2012 Volvo XC70

SEAT BELT WON'T RELEASE CONSISTENTLY. PRESSING THE RELEASE BUTTON IN FEELS "MUSHY" AND THERE IS NO RELEASE CLICK. I HAD THE RELEASE REPLACED, BUT SAME ISSUE. LATER MODELS (2014) WORKED CRISPLY. I ASKED IF THEY COULD INSTALL A LATER MODEL RELEASE IN MY CAR, BUT TOLD THAT IS "ILLEGAL". WORRIED I MIGHT HAVE TROUBLE EXITING THE CAR IN AN ACCIDENT.

THE PROBLEM IS THAT THE VEHICLE WANTS TO "CLIMB OR STEER" INTO THE HIGH SIDE OF LONGITUDNAL GROOVES ON THE DRIVING SURFACE. CONSIDERABLE FORCE HAS TO BE MAINTAINED ON THE STEERING WHEEL TO PREVENT THE CAR FROM STEERING/RUNNING OFF THE DRIVING SURFACE EITHER INTO ONCOMING TRAFFIC OR OFF THE ROADWAY OR INTO ANOTHER LANE OF TRAFFIC. WHILE THE VEHICLE IS IN MOTION DRIVING STRAIGHT AHEAD, THE INCIDENT CAN OCCUR ON A STREET OR ON A HIGHWAY. THIS SITUATION OCCURS ON STREET AND HIGHWAY SURFACES THAT ARE WORN/GROOVED DUE TO THE USE OF STUDDED TIRES AND HEAVY LOADS. THE TIRES ARE INFLATED TO THE MANUFACTURER'S SPECIFICATION, A FOUR WHEEL ALIGNMENT HAS BEEN DONE FOUR TIMES, THE STEERING RACK AND STRUTS HAVE BEEN REPLACED. THE TIRES HAVE APPROXIMATELY 4/16TH INCH OF TREAD REMAINING. THIS SITUATION OCCURS ON BOTH WET AND DRY SURFACES. VOLVO'S CORPORATE CUSTOMER SERVICE WAS CONTACTED. THEIR RESPONSE WAS "THEY WERE SORRY THAT I WAS HAVING THIS PROBLEM'. THEY OFFERED NO HELP/RESOLUTION. I TOLD THEM THAT I WANTED TO PUT A NARROWER TIRE WITH A HIGHER ASPECT RATIO. THEY THEN INFORMED THAT MY PRESENT TIRE SIZE WAS THE ONLY TIRE SIZE THAT THEY WOULD APPROVE TO BE USED ON THIS CAR. UNLESS THE DRIVER OF THIS CAR STAYS EXTREMELY ALERT, ----- IT IS A DEATH TRAP JUST WAITING TO HAPPEN. THIS IS AN ONGOING PROBLEM SINCE APRIL 2015 AND IS NOT THE RESULT ON AN INCIDENT/ACCIDENT/CRASH OR ANY OTHER PHYSICAL DAMAGE. PS: I HAVE A 1946 CHEVROLET PICKUP (STILL IN ITS ORIGINAL OEM CONFIGURATION) THAT IS EASIER TO CONTROL DRIVING THE SAME ROAD SURFACES. SO MUCH TO SAID FOR TECHNOLOGY AND SPACE-AGE ENGINEERING.

THIS IS SECOND OCCURRENCE WITH CONTINENTAL TIRES ON MY 2012 VOLVO XC 70. SIDE WALL SHREDDED WHILE MY WIFE WAS DRIVING 35 MPH CAUSING BLOWOUT AT 14,000 MILES FIRST BLOWOUT OCCURRED WHEN VEHICLE WAS ONLY A FEW MONTHS OLD. VOLVO REPLACED TIRE AND CHARGED ME $270 SAYING DEFECTIVE TIRES WERE NOT COVERED UNDER WARRANTY. THESE ARE THE CONTINENTAL 4X4 CONTACT TIRES AND I AM NOW REPLACING ALL 4 TIRES WITH ONLY 14,000 MILES WITH ANOTHER BRAND. *TR