1999 Volvo S80

ON APRIL 13, 2010 I WAS TOLD BY THE SALESMAN THAT THE YOKOHAMA TIRE IS AS GOOD AS THE MICHELIN TIRES THAT I HAD ON MY CAR. (1 OF MY MICHELIN TIRES WAS SHOWING STEEL BELTS, APPARENTLY FROM SPINNING MY TIRES TRYING TO GET OUT OF THE SNOW ON MY GRAVEL DRIVEWAY THIS PAST MAR 2010.) SINCE THE MICHELINS WERE NEARLY 4 YEARS OLD AND THE SALESMAN SAID THE SIDEWALLS WERE ROTTING, ON APR 13, 2010, I PURCHASED 4 YOKAHAMA TIRES. ON APR 17, 2010, I VISITED FRIENDS IN REHOBOTH BEACH AREA OF DE AND WHILE PRKG AT THE GROCERY STORE I HIT A CURB/PRKG STOP WHILE PRKG. THE SPEED OF TRAVEL AT THE TIME WAS AT A COAST SINCE I HAD MY FOOT ON THE BRAKE AT THE TIME. THE IMPACT WAS SO SLIGHT NEITHER I NOR MY PASS. WAS PROMPTED TO INSPECT THE TIRE. AFTER A NORMAL WKND OF DRIVING THROUGH TOWN AND THEN RETURNING TO MY HOME IN LEXINGTON, VA., I NOTICED THE BUBBLE IN THE SIDEWALL OF THE RIGHT FRONT TIRE. THERE WAS NO IMPACT MARK ON THE TIRE THAT I COULD SEE THAT WOULD CAUSE ME TO THINK THAT I HAD HIT SOMETHING SHARP. THE SALESMAN WHO SOLD ME THE TIRE POINTED TO A SPOT ON THE BUBBLE( I COULD NOT DISCERN THE MARK) WITH A PEN POINT AND SAID THAT THERE IS A MARK ON THE TIRE AND IT SEEMS THAT THE BUBBLE WAS CAUSED BY HITTING SOMETHING SHARP. NOW, I DO NOT CONTEND THAT I DID NOT HIT A PKNG/CURB STOP...I CONTEND IT WAS OF NO GREAT SPEED AT IMPACT. I CONTEND THAT THIS TIRE MAY BE UNSAFE; ESPECIALLY IF IT HAD FAILED DURING MY 450-MILE DRIVE HOME FROM DE. THE SALESMAN SAID, "WELL, IF YOU HIT IT AT JUST THE RIGHT WAY, IT WILL DAMAGE THE TIRE." ( I THINK MY OLD MICHELIN TIRES WOULD HAVE FAIRED BETTER AND I PROMPTLY REPLACED THE YOKOHAMA WITH MICHELINS. I FEEL SAFER BUT FEEL THIS NEEDS TO BE REPORTED. THERE WAS NO BLEMISH, YET THE SIDEWALL INSIDE THE TIRE WAS JAGGEDLY RIPPED APPROX. 1-INCH IN LENGTH. CASE # YOKOHAMA [XXX] CLAIM ADJUSTMENT NO. [XXX] PURCHASED FROM TERRY'S TIRE TOWN, HENRICO, VA 23222 THROUGH LEXINGTON EXPRESS LUBE, LEXINGTON, VA. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR

1999 VOLVO S80. CONSUMER STATES RECEIPT OF LETTER THAT STATES A COMBINATION OF THROTTLE POSITIONING SENSOR IRREGULARITIES A DIRTY THROTTLE HOUSING AND OR INEFFICIENT SOFTWARE CALIBRATION MAY CAUSE THE ONSET OF LIMP HOME MODES WITHOUT WARNING *TGW THE CONSUMER STATED THE SOFTWARE UPDATE DID NOT SOLVE THE ISSUE NOR PREVENT UNSAFE SITUATIONS. THE DEALER EVEN CLEANED THE ELECTRONIC THROTTLE MODULE IN HOPES OF RESOLVING THE SUDDEN SURGES, ACCELERATION AND ENGINE REVVING THAT WAS OCCURRING, BUT TO NO AVAIL. ULTIMATELY, THE ELECTRONIC THROTTLE MODULE HAD TO BE REPLACED, BECAUSE THE SOFTWARE UPDATE WAS NOT EFFECTIVE. *JB

