NHTSA Complaint #740936 — 1995 VOLVO 850

ATTACHMENT KEEPS DOOR OPEN; IT'S A METAL PIVOT SPRING BETWEEN THE DOOR HINGES ON THE INSIDE AND COVERED BY A RUBBER BOOT. ONE YEAR AGO, THE DRIVER'S DOOR ATTACHMENT BROKE OFF FROM THE BODY AND ALSO BROKE ITSELF. THIS REQUIRED WELDING A NEW PART ONTO THE BODY FOR $300. LAST WEEK, THIS HAPPENED AGAIN TO THE REAR DRIVER'S SIDE DOOR. THE PART BROKE AND THE PIECE SEPARATED FROM THE PLACE WHERE IT JOINED TO THE BODY (EXACTLY THE SAME AS THE EARLIER FRONT DOOR BREAKAGE). THERE HAS BEEN NO ACCIDENT OR OTHER TRAUMA TO THAT SIDE. AS A RESULT, WHEN MY CHILDREN OPEN THE DOOR ON THAT SIDE, IT WON'T STAY OPEN, BUT SWINGS BACK CLOSED, POTENTIALLY HITTING THEIR LEGS. IN ADDITION, THE REPAIR ON THE FRONT DOOR IS STARTING TO GO - IT'S CREAKING AND THE METAL ON THE BODY IS FLEXING A LOT AS THE DOOR IS MOVED. THIS APPEARS TO BE A DESIGN DEFECT. BOTH THE DEALER AND VOLVO AMERICA INFORMED ME THAT SINCE I WAS OUT OR WARRANTY, THEY WOULD NOT DO ANYTHING.*AK