2001 Volvo V70XC Brakes Problems

I OWN A 2001 XC 70 VOLVO WHICH I JUST BOUGHT WITH 133900 MILES LAST FRIDAY APRIL 26, 2013. THE DEALER SHOWED ME THE MAINTENANCE RECORDS INCLUDING A 3 MONTH OLD CALIFORNIA SAFETY INSPECTION REPORT. ON APRIL 27, 2013, I WAS DRIVING ON A DOWNHILL STRETCH WHEN ALL OF A SUDDEN, THE CAR ENGINE LOST POWER, KICKED LIKE IT WANTED TO JUMP AHEAD OF ME, ALL INDICATOR LIGHTS FLASHED, AND THE CAR STALLED AND SHUT DOWN RENDERING THE BRAKE AND STEERING SYSTEM INOPERABLE. I HAD NO MEANS TO CONTROL THE CAR AS IT ROLLED DOWN HILL. I ENGAGED THE REVERSE GEAR CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO STOP. I CALLED DEALER RIGHT AWAY. HE TOLD ME TO BRING THE VEHICLE TO HIS MECHANIC THE FOLLOWING MONDAY ON 04/29/2013. THE MECHANIC INSPECTED THE VEHICLE AND TEST-DROVE IT AND COULD NOT FIND ANY PROBLEMS WITH THE VEHICLE. HE PERFORMED A DIAGNOSTIC COMPUTER TEST AND GOT AN ERROR MESSAGE INDICATING AN AIR INTAKE PROBLEM. HE ASKED ME TO BRING THE VEHICLE THE FOLLOWING MORNING SO HE CAN TEST DRIVE IT MORE AND FIND OUT MORE. WHILE DRIVING HOME, THE PROBLEM RECURRED AGAIN, THIS TIME IN THE MIDDLE OF A FREEWAY. IT WAS DANGEROUS...LUCKILY I WAS IN THE FAR RIGHT LANE, SO IMMEDIATELY I COASTED TO THE SIDE, WITH MY HAZARDS LIGHTS ON AND PULLED TO THE SIDE WHERE THE VEHICLE STOPPED ITSELF. IMAGINE DRIVING 80MPH ON A CALIFORNIA FREEWAY, AND ALL OF A SUDDEN, THE VEHICLE LOSES POWER, THE ENGINES KICK JUMPS, AND WITHOUT YOUR INPUT, ATTEMPTS TO ENGAGE A HIGHER GEAR BUT THEN STALLS AND IMMEDIATELY SHUTS DOWN AND THE BRAKES AND THE STEERING WHEEL JAMS.. THAT IS NOT SAFETY. AS I AWAIT FOR THE MECHANIC TO ADDRESS THIS ISSUE, I AM FILING THIS COMPLAINT BECAUSE THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE. A CAR THAT PASSES A SAFETY INSPECTION TEST SHOULD NOT BE ABRUPTLY SHUTTING DOWN IN THE MIDDLE OF TRAFFIC AND RENDER THE BRAKE SYSTEM AND STEERING WHEEL INOPERABLE. *TR

NHTSA ID

10510314

Incident

Apr 27, 2013

Mileage

134,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 VOLVO V70XC. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 55 MPH WHEN THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS ENGAGED HOWEVER, THE EXTERIOR LOWER BRAKE LIGHT FAILED TO ILLUMINATE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THERE WAS A RECALL ASSOCIATED WITH THE FAILURE FOR THE 2002 V70 MODEL YEARS UNDER NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 04V051000 (EXTERIOR LIGHTING) BUT NOT FOR THE 2001 MODEL. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE PROBLEM. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 130,000.

