1999 VOLVO S80 Suspension Problems

ECM

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 VOLVO S80. WHILE ACCELERATING FROM A STOP, THE CONTACT FELT A THUMP FROM THE DRIVER SIDE WHEEL. THE FAILURE OCCURRED WHENEVER SHE ACCELERATED FROM A STOP OR DECELERATED. WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED, THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THE INSULATION SURROUNDING THE WIRES IN THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT WERE DEGRADED. THE VEHICLE ALSO DISPLAYED DIFFICULTY WHEN SHIFTING INTO FOURTH GEAR. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 70 MPH, THE CONTACT COULD NOT SHIFT OUT OF THIRD GEAR AFTER ATTEMPTING TO ACCELERATE FROM 40 MPH. THE FAILURE OCCURRED INTERMITTENTLY AND THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT BEGAN TO ILLUMINATE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER WHERE THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN RECALLS 00V238000 (SUSPENSION: FRONT: CONTROL ARM: UPPER BALL JOINT), 02V096000 (ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING: COOLING SYSTEM: FAN), AND 06V441000 (VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL). THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 78,600 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 79,100.

Mileage: 78,600

AXLE FAILED AFTER DOING A U TURN AT 5MPH. CONTROL ARM BUSHINGS KEEP BREAKING AND NEED TO BE EPOXIED OFTEN BY MECHANIC. COOLANT LEAK PROBLEMS AS WELL AS TRANSMISSION FLUID LEAKS. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 VOLVO S80. WHILE DRIVING 40 MPH, THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO SLOW DOWN AND THE ABS AND ENGINE INDICATORS ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER AND THEY STATED THAT THE TROLLIS SYSTEM NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED, BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED TWO WEEKS LATER. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER AGAIN AND THEY STATED THAT THE CENTRAL MODULE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER STATED THAT THE VEHICLE NEEDED TO BE TAKEN BACK TO THE DEALER FOR FURTHER INSPECTION. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 60,000 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 97,000. UPDATED 1/8/09 *CN THE BALL JOINT NEEDED TO BE REPLACED, THE HEATING SYSTEM, THROTTLE SYSTEMS, ENGINE COOLING FAN AND THE MASTER CYLINDER ALL FAILED. THE VEHICLE WOULD ACCELERATED ON ITS OWN. THE VEHICLE STALLED ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS. THE STEERING MADE A NOISE WHEN IT WAS TURNED. THE DEALER LUBRICATED THE STEERING. THE DEALER STATED THE VEHICLE NEEDED AN O2 SENSOR. THE IGNITION SWITCH WAS REPLACED. THE INNER TIE RODS WERE REPLACED. 01/14/09. *JB

Mileage: 60,000

DURING NORMAL DRIVING CONDITIONS AT NIGHT, THE LOW BEAM (DIPPED BEAM) HEADLIGHTS FAILED WHILE OUT OF TOWN WITH MY WIFE AND TWO DAUGHTERS. I WAS ABLE TO DRIVE TO A SAFE LOCATION USING THE HIGH BEAMS. A CHECK OF HEADLAMP BULBS AND FUSES SHOWED THAT EVERYTHING WAS IN GOOD WORKING ORDER AND I WAS LEFT SCRATCHING MY HEAD. THE HEADLIGHTS ARE STILL NOT WORKING THREE WEEKS LATER, AND I FINALLY KNOW WHY. VOLVO OWNERS EXCHANGE INFORMATION ON VARIOUS WEBSITES AND ON MORE THAN ONE I FOUND PEOPLE SUGGESTING THAT THE CEM (MAIN COMPUTER) USED "SHUNTS" FOR VARIOUS COMPONENTS ON THE VEHICLE AND THEY WERE PRONED TO SHORTING OUT DUE TO RANDOM OVERHEATING ISSUES. I CHECKED THE AREA UNDER THE DRIVER'S SIDE DASH AND SURE ENOUGH, THERE IS A SHUNT INSERTED INTO THE CEM WITH HEAVY CHARRING AROUND THE TERMINALS. THE 1999 VOLVO S80 WAS THE FIRST YEAR OF MY PARTICULAR MODEL, AND THE FIRST YEAR THIS TYPE OF WIRING ARCHITECTURE WAS USED ON THEIR VEHICLES. THE SHORTING OF A CRUCIAL CIRCUIT SUCH AS HEADLAMPS NOT ONLY POSES A GRAVE DANGER WHEN DRIVING THE VEHICLE AT NIGHT, BUT COULD ALSO CAUSE A FIRE. I FEEL THE FAILURE IN THE DESIGN OF THE CEM AND THE VEHICLES WIRING ARCHITECTURE COULD ALSO BE RESPONSIBLE FOR THE RANDOM ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS OCCURRING WITH THE S80 AS WELL. THERE ARE SEVERAL WEBSITES THAT MENTION THE CONSTANT "CHECK ENGINE" LIGHT THAT COMES ON AND DEALERS ARE CLAIMING THEY REPAIR THE PROBLEM AFTER EACH VISIT, WHICH USUALLY END UP COSTING OVER $1,000.00. THERE'S ALSO SEVERAL EXAMPLES OF CUSTOMERS , INCLUDING MYSELF, WHO LOSE THE A/C COMPRESSOR RANDOMLY, AND THE ALTERNATOR INDICATING THAT IT ISN'T CHARGING CORRECTLY. FINALLY, THERE IS ALSO SOMETHING INHERENTLY WRONG WITH THE DESIGN OF THE FRONT SUSPENSION OF THE S80. I'VE PAID FOR STRUTS AND BALL JOINT REPAIRS AND HAVE HAD THEM REPAIRED THROUGH A MANUFACTURER RECALL. AGAIN, THE DEALER CLAIMS TO HAVE REPAIRED THE PROBLEM AFTER EACH VISIT, YET THE PROBLEM HAS RECENTLY COME UP AGAIN IN MY VEHICLE. PLEASE CONTACT ME ANYTIME. *TR

