2012 Volvo C-Class problems

“There is a know defect with the chassis used for several Volvo car models. My car is a Volvo C70, year 2012. My car is affected by this defect. The defect wasn't disclosed to me at time of sale. I only learned about it literally 10 years later when Volvo of Gilbert (dealership) advised me to install a costly part on the rear suspension of my car because of "excessive negative camber". According to the Volvo repair department, they've known for years of an internal repair "recommendation" memo issued by Volvo that Volvo actually pays for on other models, but won't pay for on mine, to correct this "negative camber" on the rear of the car. ***** The negative camber causes tire walls to fail early and abnormally wear the internal edges of the tires. I've experienced early tire failure on multiple sets of tires on my Volvo C70 and never knew why. Now I know. **Volvo has always known.** I have to replace all of my tires almost every two years due to the inside edges wearing out, despite faithfully rotating my tires several times a year. My tires have worn down to the belt on the inside edges despite having plenty of good tread left in the middle of the tire itself.…”

“WHILE DRIVING MY VOLVO C30 REDESIGN, I STOPPED AT A STOP SIGN BEFORE I ENTERED MAIN ROAD FROM PARKING LOT AREA VEHICLE BEGAN TO ACCELERATE TO A HIGH SPEED INDEPENDENTLY CAUSING THE CAR TO MOVE TOWARDS THE INTERSECTION. NO CARS WERE APPROACHING SO I CONTINUED TURNING BUT IT WAS VERY UNSAFE. IT HAPPENED BEFORE AT FORT HOOD AND NEAR MY HOUSE IN TEMPLE TX. ALWAYS SAME CONDITIONS; AS I START TO ACCELERATE THE VEHICLE JUMP INTO A HIGH SPEED OR GEAR. THIS MORNING THE VEHICLE WAS ON HIGH REV IDLE, DID NOT WENT DOWN UNTIL I CHANGE TO MANUAL AND BACK TO AUTOMATIC. PLEASE ADVICE. *TR”

“The car developed an electronic communication issue that would cause random failure messages for the ABS, anti-skid system, transmission control and a "brake failure" message that would put the car into limp mode even at highway speeds. If you come to a complete stop, it would not allow you to pull away at any speed which makes you a traffic hazard and at risk for a rear end collision. I took the car to the dealer and they said it was the steering module so I had them replace it which ended up not resolving the problem. More alarming, the mechanic said that the factory original windshield had become unbonded and needed resealed. He showed me by flexing the windshield out at the top. I paid a windshield shop to reseal the windshield but I am reporting this since it's bond to the body is integral to keeping occupants from being ejected in the event of a rollover and the owner is unlikely to ever notice the issue.”

“ON JANUARY 21, 2016, MY VOLVO C30'S FAULTY FACTORY-INSTALLED, BLEMISH-FREE, WINDSHIELD LEAKED WHICH PERMITTED WATER TO FLOW DOWN THE A PILLAR AND INTO THE CAR'S ELECTRONICS. AS A CONSEQUENCE, THE CAR BECAME QUICKLY DEBILITATED BECAUSE OF ELECTRICAL FAILURE. SMOKE BILLOWED FROM THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT BEFORE THE BATTERY CABLE WAS QUICKLY REMOVED. ON JANUARY 21, 2016, THE C30 WAS TOWED VIA FLAT BED TRUCK TO VOLVO OF DALLAS FOR REPAIR. THE COURTEOUS AND KNOWLEDGEABLE MAINTENANCE TECHNICIAN, KENNY, IMMEDIATELY IDENTIFIED THE PROBLEM AS A LEAKING WINDSHIELD AND STATED THAT 'THIS IS A KNOWN PROBLEM IN VOLVOS.' HE STATED, THE 'SEALANT/PRIMER MAY SEPARATE CAUSING A LEAK.' VOLVO OF DALLAS HELD THE CAR FOR A WEEK DURING REPLACEMENT OF THE LEAKING WINDSHIELD. I REQUESTED A FULL INSPECTION. APPARENTLY, THAT WAS COMPLETED. THE 4 YEAR WARRANTY IS DUE TO EXPIRE SOON. I DO NOT TRUST THAT THIS CAR, WHICH NOW HAS AN ELECTRICAL 'HISTORY,' IS ANY LONGER IN THE CAREFUL AND METICULOUS CONDITION IN WHICH I HAVE ALWAYS KEPT IT PRIOR TO THE LEAK. MY RESEARCH ONLINE AND THROUGH OTHER RESOURCES INFORMS ME THAT THE LEAKING WINDSHIELD IS A KNOWN SAFETY ISSUE IN LATER MODEL VOLVOS.”