NHTSA ID

10505367

Incident

Mar 30, 2013

Mileage

130,000 mi

I NOTICED A HISSING NOISE COMING FROM MY BRAKE PEDAL. THE DEALER HAS INFORMED ME THAT IT IS THE BRAKE BOOSTER, BUT THAT IT IS NOT A PART THAT NEEDED REPLACING. HOWEVER, 18 MONTHS LATER THE BRAKES ARE NOT RESPONDING AT INITIAL PRESSURE. THE CAR IS ALSO HESITATING AT ACCELERATION AND STALLING AT IDLE, MAKING THE CAR A SAFETY ISSUE. I AM NOT THE ONLY OWNER WITH THIS PROBLEM AS THE INTERNET IS LOADED WITH MESSAGE BOARDS PERTAINING TO THIS ISSUE. I AM SURPRISED THAT ONLY ONE OTHER OWNER HAS FILED A COMPLAINT. I ASKED ANOTHER MECHANIC, NOT WITH VOLVO, FOR A SECOND OPINION. HE WAS SURPRISED THAT THE BRAKE BOOSTER FAILED AS THIS IS MOST UNCOMMON. FOR THE SAFETY ISSUE I BELIEVE THIS SHOULD BE AND SHOULD HAVE BEEN A RECALL ITEM. I CANNOT BELIEVE OTHERS HAVE PAID $1,200 FOR A REPAIR TO A PART THAT SHOULD NOT HAVE FAILED IN THE FIRST PLACE. VOLVO SHOULD TAKE RESPONSIBLILITY FOR THEIR DEFECTIVE PART. THE RECALL SHOULD BE ISSUED. *TR

NHTSA ID

10460351

Incident

Oct 12, 2010

Mileage

76,000 mi

WAS NEARLY HIT IN REAR WHEN COMING TO A STOP AT A STOP SIGN DUE TO FAILURE OF BRAKE LAMPS TO LIGHT AND WARN DRIVER BEHIND ME. DRIVER BEHIND ME SKIDDED OFF TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. HE FLAGGED ME DOWN TO ADVISE ME THAT THE BRAKE LIGHTS ON MY 2001 VOLVO XC70 DID NOT WORK. FOR THIS I WAS THANKFUL. INVESTIGATION AS TO WHY THE BRAKE LAMPS FAILED TO LIGHT, LED TO REPLACEMENT OF BOTH LOWER LAMPS AND CHECKING THE BRAKE LIGHT SWITCH FOR PROPER CONTINUITY. BRAKE LIGHTS STILL DO NOT WORK. APPLICATION OF THE BRAKE PEDAL RESULTS IN NO POWER BEING APPLIED TO THE BRAKE LAMPS. THE SWITCH IS SUPPLYING POWER BUT NOT TO THE LAMPS. FURTHER INVESTIGATION HAS SHOWN THAT THERE IS A RECALL FOR THE SAME IDENTICAL PROBLEM FOR THE 2002 MODEL, NHTSA CASE 04V051000, VOLVO RECALL R131. THE RESOLUTION IS THE REPLACEMENT OF RELAYS MANUFACTURED BY TYCO ELECTRONICS WHICH DO NOT MEET THE ORIGINAL VOLVO DESIGN SPECIFICATIONS. MY COMPLAINT IS THAT MY VEHICLE AND OTHERS HAVE PROBABLY BEEN EQUIPPED WITH THESE SAME DEFECTIVE RELAYS AND, AFTER CALLING VOLVO CUSTOMER CARE, VOLVO REFUSES TO RESOLVE THIS SERIOUS SAFETY ISSUE BY NOT INCLUDING MY VEHICLE IN THIS RECALL, WHICH IS THE FIRST YEAR OF THIS MODEL DESIGN CHANGE OVER. I AM GOING TO FOLLOW THROUGH ON MAKING THE APPROPRIATE REPAIRS FOR THE SAFETY OF MY FAMILY. *TR