Mileage: 142,000

I'VE REPLACED THE STRUTS AND STRUT MOUNTS TWICE; ORIGINAL OWNER REPLACED THEM ONCE.... SWAY BAR REPLACED LAST YEAR AND WHOLE FRONT END HAS BEEN RE-BUILT.... NOW I HAVE STEERING PROBLEMS.. REPLACED U-JOINT AND RACK.... *NM

Mileage: 65,000

THIS CAR HAS SEVERAL RECURRING PROBLEMS THAT I HAVE NEVER SEEN ON ANY CAR BEFORE. 1) ELECTRONIC THROTTLE HAS BEEN REPLACED 2 TIMES AS WELL AS OXYGEN SENSORS. 2) SUSPENSION PARTS REPLACED 3 TIMES, BALL JOINTS, STRUTS, STRUT MOUNTS, FRAME BUSHINGS. THE CAR STILL SQUEAKS. *JB

Mileage: 70,000

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING 60MPH ON THE HIGHWAY, THE VEHICLE SKIDDED, AND PULLED TO THE RIGHT WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT MANEUVERED THE VEHICLE TO SIDE OF THE ROAD. UPON INITIAL INSPECTION BY THE CONTACT, THE RIGHT FRONT TIRE WAS PARTIALLY SEPARATED AND TURNED PERPENDICULAR FROM THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT REPAIR SHOP WHO DETERMINED THE TIE ROD ASSEMBLY, AS WELL AS THE ENTIRE FRONT SUSPENSION NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. A NHTSA RECALL, #00V238000 WAS PERFORMED ON THE VEHICLE CONCERNING, THE FRONT SUSPENSION HOWEVER, THE RECALL DID NOT REMEDY THE PROBLEM. THE MANUFACTURER WAS ALERTED.

Mileage: 83,300

TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS CAUSING DANGEROUS DRIVING CONDITIONS. THE TRANSMISSION SLIPS WHEN GOING BETWEEN 2ND AND 3RD. ALSO HAD ISSUES WITH THE ENGINE GOING TO 700 RPMS WHEN GOING 65 MPH. THIS IS JUST ONE OF THE MANY PROBLEMS. THE SOLENOID WENT OUT IN THE TRANSMISSION ABOUT 13000 MILES AGO. CURRENTLY I HAVE THREE DIFFERENT ERROR CODES "TRANSMISSION SERVICE URGENT", LOW OIL PRESSURE STOP ENGINE ASAP", AND "EMISSION SERVICE REQUIRED". I HAVE READ MANY OTHER PEOPLE HAVE THE SAME PROBLEMS I HAVE HAD. NM

