1998 Volvo S70

WHILE DRIVING, I NOTED THAT THE ABS LIGHT WAS ON. THE NEXT TRIP IN THE CAR, THE ABS SIGN WAS STILL ON. I WAITED BECAUSE INTERMITTENTLY VARIOUS LIGHTS COME ON MY DASH, DISAPPEAR, AND NEVER REAPPEAR. I WENT TO THE DEALER TO VERIFY THE FAILURE OF THE ABS. THE DEALER AFFIRMED THE FAILURE AND REPLACED THE ABS. THE CAR IS A 1998 S70. TWO OF MY COWORKERS HAVE DISCOVERED THAT THEY HAVE TO HAVE THEIR ABS REPLACED, WITHIN ONE MONTH OF MY ABS FAILURE. ONE COWORKER HAS A VOLVO THAT IS THE SAME YEAR AS MINE; THE OTHER CAR IS A YEAR OR 2 OLDER. THIS SOUNDS LIKE MANUFACTURER PLANNED OBSOLESCENCE TO ME. HOW COULD THIS BE A COINCIDENCE? I BOUGHT THIS CAR BECAUSE OF ITS REPUTATION FOR RELIABLE STURDY STRUCTURE AND SAFETY AND I AM DISAPPOINTED.*AK

ABS IS WORKING ONLY SOME OF THE TIME (VOLVO OF LAS VEGAS HAS CONCLUDED THAT ABS MODULE IS FAULTY AND NEEDS TO BE REPLACED). YOU NEVER KNOW AT WHICH POINT WHEN YOU ARE DRIVING THAT THE ABS DECIDES NOT TO FUNCTION ANYMORE. BRAKING CAN BECOME QUITE WORRISOME AND FRIGHTENING ABS IS A CRITICAL SAFETY COMPONENT OF THE CAR AND VOLVO HAS FAILED TO CORRECT THIS PROBLEM. THE SPORADICALLY FUNCTIONING ABS SYSTEM CAN BECOME VERY DANGEROUS AND CAUSE A SERIOUS, IF NOT FATAL ACCIDENT. VOLVO STANDS FOR SAFETY AND THEY SHOULD STAND BEHIND THEIR PRODUCT. THIS FAULTY ABS MODULE HAS BECOME A MAJOR PROBLEM FOR 1998 S70'S. I BELIEVE THE NHTSA SHOULD MANDATE A RECALL.*AK

I PURCHASED THIS CAR IN MAY 1997 AND THE WARRANTY EXPIRED IN MAY 2001. IN JULY OF 2001, I NOTICED THAT THE ABS WARNING LIGHT ON THE DASHBOARD WOULD INTERMITTENTLY FLASH ON AND OFF. IT DID NOT SEEM TO AFFECT MY REGULAR BRAKING. AT MY NEXT OIL CHANGE IN DECEMBER I REPORTED THIS PROBLEM TO THE DEALER. THEY CHECKED IT OUT AND FOUND NO PROBLEM. NOW A YEAR LATER I FOUND THAT THE ABS LIGHT WAS STAYING ON FOR LONGER AND LONGER PERIODS, BUT IT WAS STILL INTERMITTENT. I BROUGHT THE CAR IN THIS MONTH WHILE THE LIGHT WAS ON. THEY TESTED IT WITH THE COMPUTER AND FOUND THAT THE ABS CONTROL MODULE HAD FAILED. BESIDES BEING A $600 ITEM, THIS MEANT THAT WHENEVER THE LIGHT WAS ON, WHICH WAS OFTEN OVER THE LAST YEAR, I ACTUALLY HAD NO ABS FUNCTION ALTHOUGH I HAD NO WAY OF KNOWING IT. I HAVE SINCE SPOKEN TO OTHER VOLVO OWNERS WHO HAVE HAD THE SAME PROBLEM WITH INTERMITTENT FAILURE OF THIS MODULE. I AM REPORTING THIS BECAUSE I FEEL THAT THIS IS A DEFECTIVE PART MADE BY VOLVO, AND VERY DANGEROUS. IF SOMEONE IS ON AN ICY SURFACE AND STEPS ON THE BRAKD HARD TO ACTIVATE THE ABS, THEY WILL BE SHOCKED TO FIND OUT THE THE SYSTEM HAS FAILED BECAUSE THE ABS WARNING LIGHT IS ON. THIS MODULE SHOULD LAST FOR THE LIFE OF THE CAR. *AK

