1998 Volvo V70XC Brakes Problems

SINCE OWNING THE VEHICLE (PURCHASED USED) I HAVE HAD ISSUES WITH THE ABS AND TRACS SYSTEMS. I NOTICED IF THE CAR WAS "COLD" IN A COLD CLIMATE, THE ABS/TRACS SYSTEM APPEARED TO BE FUNCTIONING PROPERLY, IF ONLY FOR A FEW MINUTES. OTHERWISE, THE ABS/TRACS SYSTEM FAILED TO FUNCTION ALTOGETHER. THE BRAKES WOULD FAIL COMPLETELY WHEN THE ABS MODULE WOULD TRANSFER FROM FUNCTIONING TO NON-FUNCTIONING. THE VOLVO MECHANIC STATED THIS WAS A COMMON PROBLEM AND THAT THE ABS MODULE WOULD NEED REPLACEMENT AT A COST OF $700. MY QUESTION IS, IF IT'S SUCH A COMMON PROBLEM CONCERNING A VITAL SAFTY PART(THE BRAKES) WHY HAS THERE NOT BEEN A RECALL? THIS IS ONE IN A MYRIAD OF FUNCTIONAL ISSUES WITH THIS VEHICLE. *AK

NHTSA ID

10196530

Incident

Jul 17, 2005

WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED ON AN INCLINE IT ROLLED BACK, AND CRASHED INTO A HOUSE. CONSUMER TOOK VEHICLE TO A GARAGE FOR INSPECTION. HOWEVER, THE CAUSE HAD NOT BEEN DETERMINED AT THIS TIME. *AK *BF *NM

NHTSA ID

10117133

Incident

Mar 17, 2005

FAILURE OF ABS CONTROL UNIT ON 1998 VOLVO XC70 AUTOMOBILE. ACCORDING TO DEALERS, IT IS A COMMON FAILURE AND HAPPENS ALL THE TIME. IT RENDERS THE TRACTION CONTROL AND ABS SYSTEM AS NOT-WORKING AND IT IS AN INTERMITTENT PROBLEM THAT CAUSES THE TRACS AND ABS SYSTEMS TO FAIL WITHOUT ANY WARNING. *JB

NHTSA ID

10110697

Incident

Feb 14, 2005

Mileage

77,126 mi

PRIOR TO DEALER VISIT FOR 60,000 MILE SERVICE, THE ABS AND TRACS LIGHTS BEGAN COMING ON PERIODICALLY. DEALER CHECKED AND FOUND CODES ABS-314 & 324 SET IN SYSTEM. DEALER STATED THAT MODULE REPLACEMENT WOULD COST APPROXIMATELY $675. DEALER SAID THAT ALTHOUGH THE LIGHTS INDICATED LOSS OF ABS, BRAKING ABILITY SHOULD NOT BE COMPROMISED. AT THAT TIME I DECLINED THE REPAIR. SINCE THAT SERVICE VISIT, THE LIGHTS HAVE CONTINUED TO GO ON AND OFF PERIODICALLY; ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS, IT OCCURED DURING BRAKING AND IT FELT AS THOUGH THE BRAKES WERE NOT GOING TO GRAB APPROPRIATELY, IF ONLY MOMENTARILY. I AM NOW WONDERING IF THIS IS A SAFE CONDITION, ESPECIALLY WITH THE ONSET OF WINTER DRIVING. WHEN I SAW THE NUMBER OF OTHER COMPLAINTS ON THE SAME ISSUE AT THE NHTSA WEBSITE, I DECIDED I SHOULD INCLUDE MY OWN. MY SUGGESTIONS FOR REMEDIATION RANGE FROM: 1) HAVE THE MANUFACTURER INVESTIGATE THE ISSUE FURTHER, 2) HAVE THE MANUFACTURER REPLACE ALL MODULES THAT ARE REPORTED TO HAVE THIS PROBLEM, OR 3) AT LEAST HAVE THE MANUFACTURER ASSIST THE CUSTOMER BY PAYING A PORTION OF THE REPLACEMENT COST. *AK

NHTSA ID

10104587

Incident

Oct 7, 2004

ABS BRAKES ACTIVATED UNDER NORMAL DRIVING CONDITIONS, TRACS OFF, REAR WHEEL SPIN IN SLIPPERY CONDITIONS EVEN WITH THE TRACKS ON. TOOK TO THE DEALER AND THEY REPLACE THE ABS CONTROL MODULE (OVER $600). CAR WAS BEHAVING IN AN UNSAFE MANNER AS THE ABS BRAKES WOULD ACTIVATE AND PREVENT CAR FROM STOPPING FOR A FEW SECONDS UNTIL THE ABS SYSTEM SWITCHED OFF.*AK

NHTSA ID

10091387

Incident

Sep 18, 2004

ABS CONTROL MODULE FAULTY AT 55,000 -- ABS NON-FUNCTIONAL-- VERY COMMON PROBLEM FOR THIS MODEL AND YEAR. *LA

NHTSA ID

10043056

Incident

Aug 22, 2003

Mileage

50,000 mi

INTERMITTENT OUTAGE OF ABS CONTROL MODULE (TRACS OFF/ABS WARNING LIGHTS ON). DEALER STATES THE BRAKES WILL STILL WORK WITH THE LIGHTS ON/FAULTY PART. HOWEVER, I DON'T FEEL "SAFE" IN THE CAR AND FEEL THE PART IS FAULTY AND SHOULD BE RECALLED BY MANUFACTURER. BRAKES HAVE SINCE HESITATED ON TWO OCCASIONS WHILE STOPPING. THERE WERE NO BRAKES FOR A SPLIT SECOND AND THEN THE BRAKES SLOWLY (2-3 SECONDS) REGAINED POWER AND CONTROL OF THE CAR. NUMEROUS OTHER OWNERS HAVE ENCOUNTERED THE SAME PROBLEM AS THE DEALER (SUPERIOR VOLVO) STATED THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM FOR THIS MODEL. *JB

NHTSA ID

10016958

Incident

Jan 12, 2003

Mileage

146,000 mi

VOLVO CROSS COUNTRY'S FROM 1998 AND POSSIBLY OTHER MODEL YEARS ARE TURNING UP WITH MALFUNCTIONING CENTRAL CONTROL UNITS FOR THEIR ABS . IT IS HARD TO GET INFORMATION FROM THE DEALERSHIP REGARDING THIS PROBLEM, BUT IT IS CLEAR THE MALFUNCTION IS WIDESPREAD IN THIS MODEL AND THAT IT ADVERSELY AFFECTS THE CAR'S BRAKING AND ABS. REPLACEMENT OF THE PART COSTS MORE THAN $500, WHICH MAY PREVENT MANY VOLVO OWNERS FROM QUICKLY ADDRESSING THE PROBLEM, WHICH ACCORDING TO INDEPENDENT MECHANICS, POSES A SIGNIFICANT SAFETY THREAT. I KNOW FIRST-HAND THE MALFUNCTION CAUSED A SIGNIFICANT DETERIORATION IN MY CROSS COUNTRY'S HANDLING AND BRAKING. BECAUSE THIS APPEARS TO BE A PRODUCT DEFECT THAT AFFECTS THE CAR'S SAFETY, I SINCERELY HOPE REGULATORS WILL ENCOURAGE VOLVO TO DO THE RIGHT THING AND ISSUE A RECALL. THANK YOU. *JB

NHTSA ID

10000821

Incident

Nov 27, 2002