“A MESSAGE THAT READ "ABS BRAKE SYSTEM NEEDS SERVICE" CAME ON IN MY 2012 VOLVO C30 TUESDAY, MARCH 18. I CALLED THE SERVICE DEPT OF THE DEALERSHIP - HE SAID HE KNEW WHAT IT WAS AND TO BRING IT IN EITHER THURS OR FRI. I CHOSE FRIDAY MORNING. WEDNESDAY ABOUT 3PM AS I WAS DOWNSHIFTING TO SLOW THEN APPLIED MY BRAKES THERE WAS NO BRAKING ACTION. I WAS ABLE TO PULL INTO THE LEFT TURN LANE TO AVOID RUNNING INTO THE CAR AHEAD OF ME AND THEN THE BRAKES ENGAGED. I PULLED OVER AND CALLED THE DEALERSHIP. THEY SAID BRING IT IN RIGHT THEN. I WAS A BIT FLUSTERED AND SO STUPIDLY DROVE THE CAR INTO DEALERSHIP ABOUT 4 OR 5 MILES AWAY FROM WHERE I WAS. WHEN I PICKED THE CAR THE NEXT MORNING, I ASKED WHAT THE ISSUE WAS. THE SERVICE PERSON SAID THAT SOME COMPONENT OF THE BRAKE CAME APART (I DON'T RECALL IF HE SAID THE NAME OF THE PART) AND THEY PUT A CLAMP ON IT. I ASKED HOW LONG THIS ISSUE HAD BEEN OCCURRING - HE SAID FOR "MORE THAN A YEAR". I'VE SUBSEQUENTLY CALLED THE OWNER OF THE DEALERSHIP AND HE WAS AWARE OF THE ISSUE BUT SAID THERE WAS NO RECALL FROM VOLVO AND HE COULDN'T AFFORD TO REPAIR THE PROBLEM ON ALL THE C30S UNTIL THE ISSUE AROSE AND VOLVO WOULD THEN REIMBURSE HIS…”

“THIS 2012 VOLVO C70 WAS DRIVEN FROM COHASSET, MA TO CHICAGO IL IN LATE SEPTEMBER 2014. IT WAS DRIVEN WITH THE TOP DOWN FOR A PERIOD OF 400 MILES. THE CAR DID HAVE BRAND NEW MICHELIN PILOT SPORT TIRES ON THE FRONT AND REAR TIRES, THE REAR TIRES HAD OVER 7/10THS WEAR ON THEM. UPON REACHING CHICAGO AN ODD NOISE WAS NOTICED IN THE CAR LIKE A FAILING REAR HUB. UPON TAKING THE CAR TO THE DEALER THE FIELDS VOLVO SERVICE ADVISER NOTICED THERE WAS FEATHERING OF THE REAR TIRES WHICH WAS DUE TO THE EXCESSIVE NEGATIVE CAMBER WITH THE TOP DOWN (INCORRECT OEM SUSPENSION SETTING FROM VOLVO). THE SERVICE ADVISOR TOLD US TO REPLACE THE BRAND NEW TIRES AT A COST OF $500 BUT DIDN'T NOT ADDRESS THE ISSUE. HOWEVER A NEW SUB-CROSS MEMBER FOR THE REAR SUSPENSION WAS OFFERED IN 2013 TO AVOID THIS ISSUE, I ALSO HAVE SERVICE BULLETINS SHOWING VOLVOS KNOWLEDGE OF THE ISSUE. I TOLD THE SERVICE ADVISER THIS IS NOT A FIX AND I WANTED TO KNOW HOW THIS ISSUE WILL BE RESOLVED AND PREVENTED FROM HAPPENING AGAIN AS THE CAR IS UNSAFE TO DRIVE ON WET OR SNOWY SURFACES BECAUSE OF THE SUSPENSION AND TIRE WARE ISSUES. HE TOLD ME THERE WAS NOTHING HE COULD DO. AND WE CAN SPEND $500 ON TIRES EVERY 500…”