2004 Volvo XC70

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 VOLVO XC70 EQUIPPED WITH GOOD YEAR ASSURANCE TRIPLETRED TIRES, SIZE 215/65/R16. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 65 MPH WHEN THE FRONT DRIVER SIDE TIRE SUDDENLY EXPLODED. THE DRIVER WAS ABLE TO MAINTAIN CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE, AND THEN COASTED TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD WHERE THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER. THE VEHICLE WAS INSPECTED BY A TIRE DEALER AND THEY ADVISED HER THAT THE TIRE WAS DEFECTIVE AND THAT THE IRE POSSIBLY WAS NOT PROPERLY INFLATED, CAUSING THE FAILURE. THE FRONT DRIVER SIDE TIRE WAS REPLACED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 13,000.

I JUST PURCHASED A NEW C70 VOLVO AND I AM HAVING SOME PROBLEMS ALREADY. (1) THERE WAS A LITTLE SNOW ON THE GROUND FROM A SNOW DRIFT AND THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT STOP WHEN I PRESSED THE BRAKE PEDAL. THE CAR WAS SLIDING ALL OVER THE PLACE AS IF I WAS ON OIL AND AS THOUGH THE TIRES WERE NOT TOUCHING THE GROUND. SUBSEQUENTLY, I CALLED THE CORPORATE OFFCE 800.452.1552 AND THEY SAID THAT IT'S BECAUSE I HAVE 17 IN LOW PROFILE TIRES ON THE CAR WHICH TENDS TO GET ON TOP OF THE SNOW AND NOW SUGGESTS THAT I PURCHASE 15 IN SNOW TIRES. IS THIS GOING TO BE A PROBLEM IN THE RAIN AS WELL? I ALREADY SPENT $45,000! (2) BECAUSE OF THE DESIGN OF THE CONVERTIBLE TOP, I CAN'T SEE OUT OF THE BACK RIGHT SIDE. THE COMPANY TOLD ME TO READJUST MY MIRRORS AND SAID THAT THE VIEW IS LIMITED IN ALL CONVERTIBLES. I ALMOST HIT SOMETHING BACKING OUT OF A SPACE BECAUSE I COULDN'T SEE (ENTIRE AREA COVERED W/THE BLACKTOP MATERIAL). WHY CAN'T THEY INSERT A SMALL PLASTIC-LIKE WIDOW THERE? (3) THE BACK OF MY DRIVER'S SEAT KEEPS LOCKING UP WHEN I PULL IT FOWARD TOWARDS STEERING WHEEL. BY DOING SO, I CAN'T GET INTO THE CAR. IT DOESN'T MATTER IF THE ENGINE IS RUNNING OR NOT. IT HAPPENED 2 TIMES ALREADY AND ONCE I WAS IN THE MIDDLE OF THE STREET BLOCKING TRAFFIC. (I GOT OUT OF THE CAR AND MOVED THE SEAT BACK TO PUT SOMETHING IN THE BACK AND THAT'S WHEN IT GOT STOCK). SOMETIMES, THE SEAT MOTOR WORKS AND OTHER TIMES IT DOES NOT. WHEN I BOUGHT THE CAR, THEY KEPT IT AN ADDITIONAL TWO DAYS BECAUSE THERE WAS A PROBLEM W/THE FRONT SEAT CONTROL MODULE AFFECTING THE DRIVERS SIDE SEAT. THEY ASSURED ME THAT I WAS NOT GETTING A DEFECTIVE VEHICLE. A SERVICE PESON TOLD ME THAT IT'S A REGULAR PROBLEM AND THAT DRIVERS JUST DON'T KNOW HOW TO MOVE THE SEATS PROPERLY. CORPORATE TOLD ME THAT THERE IS NO RECALL AND THAT THE LOCAL LAWS WOULD DETERMINE IF VOLVO COULD BUY MY CAR BACK. DO I HAVE TO WAIT FOR AN ACCIDENT BEFORE NHTSA INVESTIGATES?*AK