Mileage: 75,000

1999 VOLVO S80 T6 3/08/06 REPLACED TRANSMISSION ( 75,000 MILES) ( $4,800) 08/05 REPLACE RADIATOR 08/05 REPLACED ETM 04 - REPLACED FRONT SUSPENSION / SWAY BARS / STRUTS/ ETC.. VOLVO UNDER ENGINEERED THE FRONT END OF THIS CAR AND IF YOU GO TO WEB BLOGS IT IS IN ALMOST EVERY 1999 - 2000 S-80 VEHICLE... ITS DISGUSTING THAT THIS CAR IS ALLOWED TO CONTINUE OR FORD/ VOLVO ISN'T HELD LIABLE...*JB

WHILE TURNING IN EITHER DIRECTION THE FRONT TIRES RUBBED THE UNDERCARRIAGE OF THE VEHICLE . THE CAUSE HAS NOT BEEN DETERMINED. PLEASE PROVIDE ADDITIONAL INFORMATION.

Mileage: 62,000

WHILE DRIVING FRONT DRIVER'S SIDE WHEEL CAME OFF AS A RESULT OF BALL JOINT FAILURE. CONSUMER HAD VEHICLE FIXED UNDER PREVIOUS BALL JOINT RECALL 00V238000. SINCE RECALL REPAIRS, CONSUMER HAS HAD TO REPLACE FRONT BALL JOINTS TWICE. *AK

THE LEFT REAR BUSHINGS FAILED CAUSING A RUBBING SOUND WHEN BACKING UP. NLM

I HAVE HAD THE FRONT CONTROL ARM BUSHINGS REPLACED THREE TIMES IN A LITTLE OVER TWO YEARS. ALSO THE FRONT BALL JOINTS TWICE (ONCE THROUGH A RECALL). MY TIRES NEED REPLACED FOR THE SECOND TIME AND THE DEALER IS NOT WILLING TO ACCEPT ANY BLAME FOR THE RAPID WEAR OF THE TIRES DESPITE THE CONTINUAL STEERING PROBLEMS. THEY DID REALIGN IT WHEN THEY REPLACED THE TRANSMISSION AND BUSHINGS IN DEC. OF 01. BUT DID NOT DO SO AGAIN WHEN THE BALL JOINTS WERE REPLACED IN MARCH 02. NOW THEY SAY MY ALIGNMENT IS POOR BECAUSE OF MY UNEVENLY WORN FRONT TIRES.

I HAVE HAD THE FRONT CONTROL ARM BUSHINGS REPLACED THREE TIMES IN A LITTLE OVER TWO YEARS. ALSO THE FRONT BALL JOINTS TWICE (ONCE THROUGH A RECALL). MY TIRES NEED REPLACED FOR THE SECOND TIME AND THE DEALER IS NOT WILLING TO ACCEPT ANY BLAME FOR THE RAPID WEAR OF THE TIRES DESPITE THE CONTINUAL STEERING PROBLEMS. THEY DID REALIGN IT WHEN THEY REPLACED THE TRANSMISSION AND BUSHINGS IN DEC. OF 01. BUT DID NOT DO SO AGAIN WHEN THE BALL JOINTS WERE REPLACED IN MARCH 02. NOW THEY SAY MY ALIGNMENT IS POOR BECAUSE OF MY UNEVENLY WORN FRONT TIRES.

WHILE DRIVING 55-60 MPH, BRAKES WERE PULSATING, AFTER APPLYING BRAKES AGAIN NOTICED BRAKES WERE FADING. CONSUMER PULLED OVER AND NOTICED ROTORS WERE RED HOT. DEALER REPLACED FRONT ROTORS AND PADS.*AK THE GAS TANK HAD A DEFECT THAT WOULD CAUSE A VACUUM LEAK. THE FRONT SUSPENSION MAKES A CRACKING NOISE WHEN TURNING DUE TO BALL JOINT FAILURE. THE GEAR SHIFTER SWITCH MAKES LOUD CLICKING NOISE. THE REAR PASSENGER DOOR HANDLE COULD NOT BE OPENED FROM OUTSIDE. AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION HAD SLIPPAGE AND SHUDDER WHILE UP SHIFTING, CREATING A VEHICLE LOSS OF CONTROL. PASSENGER SIDE REAR SEAT BACKREST CUSHION MAKES NOISE DUE TO LOOSE CLIPS. THE FRONT PASSENGER WINDOW DEVELOPED A WIND NOISE DUE TO DEFECTIVE WINDOW SEALS. DUE TO DESIGN FAULT, THE UPPER TORQUE MOUNT BUSHING CRACKED. THE DRIVER SIDE FRONT HEADLIGHT LENS BROKE. THE CONSUMER IS ASKING FOR A FULL REFUND OF THE ACTUAL PRICE PAID FOR THE VEHICLE OR FOR IT TO BE REPLACED WITH A NEW EQUALLY EQUIPPED VEHICLE. *YH

