NHTSA Complaint #718578 — 1999 VOLVO S80

THIS MODEL VOLVO HAS A WELL DOCUMENTED SUBFRAME BUSHING PROBLEM. THE FRONT SUBFRAME BUSHINGS WERE REPLACED AT NILS SEFELDT VOLVO IN DALLAS. THE MECHANIC THAT REPLACED THESE BUSHINGS CUT THE SUBFRAME. BUSHINGS WERE INSTALLED, THE CAR WAS BADLY OUT OF ALIGNMENT, WAS REALIGNED AT AUTOBAHN VOLVO IN FORT WORTH - A FEW WEEKS LATER - THE VEHICLE WAS BACK AT AUTOBAHN VOLVO FOR MAINTENANCE AND BRAKE NOISE PROBLEMS WHEN IT WAS DISCOVERED THAT THE SUBFRAME WAS CUT BY THE MECHANIC AT NILS SEFELDT - VOLVO ORDERED THE SUBFRAME REPLACED. AT THE VERY LEAST ANY OTHER S80 THAT UNDERWENT A SUBFRAME BUSHING REPLACEMENT AT NILS SEFELDT, ESPECIALLY BY THE MECHANIC THAT "REPAIRED" MINE - SHOULD BE INVESTIGATED. THE STEERING WAS "SQUIRRELLY" AND I SUSTAINED VERY MINIMAL PROPERTY DAMAGE WHEN CONTACT WAS MADE WITH A MINIVAN IN A HIGHWAY DRIVING INCIDENT PRIOR TO THE REPLACEMENT OF THE SUBFRAME. IN ADDITION, ON ABOUT A DOZEN OCCASIONS, WHEN I'M TURNING THE CAR OFF, THE MESSAGE "SRS AIRBAG SERVICE URGENT" APPEARS IN THE MESSAGE DISPLAY. THE MESSAGE DOES NOT STORE AND THE COMPUTER DOES NOT RETAIN IT. NEITHER NILS SEFELDT OR AUTOBAHN HAVE BEEN ABLE TO DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM OR CORRECT IT. I'M CONCERNED THAT THE AIRBAG SYSTEM - VERY COMPLEX ON THIS PARTICULAR CAR - FRONT, SIDE AND SIDE CURTAINS MAY DEPLOY. I HAVE REQUESTED ASSISTANCE FROM VOLVO TO REPLACE THE VEHICLE, NOT ENGAGE IN A BUYBACK AT THIS TIME, BUT VOLVO REFUSES TO CONSIDER THAT AS AN OPTION. IT TOOK 16 MONTHS TO CORRECT A NUISANCE PROBLEM WITH THE BRAKES AS WELL. *AK