2013 Volvo C70 Problems

This is not a singular incident; it has been persistent for five or so years at this point. Quite frequently, when I am driving with the top down for at least 20 minutes, one of the doors unlatches (a couple of weeks ago, this actually occurred six times in one hour or so trip, though such frequency is unusual). For the first year or so this occurred, it was only the driver's door, but then it started happening with both doors (though still more frequently the driver's door). To be clear, it unlatches -- it never has swung open, even if pressure is applied to it. Still, this is jarring when it occurs (all the more so at highway speeds), and I am left to wonder if at some point it will "graduate" to full door opening. I am also especially concerned given that I have a child with a driving learner's permit. I mentioned this in passing to a Volvo dealer service agent a couple of years ago, and he professed to be unaware of it and suggested I would need to bring it in for diagnosis etc. which I have not done. However, having been on the NHTSA site today and seen other complaints about this with this year, make, and model, I felt I should add my experiences to the record. And of course, given those observations, I would like to get it addressed without my having to incur the cost of doing so.

The contact owns a 2013 Volvo C70. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the driver's and passenger's side front doors inadvertently opened. The dealer was made aware of the failure and informed the contact that the driver's and passenger's side front doors needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 75,900.

My car is a hard top convertible. When I drive with the top down for a prolonged period of time my driver side door unlocks and a warning light that the door is open comes up on the dashboard. The door doesn't swing open but has loosened and you can feel it rattle. This only happens with the top down, never when the top is up. I have to generally slow down/pull over and then open and slam my door shut. It can be very scary when driving at high speeds. It seems to be happening more and more frequently these days.

When top is down, at highway speeds, the driver-side door becomes ajar, interior light comes on and window goes down 1/2 inch. This seems to happen about 20 minutes into the drive. Will happen multiple times on long drives. This only seems to happen when the convertible top is down. Driving at highway speeds and having the door go ajar is not safe. Not sure why Volvo never took this seriously, as its reported by many others on the internet - same exact issue. Reported to Volvo (Leiken Volvo Cars Cleveland), they cannot reproduce and said everything looks correct. Offering to replace the lock mechanism. The issue is easy to reproduce, but just driving with the top down for longer than a 20 minute period.

I BOUGHT A 2013 VOLVO C70 IN JULY OF 2018 AND BY AUGUST OF 2019 I WAS REPLACING THE ENGINE. I TAKE OWNERSHIP FOR MY OVERSIGHT IN NOT KNOWING TO CHECK THE COOLANT TANK REGULARLY AS THIS IS MY FIRST CAR. IT SEEMS LIKE NEGLIGENCE TAKING INTO ACCOUNT THAT MY VOLVO CAN TELL ME THE AMOUNT OF GAS IT HAS, THE MILES IT CAN TRAVEL ON THE AMOUNT OF GAS I HAVE, AND INDICATES I AM LOW ON GAS AFTER THE GAUGE HAS ALREADY ENTERED INTO THE RED. MY CAR CAN ALSO TELL ME WHEN I HAVE LOW TIRE PRESSURE SO I KNOW TO REFILL THEM. WHY ISN'T THERE A LOW COOLANT LIGHT ON MY CAR? ARGUABLY, THE LOW COOLANT LIGHT AND IMPENDING ENGINE OVERHEATING AND FAILURE TAKE PRECEDENCE OVER RUNNING OUT OF GAS OR GETTING A FLAT TIRE. AUGUST 23RD, 2019, MY CAR OVERHEATED DUE TO A LACK OF COOLANT. THE LACK OF COOLANT WAS DUE TO A CRACK IN THE COOLANT TANK. MY CAR NEVER INDICATED TO ME THAT IT WAS IN DISTRESS UNTIL I WAS ON THE 10E TO PICK UP MY BOYFRIEND FROM THE AIRPORT AND MY CAR OVERHEATED. ALL THE LIGHTS CAME ON AND THE DISPLAY READ "OVERHEATING, PULL OVER SAFELY". I HAD NO IDEA THAT WAS 2 MINUTES BEFORE I WOULD WARP MY ENGINE AND MY CAR COMPLETELY DIED. THERE IS CONSTRUCTION ON THE 10E SO THERE WAS NO SAFE PLACE FOR ME TO PULL OVER. EVERYTHING JUST TURNED OFF, EVEN MY BLINKERS TO NOTIFY THE 18 WHEELER BEHIND ME. THE POLICE WERE CALLED AND TRAFFIC WAS STOPPED AS HE PUSHED ME OFF THE ROAD TO THE SHOULDER I WAS TRYING TO GET TO BEFORE THE FAILURE. MAYBE BECAUSE I DO NOT TRAVEL FAR FROM MY HOME FOR WORK HAD MY ENGINE NOT OVERHEATED ON THOSE DRIVES. REGARDLESS, WITH ALL THE TECHNOLOGICAL ADVANCES ON CARS, A LOW COOLANT LIGHT SHOULD BE MANDATORY. ESPECIALLY BECAUSE $5000 LATER (WARRANTY COMPANY WON'T COVER IT), WHAT GOOD WERE MY GAS LIGHT AND GAUGE?