THE CONTROL MODULE FOR THE ABS SYSTEM HAS MALFUNCTIONED AND MUST BE REPLACED IN ORDER FOR THE ABS SYSTEM TO WORK. THE REPAIR SHOP OWNER INDICATED THAT THIS PROBLEM IS "COMMON" FOR THIS TYPE OF VOLVO AND THAT HIS SMALL SHOP HAD REPLACED 8-10 OF THEM. THE CAR REMAINS DRIVEABLE, BUT I HAVE BEEN ADVISED THAT UNTIL THE CONTROL MODULE IS REPLACED, I RUN THE RISK OF ROTOR DAMAGE, AS WELL AS NOT HAVING THE USE OF THE ABS. I CONTACTED VOLVO AND WAS ADVISED TO CONTACT NHTSA. PLEASE ADVISE IF YOU HAVE RECEIVED OTHER COMPLAINTS AND IF I HAVE ANY RECOURSE. THANK YOU.*AK

OVER MAXIMUM "30" SECOND PERIOD, VEHICLE BUCKED, THEN INTERIOR LIGHTS CAME ON AND BEGAN BLINKING, THEN THROTTLE STUCK IN "FULL" POSITION, THEN BRAKES FAILED COMPLETELY WHILE BLACK SMOKE EMERGED FROM UNDER HOOD AND WHEEL WELLS, THEN FLAMES VISIBLE FROM FROM GRILL OVER HOOD OF CAR, THEN VEHICLE FINALLY BROUGHT TO STOP USING EMERGENCY BRAKES AT WHICH TIME FLAMES WERE TWO-THREE FEET HIGH FROM GRILL AND WHEEL WELL(S) AREA OF CAR - EXITED IMMEDIATELY - CAR TOTAL LOSS ..... HAVE SINCE BEEN MADE AWARE OF "ANOTHER" '98 S70 FIRE WITH VERY SIMILAR SEQUENCE OF FAILURE EVENTS AND RESULT - VOLVO CONTACTED AND CLAIMS EVIDENCE OF ANIMAL NEST UNDER HOOD (ASSISTANCE DENIED) - CINNCINATI INSURANCE (MY CARRIER) HIRED & CONDUCTED PROFESSIONAL/INDEPENDENT FIRE INVESTIGATION WITH RESULTS PENDING ...... HAVE FULL SET OF PHOTOS - GENERAL COMMENT: IF THERE WERE AN ELDERLY PERSON, DIABLED PERSON OR CHILD STRAPPED IN CHILDSEAT RIDING IN VEHICLE, UNABLE TO REACT/MOVE SO QUICKLY, RESULTS COULD HAVE BEEN CATASTROPHIC!!!!!

I AM AWARE OF 2 OTHER PEOPLE WHO OWN THIS SAME VEHICLE (YR. MAKE AND MODEL). ALL HAVE THE SAME PART THAT HAS GONE BAD IN THE LAST MONTH. THE 2 DEALERS I'VE CONTACTED SAY THAT THERE IS A LONG WAITING LIST FOR THIS PART! YOU'RE JUST SUPPOSED TO DRIVE THE CAR UNTIL THEY CAN GET IT (NOT KNOWING IF YOU HAVE ABS OR NOT I SUPPOSED)! ALSO ANOTHER DECEPTIVE/DANGEROUS PART OF THIS PROBLEM IS THAT THE DASH BOARD WARNING LIGHTS ARE INCONSISTANT. ON SOME TRIPS IT COMES ON AND ON OTHERS IT DOESN'T. IT NEVER STAYS ON. YOU'LL NEVER KNOW IF YOU SHOULD PUMP THE BRAKES IN AN EMERGENCY OR NOT!*AK