AIR BAG LIGHT CAME ON. HAD THE CAR CHECKED BY A VOLVO SERVICE GARAGE. THE TECHNICIAN SAID THAT THE SRS (SUPPLEMENTAL RESTRAINT SYSTEM) MODULE NEEDS TO BE REPLACED. I WAS INFORMED THE PYROTECHNICS IN THE SEAT BELT SYSTEM AND THE FRONT AIR BAGS DO NOT WORK UNTIL THE MODULE IS REPLACED AND PROGRAMMED. THE RE-PROGRAMMING IS A 'DEALER ONLY' SERVICE. THIS IS A PERMANENT SAFETY FAILURE WHICH HAS LIFE OR DEATH CONSEQUENCES IF I AM EVER INVOLVED IN AN ACCIDENT. NOT CORRECTED AS OF 03/08/10. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNED A 1999 VOLVO S80. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THERE WAS A FUEL LEAKING INTO THE AIR VENTILATION SYSTEM. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER TO BE REPAIRED; HOWEVER, THERE ARE NO EXISTING RECALLS OR RELATED WARRANTIES. THE CONTACT IS RESPONSIBLE FOR THE REPAIR COSTS. THERE WAS ALSO A PROBLEM WITH THE THROTTLE BODY. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 107,396.

I JUST PURCHASED A USED 99 VOLVO, I AM A MOM OF 4 AND HAD HEARD VOLVO TO BE VERY SAFE RELIABLE CAR. THE CAR RAN GREAT FOR ABOUT 2 DAYS, THEN THE LIGHTS STARTED COMING ON, ENGINE SYSTEM SERVICE REQUIRED, AND THE VEHICLE WOULD ALSO STALL FOR NO REASON. I TOOK IT TO LOCAL VOLVO DEALER, THEY SAY THERE WAS A RECALL ON THE MESSAGE BOARD, BUT IF THE LIGHT CAME ON AGAIN IT WOULD NEED A NEW THROTTLE MODULE, COST OF 1100. I LEFT AND CAME HOME AND DID SOME RESEARCH, I HAVE SINCE FOUND THAT THE ETM HAS BEEN RECALLED ON THAT YEAR VEHICLE AND THEY EXTENDED THE WARRANTY TO 200,000 MILES. I AM VERY DISAPPOINTED IN THE DEALERSHIP THAT THEY WOULD NOT INFORM ME FIRST HAND AND TRY TO CHARGE ME. I HAVE SINCE CONTACTED VOLVO LLC AND AM AWAITING A RESPONSE. I HAVE ALSO LEARNED THAT THE STALLING IS CONSIDERED "LIMP HOME MODE", WHICH IS SUPPOSE TO BE A SAFETY FEATURE, HOWEVER I DID NOT FEEL SAFE WHEN THE VEHICLE DID IT TODAY DRIVING ON I285, IN THE CENTER LANE AT 65 MPH WITH MY 2 YEAR OLD IN THE CAR. AFTER THAT EXPERIENCE I DO NOT THINK I WOULD EVER RECOMMEND A VOLVO TO ANYONE. *TR

VOLVO S80 1999 - I HAVE HAD 3 INSTANCES OF THE CAR LURCHING FORWARD FOR NO APPARENT REASON WHEN I AM COMING TO A STOP. IN ALL 3 CASES THE THROTTLE BODY ASSEMBLY REQUIRED REPLACEMENT. EACH TIME I THOUGHT THE PROBLEM WAS CORRECTED FOR GOOD. THE FIRST OCCURRENCE WAS IN 04, THEN 05, AND NOW AGAIN IN 09. I WAS LEAD TO BELIEVE THAT THE DESIGN HAD BEEN CHANGED AND THE PROBLEM CORRECTED. I HAVE BEEN FORTUNATE THAT WHEN THIS HAPPENED I DID NOT HIT ANYONE OR CRASH INTO ANYTHING. I FEEL THAT THIS IS A SERIOUS PROBLEM AND NO EFFORT HAS BEEN MADE BY VOLVO TO CORRECT THE PROBLEM. *TR