AT 30 MPH, HIT POTHOLE AND FRONT AXLE BROKE, BALL JOINT WERE OUT. *AK

WHILE TURNING CORNER IN PARKING LOT HEARD A NOISE LIKE VEHICLE WAS BELLYING. VEHICLE WAS NOT ABLE TO MOVE. HAD VEHICLE TOWED TO DEALERSHIP. WAS INFORMED BY MECHANIC THAT BALL JOINTS ON DRIVER'S SIDE BROKE AND NEEDED REPLACING. *AK

NHTSA RECALL 00V238000/MANUFACTURER'S RECALL 00 BALL JOINT, PARTS NOT AVAILABLE , NO DATE GIVEN. *AK

THE TIRES WERE BADLY WORN AS A RESULT OF THE FAULTY BALL JOINTS WHICH WERE RECALLED AND REPAIRED (00V-238), CONSUMER PURCHASED NEW TIRES AND REQUEST REIMBURSEMENT. NLM

VEHICLE EXPERIENCED A PROBLEM WITH BALL JOINT FAILURE, CAUSING A DISCONNECTION DUE TO A FAULTY PART. MANUFACTURER NOTIFIED, AND INFORMED CONSUMER THAT THEY WERE AWARE OF THIS PROBLEM. COULD NHTSA SHARE SOME LIGHT ON THIS MATTER. PLEASE FEEL FREE TO PROVIDE ANY FURTHER DETAILS. *AK

THERE WAS A NOISE IN THE FRONT SIDE LEFT WHICH TURNED OUT TO BE SOMETHING RELATED TO THE SUB-FRAME. HOWEVER THERE IS STILL A RATTLE IN THE FRONT END WHICH I HAVE BEEN TOLD THAT ALL THE CARS HAVE. HOWEVER THE S70 LOANER CARS THEY PROVIDE DO NOT HAVE IT. THE RADIO AM PROBLEM IS FUSTRATING, AND THIS NEW PROBLEM WITH THE DOOR LOCKS JUST ADDS ICEING TO THE CAKE. I HAVE BEEN TOLD THE PART FOR THE RADIO IS NOT AVAILABLE, SO THEY WILL TRY AND MAKE IT WORK SOMEHOW. I AM JUST WAITNG FOR THE NEXT PROBLEM. THIS IS MY FIRST AND LAST VOLVO. *AK

