2001 Volvo S40

THIS IS THE SECOND TRANSMISSION FAILURE IN THE FIRST SEVEN MONTHS OF OWNERSHIP. THE DEALER REPORTS THAT IT IS A TRANSAXLE PROBLEM, AND THEY "HAVE NO IDEA WHY IT IS HAPPENING" (SIC) . THE FIRST TIME THIS OCCURRED MY HUSBAND WAS DRIVING 55 MPH WHEN A LOUD SCREECHING BEGAN, AND THE CAR BEGAN TO SHUDDER, SUPPLYING POWER OFF AND ON TO ONLY ONE WHEEL, JERKING THE CAR AROUND THE ROAD WITH MINIMAL CONTROL, ALMOST CAUSING A MAJOR ACCIDENT. THE SECOND OCCURRENCE HAPPENED AT 40 MILES PER HOUR, THE SAME LOUD SCREECH, FOLLOWED BY AN IMMEDIATE LOSS OF POWER, FORCING US TO COAST ACROSS 4 LANES OF RUSH HOUR TRAFFIC TO GET TO THE CURB. THIS PROBLEM HAS NO WARNING AND POSES A SERIOUS THREAT TO OUR SAFETY WHENEVER WE DRIVE THIS CAR.*AK

THE VEHICLE STALLED WHILE DRIVING, VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER, AND THE PROBLEM WAS DETERMINED THAT THE IDLE CONTROL VALVE NEEDE TO BE REPLACED, CONSUMER STATES WHILE DRIVING, VEHICLE STALLED AGAIN AND VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO ANOTHER DEALERSHIP, COINCIDENTALLY CONSUMER RECEIVED A RECALL NOTICE (01V-169) FOR A DEFECTIVE DIODE IN THE ELECTRONIC CONTROL MODULE OF THE CLIMATE CONTROL SYSTEM, VEHICLE STALLED AGAIN FOR THE THIRD TIME AND THE PROBLEM WAS TRACED TO THE AIR MASS METER.*YH

THE BRAKE PEDAL IS TOO CLOSE TO THE GAS PEDAL IN THIS MODEL. ADDITIONALLY THEY ARE ON THE SAME LEVEL, THAT IS THEY ARE ON THE SAME PLANE WHEN THE BRAKE IS FULLY DEPRESSED. IF THE DRIVER'S FOOT IS NOT COMPLETELY ON THE BRAKE WHEN IT IS DEPRESSED THE GAS PEDAL CAN BE INADVERTANTLY PRESSED. THE DISTANCE BETWEEN THE GAS PEDAL AND BRAKE PEDAL IS 62 MM (2.44 INCHES). I BELIEVE THIS PROBLEM IS THE EXACT SAME PROBLEM THAT THE AUDI WAS HAVING WHEN DRIVERS THOUGHT THAT THEY WERE PUSHING ON THE BRAKE WHEN HALF THEIR FOOT WAS ON THE GAS. HAVING THE PEDALS ON DIFFERENT LEVELS AVOIDS THIS PROBLEM COMPLETELY. LOOK AT THE OLD VW BUG WITH ITS RESTRICTED SPACE. NO PROBLEM THERE. I HAVE ALSO REPORTED THIS PROBLEM THE VOLVO. I WOULD SUGGEST A RISER KIT TO BRING THE BRAKE UP ABOUT AN INCH SO THE DRIVER HAS TO LIFT HIS/HER FOOT UP OFF THE GAS TO DEPRESS THE BRAKE. I DON'T WANT TO MODIFY THIS CAR SINCE IT IS SO NEW, THE DELER WILL NOT MODIFY IT BECAUSE OF WARRANTEE ISSUES (BY THE WAY THEIR MECHANIC SAID HE HAD THE SAME THING HAPPEN). COULD NTSA SUGGEST A MODIFICATION I CAN MAKE AT MY OWN EXPENSE THAT WOULD ADDRESS THESE ISSUES, E.G. SAFETY AND WARRANTEE. THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR YOUR HELP ON THIS MATTER.*AK

I AM VERY CONCERNED ABOUT MY CARS BRAKING DISTANCE. IT SEEMS TO TAKE A LONG TIME TO STOP AFTER APPLYING THE BRAKES. TODAY I WAS IN A MINOR TRAFFIC INCIDENT, I WAS TRAVELLING UNDER 15MPH WHEN THE CAR IN FRONT OF ME SLAMMED ON HER BRAKES (THE CAR INFRONT OF HER STOPPED SHORT). THOUGH IT WAS NOT GOOD THAT SHE HAD TO STOP SO ABRUPTLY, MY CAR SHOULD HAVE BEEN ABLE TO STOP WITHOUT HITTING HER BUMBPER. I WAS TRAVELING AT A SAFE SPEED AND SAFE DISTANCE. THIS MINOR ACCIDENT SHOULD NOT HAVE OCCURRED AND NOW I AM CONCERNED ABOUT GETTING MY CAR BACK AND IT'S ABILITY TO STOP AT A PROPER DISTANCE. THE OTHER CAR SUSTAINED VERY MINOR SCRATCHES ON THE BUMPER. I DO NOT KNOW IF THIS IS SOMETHING REGARDING MY VOLVO S40 MODEL (NEW IN THE US) OR JUST MY PARTICULAR VEHICLE. THIS IS MY 4TH VOLVO AND I HAVE NEVER HAD BRAEKS THAT STOPPED IN SUCH A LONG DISTANCE. THANKFULLY THE ACCIDENT WAS MINOR, BUT I AM CONCERNED ABOUT BRAKING NEXT TIME I GET CUT-OFF AND HOW MY VEHICLE WILL RESPOND. COULD YOU POSSIBLY SHED SOME LIGHT ON THIS. I WOULD GREATLY APPRECIATE IT.*AK