1993 Volvo 240 Problems

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1993 VOLVO 240 STATION WAGON. WHILE WAITING FOR ONCOMING TRAFFIC TO PASS TO PULL INTO THE DRIVEWAY, THE DRIVER'S SIDE AIR BAG DEPLOYED WITHIN THE STEERING WHEEL. THE AIR BAG DEPLOYED WITH FORCE AND EMITTED A GRAY SUBSTANCE. THE VEHICLE WAS PULLED INTO THE CONTACT'S DRIVEWAY AND THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED WEEKS LATER. THE DRIVER SUSTAINED MINOR BRUISING, WHICH REQUIRED MEDICAL ATTENTION. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA ACTION NUMBER: EA94015 (AIR BAGS) AND NHTSA ACTION NUMBER: PE93095 (AIR BAGS). IN ADDITION, THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 94V185000 (AIR BAGS), ALTHOUGH THE FAILURES WERE IDENTICAL. THE VIN AND FAILURE MILEAGE WERE NOT AVAILABLE.

WHILE VEHICLE WAS JUST PASSING THROUGH A TOLL BOOTH CONSUMER HEARD A POPPING NOISE. THEN, STEERING COLUMN BEGAN TO SHAKE, AND SUDDENLY AIR BAGS DEPLOYED. THIS CAUSED CONSUMER'S VEHICLE TO REAR END VEHICLE IN FRONT. BECAUSE OF AIR BAG DEPLOYMENT CONSUMER SUSTAINED FACE AND CHEST INJURIES, AND WAS HOSPITALIZED FOR ONE WEEK. *AK

HIGH MOUNTED BRAKE LIGHT FAILED.

THE FRONT TWO BRAKES DID NOT WORK IN A LOW MILEAGE ACCIDENT. PLEASE EXPLAIN. TT

DT: CONSUMER STATED THAT A VEHICLE SHE WAS ABOUT TO PURCHASE HAD ODOMETER FRAUD INVOLVED. THE VEHICLE WAS 1993 VOLVO WAGON 240. THE CONSUMER WAS CONSIDERING PURCHASING THIS VEHICLE RAN A CAR FAX ON THE VOLVO. THE CAR FAX SHOWED THAT THE MILEAGE WAS INCREASING. THE ACTUAL MILEAGE WAS INCREASING AND CONSISTENT, COULD TELL THROUGH THE DMV RECORDS. THE LAST MILEAGE SHOWN WAS ON JULY 30, 2004 WITH THE GEORGIA INSPECTION STATION FOR AN EMISSION TEST, THE MILEAGE WAS 298,106 MILES. THE CONSUMER IS POINTING OUT THAT THIS WAS NOT A CLERICAL ACCIDENT. THE CONSUMER HAD A MECHANIC LOOK AT THE CAR AND THE MILEAGE, THE MILEAGE WAS SHOWING AS 156,820 MILES. THERE WAS AN INDIVIDUAL THAT WAS ADVERTISING THIS CAR FOR SALE IN THE LOCAL PAPER CLASSIFIEDS ON THE INTERNET. THE EXACT WEB ADDRESS IS AJCCARS.COM THE CONSUMER HAS THE NAME AND CELL PHONE NUMBER OF THE INDIVIDUAL WHO IS TRYING TO SALE THE CAR. THE CONSUMER ALSO HAS A KEY TO THE CAR IN HER POSSESSION. THE POLICE HAVE NOT BEEN CONTACTED BY THE CONSUMER AT THIS POINT. ALL THE CONSUMER HAS ABOUT THE VEHICLE IS THE VIN NUMBER. THE CONSUMER ALSO HAS A RECEIPT FROM HER MECHANIC WITH THE 156,820 MILES ON IT. ALTHOUGH, THE CONSUMER IS REPORTING THIS, THERE IS NOT ANY MORE INFORMATION THAT CAN BE PROVIDED BY THE CONSUMER.*AK

THE ORIGINAL PART (VOLVO PART #3536202) HAS 3 HEAT SHIELDS MADE OF ALUMINUM WITH ASBESTOS INSIDE FOR INSULATION. THE HEAT SHIELDS ALLOW WATER TO REMAIN IN CONTACT WITH THE DOWNPIPE AND FACILITATE CORROSION. THIS CORROSION ALLOWS PREMATURE CRACKING OF THE WELDS. THE WELD FAILURES ALLOW EXHAUST TO LEAK OUT BEFORE IT LEAVES THE EXHAUST SYSTEM. I PURCHASED A NEW DOWN PIPE FROM VOLVO, IT DOESN'T HAVE ANY HEAT SHIELDS! VOLVO REALIZED THAT THERE WAS A PROBLEM WITH THE HEAT SHIELDS CAUSING CORROSION, AND CHANGED THE WAY THEY MANUFACTURE THE DOWNPIPE. VOLVO OFFERS NO RECOURSE TO ME.*AK