NHTSA ID

10214065

Incident

Nov 26, 2007

THE LEFT & RIGHT BRAKE LIGHTS FAIL TO COME ON WHEN THE BRAKE IS PRESSED. THE HIGH POSITION LIGHT STILL COMES ON. THIS FAILURE OF THE BRAKES LIGHTS CAN RESULT IN A WRECK. VOLVO REPLACED A FAULTY RELAY WHICH CORRECTED THE PROBLEM. THIS PROBLEM IS THE EXACT PROBLEM THAT IS ADDRESSED IN A VOLVO RECALL (SEE BELOW) FOR 2002 MODELS OF THIS VEHICLE.THE RECALL SHOULD BE EXTENDED TO INCLUDE THE 2001 MODEL. THE REAR LEFT AND RIGHT BRAKE LIGHT RELAYS MAY NOT FUNCTION WHEN THE BRAKE PEDAL IS DEPRESSED OR MAY STAY ON CONTINUOUSLY. THE HIGH POSITIONED BRAKE LIGHT AND ALL OTHER TAIL LIGHTS WILL NOT BE AFFECTED. CONSEQUENCE: IF THE BRAKE LIGHTS FAIL TO COME ON, THERE WILL BE NO LOWER BRAKE LIGHTS TO INDICATE TO FOLLOWING VEHICLES THAT THE VEHICLE IS DECELERATING, WHICH COULD RESULT IN A CRASH. REMEDY: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE BRAKE LIGHT RELAY WITH TWO RELAYS OF A MODIFIED DESIGN. VOLVO RECALL NO. R131. *CN

NHTSA ID

10213574

Incident

Dec 28, 2007

Mileage

152,000 mi

I AM A CAR DEALER AND I JUST PURCHASED A 2001 VOLVO V70 CROSS COUNTRY WITH 57,400 MILES AT AUCTION FOR MY CAR LOT. THE CAR HAD A BAD BRAKE BOOSTER AND THIS WAS CONFIRMED BY MIDAS. THE BRAKE BOOSTER SHOULD NOT HAVE FAILED ALREADY. I CALLED VOLVO AND THE WARRANTY ENDED AT 50,000 MILES AND THERE IS NO RECALL CAMPAIGN. I AM FILING THIS COMPLAINT IN THE HOPE THAT YOU WILL GET ENOUGH COMPLAINTS TO FORCE A RECALL. I HAVE NEVER SEEN A BRAKE BOOSTER FAIL ON A CAR WITH SO FEW MILES AND I BUY AND SELL A LOT OF CARS HERE AT MY DEALERSHIP. *NM

NHTSA ID

10138947

Incident

Oct 3, 2005

Mileage

57,400 mi

I WAS RECENTLY TOLD MY 2001 V79XC NEEDED BALL JOINTS, THEN SWAY BARS AND SOMEONE ELSE SAID STRUTS! ALSO: I HAVE HAD THE CAR DIAGNOSED, THE SYSTEM REPORTED THROTTLE MODULE ERRORS AND ELECTIRCAL OR CIRCUIT PROBLEMS; THROTTLE MODULE CLEANED, THEN REPLACED; HEADLIGHTS REPLACED 3 TIMES (WIRING CAUSES SHORTS); GAS FILTER REPLACED  TWO JUNES IN A ROW GAS PROPELLED OUT OF THE TANK BACK AT ME UPON PUMPING (SOMETHING ABOUT AIR INTAKE LINE WAS CLOGGED), THE BRACKETS UNDERNEATH THE CAR ARE TOTALLY RUSTED  NOT STAINLESS STEEL! I HAD THE COOLING FAN REPLACED, CAR OVERHEATED INTO THE RED! I TOO HAVE HAD LITTLE TIME TO ENJOY MY CAR. THE E BRAKE STICKS IN THE WINTER, BECAUSE THE COATING ON THE LINES/CABLES IS CRACKED, BROKEN/BURNED DUE TO IMPROPER SUSPENSION. MY SUN ROOF, INTERIOR LIGHTS AND REAR HATCH DOOR WORKS INTERMITTENTLY IN COLD WEATHER. THE GLOVE COMPARTMENT WAS RATTLING LOUDLY AND THE DEALER I BOUGHT IT FROM TRIED TO FIX IT AND TOLD ME I HAD TO LIVE WITH IT! OF COURSE ANOTHER DEALERSHIP FIXED IT OUTRIGHT. THE SEATBELT FREQUENTLY STICKS AND DOESNT TAKE UP THE SLACK INTERMITTENTLY ONLY TO GET SHUT IN THE DRIVERS DOOR FREQUENTLY, WHEN I JUST ABOUT THINK IT HAS CORRECTED ITSELF. AND, THERE IS A STRANGE DRAFT ON THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE WINDOW THAT GETS QUITE COLD IN THE WINTER. THE SEAL SEEMS FINE AND ITS ANOTHER PROBLEM NO SHOP SEEMS TO KNOW ANYTHING ABOUT.

