NHTSA Complaint #749844 — 2000 VOLVO S40

WE PURCHASED THIS VOLVO S 40 ON JUNE 22, 2000 AND HAVE ALREADY HAD TO REPLACE THE FRONT AND REAR BRAKE PADS ALTHOUGH THE VEHICHLE HAS LESS THAN 30,000 MILES ON IT. THE REAR ROTORS HAD TO BE REPLACED AS WELL DUE TO THE REAR PADS WEARING OUT COMPLETELY IN APPROXIMATELY 22,000 MILES. OUR UNDERSTANDING IS THAT THE BRAKE PADS ON MOST VEHICLES LAST APPROXIMATELY 50,000 MILES OR MORE. WHEN WE COMPLAINED, WE WERE TOLD BY UNION PARK MAINTENANCE AND SALES THAT THE BRAKE PADS ON THE VOLVO S 40 ARE NOT EXPECTED TO LAST MORE THAN 15,000 TO 20,000 MILES. MY HUSBAND AND I CONSIDER THIS PREMATURE BRAKE PAD DEGREDATION TO BE BUILT-IN OBSOLENCE AND EXPECT BETTER FROM VOLVO. WHEN WE ADDRESSED OUR COMPLAINT TO A SALES MANAGER AT UNION PARK WE WERE TOLD TO "GET IN LINE" WITH OTHER S 40 OWNERS, LEADING US TO BELIEVE THIS IS A WIDESPREAD PROBLEM. TO DATE, VOLVO HAS NOT ACKNOWLEDGED THE PROBLEM OR OUR COMPLAINT.*AK