, WHEN THE PROBLEMS WERE DESCRIBED TO HIM, HE INDICATED THE REAR WHEELS WERE PROBABLY OUT OF BALANCE AND THE MECHANICS MUST HAVE OVERLOOKED THE REAR WINDOW VENTS. AN APPOINTMENT WAS SCHEDULED FOR WEDNESDAY 9 JUNE 1999, A LOANER WAS SUPPLIED. I RETURNED TO PICK UP THE CAR AT 3PM, IT HAD NOT BEEN LOOKED AT, I RETURNED THE FOLLOWING AFTERNOON. I WAS INFORMED THEY COULD NOT FIND A NOISE AND/OR VIBRATION, A MECHANIC STANDING AT THE DESK OFFERED TO TAKE GO FOR A ROAD TEST. W/IN MINUTES OF EXITING THE PARKING LOT, THE NOISE BEGAN, PROGRESSIVELY ESCALATING AS WELL AS THE VIBRATION. THE MECHANIC INFORMED ME THIS WAS A COMMON COMPLAINT FROM NUMEROUS OF THEIR CUSTOMERS AND DESPITE REPEATED ATTEMPTS TO REMEDY THE SITUATIONS THEY HAD BEEN INFORMED BY VOLVO HEADQUARTERS THAT IT WAS A DESIGN/ENGINEERING FLAW AND NOT REPAIRABLE. THIS WAS REITERATED BY THE SALESMAN, TOM FROM VOLVO CUSTOMER SERVICE, MR. BILL ALPRO VICE PRESIDENT & SERVICE DEPT MANAGER, AND MS. SUSAN CAMPBELL OF VOLVO CUSTOMER SERVICE. *AK