UNIT HAS INTERMITTENT ENGINE/EXHAUST BRAKE MALFUNCTION. THIS IS CAUSING THE VEHICLE ENGINE/ EXHAUST BRAKE TO DISENGAGE WHEN ON A DECLINE AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS. AS RESULT THE VEHICLE PICKS UP A GREAT DEAL OF SPEED AND COULD CAUSE THE OVER USE AND EVENTUAL FAILURE OF THE VEHICLE'S AIR BRAKE SYSTEM. AS WELL AS THE INABILITY TO CONTROL THE VEHICLE (THOUGH APPLICATION OF THE AIR BRAKES AND/OR STEERING) ON A DOWNGRADE. THERE IS NO WARNING PRIOR TO ENGINE/EXHAUST BRAKE FAILURE. THIS ORIGINALLY HAPPENED TO ME WHILE TRAVELING ON EAST BOUND I-80 OVER DONNER PASS SUMMIT HEADING TOWARDS TRUCKEE, CA. AND HAS HAPPENED 3 MORE TIMES SINCE THEN. THE LOCAL VOLVO TRUCK DEALERSHIP CAN FIND NOTHING WRONG WITH THE VEHICLE.

UNIT HAS INTERMITTENT ENGINE/EXHAUST BRAKE MALFUNCTION. THIS IS CAUSING THE VEHICLE ENGINE/ EXHAUST BRAKE TO DISENGAGE WHEN ON A DECLINE AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS. AS RESULT THE VEHICLE PICKS UP A GREAT DEAL OF SPEED AND COULD CAUSE THE OVER USE AND EVENTUAL FAILURE OF THE VEHICLE'S AIR BRAKE SYSTEM. AS WELL AS THE INABILITY TO CONTROL THE VEHICLE (THOUGH APPLICATION OF THE AIR BRAKES AND/OR STEERING) ON A DOWNGRADE. THERE IS NO WARNING PRIOR TO ENGINE/EXHAUST BRAKE FAILURE. THIS ORIGINALLY HAPPENED TO ME WHILE TRAVELING ON EAST BOUND I-80 OVER DONNER PASS SUMMIT HEADING TOWARDS TRUCKEE, CA. AND HAS HAPPENED 3 MORE TIMES SINCE THEN. THE LOCAL VOLVO TRUCK DEALERSHIP CAN FIND NOTHING WRONG WITH THE VEHICLE.

I noticed that driving with the top down (the car is a convertible) leads to premature and uneven tire wear. Subsequently the tires generate a lot of road noise and vibration, which is felt through the steering wheel. At 62000 miles I brought the situation to the attention of Volvo service and as a result they made some repairs / changes / updates to the rear suspension, (at my cost of over $2000). At that time I also purchased four new tires. At this point the car has around 72000 miles and the issue has come back (noise / vibration). It appears that the car has a design issue, which prohibits driving it with the top open, even though that is the main purpose of the car as a convertible.

I noticed that driving with the top down (the car is a convertible) leads to premature and uneven tire wear. Subsequently the tires generate a lot of road noise and vibration, which is felt through the steering wheel. At 62000 miles I brought the situation to the attention of Volvo service and as a result they made some repairs / changes / updates to the rear suspension, (at my cost of over $2000). At that time I also purchased four new tires. At this point the car has around 72000 miles and the issue has come back (noise / vibration). It appears that the car has a design issue, which prohibits driving it with the top open, even though that is the main purpose of the car as a convertible.