NHTSA ID

10036737

Incident

Jun 1, 2003

Mileage

10,000 mi

TRAVELING UNDER 60MPH IN CENTER LANE ON DRY PAVEMENT . WENT TO MERGE INTO LEFT LANE. SAW CAR APPROACHING . WHILE GETTING BACK INTO CENTER LANE IMMEDIATELY LOST CONTROL OF VEHICLE- UNABLE TO STEER AS WHEEL PULLED AND LOCKED TO THE RIGHT AND CAR SIMULTANEOUSLY STARTED TO HOP ACROSS 3 LANES OF TRAFFIC SPINNING OUT OF CONTROL. BRAKES INEFFECTUAL. CRASHED INTO GUARD RAIL TURNING 180 DEGREES. NO AIRBAG DEPLOYED INSPITE HEAVY IMPACT WITH FRONT SIDE, DRIVER SIDE AND REAR OF CAR.CONCERN REGARDING UNEXPLAINED LOSS OF CONTROL .WOULD LIKE TO PREVENT FUTURE INJURY/ FATALITY.*AK

NHTSA ID

759734

Incident

Mar 13, 2002

THE FOUR BOLTS HOLDING THE LEFT FRONT HUB/BEARING ASSY TO THE SUSPENSION LOOSENED AND BACKED OUT. THE INITIAL SYMPTOM WAS SIMILAR TO A WARPED BRAKE ROTOR - PULSING DURING LIGHT BRAKING. HOWEVER, AS THE BOLTS CONTINUED TO BACK OUT, ONE BOLT FELL OUT ENTIRELY, TWO BECAME LOOSE, AND THE LAST BOLT JAMMED INTO THE ROTATING FRONT AXLE. THE DIRECTION OF ROTATION OF THE FRONT AXLE WAS SUCH THAT IT CAUSED THE BOLT TO BACK OUT FURTHER AND JAM AGAINST THE AXLE CAUSING BINDING AND GRINDING A SIGNIFICANT PORTION OF THE BOLT HEAD OFF. IF THIS HAD HAPPENED AT SPEED - SAY 55-60 ON THE DC BELTWAY DURING RUSH HOUR TRAFFIC, RESULTS COULD HAVE BEEN DISASTROUS. FURTHER, IT APPEARS THAT FAILURE OF THESE BOLTS CAN CAUST THE ENTIRE FRONT WHEEL AND HUB ASSEMBLY INCLUDING THE BRAKE ROTOR AND CALIPER TO SEPARATE FROM THE VEHICLE. VOLVO REPLACED ALL FOUR BOLTS ON BOTH THE LEFT AND RIGHT FRONT HUB ASSYS UNDER WARRANTEE, HOWEVGER, THERE IS NOT RECALL OR TECH BULLETIN ON THIS PROBLEM - EVEN THOUGH VOLVO IS ON THE THIRD GENERATION OF BOLT DESIGN FOR THIS PROBLEM!! I SHOULD NOTE THAT THESE SAME BOLTS AND THE SAME DESIGN ARE USED ON ALL P26 PLATFORM CARS (S80, S60, AND THE 2001 AND NEWER V70 MODELS). FAILURE OF THE BOLTS ON THE LEFT SIDE CAN CAUSE SEVERE STEEREING PULL TO THE LEFT WHEN THE BOLT JAMS AGAINST THE DRIVE AXLE. THE PROBLEM ON THE RIGHT SIDE IS SIMILAR EXCEPT THAT THE BOLTS WILL NOT JAM THE AXLE DUE TO THE DIRECTION OF ROTATION. CONTACT STEVE SEEKINS AT 703-418-8651, [email protected] (HUSBAND) FOR FURTHER INFO. CAN PROVIDE VIN LATER.

NHTSA ID

759201

Incident

Feb 22, 2002