WHILE DRIVING 50 MPH, HOOD LATCH RELEASED, CAUSING HOOD TO FLY UP INTO WINDSHIELD. DEALER HAS BEEN CONTACTED.*AK *SLC

THE SEAT BELTS DO NOT ALLOW FOR PROPER INSTALLATION OF CHILD SAFETY SEATS. TT

MAKING A TURN STEERING WHEEL WOULD SLIP AND CONSTANT NOISE IN STEERING. TT

I OWN A 1993 VOLVO 240 SEDAN. I AM SELLING IT AND UPON REMOVING THE "TEMPORARY USE SPARE" TO CLEAN OUT THE TRUNK, I SAW THAT THE TREAD HAS SEPARATED IN A SECTION ABOUT ONE FOOT OF THE CIRCUMPHRENCE. THIS TIRE HAS NEVER BEEN USED, IT HAS ALWAYS BEEN IN THE TRUNK. THE FOLLOWING INFORMATION IS PROVIDED FOR IDENTIFICATION PURPOSES: FIRESTONE TEMPORARY USE ONLY 155R 15 90 Q MADE IN SPAIN DOT F7P7 B2ET 472. *AK

HIGH MOUNTED BRAKE LIGHT FAILED.

THE COLLISION ON 1/5/99 DAMAGED THE LEFT REAR QUARTER PANEL AND TAIL LIGHT ASSEMBLY. . ALSO, THE HIGH MOUNTED STOP LAMP NO LONGER WORKED. WHEN THE REPAIR SHOP LOOKED AT THE WIRING HARNESS FOR THE TAILGATE, THEY DETERMINED THAT, THOUGH THE IMPACT MAY HAVE CAUSED THE WIRES FOR THE TAIL LIGHT TO SEPARATE, THE PROBLEM WAS PRE-EXISTING IN THAT THE DESIGN OF THE WIRING HARNESS CAUSED THE WIRES TO FLEX EACH TIME THE TAILGATE OPENED AND CLOSED. WITH TIME, AS THE WIRES GET BRITTLE WITH AGE (DUE TO METAL FATIGUE), THEY ARE BOUND TO BREAK. THE WIRES FOR THE REAR WINDOW DEFROSTER HAD BEEN BROKEN FOR SOME TIME, THOUGH I WAS UNAWARE OF THAT, AS THERE IS NOT MUCH NEED TO USE THE REAR WINDOW DEFROSTER WHEN THE CAR IS KEPT IN A GARAGE IN TEXAS. THE INSURANCE COMPANY WAS NOT WILLING TO REPLACE THE WIRING HARNESS AS IT WAS A "PRE-EXISTING" CONDITION. (THE BROKEN WIRES DID NOT CAUSE THE ACCIDENT, BUT NOW THE CAR WILL NOT PASS A SAFETY INSPECTION). THE BODY REPAIR SHOP WORKS CLOSELY WITH THE VOLVO DEALERS IN THE AREA, AND HAS BEEN TOLD BY THESE DEALERS THAT THEY OFTEN REPLACE THE TAILGATE WIRING HARNESS. A SEARCH THROUGH THE NHTSA COMPLAINT DATABASE SHOWS THAT THIS IS A RECURRING PROBLEM AS EVIDENCED BY THE FOLOWING REPORTS: ODI ID: 516365 MAKE: VOLVO MODEL: 240 YEAR: 1993 COMPONENT: LIGHTING:GENERAL OR UNKNOWN COMPONENT: SUMMARY: HIGH MOUNTED STOP LAMP HIGH MOUNTED BRAKE LIGHT FAILED. COMPONENT: HEATER:WATER:DEFROSTER:DEFOGGER SUMMARY: REAR WINDOW DEFROSTER FAILED DUE TO A BROKEN WIRE. ODI ID: 97V4608 DATE OF FAILURE: FRIDAY, OCTOBER 06, 1995 COMPONENT: ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:HARNESS:REAR COMPARTMENT SUMMARY: THE REAR LIGHT WIRES ARE BEING BROKEN DUE TO METAL FATIQUE AND CAUSING THE REAR BRAKE LIGHT NOT TO WORK. ODI ID: 385260 DATE OF FAILURE: TUESDAY, DECEMBER 11, 1990 COMPONENT: HEATER:WATER:DEFOGGER REAR-VIEW WINDOW:HOSE DUCT:AIR SUMMARY: REAR WINDOW DEFROSTER INOPERATIVE. *AK