FRONT WHEEL FELL OFF THE AXLE DUE TO GREASE SEAL, AND ALLOWED WATER TO GET INTO THE BEARING AND CORRODED IT. *AK

IN OCTOBER 1999, I BEGAN NOTICING A CLUNKING NOISE EMINATING FROM BENEATH THE DRIVER'S-SIDE FOOTWELL, WHEN THE VEHICLE IS PLACED IN REVERSE, OCCASIONALLY WHEN ACCELERATING, BRAKING AND WHEN THE VEHICLE IS DRIVEN OVER ROUGHER ROAD SURFACES. THE CLUNKING NOISE IS ALSO HEARD WHEN APPROACHING AN INCLINE AND CRESTING A HILL AS WELL. I REPORTED THIS CLUNKING NOISE PROBLEM TO RAMSEY VOLVO (SELLING/SERVICING DEALER) ON 10/13/1999. THE DEALER REPLACED THE LEFT-REAR SUBFRAME MOUNT AND SECURED IT USING JB WELD, PER VOLVO SERVICE BULLETIN. ALMOST IMMEDIATELY AFTER THE REPAIR, THE CLUNKING NOISE RETURNED. ON 10/18/1999, RAMSEY VOLVO AGAIN REPLACED THE LEFT-REAR SUBFRAME BUSHING , THIS TIME USING A DIFFERENT ADHESIVE, AS RECOMMENDED BY VOLVO CARS OF NORTH AMERICA. THE DEALER ALSO REPLACED A DEFECTIVE SWAY BAR END LINK. THE CLUNKING NOISE RETURNED A WEEK LATER. ON 10/26/1999, I ALERTED VOLVO CARS OF NORTH AMERICA OF THIS RECURRING PROBLEM AND REQUESTED THAT THEY ASSIST IN THE THE REPAIR OF THIS VEHICLE. MY REQUEST FOR ASSISTANCE WENT UNANSWERED FOR SEVERAL MONTHS. ON FEBRUARY 3, 2000 VOLVO CARS OF NORTH AMERICA RECOMMENDED I AGAIN BRING MY VEHICLE TO RAMSEY VOLVO FOR REPAIR OF THE CLUNKING NOISE. I BROUGHT THE VEHICLE IN ON MARCH 16, 2000, THE DEALER CLAIMS THAT THE CLUNKING NOISE HEARD WHEN PLACING THE VEHICLE IN REVERSE, WAS CAUSED BY THE FRONT BRAKE CALIPERS AND IS CONSIDERED TO BE "NORMAL" AND DID NOT ANY OTHER CLUNKING NOISES WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE. I AGAIN CONTACTED VOLVO CARS AND REQUESTED THE VEHICLE REPAIRED OR REPLACED IF THE NOISE PROBLEM CANNOT BE ELIMINATED. ON MARCH 30, 2000, THE VEHICLE WAS ROAD-TESTED BY THE VOLVO CARS OF NORTH AMERICA FACTORY REPRESENTATIVE. VOLVO CARS OF NORTH AMERICA CONCLUDED THAT THE CLUNKING NOISE HEARD WHEN PLACING THE VEHICLE IN REVERSE WAS A NORMAL CHARACTERISTIC OF THE S80. HOWEVER, THE VOLVO REPRESETATIVE CLAIMS HE DID NOT HEAR ANY CLUNKING NOISE FROM THE FRONT-END OF THE VEHICLE WHEN DRIVING. THIS CONCLUSION IS FALSE.

THIS MODEL VOLVO HAS A WELL DOCUMENTED SUBFRAME BUSHING PROBLEM. THE FRONT SUBFRAME BUSHINGS WERE REPLACED AT NILS SEFELDT VOLVO IN DALLAS. THE MECHANIC THAT REPLACED THESE BUSHINGS CUT THE SUBFRAME. BUSHINGS WERE INSTALLED, THE CAR WAS BADLY OUT OF ALIGNMENT, WAS REALIGNED AT AUTOBAHN VOLVO IN FORT WORTH - A FEW WEEKS LATER - THE VEHICLE WAS BACK AT AUTOBAHN VOLVO FOR MAINTENANCE AND BRAKE NOISE PROBLEMS WHEN IT WAS DISCOVERED THAT THE SUBFRAME WAS CUT BY THE MECHANIC AT NILS SEFELDT - VOLVO ORDERED THE SUBFRAME REPLACED. AT THE VERY LEAST ANY OTHER S80 THAT UNDERWENT A SUBFRAME BUSHING REPLACEMENT AT NILS SEFELDT, ESPECIALLY BY THE MECHANIC THAT "REPAIRED" MINE - SHOULD BE INVESTIGATED. THE STEERING WAS "SQUIRRELLY" AND I SUSTAINED VERY MINIMAL PROPERTY DAMAGE WHEN CONTACT WAS MADE WITH A MINIVAN IN A HIGHWAY DRIVING INCIDENT PRIOR TO THE REPLACEMENT OF THE SUBFRAME. IN ADDITION, ON ABOUT A DOZEN OCCASIONS, WHEN I'M TURNING THE CAR OFF, THE MESSAGE "SRS AIRBAG SERVICE URGENT" APPEARS IN THE MESSAGE DISPLAY. THE MESSAGE DOES NOT STORE AND THE COMPUTER DOES NOT RETAIN IT. NEITHER NILS SEFELDT OR AUTOBAHN HAVE BEEN ABLE TO DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM OR CORRECT IT. I'M CONCERNED THAT THE AIRBAG SYSTEM - VERY COMPLEX ON THIS PARTICULAR CAR - FRONT, SIDE AND SIDE CURTAINS MAY DEPLOY. I HAVE REQUESTED ASSISTANCE FROM VOLVO TO REPLACE THE VEHICLE, NOT ENGAGE IN A BUYBACK AT THIS TIME, BUT VOLVO REFUSES TO CONSIDER THAT AS AN OPTION. IT TOOK 16 MONTHS TO CORRECT A NUISANCE PROBLEM WITH THE BRAKES AS WELL. *AK