NHTSA Complaint #731698 — 2001 VOLVO V70

THE REFLECTION OF THE DASHBOARD IN SUNLIGHT ON THE WINDSHIELD IS VIRTUALLY BLINDING. THE COLOR OF THE INTERIOR OF OUR CAR IS A CREAM BEIGE WITH A MATCHING DASHBOARD. WHEN DRIVING INTO THE SUN, THE REFLECTION IS SO BAD THAT 60% TO 70% OF YOUR VISION IS IMPAIRED. WE HAVE HAD 3 NEAR COLLISIONS SINCE WE HAVE BEEN UNABLE TO MAKE OUT A LIGHT COLORED CAR ENTERING AN INTERSECTION. IN FILTERED SUN LIGHT, THE REFLECTION CONTINUES FROM A LARGE RADIO SPEAKER GRILL (THE SIZE OF A DINNER PLATE) AND FROM THE DEFROSTER GRATE THAT RUNS THE FULL WIDTH OF THE DASHBOARD. IT LOOKS LIKE PROJECTION "TV" AND IS VERY DISTRACTING AND TIRING SINCE IT POPS UP AND OFF WHEN DRIVING DOWN TREE LINED STREETS OR BEHIND BUILDINGS OR TRUCKS. THIS CAUSES HEAVY EYE STRAIN AND MAKES IT VERY DANGEROUS ON LONGER TRIPS. VOLVO USE TO USE A DARKER BROWN DASHBOARD ON THIS CAR WHICH DID NOT REFLECT THE SUNLIGHT. MY LINCOLN LS HAS THE SAME COLOR INTERIOR AND IT TOO HAS A DARKER BROWN DASHBOARD TO ABSORB LIGHT. THE ANALOGY I WOULD USE TO REPLICATE THE PROBLEM IS DRIVING A CAR WITH A WHITE SHEET ON THE DASHBOARD. VOLVO INDICATED NO DESIRE TO INVESTIGATE THE CONCERN AND SAID IT IS MY CHOICE IF I WANT TO CHANGE THE DASHBOARD FOR ABOUT $1,000. THEY SAID THEY HAVE HAD NO OTHER COMPLAINTS. WE PURCHASED THE FIRST 2001 MODEL SOLD IN MAINE AND THE FIRST WITH THIS COLOR INTERIOR. FROM AN ASTHETIC STANDPOINT, THE DASHBOARD IS VERY ATTRACTIVE. FROM A SAFETY ISSUE, THIS IS AN ACCIDENT WAITING TO HAPPEN DUE TO SEVERELY IMPAIRED VISION IN SUNNY DRIVING CONDITIONS. I HAVE DRIVEN SINCE 1966 AND HAVE HAD OVER 50 CARS AND HAVE NEVER HAD A VISION PROBLEM LIKE THIS.