WE LIVE IN A MOUNTAINOUS RURAL AREA AND I WAS GOING GROCERY SHOPPING IN THE AFTERNOON. MY CAR SEEMED TO BE RUNNING FINE. AFTER I BUCKLED MY TWO CHILDREN INTO THEIR CARSEATS AND LOADED MY CAR WITH MY BAGS OF GROCERIES, THE CAR DIDN'T HAVE THE POWER TO GET OUT OF THE PARKING LOT. IT WOULDN'T ACCELERATE. I PUT IT IN 1ST GEAR AND IT WAS NOT REVVING UP. I MANAGED TO GET ON THE MAIN ROAD AND BEFORE AN UPHILL GRADE, I KNEW THAT THE CAR WAS UNSAFE TO GO AND IT WOULDN'T MAKE IT UP THE HILL. I STOPPED ON THE SIDE OF THE ROAD, BARELY ENOUGH ROOM FOR ME TO PULL OVER. I CALLED MY HUSBAND TO COME GET ME AND THE KIDS. HE WAS ON HIS WAY. CARS WERE SPEEDING PAST US AND I DIDN'T FEEL WE WERE IN A SAFE PLACE. I THOUGHT I SHOULD TRY TO MOVE THE CAR TO SOMEONE'S DRIVEWAY AND GET OFF THE MAIN ROAD. AFTER SOME TIME PASSED, I STARTED THE CAR AGAIN, IT WAS REVVING. I TOOK A CHANCE TO MAKE IT UP THE HILL. I CALLED MY HUSBAND AND TOLD HIM OUR ROUTE. WE MADE IT HOME. I REMEMBERED THAT WE RECEIVED A RECALL NOTICE DATED MARCH 16, 2009. I PULLED IT OUT OF THE GLOVE COMPARTMENT AND CALLED TURNER VOLVO TO ARRANGE TO HAVE IT FIXED. THEY TOLD ME THAT THE TIMEFRAME HAD EXPIRED 5 MONTHS AGO, EVEN THOUGH WE ARE UNDER 200,000 MILES. WHEN I RESEARCHED THIS RECALL, I REALIZED HOW FLIMSY IT IS. YES THE SOFTWARE FOR THIS CAR WAS INSTALLED 7/28/06 BY THE 1ST OWNER, BUT THE THROTTLE WASN'T FAILING SO THEY DIDN'T FIX IT IN 2006. VOLVO CARS OF N.A. SAID IT IS ONLY REPAIRED WHEN IT FAILS. SO HERE WE ARE IN 2009 AND THIS FAILED PART WASN'T FIX IN 2006? ME AND MY CHILDREN WERE STRANDED ON A HOT JULY DAY ON A RURAL ROAD. VOLVO KNOWS THIS IS AN EMERGENCY ISSUE, YET THEY HAVE NOT AND WILL NOT PROACTIVELY FIX IT. IN THIS RECALL #155, IT SAYS THAT "THIS CONDITION COULD CAUSE AN UNSAFE SITUATION AND POSSIBLY A CRASH." RECALL #155 NEEDS TO HAVE MORE TEETH IN IT. THEY HAVE TO FIX IT. MY SISTER BOUGHT OUR S70 FROM US AND I HAVE WARNED HER ABOUT THIS SITUATION SO THAT SHE DOESN'T WIND UP IN DANGER. *TR

I WAS DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY AND I FELT A LOSS OF POWER. I PULLED OVER AND THE CAR SHUT DOWN. I TRIED STARTING IT BUT IT BACKFIRED AND STALLED. IT TOOK ME A WHILE TO FIND OUT WHAT WAS GOING WRONG. FINALLY I UNPLUGGED THE MAF (MASS AIR FLOW SENSOR) AND DROVE BACK HOME WITH AN EXTREMELY WEAK AND DANGEROUS CAR. I DROVE IT LIKE THAT FOR A FEW DAYS. I HAD NO CHOICE BECAUSE I HAD NO OTHER WAY TO GO TO SCHOOL. I CHANGED THE MAF SENSOR BUT IT DIDN'T DO MUCH. I WENT TO A LOCAL SHOP AND HAD THE THROTTLE BODY CLEANED. I COULD NOW DRIVE WITH MY MAF PLUGGED IN BUT IT WOULDN'T DRIVE PROPERLY AND WOULD OCCASIONALLY STALL. I LEARNED THAT VOLVO HAD ALOT OF ETM (ELECTRONIC THROTTLE MODULE/BODY) FAILURES ON THEIR S80'S. SO THEY ISSUED A RECALL THAT THEY APPARENTLY HAVE A HARD TIME RESPECTING. I WENT TO A VOLVO DEALERSHIP (VOLVO LAVAL) ONE OF THE WORST DEALERSHIPS I'VE BEEN THROUGH, BY THE WAY. THE SERVICE MANAGER DIDN'T WANT TO KNOW NOTHING ABOUT MY CAR AND SIMPLY TOLD ME MY WARRANTY WAS OVER (ALTHOUGH IT WAS SUPPOSED TO EXPIRE MAY 26TH, IT WAS ACTUALLY MAY 19TH THAT DAY, SO I HAD A WEEK LEFT). HE DIDN'T WANT TO KNOW NOTHING ABOUT MY SITUATION AND CUT SHORT AND ASKED ME AND MY FRIEND TO LEAVE AFTER INSULTING US. NOW MY CAR STALLS OCCASIONALLY AND HAS A ROUGH IDLE. THE DEALERSHIP DIDN'T EVEN WANT TO DIAGNOSE THE CAR FOR FREE ALTHOUGH IT IS A DESIGN MISTAKE BY VOLVO. I NOW HAVE THE CHOICE OF EITHER SPENDING 1600$+ ON A THROTTLE MODULE OR JUST DRIVE MY CAR AND DEAL WITH THE STALLING. *TR